The United States is not alone in its shabby and disgraceful treatment of some wounded military people needing special care – and fully deserving of the best there can be. The Observer in London has noted poor handling of cases of British forces from Iraq. The Observer’s reaction provides a carbon copy of how Americans feel about the Walter Reed debacle on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.

It is pointed out repeatedly that one of our key problems is the huge gap between the armed forces seeing hazardous duty and a general populace that is so far removed from harm’s way. This is not like World War II, when the citizenry also had to make sacrifices and deal with shortages and other problems. Our forces now go into combat and virtually nobody at home, except their friends and loved ones, really “feel the pain.”

Even in a case such as World War II, more civilians than not felt distant from the lives and risks of the uniformed. As the Observer notes, societies have always asked a select few to put their lives on the line so that many could go about business as usual, or as untroubled as possible.

It is crystal clear, after the American and English mistreatment episodes, that detachment should never lead to neglect. Shamefully, this is what has happened and it is disgusting.

Why should injured armed forces people and their families have to struggle, even plead, for respect and dignity? They have paid high prices, and now it is time for their governments to respect and honor that – and reciprocate. There is an unwritten contract between a society and its armed forces; that contract in recent times has been sadly breached.

Governments are quick to turn to military power to pursue foreign policy goals, sometimes acceptable, sometimes not. When there are casualties, those people merit the best treatment imaginable.

Clearly, more money, facilities and good personnel need to be dedicated to our war casualties right now. Recent events indicate that is happening, or will. The fact that Kansan Bob Dole and college president Donna Shalala have been put in charge of a program to rectify the issues is comforting to many, especially the veterans of need.

The conclusion of the London Observer about this disgrace can apply just as well to our poor performance in America: “Above all, soldiers and veterans must not be caught up in political arguments about the wars they have fought. Whatever the outcome in Iraq and Afghanistan, our armed forces are bravely fulfilling their special duties abroad. They expect and deserve special treatment at home.”

Immediately and from now on.