Barack Obama visits wounded war veterans

[Ron Burgundy]

AP - Barack Obama makes a surprise visit to wounded war veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

The presumed Democratic presidential nominee was in Washington to speak to the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials but decided to stop by the facility in the morning before his speech. The visit wasn't on his public schedule.

Obama has criticized the Bush administration for its treatment of veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and has suggested Republican rival John McCain would continue Bush's policies if elected.

The administration was roundly criticized last year after it was revealed that veterans at Walter Reed were housed in rundown accommodations and suffered neglectful care.

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080628/ap_on_el_pr/obama_veterans [link]