US contractor (KBR) in Iraq accused of electrocution deaths ("burnt and smoldering body" of soldier)

[Barrett808]

Source: AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The biggest US military contractor in Iraq, KBR, was steeped in another scandal Friday as lawmakers, families and experts accused it of recklessly causing the electrocution deaths of US soldiers.

"While I had always been prepared to hear that one of my sons died by way of a firefight or a roadside bomb, I was dumbstruck to hear that my son was electrocuted while taking a shower in his living quarters," said Cheryl Harris, mother of army Staff Sergeant Ryan Maseth, who died in January.

Maseth's "burnt and smoldering" body was found under still-running, electrically charged water by a fellow soldier who kicked down the door of the bathroom at an army base in Baghdad, Harris told a hearing of the Senate Democratic policy committee.

KBR, a former subsidiary of the Halliburton energy firm which was once led by Vice President Dick Cheney, was contracted to maintain facilities at the base and had been informed of electrical problems in the building where Maseth died.

But, said Harris, KBR showed "extreme recklessness and a total disregard for public safety" by failing to fix the problem as well as others that have caused at least 13 electrocution deaths among soldiers and civilian contract workers in Iraq.

Read more: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5ggIzyaVjgrtoH9EBT4obMw3JIq4Q

[yourout]

1. Someone needs to land in jail for this.

Criminal neglect or war profiteering. Either way jail time is in order.

[evilkumquat]

2. Are There Electrocution Deaths in Peacetime?

I would love to know the numbers on civilian or peacetime military deaths due to faulty construction and/or poor wiring.

It seems that if a company were to be building facilities over here, in the United States itself, and there was ONE death by electrocution due to negligence, wouldn't that company be scrutinized like Britney's crotch getting out of an SUV?

Is it because life is so much cheaper over there in a war zone that this hasn't made a bigger stink?

[enough]

3. I electrocution a crime? Not if you have blanket immunity. (nt)

[peacetalksforall]

4. If the corporations own us - as is becoming clear and clearer - they

can do anything they want to us. They will be pardoned until the day when they decide to ignore that step and just do it. The media will enable silence and stand down because they are corporate, not a news service. And everyone will continue to adore George and tolerate Dick.

What is the truth of what's going on in this country? This is not just incompetence and neglect.

[Tutonic]

5. Absolutely disgusting. While Nancy Pelosi and Steney Hoyer

attempt to distract the American people away from the issue of impeachment with this FISA nonsense, at least 13 soldiers have died from electrocution. Where are congressional hearings into this stinking rotting monster called Halliburton. Dick Cheney will be inhabiting Hell one day and I pray that it is every bit as gruesome as the death of this soldier.

[MadMaddie]

6. This is what no bid contracts and War profiteering results in

deaths of soldiars and civilians.

The contractors are no longer protected like they were but the blanket pardons by * are a concern.

[Tutonic]

7. I wonder if our Chinese overlords will be as reckless as Cheney

and company. Maybe we have something better to look forward to.

[spag68]

8. Bad showers

As a retired electrician, I can tell you that only total neglect could have caused this. The NEC requires that all circuits in bathrooms and within 3 ft. of faucets be on a ground fault circuit breaker or receptacle. What that means is that any time something like this might happen the circuit would be cut off within seconds, if not one second, thus limiting the shock. Only total disregard for standards could cause this, but it should surprise none here that KBR did this. They in the form of Brown&Root did the same thing in the Nam and got away with it then, why should this phony war be any less of an opportunity to fleece the taxpayers?

[trthnd4jstc]

9. KBR needs a lot of Skilled Labor

Though I was offered 3 times what I am making now by KBR, my family said NO! Most likely the fellow who was electrocuted died because of a grounding problem. Proper Grounding of an Electrical System is essential for Electrical Safety. Another bit, truly trust that you do not know it all. Samual Johnson said a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing. Any problem with ones Electrical System should be dealt with by a licensed electrician. Carpenters will never be Electrician's unless they get the Training, and that includes Textbook, as well as OJT, on the job training.

I hear that KBR are a bunch of Shut Up, do your job, and keep quiet sort of People. I despise them.

[Crowman1979]

10. I'll tell you about KBR...

...they have people from impoverished nations do the dirty work, with the cooking and sewage work. Maybe the electrical stuff also. The more advanced work is done by americans, all of which are UNARMED! So if you got in a firefight, and the escort left you, then you'll wind up on TV all right--in a hostage video. Plus they burned a lot of trash at Al-Asad, never did find out what they were burning. Anyway, you made the right choice.

[orleans]

11. so when are we gonna shut these motherfuckers down?

"Senator Byron Dorgan alluded to an official, high-level cover-up to shield the company."
he alludes to? why the fuck can't he investigate that or just come right out and say it?

since when is it okay for american companies to kill american troops?

oh--that's right--we're in goddamn bushworld and as long as it's making halliburton money then EVERYTHING IS OKAY!

jesus christ!

[dansolo]

12. These contractors were given blacket immunity from prosecution by executive order

If Obama is elected and rescinds the immunity, will they then be subject to prosecution for past actions?

[mbperrin]

13. This is why old Judge Lynch wakes up ever so often.

From the article:

Although it was aware of the problems that caused the deaths of Everett and Maseth, KBR did not make repairs that could have spared the lives of US soldiers, said Crawford.

"KBR has claimed that its contract did not cover fixing potential hazards, only repairing items after they broke down," she said.

Where can I get a torch and pitchfork, please?

[L0oniX]

14. Capitalism at its finest. Hey congress critters ...own any stock in KBR?

:evilfrown:

[LeftHander]

15. Money saving...use of plumbing as electrical conduits....

Sounded good in the board room...well at least it paid for the luxury yachts and condos....

[dysfunctional press]

16. the military needs to return to self-sufficiency. kbr and halliburton need to be cut lose.

how is what kbr, halliburton, and blackwater doing NOT war-profiteering?

having them do what they do, when the soldiers could just as easily be providing the manpower legitimizes war profiteering.