Warning Fails to Prevent Electrocution of U.S. Soldiers

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Posted on May 9, 2008

post-gazette.com

Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth was electrocuted in January as a result of shoddy wiring work by outsourced KBR workers.

More than a dozen American soldiers have died or received severe electrical shocks in Iraq, reportedly as a result of faulty electrical work often done by ill-trained Iraqis and Afghans under the supervision of Houston-based contractor KBR. American electricians who worked for KBR, which is responsible for

The New York Times:

In October 2004, the United States Army issued an urgent bulletin to commanders across Iraq, warning them of a deadly new threat to American soldiers. Because of flawed electrical work by contractors, the bulletin stated, soldiers at American bases in Iraq had received severe electrical shocks, and some had even been electrocuted,

The bulletin, with the headline “The Unexpected Killer,” was issued after the horrific deaths of two soldiers who were caught in water—one in a shower, the other in a swimming pool—that was suddenly electrified after poorly grounded wiring short-circuited.

“We’ve had several shocks in showers and near misses here in Baghdad, as well as in other parts of the country,” Frank Trent, an expert with the Army Corps of Engineers, wrote in the bulletin. “As we install temporary and permanent power on our projects, we must ensure that we require contractors to properly ground electrical systems.”

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TAGS: afghanistan army contractors electrocution iraq kbr military privatization

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By otherside, May 10, 2008 at 12:14 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

The bush WH and their corporate cronies could be considered morons as the last poster sugested, but I must disagree. Yes they have damanged nearly everyrthing they touch when you look at in terms of the general public here at home and abroad, but they are a group who hold utter contempt for the american people and the citzens of world messing things up for the public serves their interests. They have very dilligently suceeded in maintaining perpetual war, record oil profits and now agrabuisnesses are the next to reap huge profits as well while people around the world starve. The bush WH has managed with complete impunity and little oversight by the mass media to erode the constitution, ignore the bill of rights as well as the Geneva converntion. Our gov’t is a global embarasment for the people of this country but the bush WH doesn’t care about image only $ and power. They have advanced their agenda with complete efficancy and brutality for those who disagree. We can only hope for stupider people running the show next time maybe they won’t cause as much damage.

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By hippy pam, May 10, 2008 at 12:03 pm Link to this comment

And this is also TRUE-How better to take out “people you want to LEAVE”?You just SABOTAGE WORK YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT TO DO!!!WE SHOULD TRY “EMPOROR BULLSH*T” IN COURT BY LAW FOR MURDER!!!!

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By tres, May 10, 2008 at 10:12 am Link to this comment

You guys making comments have no clue. Did you ever saw those WWII movies? Local guys working for the Germans or Japanese always throw in some tricks to make the enemy suffer. If the USA is occupied by a foreign country, wouldn’t you do something in your capacity to stick it to them?

Privatization is not to blame, the occupation is. There is nothing your congressmen can do. Stop the worthless investigations and legislations (another round of waste of taxpayers moneys).

How the death is classified, they should be classified as death in combat, not accident, not friendly fires.

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By hippy pam, May 10, 2008 at 7:52 am Link to this comment

What better way to GET OUT OF DOING A JOB? THAN TO CONSISTANTLY FAIL TO DO IT RIGHT???WHY should “they” learn HOW?-They have US…and the U.S….and OUR TROOPS TO DIE FOR THEM????

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By Stephen Smoliar, May 10, 2008 at 7:42 am Link to this comment

This is another reason I am fed up with THE NEW YORK TIMES.  If you follow the link I provided with my first comment, you will see that the House is already on the case.  Here are the appropriate paragraphs, courtesy of the Associated Press:
—
A U.S. House committee chairman has begun an investigation into the electrocutions of at least 12 service members in Iraq, including that of a Pittsburgh soldier killed in January by a jolt of electricity while showering.

Rep. Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said Wednesday he has asked Defense Secretary Robert Gates to hand over documents relating to the management of electrical systems at facilities in Iraq.
—
Note that the TIMES made no mention of this.  As a matter of fact, I have not seen ANY follow-up coverage to indicate whether or not Gates complied with Waxman’s request or is stonewalling (which would explain why no further news has emerged).  These documents will be necessary to pursue jbart’s strategy based on contracted terms and conditions.  My guess is that the White House is going to try to withhold that information on grounds of “national security;”  and I would not be surprised if they are figuring on keeping this affair on ice until Bush is (safely?) out of office.

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By Don Stivers, May 9, 2008 at 8:50 pm Link to this comment

Support our troops.  Buy that magnetic ribbon for the back of the car.  Be proud to be an American.  What a bunch of Shits we have running our government.  And they continue to get away with it.  And when I complain to my representatives in Washington D.C. I get letters back always telling me that they (the representatives) are concerned bla bla bla but people continue to die.  What a bunch of Shits.  No regard for human rights, feeling or otherwise.  Just the God Damned money.

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By faith, May 9, 2008 at 8:04 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Readers, please write your congress and senate concerning this matter.  I cannot believe the leaders of the U.S. are allowing this to continue.

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By Purple Girl, May 9, 2008 at 4:46 pm Link to this comment

Miliatry, healthcare, education,Law enforcement &  incarceration systems, Agriculture, Federal BANKING System, Media, FDA review & studies,National Energy reserves and availability….
Tell me what area they have contaminated with their greed and Profit Margins that have not directly or indirectly Killed someone? Now count how many they have caused needless suffering and hardship, anationally and internationally
Now PROVE how they have been cost effective and profficient at their fields of ‘expertise’ while maintaining the highest level of products and Services. Corporationist (esp those hiding in Public Service) Buried the Free Market decades ago!And proof of their Malpractice can be counted in Human lives and livihoods.

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By jbart, May 9, 2008 at 4:21 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

When a vendor of the U.S. Gov’t., in this case KBR, doesn’t “perform” the services contracted for, they are held to the terms & conditions of that contract. If they fail to provide the contracted T&C;‘s, they are either “penalized financially” or the contract is cancelled. WTF?? I believe that we/the Gov’t. are required by law (if Bushco haven’t signed a “statement” indemnifying” federal procurement rules for certain suppliers) to “simply” follow procedure. An immediate inquiry (after immediately suspending said contract)until the T&M;‘s not sucessfully complied with are investigated. A question arises from the data now available. Why aren’t federal requirements being applied here? If we are to have a system that regulates requirements made with taxpayer funding,all affected contracts require identical processes and procedures to “protect” the procurement from a “rip off” of those funds. Just my thoughts guys.

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By msgmi, May 9, 2008 at 4:18 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

No doubt that KBR is doing the right thing when profit is king. But when contract workers are not properly certified and oversight at the work site is unreliable, and American troops die because of negligence, that is called ‘not supporting our troops’. Where does the Pentagon stand on these type of casualties? The no response tells it all.

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By Louise, May 9, 2008 at 3:52 pm Link to this comment

When I first read about this shocking problem back in 2004, I reminded myself many GI’s are proficient in engineering and electronics, so the wiring would be re-done post-haste.

Silly me, I forgot our guys were fighting the Rumsfeld/Bush/Cheney war, a war being directed by the largest collection of bone dumb morons who ever darkened the doors of our White House.

If this weren’t so tragic, it would be funny. Like that joke ... how many morons does it take to screw in a light bulb?

How many morons does it take to fix the wiring? Well apparently more than KBR, Rumsfeld, his replacement Gates, Bush and Cheney can round up. Which is peculiar when you think about it ... since they are all proficient in moron-ism.

Oh, duh. Who’s the moron here?

Of course they cant get it fixed! What they need is someone with the intelligence God gave a ripe cabbage. Unfortunately that commodity is sadly lacking in our government.

But, but ... they are right on top of the problem. Everybody is having an investigation!

Oh goody! And while the “investigators” investigate, careful to avoid blaming anyone, cause one of THEM might get caught in the headlight, the problem ... or should I say the next jolt is waiting quietly to happen.

One more lovely example of what happens when you hire private war profiteers to do what the military was perfectly capable of doing before Rumsfeld/Bush/Cheney decided to remodel our military in their own image. You know, the really dumb one.

Yes indeedy.

Rumsfeld, Bush and Cheney. The snap, crackle and pop gang ... big bad fighter guys. Well at least with their big bad mouths.

Truth is, if any one of those wimps actually had to face anything that threatened them physical harm, they would probably faint dead-away. Right after they peed their pants.

Ok, I know congress and Bush fixed the problem ... they got rid of Rumsfeld. But what has changed, really, anything?

Well one thing. We no longer get treated to Rumsfelds wild-eyed discharge of multi-syllable words and non-words meaning much of nothing, accompanied by endless hand waiving and finger jabbing. Such an entertaining little man.

Now we just have this soft spoken gentleman and his monotone version of the same bullshit. His eyes firmly fixed on a ghost standing just behind the left shoulder of whomever happens to ask him a question.

What is it with Gates anyway? How come he cant look anyone in the eye when he answers a question?

Congress, you daily offend our men and woman in the military, by your support of these fraudulent leaders and by your refusal to do anything about it!

Oh, I forgot. You are doing something.

You are investigating ...

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By Stephen Smoliar, May 9, 2008 at 10:24 am Link to this comment

This story was cover by Associated Press Writer Ramesh Santanam and released right around the fifth anniversary of our Iraqi “adventure” (which could not have been better timing)!

http://therehearsalstudio.blogspot.com/2008/03/we-have-nothing-to-fear-except-our-own.html

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