"Bad Wiring Imperils Troops in Iraq"

@gwoman2 (710)
United States
March 27, 2009 9:13am CST
This from AP Impact on Comcast.net The military is racing to inspect more than 90,000 U. S. run facilities across Iraq to reduce a deadly threat troops face far off the battlefield: ELECTROCUTION OR SHOCK while showering or using appliances. About 1/3 of the inspections so far have turned up major electrical problems. About 65,000 facilities still need to be inspected. the work assigned to Task Force SAFE, which oversees the inspections and repairs is aimed at preventing deaths like that of Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth, 24 of Piittsburgh. He died January 2008, one of at least three soldiers killed while showering since the invasionof Iraq in 2003. Scores more soldierssuffered shocks between September 2006 and July 2008. Sen. Bob Casey, D-PA called TF SAFE's findings troubling. He said task force is doing good work but said problems should have been fixed much earlier. "Just imagine getting the news that they've done 25,000 facilities, but your son or daughter is in the 65,000 they haven't done," Casey told the AP. Last year 94 troops stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan or other Central Command countries sought medical treatment for electric shock, according to Defense Department health data. 231 electric shock incidents are listed in KBR's database in more than 89,000 facilities that the company runs in Iraq. Sen Byron Dorgan, D-ND, questioned why KBR has been allowed to continue to perform electrical work in Iraq. He said military should take a more careful look at the electrical work in Afghansistan too, where KBR has a large contract for electrical work. "If they found widespread problems, the obvious question is why has there not been action to remove the contract and bring in another contractor?" THAT IS THE QUESTION I HAVE!!! What say you Veteran MyLotters? These men are giving their lives for us, can we give them safty against all other dangers, AT THE VERY LEAST??? ~G~
3 responses
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
27 Mar 09
probably the company has been payed already, this news just broke, so they will most likely take some kind of action, now, but they are receiving the info as we are. What they will I do not know.
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
27 Mar 09
There was a similar report of structural failures done by private contractors. It started after Congress made them go to bid contracts. With one company the government had to call in Halaburton to clean up the mess. The contractor had no experience building in the desert and used the wrong type of cement and it did not cure properly. There are very few companies that could take on a job like that and be successful. The way the government bids contracts is crazy at times. One contractor called into a radio show and said he went to bid on a government contract wan was told that he could bid but that first consderation was to females and minorities. If none applied they he could bid in the second round. Experience and background had nothing to do with getting the bid.
@snowy22315 (180865)
• United States
27 Mar 09
I dont know about that work and why that has happened. There aer many things that could happen with soldiers and I guess electrical shock is one of the things that can hurt others with their work. I think there are some people that can be hurt and are just the ones that are there.