KB & R Counts 2 More Iraq Electrocution Deaths

[Breeze54]

KBR Counts 2 More Iraq Electrocution Deaths

http://www.newspress.com/Top/Article/article.jsp?Section=NATIONAL&ID=565338990593836534

STEPHEN MANNING, AP Business Writer

July 25, 2008 1:24 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) -

The number of Americans who died from accidental electrocutions in Iraq may be higher than the 13 previously disclosed by the military, according to a senator who met Friday with officials from the contractor that provides housing for U.S. soldiers.

KBR Inc. Chief Executive William Utt told Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., that it has counted through news reports 15 deaths from electrocutions, some while soldiers were showering.

Casey said there have also been dozens of injuries and hundreds of fires from faulty electrical work and that there have been reports of problems with people being shocked as recently as three weeks ago. But Casey and Rep. Jason Altmire, D.-Pa., who also attended the meeting with KBR officials, said it remains unclear whether it is the military or the contractor that bears responsibility.

''It leads to hundreds and hundreds of questions that Congress must ask,'' Casey said.

Houston-based KBR has said it has not found a link between electrical work it did and the electrocutions, which the Pentagon said dates back to 2003.

In a statement, Utt reiterated that the company is not responsible for the deaths, and that it ''remains committed to fully cooperating with the government on this issue.'' He also told Casey that a February 2007 change in the company's contract limited its duties for performing electrical maintenance and repairs.

The Department of Defense has ordered KBR, which holds a multibillion contract for basic services at thousands of buildings in Iraq, to inspect all facilities it maintains in Iraq following the electrocutions.

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Yeah, that'll show them!! Have KB&R investigate itself!!! :grr:

[pstans]

1. KB&R is probably immune from lawsuits as part of their contract

Not totally sure if that is true, but it wouldn't surprise me.

[Breeze54]

3. They renegotiated their "contracts", and not being allowed to be sued wouldn't surprise me.

"... a February 2007 change in the company's contract limited its duties for performing electrical maintenance and repairs."

Bush & Cheney gave them an out, of course. What else is new with this crime syndicate? :grr:

[derby378]

2. KBR manager: "The military is none of our fucking concern"

I see in my little crystal ball a slew of Democratic resolutions in 2010 to punish KBR into the Stone Age...

[bluesmail]

4. With tasering electrocution here is legal.

In Iraq, electrocution is torture. It's also known as LEARNED HELPLESSNESS. I doubt that it was incompetence that electrocuted the soldiers. It was intentional.:tinfoilhat: and :mad: