Democrats press Gates, KBR on poor electrical work

[DogPoundPup]

Source: Forbes

A pair of powerful Democrats on Friday called on the Pentagon and KBR Inc. to address inferior electrical work by private contractors on U.S. military bases in Iraq being blamed for the deaths of at least two U.S. soldiers.

Rep. Henry Waxman of California, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates and KBR (nyse: KBR - news - people ) demanding details on the failures of electrical systems on bases throughout Iraq that have caused hundreds of fires and the deaths of Staff Sgts. Christopher Lee Everett of Huntsville, Texas, and Ryan Maseth of Pittsburgh.

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., sent letters to Gates and Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, calling for the suspension of KBR's multibillion-dollar contract, which includes providing housing and other services for American troops in that country.

KBR on Friday said its ongoing investigation has found no evidence of a link between its work and the electrocutions.

Former KBR electricians last week told a Senate panel investigating the electrocutions that the Houston-based engineering and construction company used employees with little electrical expertise to supervise subcontractors in Iraq, and hired foreigners who couldn't speak English to do the work.

The Pentagon has said 13 Americans have been electrocuted in Iraq since September 2003. It has ordered KBR to inspect all the facilities it maintains in Iraq for electrical hazards.

Dorgan, who chaired last week's hearing of the Democratic Policy Committee, said he and four other Democratic lawmakers are objecting to the Pentagon's decision to allow KBR to inspect its own electrical work in Iraq. The committee has been examining waste, fraud and abuse in Iraq, and the performance of the country's war contractors.

Read more: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/07/18/ap5231387.html

[gateley]

1. "Poor" electrical work should read "negligent and deadly" electrical work.

We shouldn't be "pressing" Gates, we should be ripping him a new one.

[aquart]

5. Unless by "pressing" you mean the medieval torture.

I'm sure John Yoo would be okay with that.

[Stuart G]

2. So KBR is going to inspect its own elecrical work????

This is indeed a great idea..probably one of those brilliant ones thought up by ..George W. Bush"


"Dorgan, who chaired last week's hearing of the Democratic Policy Committee, said he and four other Democratic lawmakers are objecting to the Pentagon's decision to allow KBR to inspect its own electrical work in Iraq. The committee has been examining waste, fraud and abuse in Iraq, and the performance of the country's war contractors."


Since when in an investigation that leads to death, does one allow the person accused of a death, investigate themselves??

Usually it is the police or some outside non partial investigator...but not this time...

Of course in the U.S.A there is no one who could do this accurately and objectively...Do you think we could find a few volunteer union electricians who might help the government find out who was at fault???

[MadrasT]

3. WTF???

"KBR on Friday said its ongoing investigation has found no evidence of a link between its work and the electrocutions."

:wtf: Isn't that like the fox guarding the henhouse???!

[Stuart G]

4. If you have not read about this story...here is a link to the DU thread in this forum

It discusses this horrible consequence of outsourcing of a simple building program..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3400434

At that thread, you may link to the complete story, which I urge and plead all to read..
..This one is as bad as the rotten VA Hospital..Walter Reed...story..