(US Rep) Blumenauer demands that Pentagon explain KBR immunity deal

[sabra]

Source: oregon live

U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer is demanding that the Pentagon explain how war contractor Kellogg, Brown and Root may have been granted immunity from harming any soldier or civilian in Iraq.

In a sharply worded letter Wednesday, Blumenauer gave the secretary of defense five days to produce details of KBR's claims of indemnification. The details of a secret agreement have emerged in a U.S. District Court case in Portland and were reported Tuesday in The Oregonian. Blumenauer said he plans to take his concerns to colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee.

"I find this mind-numbing," Blumenauer said after sending the letter to Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates.

...

But during a June 22 deposition in the Portland case, Chris Heinrich, a Texas attorney for KBR, revealed his company had performed contingency planning in 2002 that identified hazards in the Iraqi oil fields, well before the invasion.

After KBR had signed its no-bid Restore Iraqi Oil contract and as the coalition invasion was taking place in March 2003, Heinrich said he went to the Pentagon himself to demand immunity for KBR's restoration work. Heinrich told Army officials that KBR refused to do the job unless granted "broad coverage." KBR required that the U.S. Treasury -- taxpayers and not the contractor -- pay for any property damage, injury or death of any soldier or civilian working at a KBR site. That applied even if the harm resulted from KBR negligence.

Read more: http://www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2010/07/blumenauer_calls_for_no-bid_do.html

[mdmc]

1. yes!

[Solly Mack]

2. K&R

[Oceansaway]

3. K&R...n/t

[McCamy Taylor]

4. Explain? Military men at the Pentagon hope to get jobs at KBR when they retire.

That is all you have to know.

[Angry Dragon]

5. The pentagon passing laws now??

I would say that this is non binding unless the Justice Department signed off on it and maybe not even then