Contractors Sue (KBR and Halliburton) Over Deaths In Iraq

[UpInArms]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/09/15/cbsnews_investigates/main2015060.shtml

(CBS) Heading to Baghdad airport, a fuel convoy turned into an inferno, and resulted in the largest single loss of American civilians in the Iraq war. Seven died and 26 were injured, CBS News Chief Investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian reports.

"It could have been prevented. And it never, never should have happened to begin with," says Ray Stannard.

Stannard was one of the drivers. As the truck burned, he held a friend who died in his arms.

"What they did was murder," he says, "and I stick by that."

But his anger is not directed at the insurgents. Instead, it's directed at his employer, Kellogg Brown and Root, a subsidiary of Halliburton.

"They sent these men down the road, under attack with mortars, land mines, machine guns, rifles, grenade and explosives. Knowing the army was in combat. Knowing that people were being wounded. Knowing that trucks were destroyed. And they chose to do it anyway," says Scott Allen, who represents former KBR employees now suing the company for wrongful death.

...more...

[UpInArms]

1. more (hmmmm...)

So why would KBR bosses, despite all the warnings, still send so many civilians into harm's way?

An anonymous letter from someone who describes himself as a former manager at KBR offers a cold-blooded explanation.

"The executive responsible ... was under pressure" ... and "having that convoy proceed in the face of danger was one way to show improved performance," the letter says.

KBR denies the charges and says, like the Army, it should be immune from lawsuits. Yet, in a letter sent to Stannard just prior to the lawsuit, the company offers to help him receive the Army Defense of Freedom medal, but only if Stannard will agree to "release" KBR "from any and all claims." In essence, this means giving up any right to sue.

[leesa]

2. So they want to replace the army, make more porfits but still get the

privileges accorded the military. No. Private companies CAN'T do a better job. And this shows us why.

[gratuitous]

3. Hard to find a good guy in this story

While I surely hold no brief for Halliburton, their war zone employees were making six figures tax free for their services. Services that had traditionally been done by military personnel for considerably less cost to the people paying the bills.

Part of me hopes they sock Halliburton for as much money as they can milk. But part of me strongly suspects that any money damages Halliburton has to pay will simply show up in their next invoice to Uncle Sam, which will pay all charges without question.

[sofa king]

4. Truth.

The biggest loser of all is the Army, which sold off its logistical tail to a bunch of raveonous sociopaths, and now they're likely wondering how, exactly, they're supposed to be supplying their troops in a war zone when their suppliers won't drive through that war zone.

Armies that lose their logistical support die in the field. So says Napoleon at Moscow, Hitler at Stalingrad, and Henri Navarre at Dien Bien Phu.

[Dover]

5. That's why their employees get the big bucks

However, our regular military puts up with much more dangerous conditions and gets little for it.
Who do they sue?