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Pittsburgh Post-GazetteLawmakers looking into the electrocutions of 16 people at American facilities in Iraq expressed frustration yesterday with the lack of accountability among the parties involved and voiced concern that the dangers have not been eliminated.
"There was no shortage of warnings about the electrical dangers in Iraq, just a shortage of will to do right by our troops," said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which is conducting hearings in Washington.
Though electrical problems in facilities in Iraq have been widely acknowledged, little action has been taken by the Pentagon leadership or Houston-based contractor KBR, Mr. Waxman said during yesterday's hearing.
As of July 10, there have been 16 deaths -- 10 soldiers, five Marines and a contract worker for the Defense Department. One victim, Sgt. Ryan Maseth, 24, of Shaler, was electrocuted Jan. 2 while taking a shower, 11 months after KBR inspectors confirmed wiring problems at his Army barracks in Iraq.
His mother, Cheryl Harris of Cranberry, has filed a lawsuit in Pennsylvania against KBR over her son's death and has been pushing lawmakers and the Pentagon to investigate and correct the problems.
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http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08213/900790-85.stm
Cheryl Harris with her son, Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth of Shaler, who was electrocuted Jan. 2.