On July 18, 2008 the New York Times had an article about the danger that United States troops face because of electrical danger. The article points out
“… the Pentagon has previously reported that 13 Americans have been electrocuted in Iraq, many more have been injured, some seriously, by shocks…”
According to the article, qualified electricians have tried to get the situation corrected, but to no avail.
To read about this outrageous situation, refer to the article entitled Electrical Risks at Iraq Bases Are Worse Than Said.
The International Herald Tribune has published an update that gives more information about this situation.
One comment in the article: “KBR, previously a subsidiary of Halliburton, the oil company once run by Dick Cheney before he became vice president, has had a virtual monopoly on military services contracts in Iraq since the 2003 invasion and has received nearly $25 billion in business in the war zone.”
Another comment is “For example, the army’s top official in charge of the KBR contract at the beginning of the war has said that he was ousted from his job in 2004 after challenging KBR’s billing records for its work in Iraq.” To read the article, go to http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/24/mideast/contract.php.
Update from CNN:
An Army investigator has recommended characterizing the death of Sgt.Ryan Maseth, a 24 year old soldier electrocuted in a shower on his base in Iraq as “negligent homicide”. The CNN story is here: CNN article.