» 2009 » March Ms Sparky

Is KBR Guilty Of Treason?

Posted on: March 12th, 2009 at 12:06 pm — by Ms Sparky

There is a buzz in the blogosphere that KBR should be charged with TREASON. Although I’ve heard the word and was pretty sure I knew what it meant. I looked it up anyway and a few others.

According to Merriam-Websters On-Line Dictionary

Treason defined as: 1 : the betrayal of a trust : treachery 2 : the offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance.

Traitor defined as 1 : one who betrays another’s trust or is false to an obligation or duty 2 : one who commits treason

Sabotage defined as: 1: destruction of an employer’s property (as tools or materials) or the hindering of manufacturing by discontented workers 2: destructive or obstructive action carried on by a civilian or enemy agent to hinder a nation’s war effort 3 a: an act or process tending to hamper or hurt b: deliberate subversion

Subversive defined as1: the act of subverting : the state of being subverted ; especially : a systematic attempt to overthrow or undermine a government or political system by persons working secretly from within

Below is a list of just some of the crimes and acts KBR has been accused of. You decide if they fall under any of the definitions above.

Performing shoddy electrical work that has resulted in the deaths of AT LEAST two soldiers, injuring numerous others, causing 1000′s of electrical fires that killed at least two more soldiers and damaged government property. In my opinion, this is an act of SABOTAGE!
Providing unsafe food and drinking water to our troops. In my opinion, this is an act of SABOTAGE!
Knowingly exposing our troops to hexavalent chromium at Qarmat Ali water plant. In my opinion, this is an act of SABOTAGE!
Providing unqualified craft and poor qualify parts for repairs. In my opinion, this is an act of SABOTAGE!

Here’s how I see it. The above are serious acts of sabotage resulting from subversive behavior on the part of KBR’s Senior Executives and high level managers. I think they are traitors to our country and should be charged with treason.

If a hostile faction were to do any of the above, I’d say “Nuke the bastards!” Why is KBR any different? Why are they being allowed to get away with it.

Now I have to ask this question, “Who in the DoD is protecting KBR? Who has allowed these alleged traitorous acts to not only happen, but be repeated over and over?” I’m sure those Generals are not going to step forward. IMHO they too need to be charged with treason.

And….while we are on the subject, has anyone looked at Kosovo or any other locations where KBR has held DoD contracts? I’m sure this is not a new management style for KBR. I think it goes way back.

Feel free to add to the list by leaving a comment. Do you think it’s treason? Tell me what you think.

Ms Sparky

Posted in Rants. Tags: KBR. 1 Comment »

Judge denies sanctions against contractor (KBR) in shower suit

Posted on: March 12th, 2009 at 11:06 am — by Ms Sparky

Judge denies sanctions against contractor in shower suit

Thursday, March 12, 2009
By Paula Reed Ward, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A federal judge has refused to grant a motion requesting sanctions against an Army contractor being sued over a soldier’s electrocution death in the shower while serving in Iraq.

In an opinion issued late yesterday, U.S. District Judge Nora Barry Fischer found that KBR Inc. did not violate a confidentiality order in the ongoing civil case by issuing two press releases to the local media on Feb. 19.

Attorneys representing the family of Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth of Shaler said that the statements issued by the company were done to “spin,” the facts related to the company’s negligence in performing electrical work in Iraq, and that they contained lies and innuendo.

KBR’s attorneys, during a hearing on the issue earlier this month, said that their client has a right to defend itself against false information released to the media. Specifically, KBR had been accused of being responsible for the electrocution deaths of 16 soldiers in Iraq, which they said is not true.

Sgt. Maseth, an Army Ranger and Green Beret, was electrocuted as he showered on Jan. 2, 2008, while stationed at Special Operations Task Force Central at Radwaniyah Palace in Baghdad.

The lawsuit accuses KBR of failing to maintain the electrical infrastructure at the former estate of Saddam Hussein.

In her 15-page opinion, Judge Fischer said that in neither of the two documents released by KBR was there any mention of the pending lawsuit against the company.

Further, she found that the statements made by KBR “do not have a ‘substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing’ this proceeding or a ‘reasonable likelihood’ that their dissemination ‘will interfere with a fair trial.’ ”

First published on March 12, 2009 at 2:00 pm (click HERE to read original article)

Ms Sparky

Posted in Electrocutions/Shocks, Lawsuits Against KBR, Media Coverage, Ryan Maseth-US Army. Tags: Lawsuits Against KBR. No Comments »

Ms Sparky on The Rachel Maddow Show 03-09-2009

Posted on: March 10th, 2009 at 5:03 am — by Ms Sparky

I am having problems getting this video to embed. If you are having problems watching the video on Ms Sparky click HERE.

Wasn’t that interesting. On a personal note….I was very very nervous. I had to go home and watch it to know what I had said. It was live from a studio in Portland, Oregon. I couldn’t see Rachel so I was taking to “air” and I could hear the weather being broadcast in another studio which was very distracting. My segment was only about 5 minutes. It was over before I even got warmed up! It was so funny, she was thanking me for being on her show and I am thinking “oh no… we’re not done yet…I have more to say!” Oh yeah…the camera does add….50 lbs! LOL

Thank you Rachel Maddow for keeping this issue in the news.

Ms Sparky

Posted in My Interviews. Tags: My Interviews. 53 Comments »

Who In The Hell Is Driving The KBR Bus?

Posted on: March 9th, 2009 at 10:15 am — by Ms Sparky

Here is a classic example of KBR not being in control of their own policies and procedures. The right hand just doesn’t know what the left hand is doing. I guess I started receiving emails about a week ago that KBR had not only changed their medical leave policy, they totally did away with it unless you were injured by hostiles (non KBR). I thought it was a joke when I first read it. But it wasn’t. Here is the original email. I did remove email addresses, part of the employee number and the last four of the phone number.

ALCON

The following is in effect immediately:

1. The In Theater Sick Leave (ITSL) program remains in place with up to 7 days in either Dubai or Kuwait for provision of available medical care in theater which is not available at the employee’s worksite (e.g. Iraq or Afghanistan). Taking ITSL must be recommended by the site, concurrence from the PM and then coordinated with the Theater Medical Department and approved by the Deputy Program Manager – Support (DPM-S) or another member of the Senior Leadership Team if the DPM-S is out of theater or otherwise unavailable.

2. Due to current mission support/contract performance requirements across LOGCAP III, No Medical Leave of Absence (MLOA) will be approved for personnel that are not fit for duty UNLESS the person has been injured in an overt hostile act (e.g. IED, rocket attack, bullet wound as a result of insurgent activities, etc). Any request for an MLOA must be generated through site medical, approved by the PM and submitted to the Theater Medical department and approved at the Senior Leadership Team level (DPM-S will generally be the person to sign, Chief of Staff or Executive Director will be the next to approve if the DPM-S is not available).

Note: MLOA will not be approved for conversion from Interim Leave (R&R). If employee is medically unfit to return from R&R, the employee is not fit for duty and will be demobilized in place if the employee is at the employee’s point of origin.

3. If a person is determined NOT to be fit for duty, with the exception of those employees who have been injured in overt hostile acts, the employee will be demobilized back to the employee’s point of origin. Once the employee is fit, the employee may apply for open positions with KBR for which the employee is qualified.

Karen Chillcott
Executive Director
and Acting Deputy Program Manager – Support
LOGCAP III
KBR, Inc.
F-1 ID 43XXX
APO AE 09344
713 445 XXXX (Houston line rings in Iraq)

So, what I think this is saying is….if you are hurt on the job for whatever reason other than hostile actions your S-O-L. So, if you happen to get shocked in the shower and survive….you’re fired. If you get injured on the job, you’re fired. KBR has set the labor movement back 100 years. This is KBR management at it’s best here!! What’s next with KBR chain gangs?

Evidently some KBR manager some where had enough sense to put a stop to this. And sent out this email.

ALCON

The directive below has been rescinded. Please revert back to the procedure and process that was in place prior to this message going out. If you have any questions about the procedure and process, please contact your HR and HSE representative.

Thank you,

David Stallard
Deputy Program Manager – Ops ME/CA
LOGCAP III
KBR/F1
ID# 433XX
APO, AE 09344
Office Phone: 713-445-XXXX
(email address removed)@kbr.com

But, I have to ask “Who’s driving the KBR bus? Who’s in charge? What was the purpose? Was this just the weekly employee ‘chain yank’?”

At least it was rescinded. But…it should have never gone out to begin with.

Ms Sparky

Posted in LOGCAP III - KBR. Tags: David Stallard, Employee Issues-KBR, Karen Chillcott. 19 Comments »

KBR’s Process For Returning Deceased Employees To The US

Posted on: March 8th, 2009 at 11:41 am — by Ms Sparky

We would like to talk to surviving family members of KBR employees who died in Iraq, Afghanistan or Kuwait, either of hostile action or of natural causes such as heart attack.

We are looking for information about the process KBR uses to transport the deceased back to the United States and then on to their final destination.

My most sincere condolences to the family and friends of not only deceased KBR employees but any contractor who have died in support of our troops.

Ms Sparky

Posted in LOGCAP III - KBR. Tags: KBR. 3 Comments »

Oregon veteran disabled by Iraq’s ‘Agent Orange’

Posted on: March 8th, 2009 at 10:57 am — by Ms Sparky

KBR is accused of ignoring both a United Nations report and its own employees’ warnings about the danger. A classic example of KBR’s total disregard for the safety of not only their client but their own employees.

Oregon veteran disabled by Iraq’s ‘Agent Orange’

by Julie Sullivan, The Oregonian
Saturday March 07, 2009, 4:40 PM

The soldiers worried about Saddam Hussein loyalists, not the dust.

Dust coated the Oregon Army National Guardsmen’s combat boots and caked their skin as they protected Halliburton KBR contractors restoring oil flow in Iraq in 2003. Dust poofed from the soldiers’ uniforms as they crowded into vans at the end of the day and shared tents at night.

When the dust blew onto Spc. Larry Roberta’s ready-to-eat meal, he rinsed the chicken patty with his canteen water and ate it.

Six months later, doctors discovered the flap into Roberta’s stomach had disintegrated. Six years later, the Marine and former police officer can no longer walk to the mailbox or work.

Another Oregon soldier, Sgt. Nicholas Thomas, died of complications of leukemia at age 21. Three others have reported lung problems to headquarters. Five more told The Oregonian they suffer chronic coughs, rashes and immune system disorders.

The same Oregon Guard soldiers who went into Iraq without adequate body armor or up-armored Humvees face another dubious first: exposure to hexavalent chromium, which greatly increases their risk of cancer and other diseases. It was in the orange and yellow dust spread over half the Qarmat Ali water treatment plant by fleeing Saddam supporters.

Scientists call the carcinogen a Trojan horse because the damage may not be immediately obvious. Over time, people can develop different cancers, breathing problems, stomach ulcers or damage to the digestive tract.

“This is our Agent Orange,” says Scott Ashby, who served in the Oregon Guard. (Click HERE to read the entire article)

Ms Sparky

Posted in A Soldiers Story, Lawsuits Against KBR, Media Coverage, RIO-KBR, Sodium Dichromate @ Qarmat Ali. Tags: Indiana National Guard, KBR, Larry Roberta, LAWSUITS, Lawsuits Against KBR, Oregon National Guard, Qarmat Ali, RIO-KBR, Senator Byron Dorgan*, Senator Evan Bayh*, Senator Ron Wyden*, Sodium Dichromate. 1 Comment »

The Death of Navy Petty Officer David Cedergren

Posted on: March 5th, 2009 at 11:47 am — by Ms Sparky

We are looking for more information regarding the death of Navy Petty Officer David Cedergren.

Below are excerpts from a February 2009 AP article. (Click HERE to read the entire article)

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class David A. Cedergren, 25, of Saint Paul, Minn., died Sept. 11, 2004, while showering at his base at Camp Iskandariyah, Iraq. His family was told he died of natural causes.

Late last year, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology changed the manner of Cedergren’s death to “accidental,” caused by electrocution and inflammation of the heart. The Naval Criminal Investigative Services has reopened an investigation into his death, Ed Buice, a NCIS spokesman, said Monday.

Cedergren—a medic—was found in an outdoor shower stall in Camp Iskandariyah, Iraq, not breathing and without a pulse.

Did KBR have the Operations & Maintenance (O&M) on this facility? They say no!! I say….I DON’T TRUST KBR!!!

If you have any information about ANY circumstances surrounding the death of David Cedergren click HERE to email me.

Ms Sparky

Posted in A Soldiers Story, David Cedergren-US Navy, Electrocutions/Shocks. Tags: Electrocutions/Shocks. 1 Comment »

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