In typical Bill Bodie style…..he issued ANOTHER whiny editorial to a newspaper in the jurisdiction and might I add jury pool of the West Virginia National Guard. The same National Guardsman who have filed suit against KBR for knowingly exposing them to sodium dichromate at Qarmat Ali in Iraq in 2003. Bodie pulled this same shit in Pittsburgh when he sent an editorial about how KBR was not responsible for the electrocution death of SSG Ryan Maseth. (click HERE) He has to send editorials because the main stream media doesn’t take KBR statement seriously. Bodie wasn’t even working for KBR when this happened. He didn’t start working for KBR until March of 2005. So anything he has to say is hearsay at best. Just another pathetic attempt by Bodie to cover up KBR shit in the KBR litter box. He is turning in to quite the KBR “bobble head” doll. Maybe KBR could market Bill Bodie and Heather Browne as a set!! I guess I am going to have to add a new post category called “Bodie’s Bull Shit” or “More Mindless Drivel” I haven’t decided.
William C. Bodie: KBR handled Iraq site (Qarmat Ali) safely
October 16, 2009
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — As the old saying goes, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts. Recent media coverage on lawsuits filed against KBR alleging military personnel were sickened because of long-term exposure to sodium dichromate at Qarmat Ali, an Iraqi water treatment plant, has been so erroneous that it is time to set the record straight.
It is important to understand that the chemical in question — sodium dichromate, which is used as an anti-corrosive agent in industrial enterprises, was left behind at the Qarmat Ali plant by Iraqi staff upon vacating the site in the wake of Saddam Hussein’s overthrow in 2003. No remedial action was taken to clean up the site prior to KBR’s arrival in support of U.S. forces. KBR was not hired to do an environmental assessment of the facility and was told the site was free of environment hazards prior to starting work.
One erroneous assertion is that KBR discovered the presence of sodium dichromate at Qarmat Ali and took no precautionary action. In fact, immediately after we became aware of potential contamination from sodium dichromate in the plant, KBR began working with the military to conduct air and soil testing at the site and posted signs in English and Arabic to advise of the presence of the chemical. In October 2003, The U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventative Medicine issued a report noting that KBR effectively minimized exposure at the site.
Moreover, the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine conducted extensive testing on military personnel who were stationed at the site to determine any exposure levels. The testing showed that no troops were harmed and that they were unlikely to develop future injury from any limited exposure they received while in Iraq.
The results were further reviewed and confirmed by the Defense Health Board of the Department of Defense. The British military reached similar conclusions regarding their own troops. KBR’s testing also found no measurable exposure and no indication of injury. The troops were on the site an average of 18 days, and the scientific literature indicates that this amount of exposure is insufficient to cause long-term health effects. There is no evidence linking any injury to chemical exposure at the water treatment facility.
KBR remains committed to a fact-based dialogue on this issue. We will also continue our historic practice of working fully and cooperatively with the government on this matter.
Since 2003, KBR has supported the U.S. military in Iraq, providing life-support services such as meals and laundry and mail service to our troops. KBR remains proud of the work it performs and we intend to continue our vigorous defense on this issue, on behalf of the more than 50,000 dedicated employees who work tirelessly for KBR in Iraq and Afghanistan at great sacrifice to themselves and their families.
Bodie is president of KBR’s North American Government and Defense Unit.(Link to original article)
Perhaps there should be a law on the books regarding (Attempting to Influence a Jury Pool.
Does KBR have a Special Program they send potential or current employees to – kinda like a bootcamp of sorts – where these folks are INDOCTRINATED – Brainwashed into thinking like Bodie and other high ranking KBR dictators? I know that many people have gone to be indoctrinated by the Taliban or Al-Quieda to do the bidding of Osama Bin Laden and his next in command – training camps to Enhance their mindset, physical training, methods of terrorism, even committing death by suicide while putting on a vest laden with explosives, thereby taking out many innocent victims. These people do the dirty work while the upper levels sit back and watch their handy work unfold. Then they probably say – I can’t believe these IDIOTS actually do what we tell them. These people have a hidden agenda by recruiting the poor, homeless, mentally disturbed, or weak-minded to achieve their goals.
Now – what- if any is the difference in KBR’s employees doing the dirty deeds for people like Bodie (falling on the knife)and paying the ultimate concequence, and those that do the bidding of Osama Bin Laden? Is there a parallel between (some of KBR’s follower’s that pay the price – like Radcliff) and the insurgent suicide bombers?
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Interesting comparison. I think the KBR boot camp is call “Orientation” and it’s located in Houston. I think the problem is that most people (typical KBR employee) truly believes they are dong the right thing and that everything KBR is telling them is the truth. I don’t believe anyone goes over to Iraq or Afghanistan planning on braking the law for KBR. They just get groomed into it. The next thing you know they are taking short cuts because it has always been OK. They are taking bribes because everyone is doing it and it’s always been OK.
Then someone dies, or gets sick or some gets caught and KBR claims no knowledge and throws them under the bus. Most of these people are just normal people who succumbed to the “It’s mission essential…we have to get this done now!” demands of their management.
Seems KBR rewards public sniveling:
KBR Announces Appointment of North American Government and Defense President
Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:21am EDT
HOUSTON–(Business Wire)–
KBR (NYSE: KBR) today announced that William C. Bodie has been appointed
President of KBR`s North American and Defense business. This business will be
responsible for KBR`s activities on behalf of U.S. and other North American
government and defense customers.
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS121309+19-Oct-2009+BW20091019
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Well I guess there will be no rest for me now…..that bafoon gives me plenty to write about!
KBR Announces Appointment of International Government and Defence President
2009-10-19 16:48:05 –
KBR (NYSE:KBR) today announced that Andrew Pringle has been appointed President of KBR’s International Government and Defence business. This business will be responsible for non-North American Government and Defence activities, including KBR’s current defence activities for the UK Ministry of Defence and the Australian Department of Defence.
Retiring from the British Army as a Major General in 2001 after a broad range of combatant command and operational staff appointments, Pringle developed a wide-ranging defence related consultancy business serving American, UK and European clients. Since joining KBR in April 2008 Pringle has served as Vice President Government and Defence, Europe Middle East and Africa. He now assumes additional responsibility for KBR’s existing business with the Australian Department of Defence and for the Asian Pacific region. He remains a non-executive director of Allocate (previously Manpower) Software plc.
Pringle has an Honours Degree in Applied Science from The Royal Military College of Science, and is a graduate of the Army Staff College, the Higher Command and Staff Course and The Royal College of Defence Studies.
KBR is a global engineering, construction and services company supporting the energy, hydrocarbon, government services, minerals, civil infrastructure, power and industrial markets.
KBRDirector, CommunicationsHeather Browne, 713-753-3775 heather.browne@kbr.com : mailto:heather.browne@kbr.com orDirector,
Investor RelationsRob Kukla, Jr., 713-753-5082 investors@kbr.com : mailto:investors@kbr.com
http://www.pr-inside.com/kbr-announces-appointment-of-international-governm-r1534811.htm
I recent the comments about the capabilities of the KBR employees that served side by side with our military and the United Nations in Iraq and Afghanistan. I was there. If you were not, you are the ignorant one. This was the first time in our history that anything like this had been done. I could go on and on about the pressures of being there was like (mortor fire, 7 day/12 hr a week, etc…), but the pressure from the US Military was the worst. They threatened KBR constantly and then prevented us from doing what they wanted (yes wanted, not necessarily, needed). I was at D9, where the soldier was electrocuted in the shower a year before it happened. You have no idea how it is there. Special Ops… that should be enough said; but little to no access to most buildings on that camp is what that means. I was home on R & R when he died and the project lead called my personal cell phone to tell me of the terribly sad situation. It killed all KBR employees every one of OUR SOLDIERS died. We saw them come in the gates blown to hell all the time. You guys have no idea unless you have been there. And… if you had and you still feel this way, you stayed too long and became bitter about a no win situation that all Americans have been put in by the war in Iraq!!!
Ms Sparky’ Response:
No one trashes the “boots on the ground” KBR employees here unless you have committed a crime. No one is blaming KBR “boots on the ground” KBR employees for Ryan’s death. Not even his mother. KBR management and the DoD are responsible for Ryan’s death.
And yes I was in Iraq…..the war zone excuse just isn’t good enough. Demanding clients just isn’t a good excuse for doing the wrong thing. A “Work Order” doesn’t make it OK. The DCMA plays a huge part here.
Bill Bodie doesn’t know SQUAT about Qarmat Ali except what KBR tells him to write. I was there! I saw with my own EYES what sodium dichromate did and IS doing the soldiers today. Bill Bodie – you can take your non-patriotic ass back to KBR HQ in Houston and stay there! Better yet – how ’bout you sign on the dotted line like the rest of us did – go out to South Iraq, sit in that shit for 12 hours OR MORE a day, and then come back and tell us if we’re lying. That’s what you’re saying, Bill. Every soldier that was there is a liar, and is allowing ourselves to be manipulated into thinking we’ve been wronged. The fact of the matter is that you’ve never been to South Iraq, and you’ve never been to the contaminated site, so you don’t know shit! PLAIN AND SIMPLE! By the way – your welcome… for the right to sit in front of a computer and call US soldiers liars. I hope you appreciate that right. It was given to you freely.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Thank you for that comment. I couldn’t agree more. I’m sorry you had to be exposed to this toxin and I am sorry that you now have to fight KBR to prove you have been injured and they are at fault. I will continue to blog and publicize this horrible crime.
Thank you for serving!