Comments on: KBR loses $25M in award fee bonuses for poor performance in Iraq (updated)

By: Blackwater or Xe….: A Skunk By Any Other Name Smells Just As Stinky « Streams of consciousness

Sun, 04 Apr 2010 23:22:30 +0000

[...] claims act violations over improper costs for private security in Iraq.” 02/24/10 MS Sparky KBR loses $25M in award fee bonuses for poor performance in Iraq (updated) “They didn’t just lose $25M….they got ZERO! This is a classic example of how one person [...]

By: Ms Sparky

Ms Sparky — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:39:02 +0000

I just updated this post with an email from the LOGCAP III Program Manager Guy LaBoa about the ZERO Award Fee. See above.

By: Ms Sparky

Ms Sparky — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:38:12 +0000

I agree. I always felt bound by my license whether it was applicable in Iraq or not. I took personal accountability for my work. But I have to say, I didn’t care much for the person who ordered the material and consistently used the “or equal” for substitutions. They didn’t have a clue. Material was the cheap knock off garbage!

By: for-what-it's-worth

for-what-it's-worth — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:28:32 +0000

Since so many things have changed in Iraq – regarding accountability to the Iraqi Gov’t. and their laws – now – wouldn’t the responsible parties be held to the Iraqi legal system for crimes committed in their country ( innocent until proven guilty). At the least, I would think KBR should as a corporation fall under the same guidelines when a single person commits a serious crime like – murder, in their country. What do you folks think?

By: lumpy

lumpy — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 05:33:18 +0000

Is it possible for the Army CID to search through the service tickets from KBR about these tragic electrocutions and personally go after the electrical foreman/supervisor who signed off on the completed job?
I think atleast the “electrician” and (I use that term very loosely) should also be accountable for thier work.
I know with my license that I am personally responsible for the work being done under my watch as a master. I think the very least the CID could do would have the local jurisdiction that thier license (if any) was granted, that it is revoked.
I am also happy to see that KBR is losing these bonuses and they never, never should have gotten any from the beginning.

By: original1

original1 — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:46:53 +0000

This is great news! Speaking on behalf of some of the DCMA and original TF Safe members who worked many long hours on the CAR this is long overdue. Remember this CAR left Iraq as a Level 4 and was downgraded to Level 3. This was the correct decision IMO. By leaving Iraq as a Level 4 it showed the severity of the problems with KBR. It had to be downgraded because the result of a Level 4 is immediate termination. This was not a possibility. The correct answer was to show the severity of the problems and force KBR to give a Corrective Action Plan (CAP). This was accomplished however I am not convinced KBR is now being held to this CAP.
I can tell you that many long hours were spent by this team scouring KBR’s own records of work orders requests, CHIMPS, and other reports in their own STEAM system. This is where many of the reports showing their unsafe and incompetent work were generated. From their own reports!
Many hours were spent with CID going over these documents showing CID the incompetence of KBR. Many of the people responsible for awarding these bonuses were not aware of these reports and deficiencies. I am relieved this injustice is being reversed.
One item that needs clarification is the number of electrocutions that were directly KBR responsibility. Half of the electrocutions are from contact with overhead wires etc while on patrol. Of course KBR is not responsible for these unfortunate deaths. The other electrocutions were investigated several times and IMO only SSG Maseth’s unfortunate death is directly related to KBR. However again IMO and many others opinion KBR is absolutely, positively responsible for SSG Maseth’s death. Notice in the report from the investigators they say no one is “criminally” responsible. They do not say KBR’s lack of competent workers and supervisory were not responsible. Just that there was no criminal evidence.

Cheryl Harris is my hero.

By: Justice4all

Justice4all — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:36:50 +0000

Anyone watch the president of Toyota yesterday. He took accountability for his companies failures and apologizes to the victims. It doesn’t take away the fact that many people have died but it does somehow allow the families of those who have died to feel that someone cares that their loved one was killed by a faulty vehicle.

Our American Companies ( KBR, DynCorp, Blackwater, etc.) who have caused injuries such as Ryan’s need to take a lesson from Toyota. Accept responsibility and be accountability for your company!

Denying wrongdoing DOESN’T make the problem go away, especially when the evidence clearly shows fault on behalf of the company. The one thing that everyone I have talked to that has lost a loved one while working for KBR, DynCorp, and Blackwater have been treated like they (the families) are the wrong-doers for suing these companies. The families want ACCOUNTABILITY but what they get is DENIAL of any mistakes/errors/negligence.

KARMA – what comes around goes around and the wrongdoing of many of these large companies is coming around and biting them in the ass!!!

Justice4all

By: Widowmaker

Widowmaker — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:09:26 +0000

My heart goes out to Cheryl Harris and I am so proud of her for pursuing justice for her son Ryan and all the others who were injured or may be injured by contractors performing substandard work.

Has KBR denied all 17 electrocutions because I dont think it is that common to get electrocuted in the shower (you don’t hear about it happening in the US where there is oversight and accountability). The problem is these big contractors are overseas and they think they are untouchable.

I am glad Ms. Harris is reaching out and touching them and if it means taking their money, we all know that is their biggest concern. Hit them where it hurts and that is in the pocketbook!!

To find out that someone caused your loved one’s death (AND DENIES IT COMPLETELY)increases the pain and suffering by 100%. Nothing will bring back Ryan or the others wrongfully killed by negligent contractors (KBR, Blackwater, DyCorp, etc). I hope the pursuit of Justice through the legal system is sucessful and please know that there are many of us standing behind you.

May your heart be filled with love as your memories of Ryan fill you with peace.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 06:08:37 +0000

When I reported my refusal to comply with my foreman demanding that I hook up a piece of equipment to an ungrounded 26,000volt generator, it took two weeks before the supervisor investigated. Had not a seniour ranking army electrician been present and verified the safety hazard and backed up my refusal, I likely would have been written up by the foreman’s “good ‘ol boy” friend, the supervisor who got him to the site, for my refusing a direct order, as threatened. Part of the problem in the war zone with safety violations/hazards is that there is nobody effectively safety-oriented to report to, OSHA has no jurisdiction, and if someone speaks up then frequently they are “axed”/retributed against. So many times I heard, “Yes, that is the way it is supposed to be done…But this is how we do things in Iraq”.

By: Jims Thoughts

Jims Thoughts — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:51:54 +0000

About time and hopefully they will lose all other awards from 2008 to the end of 2009 because up until I left there, there was little to no real attempt to improve skills or professionalism unless the Task Force Safe team found something, if KBR were doing their jobs the TFS team would not have found so many issues and a quick review of work orders would easily identify the worst culprits and how little was done to improve safety and standards.