http://mssparky.com Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:34:46 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 http://mssparky.com/2011/10/hearing-are-government-contractors-exploiting-workers-overseas/ http://mssparky.com/2011/10/hearing-are-government-contractors-exploiting-workers-overseas/#comments Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:33:35 +0000 Ms Sparky http://mssparky.com/?p=26002 Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky" Witnesses Panel I Ms. Liana Wyler, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service Mr. David Isenberg, Independent Analyst and Writer Mr. Nick Schwellenbach, Director of Investigations, Project on Government Oversight Mr. Sam W. McCahon, Founder McCahon Law Panel II The Honorable Kenneth P. Moorefield, Deputy Inspector General for [...] Other related posts from Ms Sparky:

1. Poor Contracting Oversight Supports Human Trafficking; Erodes U.S. “Moral Standing”
2. Organized Labor Wants To Help U.S. Workers Overseas
3. TIPs for the DoJ on filing their case against KBR (Updated 5/3/2011)

]]> http://mssparky.com/2011/10/hearing-are-government-contractors-exploiting-workers-overseas/feed/ 10 http://mssparky.com/2011/09/fluor-drops-protest-of-500-million-kbr-iraq-support-contract/ http://mssparky.com/2011/09/fluor-drops-protest-of-500-million-kbr-iraq-support-contract/#comments Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:02:40 +0000 Forseti http://mssparky.com/?p=25530 Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky" Tony Capaccio – (Bloomberg) – September 30, 2011 – Fluor Corp. (FLR) has dropped a protest filed last month with the Government Accountability Office challenging a $500 million award to KBR Inc. (KBR) for a logistics support contract in Iraq, according to KBR and a government [...] Other related posts from Ms Sparky:

1. Will Dyncorp and Fluor protest the CTP task order award for LOGCAP IV
2. KBR will not protest LOGCAP IV contract awards in Afghanistan
3. Fluor awarded $21M contract in Iraq

]]> http://mssparky.com/2011/09/fluor-drops-protest-of-500-million-kbr-iraq-support-contract/feed/ 0 http://mssparky.com/2011/08/windfalls-of-war-kbr-the-governments-concierge/ http://mssparky.com/2011/08/windfalls-of-war-kbr-the-governments-concierge/#comments Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:47:28 +0000 Ms Sparky http://mssparky.com/?p=24967 Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky" KBR’s umbrella contract to provide everything from showers to rebuilding airfields tops $37 billion. “It’s like a gigantic monopoly,” says one critic. After a decade of war, KBR’s umbrella contract tops $37 billion Sharon Weinberger – (The Center for Public Integrity – iWatch News) – August [...] Other related posts from Ms Sparky:

1. Army’s LOGCAP contract is epic failure
2. KBR Loses Afghanistan to Fluor & Dyncorp
3. KBR’s LOGCAP III contract extended in Iraq LOGCAP IV task orders canceled

]]> http://mssparky.com/2011/08/windfalls-of-war-kbr-the-governments-concierge/feed/ 4 http://mssparky.com/2011/07/fluor-employee-victim-of-brutal-rape-at-fob-shank-in-afghanistan-dies-in-germany/ http://mssparky.com/2011/07/fluor-employee-victim-of-brutal-rape-at-fob-shank-in-afghanistan-dies-in-germany/#comments Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:23:19 +0000 Ms Sparky http://mssparky.com/?p=23901 Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky" This post has been edited to correct errors in the original that reported the victim had died in Germany of her injuries.-Yes, sometimes I get it wrong too. Ms Sparky-July 26, 2011 I’ve just learned there’s been a brutal rape and death at FOB Shank in [...] Other related posts from Ms Sparky:

1. KBR attorneys attempt to discredit victim of brutal rape
2. Jury hears tearful testimony from KBR rape victim (Updated w/video)
3. The Grinch has stolen Christmas dinner for some Fluor employees in Afghanistan (updated 12/25/2010)

]]> http://mssparky.com/2011/07/fluor-employee-victim-of-brutal-rape-at-fob-shank-in-afghanistan-dies-in-germany/feed/ 133 http://mssparky.com/2011/03/word-of-the-day-clawback-commission-hearing-march-28-2011/ http://mssparky.com/2011/03/word-of-the-day-clawback-commission-hearing-march-28-2011/#comments Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:54:55 +0000 Forseti http://mssparky.com/?p=21273 Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky" Nothing starts the week out better than a good cup of coffee and listening to the Commission on Wartime Contracting grilling a witness on the ineptitudes of wartime contractors.  It makes it worthwhile to get up on Monday morning, when you can turn on C-Span, with [...] Other related posts from Ms Sparky:

1. Commission on Wartime Contracting Hearing June 7, 2011
2. Commission On Wartime Contracting Hearing September 14, 2009 Video
3. Commission on Wartime Contracting Aug 11, 2009 Hearing Videos

]]> http://mssparky.com/2011/03/word-of-the-day-clawback-commission-hearing-march-28-2011/feed/ 0 http://mssparky.com/2011/02/tips-for-the-doj-on-filing-their-case-against-kbr/ http://mssparky.com/2011/02/tips-for-the-doj-on-filing-their-case-against-kbr/#comments Mon, 28 Feb 2011 11:14:13 +0000 Ms Sparky http://mssparky.com/?p=20408 Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky" Updated 5-3-2011: It appears Yuksel Construction Company, the KBR subcontractor at the center of this investigation, may be providing the DoJ with an abundance of pertinent information. Yuksel contacted the DoJ and according to the most recent motion “Yuksel presented additional factual information bearing on the [...] Other related posts from Ms Sparky:

1. Hearing: Are Government Contractors Exploiting Workers Overseas? or Does the end justify the means? (updated 11-2-2011)
2. US court denies key petition by Kuwait’s Agility (Updated 07-22-2011)
3. Lt. General Paul Cerjan dies in Florida at age 72 (Updated 05/01/2011 W/Obituary)

]]> http://mssparky.com/2011/02/tips-for-the-doj-on-filing-their-case-against-kbr/feed/ 14 http://mssparky.com/2011/01/armys-logcap-contract-is-epic-failure/ http://mssparky.com/2011/01/armys-logcap-contract-is-epic-failure/#comments Sat, 08 Jan 2011 15:46:56 +0000 Ms Sparky http://mssparky.com/?p=19268 Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

"Army contracting officials did not properly manage this contract, instructed the contractor to perform work outside the scope of the contract, and did not provide adequate oversight and surveillance," the report stated. Other related posts from Ms Sparky:

1. KBR’s LOGCAP III contract extended in Iraq LOGCAP IV task orders canceled
2. LOGCAP IV for Dummies (Updated 05-27-2010)
3. KBR will not protest LOGCAP IV contract awards in Afghanistan

]]> http://mssparky.com/2011/01/armys-logcap-contract-is-epic-failure/feed/ 7 http://mssparky.com/2010/12/the-grinch-as-stolen-christmas-dinner-for-some-flour-employees-in-afghanistan/ http://mssparky.com/2010/12/the-grinch-as-stolen-christmas-dinner-for-some-flour-employees-in-afghanistan/#comments Sat, 18 Dec 2010 14:41:23 +0000 Ms Sparky http://mssparky.com/?p=18151 Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky" I have had several complaints from around Afghanistan that by the time many American expats from Fluor were allowed to go to the Dining Facility (DFAC) at 4pm on Thanksgiving Day there was little to no food left.  Some were issued Meals Ready to Eat (MRE’s) [...] Other related posts from Ms Sparky:

1. Dyncorp & DRS Technology employees killed in Afghanistan (Updated 9/13/2010)
2. Fluor employee victim of brutal rape at FOB Shank in Afghanistan (updated)
3. Fluor awarded LOGCAP IV Task Order for Haiti-Jobs Canceled (updated 4/29/2010)

]]> http://mssparky.com/2010/12/the-grinch-as-stolen-christmas-dinner-for-some-flour-employees-in-afghanistan/feed/ 47 http://mssparky.com/2010/11/thou-shalt-not-lie-someone-needs-to-tell-the-pentagon/ http://mssparky.com/2010/11/thou-shalt-not-lie-someone-needs-to-tell-the-pentagon/#comments Tue, 02 Nov 2010 13:20:43 +0000 Ms Sparky http://mssparky.com/?p=16819 Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky" Anatomy of a Pentagon Lie Kelley B. Vlahos – November 1, 2010 – Antiwar.com It shouldn’t startle anyone to find that the Pentagon has blatantly ignored a congressional mandate to start reducing its use of burn pits at U.S. bases overseas. It was only a year [...] Other related posts from Ms Sparky:

1. Pentagon promises study on burn pits
2. Senate DPC schedules hearing on Burn Pit issues for Nov 6
3. Former Soldier Sues KBR Over Health Concerns

]]> http://mssparky.com/2010/11/thou-shalt-not-lie-someone-needs-to-tell-the-pentagon/feed/ 0 http://mssparky.com/2010/10/david-isenberg-this-waste-really-hurts/ http://mssparky.com/2010/10/david-isenberg-this-waste-really-hurts/#comments Sat, 16 Oct 2010 14:07:06 +0000 Forseti http://mssparky.com/?p=16316 Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky" October 15, 2010 – As this is something I have written on previously it seems appropriate to note that today the U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report on open-air burn pits in Afghanistan and Iraq.  U.S. forces generate a lot of waste. According to the [...] Other related posts from Ms Sparky:

1. David Isenberg: Supporting the Troops: Making Them Sick
2. David Isenberg – KBR: Failing Upwards
3. David Isenberg: KBR is Asking for It

]]> http://mssparky.com/2010/10/david-isenberg-this-waste-really-hurts/feed/ 6 http://mssparky.com/2010/08/the-struggle-to-police-foreign-subcontractors-in-iraq-and-afghanistan/ http://mssparky.com/2010/08/the-struggle-to-police-foreign-subcontractors-in-iraq-and-afghanistan/#comments Sun, 29 Aug 2010 17:14:17 +0000 Forseti http://mssparky.com/?p=15335 Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky" Billions at Stake, but U.S. Investigators Stymied by Murky Rules, Enforcement Obstacles By Nick Schwellenbach – August 29, 2010 To win hearts and minds in Afghanistan and Iraq, military experts want U.S. companies to contract with local firms for a variety of tasks like trucking, feeding [...] Other related posts from Ms Sparky:

1. Police Trainer, Brett Benton Killed In Afghanistan
2. Foreign National Guards Not Protecting US Troops In Iraq
3. Dyncorp employee Gary Willard killed in attack on Afghanistan Police Training Facility-Updated

]]> http://mssparky.com/2010/08/the-struggle-to-police-foreign-subcontractors-in-iraq-and-afghanistan/feed/ 10 http://mssparky.com/2010/07/forecast-for-logcap-jobs-continued-above-average-growth/ http://mssparky.com/2010/07/forecast-for-logcap-jobs-continued-above-average-growth/#comments Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:17:35 +0000 Bruce Diggs http://mssparky.com/?p=14705 Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky" The infrastructure supporting the civilian army now slated to wage a war thought from the beginning to last only a short time, will require a continuation of Civilian Contractor’s on the Battlefield albeit on a smaller scale – initially.  Although then President George W. Bush declared [...] Other related posts from Ms Sparky:

1. Fluor awarded LOGCAP IV Task Order for Haiti-Jobs Canceled (updated 4/29/2010)
2. KBR Cancels Jobs For LOGCAP
3. KBR’s LOGCAP III contract extended in Iraq LOGCAP IV task orders canceled

]]> http://mssparky.com/2010/07/forecast-for-logcap-jobs-continued-above-average-growth/feed/ 1 http://mssparky.com/2010/07/cwc-hearing-subcontracting-whos-minding-the-store/ http://mssparky.com/2010/07/cwc-hearing-subcontracting-whos-minding-the-store/#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2010 05:09:26 +0000 Ms Sparky http://mssparky.com/?p=14654 Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky" On July 26, 2010 the Commission on Wartime Contracting co-chaired by Commissioners Christopher Shays and Michael J. Thibault held a hearing on subcontracting risks in combat zones entitled Subcontracting: Who’s Minding the Store? I think this Commission could be one of the best things that has [...] Other related posts from Ms Sparky:

1. Subcontracting Substandard Services: Military Contracts in Iraq Still Controversial
2. Saudi firm won’t turn over records to Pentagon in bribery probe
3. The Struggle to Police Foreign Subcontractors in Iraq and Afghanistan

]]> http://mssparky.com/2010/07/cwc-hearing-subcontracting-whos-minding-the-store/feed/ 15 http://mssparky.com/2010/06/david-isenberg-the-perils-of-logcap-job-seeking/ http://mssparky.com/2010/06/david-isenberg-the-perils-of-logcap-job-seeking/#comments Thu, 01 Jul 2010 01:11:49 +0000 Forseti http://mssparky.com/?p=13958 Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky" I have often mentioned the logistics side of private military contracting. It would be difficult not to, as it constitutes the overwhelming share of the industry And when you talk about logistics work, at least for the American military, you can’t avoid talking about LOGCAP, the [...] Other related posts from Ms Sparky:

1. David Isenberg – KBR: Failing Upwards
2. David Isenberg: DCMA and Contractor Oversight
3. You Want Chicken Pox With That? by David Isenberg

]]> http://mssparky.com/2010/06/david-isenberg-the-perils-of-logcap-job-seeking/feed/ 42 http://mssparky.com/2010/05/the-pentagon-take-a-hard-line-on-mandatory-arbitration-for-crimes-against-contractor-employees/ http://mssparky.com/2010/05/the-pentagon-take-a-hard-line-on-mandatory-arbitration-for-crimes-against-contractor-employees/#comments Mon, 24 May 2010 13:56:34 +0000 Ms Sparky http://mssparky.com/?p=13277 Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky" Defense implements sexual assault rule By Robert Brodsky May 20, 2010 Companies that restrict victims of alleged sexual assault from pursuing legal action will not be eligible for future Defense Department contracts. On Wednesday, the department published an interim rule in the Federal Register that implements [...] Other related posts from Ms Sparky:

1. Defense contractors cringe at the thought the Pentagon will track the assault of their employees
2. KBR won’t get paid for abusing it’s employees anymore!
3. Contractor Crime – Is it finally impacting their bottom line? This week’s updates

]]> http://mssparky.com/2010/05/the-pentagon-take-a-hard-line-on-mandatory-arbitration-for-crimes-against-contractor-employees/feed/ 0 http://mssparky.com/2010/05/attack-on-kandahar-airfield-injures-soldiers-and-civilians/ http://mssparky.com/2010/05/attack-on-kandahar-airfield-injures-soldiers-and-civilians/#comments Sun, 23 May 2010 18:19:36 +0000 Ms Sparky http://mssparky.com/?p=13266 Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky" Officials assess Kandahar Airfield attack Sun May 23, 6:17 AM By The Canadian Press KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – The International Security Assistance Force is assessing a brazen nighttime insurgent attack on Kandahar Airfield that injured civilians and military personnel. At least five rockets and mortars were fired [...] Other related posts from Ms Sparky:

1. Bagram Airfield attack kills U.S. contractor – Bryan Farr
2. Two Dyncorp employees killed at Kandahar
3. U.S. Army Contractor Pleads Guilty to Assault in Relation to Stabbing at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan

]]> http://mssparky.com/2010/05/attack-on-kandahar-airfield-injures-soldiers-and-civilians/feed/ 2 http://mssparky.com/2010/05/kbrs-logcap-iii-contract-extended-in-iraq-logcap-iv-task-orders-canceled/ http://mssparky.com/2010/05/kbrs-logcap-iii-contract-extended-in-iraq-logcap-iv-task-orders-canceled/#comments Fri, 07 May 2010 03:20:49 +0000 Ms Sparky http://mssparky.com/?p=12860 Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky" LOGCAP III Task Order continues support in Iraq May 5, 2010 By ASC Public Affairs The U.S. Army has announced that it will continue the LOGCAP III contract to provide life support services to U.S. Forces in Iraq until the scheduled withdrawal of those forces is [...] Other related posts from Ms Sparky:

1. Fluor awarded LOGCAP IV Task Order for Haiti-Jobs Canceled (updated 4/29/2010)
2. KBR Not Allowed To Bid On LOGCAP IV Task Orders?
3. KBR awarded $2.3B LOGCAP IV task order in Iraq after poor performance evaluation (updated 02/28/2010)

]]> http://mssparky.com/2010/05/kbrs-logcap-iii-contract-extended-in-iraq-logcap-iv-task-orders-canceled/feed/ 76 http://mssparky.com/2010/05/kbrs-bill-bodie-resigns-good-f-ing-riddance/ http://mssparky.com/2010/05/kbrs-bill-bodie-resigns-good-f-ing-riddance/#comments Thu, 06 May 2010 15:21:06 +0000 Ms Sparky http://mssparky.com/?p=12843 Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky" Good riddance! I had to establish a whole new category when Bodie started his public campaign of villainizing victims of KBR incompetence and corruption. I called it Bodie Babble. He actually had the ballz to write op-ed article for news papers around the country supporting KBR’s [...] Other related posts from Ms Sparky:

1. Bill Bodie in the KBR litter box…..again!
2. Watch out Parsons employees, here comes babblin’ Bill (Bodie)
3. KBR’s Bill Bodie babbles in Yankton

]]> http://mssparky.com/2010/05/kbrs-bill-bodie-resigns-good-f-ing-riddance/feed/ 17 http://mssparky.com/2010/04/102k-dod-contractors-in-iraq-over-half-are-third-country-nationals/ http://mssparky.com/2010/04/102k-dod-contractors-in-iraq-over-half-are-third-country-nationals/#comments Sat, 01 May 2010 00:44:53 +0000 Ms Sparky http://mssparky.com/?p=12651 Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky" If you have been reading “Ms Sparky” very long you know how I feel about the massive hiring of third country nationals (TCN’s) from SE Asia. This practice encourages human trafficking that appears to go unchecked. Many of these TCN’s were recruited under false pretenses and [...] Other related posts from Ms Sparky:

1. KBR And Their Third Country National Slaves
2. US Gov contractors have 20 days to get those illegal workers out of Iraq(update #3)
3. Contractors in Iraq are hidden casualties of war

]]> http://mssparky.com/2010/04/102k-dod-contractors-in-iraq-over-half-are-third-country-nationals/feed/ 5 http://mssparky.com/2010/04/defense-contractors-and-their-sex-crimes-go-unreported-and-unpunished/ http://mssparky.com/2010/04/defense-contractors-and-their-sex-crimes-go-unreported-and-unpunished/#comments Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:18:33 +0000 Ms Sparky http://mssparky.com/?p=12392 Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

Ms Sparky - is a post from: "Ms Sparky" David Isenberg: PMC and Sex Crimes David Isenberg – Huffington Post Author, Shadow Force: Private Security Contractors in Iraq (Praeger Security International) Posted: April 21, 2010 12:07 PM On April 16 the Department of Defense Inspector General released a report that nobody has been talking about. [...] Other related posts from Ms Sparky:

1. It’s no wonder the Pentagon won’t deal with Defense contractors and sex crimes
2. Defense contractors cringe at the thought the Pentagon will track the assault of their employees
3. Defense contractors must now air dirty deeds in public

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