» Politics

What happened to KBR’s Bill Walter and Michael Hatch?

Ms Sparky — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:30:07 +0000

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky" Last weekend I got my first hint there was something amiss at KBR Headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. (we all know there is something amiss with KBR…..I mean something specific!) I was told that allegedly Mr. William “Bill” Walter and Mr. Michael Hatch were no longer employed by [...]

Senator warns against $1B deal with Blackwater

Ms Sparky — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:20:07 +0000

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky" By ANNE FLAHERTY (AP) WASHINGTON — A senior Senate Democrat said Thursday the Pentagon should consider barring Blackwater, now called Xe Services, from a new $1 billion deal to train Afghan police because of “serious questions” about the contractor’s conduct. The comments by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl [...]

David Isenberg: Would Blackwater Lie?

Ms Sparky — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:13:17 +0000

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky" David Isenberg – Huffington Post Author, Shadow Force: Private Security Contractors in Iraq (Praeger Security International) Posted: March 4, 2010 01:19 PM The title is not an attempt at facetiousness. It is a genuinely serious question. The reason I ask is that Politico’s Laura Rozen has just [...]

Not so fast KBR – Lawmakers demand answers from Pentagon

Forseti — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:13:40 +0000

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky" Lawmakers challenge Army decisions on KBR By Andrea Shalal-Esa – 7:31pm EST WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives on Wednesday questioned the Army’s continued use of KBR Inc for logistics work in Iraq in the face of confirmed reports of poor past performance. Representative Edolphus [...]

Army decision to deny millions in bonuses to KBR is “Right call, but only fist step”

Ms Sparky — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:15:23 +0000

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky" American Chronicle – Congressional Desk February 26, 2010 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), who chaired Senate hearings on electrocutions of soldiers in Iraq resulting from shoddy contracting work by KBR, said Thursday the Army´s decision to deny million of dollars in bonuses to the firm for [...]

KBR adds another retired General to its ranks @ $650.00 an hour

Ms Sparky — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:09:21 +0000

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky" Army tries to halt retired general’s work as KBR expert By MARY FLOOD HOUSTON CHRONICLE – Feb. 25, 2010 The U.S. Army is trying to stop retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, who once led U.S. forces in Iraq, from continuing to be an expert for KBR in a lawsuit [...]

The KBR killing fields subsidized by US tax dollars

Ms Sparky — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:35:44 +0000

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky" Why did Sgt. Thomas die? By Matthew Hansen – Staff Writer Omaha World Herald – February 21, 2010 Sgt. Klayton Thomas looked every bit the poster boy Marine as he strode into a military hospital last September to get his back checked. He taught karate and earned his abs in the [...]

Iraq tells former Blackwater employees, “You have seven days!”

Ms Sparky — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:39:47 +0000

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky" Iraq orders former Blackwater security guards out Published: 2/10/10, 4:46 PM EDT By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA BAGHDAD (AP) – Iraq has ordered hundreds of private security guards linked to Blackwater Worldwide to leave the country within seven days or face possible arrest on visa violations, the interior minister said Wednesday. The order [...]

Murder plots, corruption & Bodie seeks salvation

Forseti — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:11:35 +0000

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky" He that lieth down with Dogs, shall rise up with Fleas. ~Benjamin Franklin This Week in Government Contracting: Here is a rundown on some noteworthy happenings in the world of defense contracting, that occurred this week. I am beginning to believe that there is no such thing as honesty and integrity [...]

Defense contractors to DoD – “The taxman is calling; it’s for you”

Forseti — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:01:13 +0000

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky" Contractors ask DoD to reimburse offshore payroll taxes By ELISE CASTELLI | Jan 27, 2010 In 2008, Congress passed a law to force contractors to pay payroll taxes for employees who are U.S. citizens working for their offshore subsidiaries. The IRS is collecting more taxes as a result, but [...]

Uncle Sam wants you…..to pay your damn taxes or “No contracts for you!”

Ms Sparky — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:51:51 +0000

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky" It would be nice if these multi-billion dollar defense contractors had to follow the same laws the rest of us do!! Obama cracking down on contractor tax cheats January 20, 2010 at 9:09 AM WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is ordering a new crackdown on federal contractors who don’t [...]

KBR and the Pentagon breathe sigh of relief at Dorgan’s announcement

Ms Sparky — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:45:37 +0000

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky" As the Chairman of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee since 1999, Senator Dorgan and been a thorn in KBR’s side ever since he started investigating and holding hearings into KBR’s fraud, waste and abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan. This Senator has held a total of 21 hearings [...]

Pregnant Soldiers in War Zone Won’t be Punished

Ms Sparky — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:40:35 +0000

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky" Top U.S. General in Iraq, Countermanding Subordinate, Rescinds Order to Punish Pregnant Soldiers By SARAH NETTER and LUIS MARTINEZ Dec. 25, 2009 The top U.S. commander in Iraq rescinded a controversial order by a subordinate general intended to punish soldiers who became pregnant while serving in a war zone. Army general [...]

Yes, KBR, Congress is Talking About You-Huffington Post

Ms Sparky — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 14:43:48 +0000

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky" Another insightful story from The Huffington Post! Well done!! To read any of the 100’s of post I have publish on KBR just pick a category on the left! David Isenberg – Huffington Post Author, Shadow Force: Private Security Contractors in Iraq Posted: December 26, 2009 03:29 PM Although it was [...]

Obama tightens reins on contractors

Forseti — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:57:13 +0000

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky" By: Mike Allen December 21, 2009 10:23 AM EST Ahead of remarks Monday by President Barack Obama about making government more efficient and effective, the White House Office of Management and Budget released details of the administration’s drive to tighten the government’s contracting practices. “This is a situation that [...]

Iraq accuses Iran of seizing oil well near border

Ms Sparky — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:13:43 +0000

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky" By REBECCA SANTANA, Associated Press Writer BAGHDAD (AP) – Iranian forces crossed into Iraq and seized an oil well just over the two countries’ disputed border, Iraq’s government said Friday, prompting a protest from Baghdad and providing a dramatic display of the sometimes tenuous relations between the wary [...]

Franken amendment moves forward, the “dirty thirty” back pedal

Forseti — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:09:17 +0000

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky" Rape case to influence rules for contractors By JENNIFER A. DLOUHY Houston Chronicle Dec. 16, 2009, 7:39PM WASHINGTON— Prompted by the alleged rape of former KBR employee Jamie Leigh Jones, Congress is poised to pass a measure banning defense contractors from forcing employees to use arbitration to resolve claims of discrimination [...]

DoD contractors can no longer rape, plunder and pillage

Ms Sparky — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:54:47 +0000

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky" In a memorandum dated December 14, 2009, Director of Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy, Shay D. Assad has directed a Class Deviation be effective immediately. (click HERE for memo) This Class Deviation, Additional Contractor Requirements and Responsibilities Related to Alleged Crimes By or Against Contractor Personnel in Iraq [...]

CIA out-sourced kidnappings and hits to Blackwater?

Ms Sparky — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:12:36 +0000

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky" Blackwater Guards Tied to Secret C.I.A. Raids By JAMES RISEN and MARK MAZZETTI New York Times Published: December 10, 2009 WASHINGTON — Private security guards from Blackwater Worldwide participated in some of the C.I.A.’s most sensitive activities — clandestine raids with agency officers against people suspected of being insurgents in Iraq [...]

Lt. Col. James “Jim” Gentry dies at age 52

Ms Sparky — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:47:03 +0000

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky"

- is a post from: "Ms Sparky" (See Funeral Notice update below) Sadly, I have learned Lt. Col James “Jim” Gentry has lost his battle with cancer and has died in Indiana at the young age of 52. Gentry was diagnosed with cancer in 2006. A cancer he felt was caused by his exposure to [...]