T Christian Miller on Bill Carlisle and Injured War Contractors

March 12, 2010 — Ms Sparky

Bill Carlisle

T Miller brings to light yet another Injured War Zone Contractor who is about to become homeless due to the unwarranted denial of Defense Base Act insurance benefits by AIG. Bill Carlisle has worked hard his whole life and was working hard when he was injured. Thanks to AIG and the fact no one in Congress or the DoL seems to give a damn, Bill’s home in foreclosure with a sale date within the month.

So what if he eventually gets the payments he is already supposed to be getting? His credit is ruined and he won’t be able to buy another home. He’s just another KBR AIG DBA casualty. AIG and CNA are ruining one life right after another.

Why is the Taxpayer paying for these benefits?

In recent years, the Pentagon has come to increasingly rely on private military contractors to do the work that members of the military used to do. But as the number of civilian contractors has grown, so too has the number of deaths and injuries of those contractors and with it, the cost of paying health care benefits for their injury claims.

T. Christian Miller [1] recently won the Selden Ring Award for Investigative Reporting [2] for his coverage of the numerous obstacles contractors face [3] when they’ve been injured and try to collect benefits. We spoke to him about who is responsible for taking care of injured contractors, the ordeal they have to go through to be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, the role AIG plays in this, contractor suicide rates and how Congress is addressing the problem.

We also hear from one of the people facing the difficulties Miller has documented. Bill Carlisle Jr. was a contractor with defense firm KBR. He sustained both physical and psychological injuries, and is now fighting insurer AIG for the benefits he says they owe him.

Listen to this 17 minute Podcast below

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If you are having problems listening to this Podcast at Ms Sparky you can also listen to it here.

Articles discussed in this podcast:

Injured War Zone Contractors Fight to Get Care From AIG and Other Insurers

The Other Victims of Battlefield Stress; Defense Contractors’ Mental Health Neglected

Injured Abroad, Neglected at Home: Labor Dept. Slow to Help War Zone Contractors

Labor Dept., Congress Plan Improvements to System to Care for Injured War Contractors

Pentagon Study Proposes Overhaul of Defense Base Act to Cover Care for injured Contractors

Originally posted at Defense Base Act Compensation Blog, and Propublica

Contractors “ill-prepared” for consequences of hiring criminals???

February 23, 2010 — Ms Sparky

Franken amendment threatens to take funds from contractors

2010 Defense Appropriations Act provision witholds money from contractors using employee arbitration clauses

By Matthew Weigelt • Feb 22, 2010

Contractors, particularly large defense companies, are ill-prepared for a provision of the 2010 Defense Appropriations Act that stops funds from going to companies that require employees sign arbitration clauses.

Known as the Franken amendment for its sponsor Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), the provision gets the federal government more deeply involved in the employer-employee relationship at defense contractors and other companies.

The amendment, which went into effect Feb. 17, prohibits a contractor or subcontractor from receiving any government money in fiscal 2010 if they require employees or independent contractors to sign arbitration clauses. The amendment also bans defense companies from enforcing any existing agreements.

Arbitration is a process by which two parties, such as an employer and an employee, go to a third party to resolve a conflict. It’s a step away from a lawsuit. (Read the rest of the story here…)

David Isenberg: KBR is Asking for It

February 9, 2010 — Ms Sparky

David Isenberg – Huffington Post
Author, Shadow Force: Private Security Contractors in Iraq (Praeger Security International)
Posted: February 8, 2010 11:54 PM

To paraphrase comedian Henny Youngman’s famous one-liner, take my KBR, please.

After all the bad press U.S. engineering and construction company KBR has received over the years for its operations in Iraq , both during its time as a Halliburton subsidiary and since, one might think it had learned a thing or two about how to avoid sticking its foot in its mouth.

But you would be wrong, As case in point consider the following legal brief KBR filed, which was posted online by the estimable Ms. Sparky — who is to chronicling KBR misdeeds, including those against it own employees, as white is to rice — in regard to the case of Jamie Leigh Jones.

For those who missed this news Ms. Jones is the then 20-year old former KBR/Halliburton worker, who says she was gang-raped by Halliburton/KBR coworkers in Baghdad in late July 2005.

The main points are by now well known. She says that just four days after arriving in Iraq she was raped by multiple men at a KBR camp in the Green Zone, the company put her under guard in a shipping container with a bed and warned her that if she left Iraq for medical treatment, she’d be out of a job.

In a lawsuit filed in federal court against Halliburton and its then-subsidiary KBR, Jones says she was held in the shipping container for at least 24 hours without food or water by KBR, which posted armed security guards outside her door, who would not let her leave.

According to her lawsuit, Jones was raped by “several attackers who first drugged her, then repeatedly raped and injured her, both physically and emotionally.” Jones said that an examination by Army doctors showed she had been raped “both vaginally and anally,” but that the rape kit disappeared after it was handed over to KBR security officers. (Read the rest of the story here…)

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

January 28, 2010 — Forseti

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 much of that new tax revenue is leaving government in the form of higher contract costs for the Defense Department.

Defense contractors have billed the department for more than $140 million in reimbursements for payroll tax expenses they’ve paid since the law was passed, a new Government Accountability Office report says.

And that’s just on five contracts — worth a combined $6 billion — that were reviewed by GAO.

Executives from some of the biggest Defense contractors — including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics and KBR — told GAO that, before the law was passed, they hired U.S. citizens at their offshore subsidiaries as a way to lower their costs and remain competitive. The companies say they only use the offshore subsidiaries to hire employees to perform work overseas. (Read the rest of the story here…)

KBR employee brutally raped at Joint Base Balad in Iraq(Updated)

December 4, 2009 — Ms Sparky

rape I just received this email from a reader. I have not verified the authenticity of the original email (my disclaimer) but it appears to be authentic. (UPDATE-I have received a copy of the original email with the header info and I have updated below.) I have also not been able to verify the date of the rape, but am deducing it occurred on Nov 30, 2009. (UPDATE-The date in fact was Nov 30, 2009 and the time was approx 10-11 am) In an effort to help you understand this email, I have described the acronyms used in parentheses. A Life Support Area (LSA) is a collection of living quarters consisting of buildings, tents, or trailers (CHU’s)Other than that, I have made no changes to the email.

As you read this keep in mind this is not the first brutal rape that has occurred in Iraq.

Subject: Rape of a KBR female at JBB (UNCLASSIFIED)

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Some of you may have already heard about a report of a rape occurring 1100 Monday at JBB (Joint Base Balad-Balad, Iraq), in the KBR LSA (Life Support Area). This is particularly disturbing in that it happened in broad daylight, to an employee sleeping in her CHU (Containerized Housing Unit-trailer) after pulling night shift duty, possibly assailed by a maintenance worker that might have had a key to the CHU.

Some conjecture, but I’m painting a picture for us to be careful towards. The victim is in intensive care, face badly beaten, and arm possibly broken.

Please pass this to all J7 members through your own methods, and to the dangers even in broad daylight, and possibly by those having access to our CHUs. Though at JBB, VBC (Camp Victory) reportedly has between 8-20 sexual assaults per week…What might not be known is that statistically, 70-80% of these assaults are by an EODT (EOD Technologies) or KBR member, so stats are stats, please be aware of what to look out for.

SGM (Sergeant Major)- Let’s please talk tomorrow about buddy rules for females and actually all Servicemembers, Government Civilians and contractors. Thanks…

R

LTC K

JEFFREY S. KING
LTC, EN
USF-I J-7 CoS
DSN 485-2058
SVOIP 242-0193
AKO: jeffrey.s.king@us.army.mil
SIPR: jeffrey.s.king@iraq.centcom.smil.mil
AKO-S: jeffrey.s.king@us.army.smil.mil

—–Original Message—–
From: Guy LaBoa [mailto:Guy.LaBoa@kbr.com]
Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 3:32 PM
To: (Removed for Privacy of Recipients)
Subject: Rape of a KBR female at approximately 1100hrs 30Nov2009 at JBB

FIRST REPORT

For all:

At approximately 1100hrs, Roger Singleton the acting PM (Project Manager) for JBB called with a report of a Sexual Assault (Rape) of a Female KBR Expat in the KBR LSA at JBB. The employee was in her Chu a sleep. She works the night shift in the HQ (Headquarters) operations cell. The employee was severely injured; her face was very badly beaten and may have a broken arm. She has worked with KBR 14months. She is currently in the hospital at JBB in intensive care. She has stated she did not know how the individual got into her room but she did not open the door. Apparently, on Thursday, a man knocked on her door and posed as a tradesman inspecting the Chu, she questions why he was there but did not report the incident. This lead is being follow up.

CID (Army Criminal Investigation Command) and Base Military Command have been notified. The appropriate actions for lock down and control of all personnel leaving the base have been taken. A 100% accountability check of our personnel with eyes on each person is complete The SCW (subcontract workers) subcontractors have been notified and are conducting a 100% accountability check . The victim has reported that she did scratch and bite the assailant. Some evidence has been recovered which may help identify the assailant who she has described a light skinned Indian male.

Roger Singleton acting PM is taking actions to ensure that all our female personnel are properly protected as they return to the Chu’s tonight and as them move around the base until this incident is closed and the assailant is caught.

Guy

Regards,

Guy LaBoa
Principal Program Manager
KBR LOGCAP III
Victory #43382
APO, AE 09344
Office: 281-669-5600
DSN: 485-3697

When I hear about a rape in Iraq I think of Jamie Leigh Jones, LaVena Johnsen or Tina Priest. But there are so many more.

If you have any information regarding this crime please come forward. I would also like the original of this email forwarded to me with date stamps and names.

Ms Sparky

Cornyn & Inouye BFF’s?

October 24, 2009 — Forseti

Politics make strange bed fellows but Cornyn and Inouye - Bipartisan Friends Forever?

cornyn-inouye-luv

Apparently Government Contracting is the last bastion for snake oil salesmen to ply their trade. It appears that 30 Senators want to maintain this status quo, even if it means blocking victims of violent crime from seeking justice. The mere fact that legislation had to be drafted to protect employees from companies, that do business with the US Government, both in the US and overseas, is in itself reprehensible but the fact that elected officials voted against the amendment is even more disturbing.

Meanwhile the Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight held a hearing, October 21, 2009 on “International Violence Against Women: Stories and Solutions.” How can we expect to lead this effort on a global scale when we cannot, or will not, protect our own citizens effectively? It appears that our moral compass needs to be replaced or at the very least recalibrated.

While some columnists seem to deem this as a partisan attack against 30 Senators, it is clearly a non-partisan guilt fest. The list of elected officials and government organizations that have failed to act or follow through is long. Here are a few:
Department of Defense
Department of State
Department of Justice
Former Senator now Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates

Here is a letter written by Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) providing his version of why he voted No on the Franken Amendment:

Distortion of the facts
Re: Oct. 19 letter “Where Cornyn stands.”
The letter omitted some important facts.
I opposed this amendment prompted by the Jamie Leigh Jones case for many of the same reasons the Obama administration did.
First, the rape allegations in the Halliburton case were not subject to arbitration (according to Jones v. Halliburton, U.S. district court), so citing them as the reason for passing the amendment in the defense appropriations bill is misleading.
Second, the amendment is a blatant attempt to benefit trial lawyers. It effectively bans defense contractors and subcontractors from entering arbitration agreements. Arbitration greatly reduces litigation costs for employers and employees while ensuring victims are fairly compensated by streamlining the litigation process and limiting lawyers’ fees.
I sympathize greatly with victims of rape and have voted repeatedly to increase sentences for the perpetrators of such heinous crimes.
Liberals have claimed senators who voted no are pro-rape. That is ludicrous. Attempts to manipulate the tragic events in the Halliburton case to line the pockets of the trial lawyers are disgusting.
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
R-Texas (Link to original)

Well, Senator Cornyn if this amendment is not a viable solution, what do you suggest? First before you answer keep in mind that I will be weighing your response based on these facts:

Your home state is Texas, which you were elected to represent and that includes Jamie Leigh Jones.
It was fellow Texan and Congressman Ted Poe that initiated the rescue of Jamie Leigh Jones from Iraq, while both you and Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson remained silent and made no effort to assist in her rescue. By the way rescuing a constituent from life threatening peril is not a spectator sport.
Approximately 53% of the the registered voters in Texas are women. The stats on how many you have alienated with this vote are not available yet.

Senator Cornyn, your letter also omitted some important facts about the Franken Amendment. It explicitly bars contractors that force their employees into binding arbitration for cases of sexual violence, acts of violence and where the employees basic civil and human rights have been violated, it does not ban arbitration as a means for employers or their employees to seek resolution to a dispute should both parties agree to arbitrate the issue.

In the spirit of Bipartisanship let’s take a look at Senator Dan Inouye. In recent years, Inouye has become known for his ability to bring federal money to his home state, and he even declared himself “the No. 1 earmarks guy in the U.S. Congress” in August.

“Inouye either will get the amendment taken out altogether, or water it down significantly. If they water it down, they will take out the Title VII claims. This means that in discrimination cases, they will still force you into a secret forced arbitration on KBR’s (or other contractors’) own terms — with your chances of prevailing practically zero. The House seems to be very supportive of the original Franken amendment and all in line, but their hands are tied since it originated in the Senate. And since Inouye runs the show on this bill, he can easily take it out to get Republicans and the defense contractors off his back, which looks increasingly likely. (Ms Sparky’s Original Post)

Senator Inouye will be up for re-election during the 2010 mid-terms and this would be an excellent time to let him know how the public feels about giving corporations preference over the citizens of the US.

Updated - Is this a conflict of interest?

Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii)
In October 1992, Republican Senate nominee Rick Reed began running a campaign commercial that included a surreptitiously taped interview with Lenore Kwock, Inouye’s hairdresser. Kwock said Inouye had sexually forced himself on her in 1975 and continued a pattern of sexual harassment, even as Kwock continued to cut his hair over the years. Inouye, seeking a sixth term, denied the charges. And Kwock said that by running the commercial, Reed had caused her more pain than Inouye had. Reed was forced to pull the ad, and while many voters took out their anger on the Republican, Inouye was held to 57 percent of the vote – the lowest total of his career. A week later, a female Democratic state legislator announced that she had heard from nine other women who claimed Inouye had sexually harassed them over the past decade. But the women didn’t go public with their claims, the local press didn’t pursue the story, and the Senate Ethics Committee decided to drop the investigation because the accusers wouldn’t participate in an inquiry.

Here is the contact information for both Senators. Feel free to give them a call and inform them that they are public servants and dependant on the votes of their constituents who will not tolerate corporate puppets:

Senator John Cornyn: 202-224-2934

Senator Dan Inouye: 202-224-3934

No Conractor Left Behind Part IV: Congress’s Powerless Probe

October 16, 2009 — Ms Sparky

No Contractor Left Behind is a series by DC Bureau.org chronicling how a toxic time bomb followed three Army National Guard units home from Iraq. It reveals how a notorious military contractor (KBR) exposed American soldiers to a cancer-causing carcinogen on the battlefield and how the Pentagon tried to downplay the consequences. And it describes how Congress has relegated its investigation to a toothless forum that lacks the political clout and oversight powers to ensure effective accountability.

Click HERE to read No Contractor Left Behind Part I: KBR, the Pentagon and the Soldiers Who Paid – October 5, 2009
The first of a multi-part account of how KBR management knowingly exposed not only their own employees but hundreds of US Army National Guard troops, British Soldiers and local Iraqi citizens to to the toxic carcinogen known as sodium dichromate at Qarmat Ali in southern Iraq.

Click HERE to read No Contractor Left Behind Part II: KBR’s Negligence - October 7, 2009

In 2003, as part of project RIO, U.S. soldiers would accompany contractors into Iraq from Kuwait as they assessed southern oil sites, including Qarmat Ali. Their orders forbade them from leaving KBR personnel alone at any time. Even when they were working, soldiers had to remain an arm’s length away—which not only exposed them to whatever chemical elements the contractors uncovered during their work, it allowed KBR managers ample time to notify them of any potential health risks.

Click HERE to read No Contractor Left Behind Part III: “Just Suck It Up and Move On” – October 9, 2009

Military Exposure Guidelines permissible exposure limit for chromium: 5,700 parts per million.

Chromium soil concentrations found by KBR samples at Qarmat Ali on August 7, 2003: 16,459 parts per million.

Like KBR, the military failed to look after its own at Qarmat Ali.

“Unfortunately,” Sgt. Russell Powell said in Congressional testimony, “many of the soldiers who served at Qarmat Ali are paying the consequences for the Army’s failure to warn and protect the troops.”

At the treatment plant, as soldiers expressed concerns about sodium dichromate, the military brass remained taciturn and downplayed the danger posed by the chemical. Once the toxic conditions at Qarmat Ali were revealed, the Army relied on a questionable and surreptitiously administered medical test to fend off claims of a hazard, and used the results to deny health care for exposed veterans.

Click HERE to read No Contractor Left Behind Part IV: Congress’s Powerless Probe – October 13, 2009

“When you have contractors that have demonstrated that they have fleeced the government agency or the taxpayer, I don’t think there should be a slap on the wrist or a pat on the back. They should be debarred. …This is the most significant waste and fraud in the history of our country. It’s not even close.” Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND)

Thank God for Senator Dorgan and the Senate Democratic Policy Committee. If they had not investigated this and brought it to the attention of the DoD and media, how many soldiers would be dying and not know why?

Ms Sparky

No Contractor Left Behind Part III: “Just Suck It Up and Move On”

October 15, 2009 — Ms Sparky

Click HERE to read No Contractor Left Behind Part II: KBR’s Negligence - October 7, 2009

Click HERE to read No Contractor Left Behind Part III: “Just Suck It Up and Move On” – October 9, 2009

Military Exposure Guidelines permissible exposure limit for chromium: 5,700 parts per million.

Chromium soil concentrations found by KBR samples at Qarmat Ali on August 7, 2003: 16,459 parts per million.

Like KBR, the military failed to look after its own at Qarmat Ali.

No Contractor Left Behind Part II: KBR’s Negligence

October 12, 2009 — Ms Sparky

Click HERE to read No Contractor Left Behind Part II: KBR’s Negligence - October 7, 2009
In this report on Qarmat Ali you will watch video taped deposition testimony from KBR management. Watch how the KBR Safety Manager blames the KBR employees for not reporting the existence of a chemical that they had no idea was even on site. This is a classic example of KBR management at it’s finest. If I didn’t know better I would swear he was my safety manager in Iraq!

KBR won’t get paid for abusing it’s employees anymore!

October 7, 2009 — Ms Sparky

Senator Franken offered and the Senate passed in a vote of 68-30 an amendment to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010 to restrict funding to Department of Defense contractors who continue to use mandatory arbitration clauses that force sexual assault victims into arbitration.

The Franken Amendment No. 2588 sends a message to defense contractors that if they want to continue doing business with Uncle Sam, they need to stop the practice of requiring employees to sign contracts that purportedly waive all of their rights to bring a claim in court, even in the case of sexual assault.

Claims arising out of sexual assault, like assault & battery (including rape), intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent hiring, retention and supervision, do not belong in arbitration. Neither do Title VII civil rights claims, which were specifically designed to protect vulnerable groups in the workplace.

S. 2588 will not require contractors to change or modify existing employment contracts. It only bars funds to contractors who continue to use these mandatory arbitration clauses in their employment contracts.

Arbitration has its place in our justice system, but it has its limitations. Arbitration does not establish important precedent, arbitration is usually secret, arbitration never provides a jury of your peers, arbitrators are not trained to handle claims of sexual assault or civil rights violations, and arbitration is simply not the proper forum for sexual assault and civil rights claims.

Although this amendment passed, I think it is important to spotlight those Senators who voted against the rights of DoD contract employees. Especially those who are victims of rape. You can see the entire vote result HERE

Alexander (R-TN)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Graham (R-SC)
Gregg (R-NH)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johanns (R-NE)
Kyl (R-AZ)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Wicker (R-MS)

Is your Senator on here?

Ms Sparky

Stanley Baker Hill’s (SBH) answer to their release of 269 Social Security Numbers

October 5, 2009 — Ms Sparky

If you’ve been following this Stanley Baker Hill DAAR (SBH) Social Security number release of information fiasco, you know the original post drew nearly 200 very emotional, angry comments. Most regarding the total lack of concern on the part of SBH management about the disclosure of their personal information to those who have no need to know. Some threatening comments directed at those who exposed this breach could not published but were forwarded. I received countless emails from concerned people wanting to know if they were on the list because no one was ever officially notified of the breach. (click HERE for that original post)

Evidently some Human Resources manager by the name of Bruce Dawson is sending out the following email to people who were on the original list of 269 names and SS# that was email out by Thomas Koch on January 20, 2009. Hopefully he is sending this email out to EVERYONE on the list. At least then they will be officially notified.

(Insert your name here)

Please see attachment document regarding important information about possible release of Social Security Number. Please enter the word “budget” in the partner/promo code box to reduce the cost from $110 to $99. Doing so will extend your protection to thirteen months.

Thank you.

Regards,

Bruce

Bruce A. Dawson, Ph.D.
Contractor – Stanley Baker Hill (JV)
Human Resources Manager
7912 Bonhomme Avenue, Suite 207
St. Louis, Missouri 63105
Office: 314-863-5105
Cell: 636-627-7497
E-mail: bruce.dawson@LCMSolutions.net

This communication does not authorize work external to SBH, LLC, as only Government officials may issue direction regarding Government contracts or procedures. (end of email)

There is also an attachment. (click HERE for that)

I read the entire attachment and this is what I get out of it…correct me if you think I am wrong.

1. SBH feels there was no breach of personal information when Thomas Koch emailed out the names and SS# of 269 people to 106 email addresses. Many of which were anonymous private email accounts such as yahoo and gmail.

2. SBH feels the only issue is that “someone” violated their non disclosure agreement by sending the information to someone not working on Stanley Baker Hill’s contract. So, because SBH didn’t address the employee concerns and someone felt they needed to find assistance from outside the company they are made to be the villain. That is truly a KBR management style. That line between SBH and KBR is getting fuzzier and fuzzier.

3. Then they add…”This appears to have been done within the last few weeks.” All I can say to that is….then someone else has the list as well.

4. The letter goes on to state “As an immediate first step….” What a joke you people are. It’s been 9 months. And now you’re pretending to be all proactive only because they forced your hand.

Nearly 9 months later and this is the best SBH could come up with. My God. No wonder things are messed up. Is this the same level of concern you put into the management of your electrical inspections? Where in the hell is the DoD?

I do hope that SBH is making a concerted effort to contact each and every person on the list. That would be the one positive thing that comes out of this mess.

It’s time to let the victims chime in. Do you feel this is an adequate response to the initial breach and the 9 months of “It’s no big deal” responses?

Ms Sparky

DoD contractor discloses Social Security numbers for 269 employees

September 24, 2009 — Ms Sparky

Almost daily we hear sad stories about how someone obtains the personal information of another and totally destroys their financial lives by stealing their identities and purchasing vehicles, homes, obtaining credit cards, utilities, medical services, drawing on social security benefits, committing crimes and the list goes on and on. Companies such as LifeLock and FreeCreditReport.com are raking in millions helping people who are trying to avoid becoming victims themselves.

No matter how vigilant you are in protecting your personal information, there are some things that are out of your control. What do you do when the company you work for has disclosed your name and social security number and apparently didn’t even notify you when this breach of information had occurred?

This in fact happened on January 20, 2009, when Data and Reporting Manager, Thomas Koch of Stanley Baker Hill, LLC in Baghdad, Iraq emailed an Army document entitled “Personal Roster For Monthly Check Cashing” with the names and full social security numbers of 269 employees of Stanley Baker Hill and DAAR Engineering to a mailing list of 106 email addresses. Many of the email addresses were non government addresses such as gmail and yahoo. What need-to-know did these 106 people have in order to be sent this highly sensitive information? NONE. In addition, many of the people on the list no longer work for Stanley Baker Hill, LLC and may not even realize this breach occurred. I did notice that Thomas Koch name and social security number are not on the list. According to one former employee on the list, Koch’s response to him when asked about this information breach was, “it’s no big deal”. NEWSFLASH!! It is a HUGE deal!

The DoD has very clear reporting requirements in place and are spelled out in Department of Defense Directive 5400.11 DoD Privacy Program. So I have to ask, “When was this breach of information reported to the DoD?” Isn’t the violation of a DoD Directive by a DoD contractor a contract violation? Where is the DCMA in all this. Where is the Corrective Action Request (CAR)?

SBH is clearly at fault here. Not only for the initial breach, but more importantly for not being pro-active in notifying the people on the list and leading the effort in mitigating the risk for potential identity theft. People screw up, it happens. But to not step up immediately and assist your employees in protecting themselves shows a clear lack of professional ethics and a total lack of concern for your employees. I am starting to wonder if the news of this breach has even reached the corporate offices of Stanley Consutants, Michael Baker Corporation, Hill International, or DAAR Engineering. I have emailed each company to informed them of this article and asked for a statement. As of the publishing of this post, Michael Baker Corporation is the only company to respond. David Higie responded with “No, we will not have a statement for the article.” If anyone else responds, I will post an update.

As many of you already know, I too have all the documents involved in this breach of information. That in itself proves just how vulnerable every person on that list is. But, please be assured, I have no intention of further distributing, selling, or in any way compromising your identities. But you do have a right to know what I have done with the information. I sent the “unredacted” documents to an attorney in an effort to find out what kind of protections the people on the list are entitled to. I will keep you posted on that. I have sent the “redacted” documents to investigators on the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, Commission on Wartime Contracting, House Armed Services Committee, DoD IG/DCIS and DCAA. (“redacted” meaning only the names and the last 4 of the SS# are visible) I supposed if they want “un-redacted” documents they can request them from Thomas Koch or the DoD. There is no way of knowing who has sent these documents to whom. But you must assume that someone who is intent on committing identity theft has your name and social security number and you must take immediate action.

As many as 10 million Americans a year are victims of identity theft. In 2005, I was working in the Green Zone and became a victim of identity theft myself. I’m not 100% sure of how it happened, but someone was able to hack into my bank accounts and write themselves 1000’s of dollars worth of checks. Luckily, I monitor my money daily and caught it before any checks cleared and was able to recover 100% of my funds.

Every person on that list is a victim of an Information Breach and is at very high risk for identity theft.

This is what I recommend you do ASAP:

1. Contact your financial institutions and talk to a fraud specialist. Inform them of the breach of information and ask them what measure they can take to protect your cash assets. Some financial institutions may assist you with the entire process.

2. Immediately place fraud alerts with ALL three major credit reporting agencies and tell them there has been a serious breach of information within your company. I would call and talk to a real person rather than do it on-line.

To place a fraud alert with Experian click here or contact or call:

Experian fraud division
888-397-3742
P.O. Box 1017
Allen, TX 75013

To place a fraud alert with Equifax contact

Equifax fraud division
800-525-6285
P.O. Box 740250
Atlanta, GA 30374

To place a fraud alert with TransUnion contact

TransUnion fraud division
800-680-7289
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92634

3. Request a copy of your credit reports from ALL three major credit reporting agencies. You might be able to to that at the same time you are placing the fraud alert. You are entitled to one free credit report annually from each credit reporting agency. You can also request your reports here: www.annualcreditreport.com

4. Check your credit reports for accuracy. Each line item on your credit report should have a contact number for the creditor. Contact the creditor and verify each line item.

5. If you find inaccuracies or fraud:

a. Contact the creditor and dispute it immediately with the creditor and the credit reporting agencies.
b. File a police report with your local police department. This is very important.
c. File a report with the Federal Trade Commission

Updated 09/25/09: I was sent this link to the U.S. Army Privacy Incident Report If you are one of the 269 on this list, please take the time to submit this report to the US Army.

I strongly recommend you sign up for some sort of credit monitoring program. Something that will send you an email right away if there are changes such as new accounts or inquiries. Personally, I prefer Triple Advantage via Experian. I get an email alert if there are ANY changes to my report and it ’s affordable at $14.95/mo. TrueCredit via TransUnion also has credit monitoring. I’ve had LifeLock but I prefer being able to access all three reports 24/7 as with Triple Advantage or TrueCredit. Personally, I would stick with one of the “big three” credit bureaus here.

I am not selling anything and I don’t make a penny so it’s your choice which service you chose to use. I also wrote an article for another blog on Identity Theft. There is a lot more in depth information there as well. Click HERE

Personally, I feel SBH should be assisting you with this. But, they aren’t so…..I will.

If you don’t know if you are on the list email me by clicking HERE and I will let you know.

I will be compiling email addresses in the event an attorney wants to take this on as a Class Action. If you want to be put on that contact list email me by clicking HERE. If you already have a Class Action suit in progress let me know so I can pass it on.

If you have been a victim of identity theft, shoot me an email so we can keep track of how many people have been victimized.

And please DO NOT giving out any more personal information to anyone for anything unless you are 100% sure of who you are dealing with. Not DOB, not mother’s maiden name, not DL# NOTHING!! Please by hyper vigilant. This very well could affect your spouse and children as well.

Please make sure all the Task Force SAFE inspectors and other employees of Stanley Baker Hill and DAAR Engineering are aware of this information breach. I am hoping the AP, CNN or another major news outlet will pick this up. But…with the G20 Summit and the riots in Pittsburgh it’s difficult to get the attention of a reporter right now.

Ms Sparky

Shock and Eeewww!

September 11, 2009 — Ms Sparky

Former Armour Group employee tells it all.

If you are having problems watching this video on MsSparky.com click HERE
Click HERE for link to hazing pics.

I am amazed and confused that the Afghanistan hazing incident is getting such a “shock and eeewww” reaction and so much media attention. The public is finding this so unbelievable and outrageous and yet it happened. So why is it so difficult to believe that a 20 year old woman was gang-raped in the Green Zone by co-workers or that men and women are being brutalized and victimized, discriminated against and harassed. And that managers are promoting prostitution, some owning and operating their own brothels. (Read the rest of the story here…)

Former KBR Employee (David Breda) Arrested For Raping A Woman In Iraq

July 10, 2009 — Ms Sparky

KBR Employee From Pearland Accused Of Raping A Woman In Iraq

Houston Press
By Richard Connelly in Courts, Crime
Friday, Jul. 10 2009 @ 3:35PM

A KBR employee living in Pearland has been arrested for “abusive sexual conduct” he allegedly engaged in while in Iraq.

NCIS agents (that’s Naval Criminal Investigative Service to you) arrested David Charles Breda, 34, at “a Houston-area barber college,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

According to a newly unsealed indictment, “Breda, a civilian defense contractor employed by a subsidiary of Kellog, Brown and Root (KBR), sexually assaulted a woman at Camp Al Asad, an airbase in Iraq,” the release from the office said.

Breda no longer works for KBR. (Read the rest of the story here…)

How About A “Hire American Act”!

April 14, 2009 — Ms Sparky

There’s a Fly America Act and a Buy American Act how about a “Hire American Act“?

I’ve been listening to CNN all morning and hearing about the 5 million plus Americans who have lost their jobs in the US. The business that are closing. The States that are in a bind due to reduced revenues due to closed businesses due to lost jobs. It’s just a big ole vicious circle.

I have a “novel” idea. What if we implemented a “Hire American Act”? In a nutshell, if a job is being payed for by US taxpayer dollars, you have to hire US Citizens to work it. Or at the very least a very large percentage of the workforce should be American. This goes for work in the US and around the world. The US is spending billions of dollars building US Embassies, US Consulates and US Military facilities all over the world. Not just in Iraq and Afghanistan. At these facilities the largest group of employees, probably 75% are normally locals or third country nationals.

I understand boosting the local economy. But it’s time to boost our local economy and send that money home not to Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bosnia or Mexico. Plus in many job classifications, such as electricians, there are quality and qualifications issues. Not to mention people being kidnapped and brought to other countries to work against their will for The Americans, also called “Human Trafficking”. Yes…your tax dollars do support Human Trafficking!

Also included in this Hire American Act should be the following provisions:

Only legitimate US companies can bid on US Government contracts.
No bogus shell companies like KBR’s SEII & OAS will be allowed to supply manpower. The contractor will pay appropriate payroll taxes including state unemployment taxes.
Employees will be protected by US labor laws. No more threatening to fire people for not keeping their mouth shut when fraud or crimes are committed!
Employees will be protected by OSHA (safety) protection. (SOME exceptions may apply in a war zone)
Job position qualifications will be established. Such as electricians much be licensed or have equivalent verifiable training.
A real workers compensation insurance program needs to be established. The DBA and AIG have got to go. It’s a money pit and it doesn’t work.

If an act like this were passed into law, I think it would level the playing field and make the bidding more competitive. Especially for those companies who would like to bid the work, but just can’t sink as low as KBR can.

This is my personal opinion….I think only “cleared” Americans should be making the food and water for our soldiers. Talk about a weak link in not only the security chain but health and hygiene as well!

Tell me what you think should be in the Hire American Act.

Ms Sparky

KBR Employee Held At Al Asad For Military Court Martial

February 6, 2009 — Ms Sparky

Detention in Iraq of U.S. Civilian Challenged

Courthouse News Service
February 05, 2009

WASHINGTON (CN) – An attorney has filed a habeas petition for a civilian contractor who has been imprisoned at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq since November, and whom the U.S. military wants to court martial – though he is a civilian. David Breda Jr. says the military confiscated his passport, and claims he was “never officially notified of the nature of the pending charges which allegedly confer jurisdiction on the United States military to hold (him) against his will at Al Asad Air Base.”

Breda says he served 6½ years in the U.S. Army and was discharged as a sergeant in 2001. He was working for KBR as a civilian contractor when he was detained on Nov. 26, 2008. (Read the rest of the story here…)

How Does The “US-Iraq Security Pact” Affect KBR And Other U.S. Civilians?

November 28, 2008 — Ms Sparky

US-Iraq Security Pact, by the Numbers

November 28, 2008
Agence France-Presse

Iraq’s parliament on Nov. 27 endorsed a landmark military pact that will govern some 150,000 U.S. Soldiers assigned to 400 bases across the country beginning Dec. 31, when the United Nation’s mandate now governing the troops expires.

Here are the main points of the deal, spelled out in the official English version of the 24-page agreement.

Article 4: All military operations undertaken in Iraq must be conducted with the agreement of the Iraqi government and should be “fully coordinated” with Iraqi authorities through a joint U.S.-Iraqi committee. However, U.S. and Iraqi forces have the right to “legitimate self defence within Iraq” as defined by international law.

Article 12: Iraq will have the right to prosecute U.S. troops and associated civilians for “grave premeditated felonies” committed “outside agreed facilities and areas and outside duty status.” Should they be arrested however, they must be handed over to U.S. custody for the duration of the investigation and trial, and U.S. forces are responsible for certifying whether the alleged crime took place while the individual was on “duty status.”

No such immunity is extended to private security contractors, over whom the agreement grants Iraq the “primary right to exercise jurisdiction.” (Read the rest of the story here…)

Is KBR Increasing Their Uplift…Again?

November 24, 2008 — Ms Sparky

Uplift has ALWAYS been a HUGE issue with KBR/SEII Employees.

Uplift is a percentage in addition to the base pay. When I worked for KBR the uplift was 55% on the first 40 hours. Then in the fall of 2006 it was raised to 75%. Again, only on the first 40 hours.

Current uplift for Iraq and Afghanistan consist of the following:

International Bonus 5%
Area Differential 35%
Hazardous Conditions 35%

Evidently KBR does not feel the last 44+ hours in your work week are as hazardous as the first 40 because they DON’T pay Uplift and they don’t pay overtime.

There have been many lawsuits against KBR over uplift and overtime. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe that all cases have been dismissed. One of the big issues is, you don’t actually work for KBR. You work for SEII or OAS, offshore shell companies of KBR. US laws don’t apply. Plus…you signed that damn contract.

I have several questions:

1. Who approves uplift increases? When I worked for KBR we were always told it was the “Client” (DoD/DoS) that would NOT increase our uplift. Is it the “Client” or is it KBR?

2. What is KBR charging the “Client”? Have they been charging uplift for every hour worked? If so what percentage are they charging? 100%? I think it’s time for an audit! I have all my pay stubs if anyone in DoD or Congress wants to compare what KBR charged for me to what I actually got paid.

3. Is there a planned uplift increase in the near future? If so…who approved it, the “Client” or KBR? Is it only on the first 40 hours or on every hour worked? How much will it be? 100%?

Personally, I think every person over there deserves 100% uplift on EVERY hour worked!

Ms Sparky

Casey Releases Latest Letter from Petraeus on Electrocutions

October 7, 2008 — Ms Sparky

Senator Casey, a democrat from Pennsylvania asks General Petraeus for an update to the electrocution issues in Iraq.

General Petraeus reports that the dedicated Task Force he established earlier this year has begun to implement action plans to reduce the risk of electrocution, shocks and electrical fires;

General Petraeus has asked the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center, based at Fort Rucker, AL, to deploy a team to Iraq to perform an independent analysis/assessment, taking a look at past electrical incidents. The team has already concluded that the two root causes of the series of electrocutions were human error and facility material failures;

The Task Force General Petraeus is referring to is Task Force Safe.

Click HERE to read the entire Press Release.

Ms Sparky

Did KBR Give Anyone Their Raise in Iraq and Afghanistan?

October 4, 2008 — Ms Sparky

It’s past payday!! Did ANYONE get their promised raises? Plumbers, HVAC, Generator Mechanics or Electricians? Did some get it and some didn’t? People are asking from all over. Let us know what’s going on.

Also, why is it that some of the KBR recruiters are telling the Master electricians that they aren’t hiring anymore Master electricians at Master pay and some are saying they are. Also, several recruiters seem to be luring plumbers and others to Houston with promises of the higher wage and then when it comes time to sign the contract the wage is much lower.

I’ m not a lawyer. But there sure seems to be something stinkin’ going on here. People in Iraq being promised raises and not getting it. People being lured to Houston with promises of higher wages and after investing all that time, it’s much lower. Is there not a lawyer out there who wants to take a look at this for a Class Action suit. This is all KBR’s doing. They can’t blame SEII for this one.

I have a simple solution for this. GIVE THEM THE DAMN RAISE YOU TOLD THEM THEY WOULD GET!

Ms Sparky

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