TALES FROM THE OVERSIGHT-FREE ZONE

07/02/2008

13 Americans Electrocuted at KBR Buildings in Iraq


Saint Paul [07/01/08] – As Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Norm Coleman failed to hold a single hearing on the waste, fraud, and abuse that sabotaged the reconstruction of Iraq. Today, the New York Times reports on yet another Tale from the Oversight-Free Zone.

According to a written statement to Congress by Gen. David Petraeus, 13 Americans – including 10 members of the Army, one Marine, and two contractors – have been electrocuted in Iraq at buildings maintained by Kellogg, Brown, & Root – a subsidiary of Halliburton.

Even worse, we now know that the government knew years ago that KBR had created a dangerous situation for American troops. The Times reports:

"Officials now acknowledge that Army experts warned as early as 2004 that poor electrical work by contractors was creating dangerous conditions for American soldiers. But those warnings were largely ignored.

"Since the American invasion of Iraq in 2003, tens of thousands of American troops have been housed in older Iraqi buildings. KBR and other companies have been paid millions of dollars to repair and upgrade the buildings, including their electrical systems."

This wasteful and dangerous neglect, like so many other Tales from the Oversight-Free Zone, took place while Chairman Coleman, who took thousands of dollars from Halliburton during his 2002 campaign, sat idly by.

Al Franken:

"The waste, fraud, and abuse that sabotaged the reconstruction of Iraq cost us billions of dollars in taxpayer money. And, tragically, it may have cost lives. As the Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Norm Coleman didn't hold contractors like his campaign contributor, Halliburton, accountable for their actions – and now we need to hold Norm Coleman accountable for his lack of action."

Link to New York Times article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/01/washington/01electrocute.html

Coleman Took $4,000 From Halliburton's PAC. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, in 2001 and 2002, Coleman's US Senate campaign accepted 4 $1,000 contributions from Halliburton's political action committee. [Center for Responsive Politics, Accessed 7/01/08]