Politics As Usual
Shining a Light on Power and Policy
Tom Shine covers congressional politics for ABC News.
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Killer Showers in Iraq
May 05, 2008 7:50 AM
According to NEW YORK TIMES reporter James Risen, the Army issued an urgent bulletin back in 2004 with the headline "THE UNEXPECTED KILLER." The warning was not about roadside bombs or sniper fire. It was about deadly water, water electrified in showers and swimming pools by poorly grounded wires that were short-circuiting.
That warning back in 2004 did not protect Staff Sgt. Ryan D. Maseth when he stepped into a shower this PAST JANUARY and was electrocuted. His mother told the paper that the Army first BLAMED HER SON, saying he had TAKEN AN ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE INTO THE SHOWER WITH HIM. Then according to the article the Army said they had found two electrical wires hanging down by the shower. Maseth's mother kept on questioning the Army until they admitted it was a poorly grounded water pump that had short-circuited turning his shower into an 'unexpected killer."
Risen says American electricians working for KBR, which was in charge of maintaining bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, "REPEATEDLY WARNED COMPANY MANAGERS and MILITARY OFFICIALS about UNSAFE ELECTRICAL WORK which was often performed by poorly trained Iraqis and Afghans paid just a few dollars a day." According to the article KBR mostly ignored the warnings. KBR did tell the NYT that "its commitment to employee safety and the safety of those the company serves is unwavering."
Congress is now investigating and so is the DOD I.G. Too little, too late for Green Beret Staff Sgt. Ryan D. Maseth.
May 5, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (3)
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Cheney and Bush shold be brought up on charges of murder - if it wasn't for them no solider would have died over there!
Posted by: jozy | May 5, 2008 8:49:36 AM
That and the fact that the water is untreated as in RAW SEWAGE. If you have a wound your guaranteed to get infected or worse. Damn the people who wanted this war and the people who are more tha willing to let it happen and NOT put an end to what our soldiers are being put through. If you support the troops, BRING THEM HOME!!!
Posted by: Blog | May 5, 2008 9:07:08 AM
God, how many more lies of military and its "blustering" leader are going to be swallowed with gusto by gullible Americans?
Posted by: godseyesore | May 5, 2008 10:20:04 AM
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