My Friend's Son Killed in Iraq: By Contractors and U.S. Agency?

Last night, I was surprised and happy to find a photograph of my friend Cheryl Harris at the top of the New York Times' web site. She was hugging her young son, Ryan Maseth, an Army sergeant who was dressed in his uniform and cap. The were both smiling broadly. A few months later he was dead. The military told her this past January that he had foolishly carried an electrical appliance into a shower in Baghdad.

That was a lie.

It turned out the fault was an improperly grounded water pump. With a little help from me, she found out that at least 10 other military personnel have been electrocuted in Iraq in recent years. Now she is suing the contractor KBR, though there is evidence that the military and the Defense Contracting Management Agency are also to blame for being lax in its own inspections. The Times article carries word of early alerts about this, which were ignored.

Cheryl Harris is quoted by the Times today, asking, "My biggest question is really, why would KBR do a safety inspection, know about the electrical problems and not alert the troops?" The article, still on the paper's home page, is headlined, "GIs Electrocuted in Iraq Despite '04 Alert on Wiring."

Just after I reported on the Maseth electrocution for Editor & Publisher back in January -- no one else in the national media bothered to do so -- Cheryl, who lives in western Pennsylvania, contacted me wondering how she could find out how many others had met his fate. She was especially concerned because -- unmentioned in the Times story today -- she has another son in Iraq and yet another in the military serving elsewhere. I directed her to some sources and we have corresponded often ever since then, most recently today.

Of course, the Bush administration aptly catches plenty of blame in the Times article for outsourcing so much work in Iraq (directing billions to the KBRs of the world) and then not providing enough oversight.

Two months ago I wrote, "Rep. Henry Waxman and Pentagon chief Robert Gates are looking into reports that the 12 deaths, and probably more, were caused by shoddy wiring and construction where our troops are housed. It is not known how many of these cases involved KBR. Cheryl Harris's lawyer has obtained military documents indicated that KBR told the Defense Contracting Management Agency there were wiring problems in the building before Maseth's death, and nothing was done about them. The question is: Who is to blame? And what about all those other cases.

"Also, Harris was originally told by the military that her son had been electrocuted after he took a small electrical appliance into the shower area. She couldn't get answers herself and contacted a local member of Congress. Now documents show that Ryan was killed when an electrical water pump shorted out after he had stepped into the shower and turned on the water. An electrical current then passed through the water pipes to a metal shower hose in the shower."

Cheryl informed me then, "I'd like to have questions answered about who is accountable, and I'd like to know that this can't happen again to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan." Today she told me that she just did a CNN interview: So the story widens, at last.
*
Greg Mitchell's book So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits -- and the President -- Fails on Iraq includes several chapters on "nonhostile" deaths and suicides in Iraq. It features a preface by Bruce Springsteen. Mitchell can be reached at [e-mail].

Comments

[dumboldfarmer]

Unlike other wars where the Army Corps of Engineers, the Seabees and other military construction groups went in initially and restored things, fixed and built, this administration decided it was better to give out the no-bid contracts to their crony friends. If the job had been given to the right people to start with, we wouldn't have the mess we are in now.

[Schmice]

An added benefit of doing the construction and upkeep on an internal level as much as possible, is that it will provide skills to strengthen the army and ultimately the economy with a skilled workforce.

[speakingtruth2power]

It has always been about privatization and profiteering!

[rich3324]

Think this will get any play on FOX News? You're right, they still have another week of Rev. Wright stories. After that Sean Hanity is going to have a show dealing with the fact Obama fathered two black children.

[transendentilist]

Any parent that has a son or daughter wanting to join the military, should do all they can to talk them out of it. The Commander-In-Chief can no longer be trusted to use our military wisely. Anybody joining these days, has no reason to complain about their fate.
Our government is mis-using our military and getting our citizens killed needlessly.

[MikeMidCity]

What about the men and women who joined prior to the Iraq war? Don't we owe them a duty of diligence for their safety?

What about the men and women who are forced to join the military because of economic considerations?

Try to transcend your hatred of Bush, one I share, and look to what is good for our country. We do need a strong military. We need to take care of the people who are willing, or forced by economic necessity to defend our nation.

We need to address the issue of private mercenary war profiteers who are suppose to save us money and let the military just fight. It's not working out is it?

We have started a war with an all volunteer force that was never intended to fight a prolonged war of occupation. Because the war has lost all popular support, we will not start a draft. There will be no hero politician who can rally enough votes to start the draft that we will need to continue to prosecute a military solution to a social phenomena, terrorism.

So get off the backs of our men and women in uniform. They at least are doing something.

Hate the war, love and support the troops.

[grn1]

They are not all volunteer, I am aware of many immigrant non-citizens being threatened with the choice of deportation or military service, and a green card as reward. California has 10% of the KIA and there are many recruited in highschool. I would not call that voluntary.

[situationcritical]

It is all an illusion, and a game. Play it well.

[Economike]

It has been shown that terrorism is more effectivelly combated by internal police actions not the military. The whole concept of a military is obsolete. Box cutters that cost a buck were more effective than a whole army could have been. Evolve or die.

[ranchobob]

The administration says over and over that they must do this or that thing to "save american lives".
This heartfelt, inspirational motive is used to justify trashing the constitution, our privacy, our liberties.
As long as the remedy does not involve any corporation being held accountable, or losing one cent of profit.
How many Americans die every year from lack of insurance, lack of safety regulations in the workplace, lack of adequate inspection of product safety? More than died in 9/11 is the answer.
Why do they not express their maudlin concern over those American lives lost?
I want them to stop saying "this is the greatest democracy in the world." It is an oligarchy, a plutocracy.

[Economike]

Yes we are no longer a democracy but a Corporate Anarchy.

[northcan]

Remember what John McCain said on Friday, "when we become energy efficient, we''ll never have to send our children into war in the middle east again". This used to be just a flip answer by a few, I thought, when people started commented in the Gulf War, it was all about oil. I know this is really the case now. This is almost like genocide of your own children of America, so they can sustain thier need for oil. Renewable energy and bio-fuels was discussed twenty years ago...it does not take that long to figure out how, where, when.

The Clintons in the 90's, used oil companies to their advantage, the Bush did the same, Hillary is doing it now. Come on people. Brazil is doing it. War is wrong, bio-fuel is right. Not difficult. Stay out of other countries, keep your own safe by not reeping rewards from Oil. Hillary can bash Bush all she want's, but she and her husband also to blame. Lobbying is always a devilish temptation.

[transendentilist]

Bio-fuels are only a start. We will need oil for some time to come. All nations need oil to survive.

[iseebs]

Yes, you are right, every nation need oil, but why is it always the Americans that use double the amount of energy per person than other nations including the Europeans.

We could buy cars with Clean Diesel engines (more than 50% market share in Europe)
Those Engines use 30% to 35% less fuel than gasoline engines and are more fun to drive because they provide much more torque.

Here is a big energy saving possibility ready to be applied.

[Conservativeslayer]

Using food for fuel is causing massive starvation. Look at the food riots down in Haiti. There are food shortages around the world, because we are using corn to make gas. Bio-fuels may have their place, but they are not the magic bullet to our energy problems. We need a multifaceted approach to solving our energy problems. We need energy efficiency mandates, higher fuel-economy standards for cars, developing renewable energy etc.

[jpshotwheels]

The problem is no one does anything about the practices that go on in this War, this Country, and Corporate Corporations, that have been allowed to succeed in robbing every citizen here.

Unbelievable and truly sad. Absolutely no accountability for anything, yet the average American Citizen would have been put in jail by now.

What has this Country come to?????

[gala1]

If we have to ask that question, imagine how the enemy might come up with some answers to it..

Although at this point , I am inclined to think the real enemy of America is Wartime Profiteering.
Or haven't you filled up lately?
It's exactly like those massive parasitic infections that kill hospital patients in for small surgeries.

I wonder if the candidates could imagine how voters would flock to the idea of anyone espousing enough responsibility for a war crimes tribunal.
And mandatory personal fines and jail time.

The tragic part is tha Mrs. Harris has a dead son and his murderers, KBR, have a record profit.
And worst, no one in power is available to do one damn thing about speaking up.

If these sons had been dogs, at least the ASPC A would probably be there to stand up for them and American media would weep and wail over four legged creatures so needlessly lost.. Probably there'd be acongressional inquiry into that one.

And the real crime here is that American citizens are willing to own KBR stock and are not willing to question KBR practices or be responsible for them. Or hould their executives to any standards of, let alone actual, accountabilty

gala

gala

[Economike]

If you want to survive in the jungle you have to stay out of the way of the big carnivores like these contractors in Iraq. One way is to educate your children that joining the army is suicide under these conditions.

[Hoelder]

Isn't this the headline for this administration: No oversight! Republicans in Congress were pretty complicit in this drama. From lead in children's toy's to contractor's in Iraq, there is a consistent pattern of war profiteering and outsourcing life. Do they really believe that companies would police themselves in a market they sell water more expensive than gasoline because of unreliable municipal drinking water. What schemes have to emerge? What verbal constructs have to be forged to make everything sound political correct and covering the actual reason for the motivator of this: Greed, white collar crime. If a CEO finally will have to take responsibility for the crimes against humanity or losses then they will make sure that the company acts within the confines of the law. Instead they cash out their holdings before the companies sink and plead "I did not know this." Human beings usually try to avoid punishments for bad behavior, but it has to dangle from the ceiling in Damocles' cave. Only us lowly people know this with a myriad of managerial lores above us.

[ibsteve2u]

After reading a story like this, is there any doubt in your mind what will happen to our latest group of veterans - wounded or not - should the Republicans ever again attain control of our Congress and our Executive Branch and be permitted to wage war against what they will call "entitlement spending"?

[HighPlainsJoker]

TellySalad: So you could not determine for yourself why it was newsworthy? Its because this is yet another defense contractor failing in its responsibilities. Its a theme with KBR. It costs taxpayers money needlessly. It is a failure to respond to warnings about this very problem in 12 other cases. There is little or no control and oversight on KBR and other selected contractors. These failures are not accidents, they are neglect. Its calculataed neglect that costs troops lives, and they are paid to support the troops. Got it yet....???

[Stirner]

An unconstitutional invasion, based upon lies,upon a nation that was never a threat to us, and now more lies to cover the deaths of our youth? -- for what? To protect Israel? It has a large military, nukes, air force, wealth, etc. Not to worry about them, they can take care of themselves. Only one of the candidates has had the integrity and the courage to stand up against all this madness, but he has been systematically ignored and ridiculed by the neoconned Republicans. Well, they want that war-hungry McCain and his string-puller, "On to Iran" Lieberman. (Don't think that Hillary or Obama will end the war soon -- hell, Hillary even wants to "totally obliterate" 65 million Iranians for a few miserable votes!). Have we a choice? Yes, he's still there -- Ron Paul.

[hopeless277]

No one is accountable and no one is to blame. They volunteered to die for their country. Does it matter how their country chose to kill them? No. They are GI, Government Issue, to be done with as the government sees fit. Any mother should be proud to sacrifice her sons for the glory of her country. Shame on her for even questioning her government. Doesn't she know that they are keeping her safe by killing her sons? Geeze, lady, get with the program.

[definitelyNOTmisterRIGHT]

YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY DELUSIONAL!

[rich3324]

I believe the word is sarcasm.

[eggman]

I'm going out on a limb here to say that hopeless277 is being facetious.

[adept2u]

That story makes me want to cry. 3 billion or so a week down the rabbit hole, and we electrocute our babies fighting for us. As I understand it in world war II it was Truman's job to prosecute war profiteers. We need to re-open that office, and when we see how much money people have sucked from our treasure, and what lives they have cost us, we need to see from very harsh justice done.

[newmanifestogr]

"fighting for us?"

what do you mean?

I had the impression that these "babies" are fighting for KBR ...

[LorettaSingbiel]

"fighting for us?" what do you mean? I had the impression that these "babies" are fighting for KBR ...

...and KBR is paid by The Bush Administration! (by OUR children, children's children, childrens' childrens' children (IF sovereign countries on this planet haven't as yet decided to do to US what WE do to THEM!)

OBAMA '08! (If it's not too late!)
HOPE & CHANGE!

Stay safe, healthy and happy,
Love, Loretta

[OwenScottIII]

I am sickened by this story. The horrifying loss of a good American soldier due to shoddy construction work and then lying to the man's mother blaming his judgment to cover up the truth... "The horror, the horror." And yet it is typical of the insanity of the past 8 years under a man US voters made POTUS.

[eggman]

OK up until the last four words. The US Supreme Court made GWB POTUS in '00. In '04, it was Diebold.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

Thank You!! I am SO sick of being told Americans "elected" Bush.

The Supreme Court betrayed our country and sent it spiraling down the toilet in 00... and YES, Diebold (wherein Mr. Diebold told Bush he "will deliver Florida" to him)... did in fact elect Wya.

Is he dead yet? And who still keeps that company in business? Oh, that's right.... Repukingscumb.

I do not believe Diebold should be allowed to supply ANYTHING in the next election. If I see Diebold on an election machine... i KNOW the wrong man or woman, will be elected.

[Ramus]

And it may be Diebold again. Do all states issue paper receipts to the voters? If not then why not? If the exit polls don't match the counted results then we will know they have done it again. Actually DC insiders tell me that the fix is in again. So don't be surprised when, after trailing in the polls, McBush is "elected".

[Chavez08]

Ah...Another day of bitching about the tyranny without actually doing anything about it. (as Cheney and his criminal cronies snickers about how cowardly we are as he continues to rape and pillage our country)

[geobushono]

A quick trial and an equally quick, final solution to the tyranny of the bush/cheney terrorism.
Next case.

[ICanHasDemocracy]

But the Media hasn't told us what to think yet....

[legalgirl]

Remember, Cheney's two-word comment: "They volunteered."

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

better yet, his one word comment "so?"

[LorettaSingbiel]

Remember, Cheney's two-word comment: "They volunteered."

...AND his one-word comment: "SO!"

OBAMA '08! (If it's not too late!)
HOPE & CHANGE!

Stay safe, healthy and happy,
Love, Loretta

[davesideas]

Rep. Waxman is carrying on an investigation on this issue...and just when is one of the many investigations of the Bush administration going to every come up with answers? I'd like to see a list of all the investigations now under way in Congress. We hear about them, but they never seem to go anywhere.

[Changeizgood]

If you want answers on any hearings under investigation go to
C-SPAN.ORG look up top for series, then click on it.

C-SPAN 1 2 & 3 are available with video footage. Thank God for C-Span.