(16) Ind. soldiers sue (KBR) over chemical exposure in Iraq

[sabra]

Source: AP

INDIANAPOLIS – Sixteen Indiana National Guard soldiers have filed a federal lawsuit against a defense contractor they say knowingly allowed them to be exposed to a toxic chemical in Iraq.

The suit filed Wednesday against KBR Inc. in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis claims the Guardsmen from a Tell City-based unit were exposed to a carcinogen while protecting an Iraqi water pumping plant shortly after the U.S. invasion in 2003.

The lawsuit says some of the Guardsmen now have respiratory system tumors.

The lawsuit says that officials of Houston-based KBR knew at least as early as May 2003 that the plant was contaminated with sodium dichromate, a known carcinogen, but concealed the danger from civilian workers and the soldiers.

The extent of KBR's knowledge of the hazard didn't become clear until congressional hearings this June, the suit states.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081203/ap_on_re_us/soldiers_chemical_exposure_1

[amdezurik]

1. sue them into bankrupcy

the most patriotic thing to do

[MsLeopard]

2. Didn't war criminal Bush

sign a statement saying no one could sue his private mercenaries, er I mean, contractors? I seem to remember seeing that in the past miserable eight years....

[tanyev]

3. No Contractor Left Behind