Another DSM-4 Corporate Psychopath

[marmar]

WASHINGTON -- Sodium dichromate is an orange-yellowish substance containing hexavalent chromium, an anti-corrosion chemical. To Lt. Col. James Gentry of the Indiana National Guard, who was stationed at the Qarmat Ali water treatment center in Iraq just after the 2003 U.S. invasion, it was “just different-colored sand.” In their first few months at the base, soldiers were told by KBR contractors running the facility the substance was no worse than a mild irritant.

Gentry was one of approximately 830 service members, including active-duty soldiers and members of the National Guard and reserve units from Indiana, South Carolina, West Virginia and Oregon, assigned to secure the water treatment plant, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sodium dichromate is not a mild irritant. It is an extreme carcinogen. In November 2009, at age 52, Gentry died of cancer. The VA affirmed two months later that his death was service-related.

In November, a jury found KBR, the military's largest contractor, guilty of negligence in the poisoning of a dozen soldiers, and ordered the company to pay $85 million in damages. Jurors found KBR knew both of the presence and toxicity of the chemical. Other lawsuits against KBR are pending.

KBR, however, says taxpayers should be on the hook for the verdict, as well as more than $15 million the company has spent in its failed legal defense, according to court documents and attorneys involved with the case. ................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/09/kbr-guilty-iraq-negligence_n_2436115.html

[dkf]

1. Wow that is bad.

Why would they do such a thing? And why can't we see the indemnification agreement now?

Why did we farm this out to KBR anyway?

[2naSalit]

3. Because they are

a subsidiary of Haliburton... remember Dick Cheney???? and all those "no bid" contracts awarded to them back over a decade ago when Cheney was driving the W around like a ....? and started those wars that were never supposed to end? Wanna guess who's benefiting by all of that in bank accts. offshore? That's how they got to poison our troops, imprison innocent people who went to Iraq to work but were put in prison camps and their passports taken away for years at a time and occasionally got to work but their pay was stolen for "rent" in the prison, I mean, workers' camps? That's why, it was part of the pillaging of America ala ChenyBu$h.

[dkf]

4. Our soldiers look out for their own... Corps not so much.

We need to rethink that.

[2naSalit]

5. Indeed. Most of the

vets I know, from other war times, were aghast about the KBR contracts to do everything from laundry to food service and all of that when it used to be servicefolk who did all that so that they were performing all tasks in the theater. First, I hope we find a way to never go to war again... but if we do, no KBRs or contractors of that sort and on those conditions.

On edit: I think that KBR should pay all fines, restitution and refund the US for every cent they made after all that is deducted from their "take". Slimeheads.

[pangaia]

12. Read Naomi Klein.

[2naSalit]

14. Already have.

I get what you're implying, I was only stating what I think should happen, not what probably will and is out of my control.

[pangaia]

15. Depressing isn't it..

I agree with you 100%.
But I might even go a step farther.. Bring up the head honchos at KBR on charges of first degree murder, and when they are found guilty hang them by the neck until dead.. Of course that won't happen either. But if it did it just MIGHT be a case where the death penalty actually works.

[2naSalit]

16. Indeed.

[Downwinder]

6. Not as much as they should.

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Lejeune_water_contamination

[dkf]

7. Well that is disappointing.

[BlueToTheBone]

8. known as crony capitalism. n/t

[dkf]

11. That makes it suck even more.

[derby378]

2. All I needed to see were the words "hexavalent chromium"

KBR, the folks who brought you the electrified shower stall.

Honestly, some of the suits in KBR should be facing criminal charges at this rate. Dissolve KBR's corporate status and let's see how many of the lower echelons will cut a deal to squeal on the higher-ups.

[MrScorpio]

9. This is horrible

And we do it to ourselves.

[abelenkpe]

10. Taxpayers should be on the hook for the verdict?!

You have got to be kidding me. How horrible! Why are they allowed to continue to exist?

[pangaia]

13. If corporations are people....

then the people at the top of KBR should be charged with first degree murder and when found guilty hung by the neck until dead.