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149 Comments
- Murrabbit, on 05/03/2008, -14/+88Proof once more that the private sector can always out-perform the government!
- ThaDRD, on 05/03/2008, -6/+60I think many of these corrupt contractors are doing so because they aren't in the US and feel like they can get away with it. However, to ***** the US troops out of basic necessities like ice makes them selfish, unpatriotic douches and they should be charged with treason.
- Black6x, on 05/03/2008, -2/+45Having done a 1-year tour of Afghanistan while i was in the Army, some of this seems overblown, and some of it is just appalling. The Forward Operating Base that I was on had a number of contractor teams and I personally didn't see this problem. Things did get traded, and who you made friends with could be the deciding factor on how quickly the air conditioner for your squad's tent was fixed. A friend of mine was in good with the cook, which meant that if there were extra steaks, we could have a barbecue. Invite teh contractors to it, and the SF guys, and it made future "drug deals" easier.
For those not in the know, the term "drug deal" is heavily used in the military as an agreement that either leaves you owing a favor, or has you calling in a favor. Need paperwork processed quickly? You may have to go get answers for them about something else. Want first dibs at the MREs? Well, one of the cooks would like one of the Bench Made knives that the infantry guys are being issued.
However, the idea of the soldiers being short-changed on their equipment is terrible. The thing about the ice is the worst, because their screwing with the mission, and the soldiers' ability to operate. A part of me wonders if the contractors had withheld some of the necessary items in order to create situation for these deals. The "stolen" equipment was probably force-traded by teh soldiers to get something that they needed, - banderwocky, on 05/03/2008, -9/+49Whhhhaaaaaaaaaaat?!?! Something is absurd in Iraq?!?!
- spacedog800, on 05/03/2008, -2/+35I hate KBR. I'm a contractor in Iraq. For the first 4 months we got here (contractors and military) we had to live in 10 man tents with 20 people in them. Bunk beds, no space whatsoever, and dry roted sand bags to protect us from mortars. Our base got attacked by rockets a lot back then and their response was a sign that read "In case of rocket/mortar attack, get on the ground, this will increase your chances of survival."
Meanwhile, the KBR employees had their own village with 4 employees in 6 man trailers all with 15 foot concrete T-Walls around each trailer, bunkers outside of every other trailer, a large chainlink fence around their whole living area (LSA) that said "KBR ONLY-KEEP OUT". They had paved sidewalks and walkways and wet-trailers(showers and bathrooms.)
Everyone else to include the military had the tent city I described earlier, and no protection .One bunker. A few shower trailers, and port-a-johns. When it rained our TentCity turned into sloppy mud that was horrible to walk through (we didn't get these paved sidewalks). The kicker was we waited for 4 months for a trailer(substandard to their beautiful LSA) and they got a room in their compound as soon as they showed up on the base.
The tax-payer pays KBR and instead of providing good housing for the military (the ones fighting the war) they make themselves this wonderful living area, and screw the military. It horrible. But go find out who makes money of KBR you'll be surprised. - Hillsfar, on 05/03/2008, -1/+30"Committee chairman Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota has been advocating for the creation of a permanent, bipartisan Wartime Contracting Commission to look into the types of accusations raised this week, but so far, says Piatt, Senate Republicans have blocked the measure. Until he is able to obtain the necessary 60 votes, Dorgan will continue to negotiate with the opposition in hopes of peeling away enough support to establish the commission."
Wait, who are these specific Republicans blocking the legislation? Why aren't they being called out? And would Obama's Google for Government and other stronger ethics reforms help expose lawmakers who aren't doing their job? - dilibau, on 05/03/2008, -2/+23OK, so you Americans steal Iraqis' gold, use their women for prostitution AND kill their men in BlakWater-esque attacks if they don't agree with your INVASION? hm, it sounds like the post-World War II Soviet era in the Eastern Block... good luck repairing your image in the next couple of millennia, you really ***** up things there
- Shuukyoku, on 05/03/2008, -1/+17Its not that they think they can get away with it, its that they can get away with it. We broke their police force, we broke their army, and we haven't done a damn thing to stop it.
- inactive, on 05/03/2008, -3/+19And these guys get paid the big bucks while are troops are still being shortchanged.
- spacedog800, on 05/03/2008, -0/+15I work in a LAN shop where contractors do the same job as the soldiers sitting next to them. Except the soldiers are getting paid 20-30k and the contractors start at 150k. Many of them have the same or less experience in the field than the soldiers.
I remember a new contractor that came in and asked the solider next to them how to label a port on a cisco switch (its like the most basic thing a net admin could do ("description xxxxxxxx"). I'm sure the solider knowing that he is making 130k more than her isn't very satified with this system.
How is the govt saving money by contracting out the soldiers jobs? - pintomp3, on 05/03/2008, -2/+16when you make war, conflict, and destruction profitable, expect more of it. some things should not be privatized or for profit.
- sodoh, on 05/03/2008, -1/+13There was a documentary on this a few months ago on Irish TV. Oddly enough the documentry was shown at 4am in the morning. It showed some crazy stuff. Like millions of US cash (physical) disappearing after arriving in Iraq. Also stunts like one guy turning up with no contracts/company, creating one where he repainted abandoned vehicles at the airport (belonging to Iraq airport) then billing the airport for renting them.
What is disturbing with this is that for people in Iraq this is the only perception of Americans they will ever see. - basotl, on 05/03/2008, -1/+12Contrary to what the article cites "drug deals" is a term that was not invented by or used exclusively by contractors in Iraq.
The term has been around for longer than that and is also used by the military. The term is used for any deal that uses equipment for trade or loan that is not on the books or services individuals have access to priority of.
Any good supply sergeant has to make "drug deals" on a regular basis just to get things done. - gypsi, on 05/03/2008, -6/+16do you think iraqis or anyone else in the world is going to care who is or isn't corrupt or even non-military personnel?
- inactive, on 05/03/2008, -3/+12that's what they're for. Once martial law is declared in the USA, it's these ***** that will do the killing of inconvenient Americans.
- Bovorik, on 05/03/2008, -0/+9Mercs will be mercs, and that's a fact of war. They're accountable to their employer alone (with the harshest possible punishment being handed out to them - a sacking), whereas squaddies can, quite easily, theroretically be prosecuted for any personal indesrections.
- stupidStan, on 05/03/2008, -2/+11I'm a contractor in Kuwait... I must be missing out on all the good stuff!
Seriously though, it's sad to see this happen, but the media makes it sound like it is a job requirement to be a criminal. Sure you hear of corruption, but most of us are honest people. I just wish we could get maybe one article that didn't paint us *all* as rapist, murdering, corrupt thieves. (I don't work for KBR by the way) - Infidelcastr0, on 05/03/2008, -0/+9The entire point of this war is a front to embezzle tax dollars for Cheney and Rumsfeld's cronies. (not meant as disrespect to those in uniform or honest contractors such as yourself, just the thieves, chickenhawks and liars that misused the service of truly patriotic Americans). Iraq is a shining example of what happens when you privatize war and put the people who profit from it in charge of a country.
- Hillsfar, on 05/03/2008, -3/+11Everyone would agree that your comment sucks, too, because it doesn't contribute to the discussion. How about you make a meaningful response or commentary on this article?
- WoollyMittens, on 05/03/2008, -3/+10It'll take the rest of the century to figure out the warcrimes of US mercenaries.
- mr5150, on 05/03/2008, -5/+12America is the tyrant...get the ***** out of the Middle East and start apologizing to them for the next hundred years.
- forgiste, on 05/03/2008, -0/+7Iraq, The New Frontier. Put the "savages" in reservations and conquer the country, that's the 'merakin way.
- esteskid, on 05/03/2008, -1/+6I don't know why you're digging jeffiek down, corporatism is what causes these problems.
- inactive, on 05/03/2008, -2/+7Yes, they are doing some of the heavy lifting in the criminal occupation of Iraq, which makes them doubly criminal.
- inactive, on 05/03/2008, -0/+5I used to be a diesel mechanic in the army and was getting paid 20-30K while contractors doing the same job I was were getting at least 80K. A lot of them used to be in the army/national guard and don't have any other formal training besides military. A contracting company called L3 seems to hire whoever they can get nowadays. On the first few days working with them, one of the contractors forgot to hammer down the tabs of a spider washer on a HMWWV hub spindle and a wheel fell off during a road test.
While some of the older guys are pretty knowledgeable about their field, most of the regulars aren't really any better than the soldiers. Definitely didn't deserve the 50K difference. - toshibu, on 05/03/2008, -0/+4In that case you are just as criminal for paying taxes and financing this war. You are also colluding with the criminals responsible for this "illegal" war by fuelling the fire through your internet subscription through a corporation which also pays taxes financing this war.
See, this is the logic Bin Laden used to justify terrorism on American civilians. I see you two agree... - cvxdes1, on 05/03/2008, -9/+13Okay Mr. Conspiracy, calm down.
- gryphon50, on 05/03/2008, -0/+4right. If that guy didn't get those prostitutes safely from point A to point B, he could have died.
- aliengoods, on 05/03/2008, -0/+4Even though Cheney does have a steak in the company, I would guess a prime rib isn't his main motivation.
- Kyrceck, on 05/03/2008, -1/+5You are a mindless tool who can't think for yourself. I hope you enjoy living your dull and mundane life behind your computer screen. It's so easy to scrutinize people who are doing things you couldn't possibly imagine. We all know you're jealous. Black6x has patented his life's experience. You, pablo, will never do anything near as brave as the veteran above. Sorry, but personal politics don't matter when you're in the military. Sorry, but without people like Black who are willing to fight for there country will defend this country if it is attacked. And it was, on 9/11, and this soldier fought the taliban in Afghanistan.
- pintomp3, on 05/03/2008, -1/+5he seems to think corporations had nothing to do with it.
- gryphon50, on 05/03/2008, -0/+4so when someone steals a stapler from their work, it is equivalent to stealing fridges and commandeering armored vehicles? WTF? Your attitude of "zero outrage" is part of the problem here. It's people with your attitude that make things like this happen over there.
- inactive, on 05/03/2008, -1/+5try "To all AMERICANS: FREAKING DO SOMETHING!!!!!"
- inactive, on 05/03/2008, -8/+12yeah a libertarian dream out there
- byronm, on 05/03/2008, -0/+4I don't think you understand the "complete libertarian dream".. privatization is supposed to make things better.. how is it not applied here? Obviously private militias can't respect themselves yet alone others.
- tayf, on 05/03/2008, -0/+4yeehaw!
- isaactwito, on 05/03/2008, -1/+4You, my friend, are an idiot.
- inactive, on 05/03/2008, -2/+5We are all out spare tires could you guys give me a hand settings all these trucks on fire? We are going to need extra diesel because they are loaded with supplies.
- pablo0713, on 05/03/2008, -2/+5You have poor taste as Middle Eastern/Persian women are some of the most beautiful in the world. But, I guess because you're racist and probably hate any human being with brown/olive/sorta white skin, they would seem nasty to you.
- toshibu, on 05/03/2008, -1/+4What part of mercenary don't you understand? If they wanted to be patriotic, brave, blah blah blah, they would have joined the real military...
- toshibu, on 05/03/2008, -1/+4"Honest people" don't become mercenaries. They become soldiers for their country. :)
- kingmanic, on 05/03/2008, -2/+5Last time i checked all stealing isn't acceptable. It's not perfection, it's mere competence. There seems to be a very low expectation of it in the states?
- toshibu, on 05/03/2008, -1/+4He prefers his pasty white burger-eating belly-overflowing-over-the-belt-to-the-knees all-American hooker.
- LongShlong, on 05/03/2008, -2/+4It's unpatriotic to be there, though.
- FairDinkumMate, on 05/03/2008, -2/+4Do you seriously believe the rest of the Middle East(which is primarily Sunni) is going to allow the Shi'ite country of Iran to take over Iraq? I agree that there would probably be some quite ugly brawling initially if the US withdrew but Iran no more has the ability to control Iraq militarily than the US does. If you do some searching around the net away from US or western based sites, you will find that their are just as many opposing views on the future of Iraq in the middle eastern countries as there are in the western countries. But the one over riding attitude is that Iraq needs to find its feet & stand alone with regional support and that it will never be peaceful as long as either the US or Iran is attempting to control it.
- basotl, on 05/03/2008, -0/+2Kuwait is rich. It was more likely to be the Philippinas that work in Kuwait.
- mikelist, on 05/03/2008, -1/+3civil contractors in a war zone are mercenaries. at home we are being asked to sacrifice our kids and our economy to 'support the troops' or risk being labelled traitorous. over there our civilian contractors are being paid big bucks (compared to the military personnel, at least), and in at least some cases are failing to provide the support they are being paid for. i think that all americans there who are in any way involved in military support should be military personnel and subject to discipline under the ucmj. the military has its own whistleblower suppression mechanism, but i'd guess it pales in comparison to those of kbr, blackwater, et al.
- gryphon50, on 05/03/2008, -2/+4just f*cking over the American taxpayer constantly should get them charged with treason, not even counting what they're doing to the troops.
- toshibu, on 05/03/2008, -1/+3Melting Iraqi gold to make spurs is not about to lead to anything heroic in the future...
- bethehammer, on 05/03/2008, -0/+2The govt is making money by using taxpayer funds for no-bid contracts which their friends win and eventually goes back into the politicians pockets later on after their political life is over - money is made in every war - this war is just really profitable because we have a public dumb enough to think that it is necessary to contract basic duties our military used to do , although even when our military was doing more duties there were still no-bid contracts States side to make people money so ... war is not economical and bad
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