A Dozen Soldiers Electrocuted
In Iraq Since 2003, Says Waxman
Earlier this morning, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) sent Defense Secretary Robert Gates a letter requesting documents about the military’s management of contracts for maintenance of electrical systems in U.S. military facilities in Iraq.
The reason: Because he found out that 12 Army and Marine servicemen have died as a result of electrocution since 2003.
The latest casualty: Staff Sergeant Ryan D. Maseth (pictured), a Special Forces soldier from Pennsylvania, who was electrocuted while taking a shower in his living quarters in Radwaniyeh Palace Complex in Baghdad on January 2.
According to the Army’s Criminal Investigative Division, “an electrical short in the pump sent an electrical current through the water pipes to the metal shower hose, and then through Staff Sergeant Maseth’s arm to his heart.”
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15 Responses to “A Dozen Soldiers Electrocuted
In Iraq Since 2003, Says Waxman”
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March 19th, 2008 at 11:40 am
isn’t this why ground fault interrupt circuits were invented? The question is: why wasn’t a GFI circuit used for that pump?
March 19th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Absolutely unforgivable. This is Wiring 101. Add to this the soldiers getting sick from dirty water and unclean food.
Tell me again why we are not prosecuting these contractors?
March 19th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Because they are Republican campaign contributors, and that’s who wrote the rules for them. Oh, and because people don’t REALLY support the troops by, you know, making sure that they aren’t exposed to unsafe living conditions like this off patrol. These people just support the troops in ways that don’t actually require any civilian sacrifice or oversight of the war profiteers. You know - yellow magnet ribbons on the backs of gas-guzzling SUVs and stuff like that. Not safe living conditions, adequate body and vehicle armor, clean water, good food, etc.
“Supporting the Troops” is a meaningless campaign slogan designed to make chickenhawk Republicans seem credible on matters of national defense and security, when in fact that vast majority of the most hawkish advocates of reckless military adventurism have never served. That’s why they’re so into war - they don’t actually have any idea what it’s really like.
March 19th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Happy fifth anniversary in Iraq. Such progress we’ve made. Not.
March 19th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
If I hear one more right wing republican warmonger critize myself and other democrats for speaking out against this war for profit because we spaek up about crap like this I’m gonna go to there children and pull them out of there safe schools and force them to enlist! This sort of thing is totally uncalled for. Just goes to show you if your in bed w/Bush & Cheany you can get away with murdering our troops for a profit!
March 20th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
And Dick Cheyney continues to get PAID. Someone should be screaming treason at the top of their lungs. And the chorus should be humming a few bars of Malfeasance of the Bush.
March 21st, 2008 at 12:29 pm
well for those that left comments…you should know the facts as they are not what you read…I am at RPC right now…it was not the contractor…it was the military…the military knew of the danger but refused to pay the contractor to repair the problem…and that was an out right refusal…the contractor wanted to repair..and begged to repair…but cannot until someone approves any repairs…and the request was ignored…..food is the best…water is even better…the media will shred this one as usual….sorry to let you guys down…but its the honest truth….
March 21st, 2008 at 10:13 pm
OK, so we’re all pretty much in agreement about this war. The question is what do we do to end it and bring these men and women home? Leaving our opinions on these sites doesn’t do any good, nor does contacting our congresspeople. Any ideas?
April 14th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
May this administration rot in hell!!
May 28th, 2008 at 8:56 am
CNN aired another soldier electrocuted! The lies the army tells is inexcusable. It seems unlike trained soldiers to make such elementary mistakes. I believe the truth is not being told. I am almost certain that these soldiers have been captured. Which goes to show that this war is not in our best interest because we are totally in the dark. I get feelings of Bush using the war to commit genecide on our society of young men and women. In the book What Happened by Mclellan he claims the war was based on propaganda and Bush and Cheney trump up the charges to start this war. God Help us!
May 28th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Man! All this hard luck with an already defeated dictator in our maiden voyage to policing the entire globe! Now we want to be upgraded to Iran, and we have a whole list of dictators and regimes that don’t like freedom!
Right as we’re fighting these wars for freedom, the feds get with clergy to tell the American people how to behave “IF” Martial Law is imposed.
You sick and tired of all this “bungling?” Don’t worry! When Martial Law is imposed, just a short time there will be NONE!
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:42 pm
I am blogging about this right now. I am an electrician and worked for KBR for 2 years in Iraq. We didn’t even hear of any deaths due to electrocution. This is totally unacceptable. 100% avoidable. I am just disgusted by this.
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:45 pm
I am blogging about this right now. I am an electrician and worked for KBR for 2 years in Iraq. We didn’t even hear of any deaths due to electrocution. This is totally unacceptable. 100% avoidable. I am just disgusted by this.
(note to moderator: I screwed up on the website link on my original post)
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:51 pm
MsSparky,
Thanks for the comment.
When you worked at KBR, did you ever hear managers or supervisors express any concern about the grounding of wires and/or any other electrical safety issues?
Email me at muckrakedtips@gmail.com
June 22nd, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I am trying to find other ex or current KBR electricians who might be interested in passing on what they know to a Congressional Sub Committee. They are not looking to point fingers they just want to know the truth about what really went on over there. I can get you in touch.
My URL has changed since my last comment. All my blogs including the one about the Soldier Electrocutions are at http://www.mssparky.com