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WaPo: Lawsuit Filed Against KBR Over Toxic Burn Pits

by: Dean Barker

Fri Aug 06, 2010 at 22:02:01 PM EDT
You may recall that Carol Shea-Porter led the charge on bringing attention to the toxic burn pits that are needlessly harming the health of our men and women in uniform, and getting them shut down. For example, you can watch her here and here in a recent Armed Services Committee hearing questioning the prioritization and speed of tackling this known problem.

Today WaPo brought the issue to the fore again, noting that soldiers and contractors who have become sick are filing suit against KBR:

Hundreds of military service members and contractor employees have fallen ill with cancer or severe breathing problems after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and they say they were poisoned by thick, black smoke produced by the burning of tons of trash generated on U.S. bases.

...In March, the military banned most open-air burning of plastics, tires, aerosol cans and other materials. In April, the Department of Veterans Affairs identified burn pits as an environmental hazard. Last month, the American Lung Association, citing health risks to soldiers, urged the military to immediately find other means of trash disposal.

"It's tragic when soldiers come back and didn't get a scratch on them from the enemy but have some possibly life-altering problems because of burn pits," said Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.), one of several lawmakers who pushed to limit the use of the pits.
Dean Barker :: WaPo: Lawsuit Filed Against KBR Over Toxic Burn Pits
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WaPo: Lawsuit Filed Against KBR Over Toxic Burn Pits | 2 comments
KBR will argue that they were merely following (0.00 / 0)
the directives of the military and the Pentagon will argue, as it has almost forever, that it's a matter of priorities and that "protecting" the American people from enemies takes precedence over cleaning up messes and leaving the environment pristine.  Besides, one of the reasons we need to station troops on bases overseas is because the American people are increasingly reluctant to let the military do what it needs to (blow things up) at home.

The conventional wisdom would have us believe that the impetus for "privatization" came from the private corporations which perceived government contracts as a gravy train.  What I would argue is that "privatization" is promoted by public officials to take advantage of the private corporation's ability to act in secret and without public interference.  If Congress doesn't pay attention to wasted money and effort, it's because our public officials don't want to know.  Like Pontius Pilate, our Representatives want to wash their hands of the decisions they make.
CSP is the exception, but she can't change the culture of Washington alone.
Republicans are often right in the charges they make.  Where the electorate errs is in thinking that making charges is the same as wanting change.  What we call a mess, they consider par for the course and "not enough money" is just an excuse for not doing what they don't want done.  That's a trick they learn at mother's knee or riding in the shopping cart.

Carol is the best friend (0.00 / 0)
the military and our veterans have had in Congress for a long, long time.  On this, and on all the issues which touch the lives of us in NH and all around the country and the world, she is without a doubt one of the most effective legislators we have ever known.  
WaPo: Lawsuit Filed Against KBR Over Toxic Burn Pits | 2 comments

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