Kellogg, Brown and Root

KBR, the American contracting company that was spun off of Dick Cheney's Halliburton, now stands accused by the Defense Contract Management Agency, the Pentagon agency in charge of supervising contractors in Iraq. It is their determination that KBR, a Houston company that provides virtually all basic services for the American military in both Iraq and Afghanistan, has been guilty of “serious contractual noncompliance” in Iraq.

Allegations have been made that at least 18 soldiers have been killed because of KBR's shoddy electrical work. According to internal documents that have found their way to the New York Times, the problem is actually more widespread than previously understood. Both the Pentagon and the Congress have been investigating the company throughout the year.

It is bad enough that these brave military personnel brave all the other dangers that they face, they should not have to fear for their safety because of KBR's negligence.

This from today's New York Times, article by James Risen:

The issue of shoddy electrical work on U.S. military bases in Iraq first emerged in the wake of the January, 2008 death of Sergeant Ryan Maseth, a Green Beret from Pennsylvania who was electrocuted while taking a shower in his barracks in Baghdad. Maseth's family went public with their questions about the circumstances surrounding his death, and filed a wrongful death lawsuit against KBR, accusing the firm of failing to adequately maintain the building's electric system.

The Maseth case ultimately sparked investigations of electrical work on U.S. bases by Congress and the Pentagon's inspector general, and ultimately prompted an order for comprehensive safety inspections of the electrical work at all U.S. military facilities in Iraq.

Officials said that the army recently reopened its investigation into Maseth's death, after obtaining new testimony and evidence in the case, including the discovery that another soldier suffered electrical shocks while assigned to the same room as Maseth.

And just to show that there's no hard feelings, this from yesterday's A.P.:

KBR gets military projects worth $197 million
Associated Press 10.24.08, 7:58 AM ET

HOUSTON -

Engineering, construction and services company KBR Inc. said late Thursday it received multiple project task orders from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers totaling just over $197 million.

KBR (nyse: KBR ) will provide design, engineering, construction management and project management services. Work is expected to begin immediately.

The projects, which fall under the company's current CENTCOM multiple award task order contract, include the construction of maintenance facilities and airfields for helicopters and other aircraft, along with the construction of a dining facility, all at U.S. air bases in Iraq.