For example:
Green Beret Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth was stationed at a base in Iraq that used to be one of Saddam's palaces. This 24-year-old Pittsburgh native stepped into the shower in January, 2008.
The water pump was not properly grounded, and when he turned on the shower, a jolt of electricity shot through his body and electrocuted him...There have been 18 electrocution deaths, hundreds of burns, and untold numbers of fires due to bad wiring in Iraq.
The surging current left burn marks across his body, even singeing his hair. Army reports show that he probably suffered a long, painful death.
So was there a common thread linking these incidents? Were they caused by Al Qaeda saboteur electricians? Sunni insurgent electrical terrorists?
No, they were the fault of Dick Cheney's old cronies. The common thread here is that the multinational corporation KBR did the electrical work on the facilities and equipment involved in these and other incidents.
KBR is on the verge of being charged with negligent homicide by the Army.
This is a perfect example of the detriments of the right-wing policy of privatization.
Much more in the podcast about contractor wrongdoing, and the harmful effects of this right-wing obession with turning everything over to corporate control.
The second segment is a Quickblast: you'll listen to and then learn how to debunk a major right-wing talking point about corporate taxes.
Check out the podcast for all the details.
(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)
#148 Transcript
#148 Transcript as a Word document
#148 Sources
The events surrounding the shoddy electrical work in Iraq gives a new meaning to the "shock and awe" doctrine.
ReplyDeleteAgain you've brought to our attention a problem that the sad excuse for a media has failed to investigate/exploit. I guess they're a little busy talking about Mrs. Obama and the queen.
ReplyDeleteRIDICULOUS!!! this "TRAGIC" episode of electroshock yes it's a shame but it has nothing to do with "private vs. public" contractors or Mr.Richard Cheney! KBR should be held responsible to fullest extent of the law, however this could've happened by military engineers.
ReplyDeleteLook how Fema reponded and the Army Corp of engineers responded to Katrina ofcourse "Bush" got blamed
as he got blamed for the economy which was really induced by redistributation policys and funneling and redistributing taxpayers moneys in bad loand through fannie mae and then to the banks.
LoL @ right wing idealogy as you say "to make a buck" who screams gimme more gimme more....more taxes more govt...more...more
If you don't like Corporations you shouldn't be A SOCIAL-LIBERAL
because what they practice is Corporate-Socialism in other words "fascism"
Democrats = exploit & rally the poor with class envy...to destroy the middle and small business...only to give corporate kickbacks--> redistributed "taxes" to their corporate ivy league elite!
...while the poor only get crumbs of the "pie"
UHM... TAXES AREN'T "HIGH" UHM OK!!!
ReplyDeleteIn three short months "Obama" has
outspent every president combined inspite of cutting military and things that have kept us safe!!
PLEASE ANY OF YOU, SO CALLED "DEMOCRAT-SOCIAL-LIB's" ... ANSWER ME THIS------>
WHATS TO LIKE ABOUT INFLATION, HIGHER GROCERY COSTS, MASSIVE BEER AND CIG TAX, MORE FCC TAX ON UR CELLIE AND SOON AN ENVIOREMENT TAX
JUSTIFY PAYING MORE TAXES ANY OF YOU SO CALLED SOCIAL-LIBERALS......THE 58% THE FEDERAL GOVT TOOK ALONE FROM EXXON MOBILE SHAREHOLDERS IN 2007 CAN FIX EVERY ROAD IN EUROPE, CHINA AND AUSTRALIA...FEED EVERY STARVING CHILD IN US of A, CHINA, INDIA AND AFRICA COMBINED!!!!!
ReplyDelete....did that money go to any productive use?
the fat cats love taxes it ensures the corporate elite their status!!!