Contractors Sue Over Deaths In Iraq
Heading to Baghdad airport, a fuel convoy turned into an inferno, and resulted in the largest single loss of American civilians in the Iraq war. Seven died and 26 were injured, CBS News Chief Investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian reports.
"It could have been prevented. And it never, never should have happened to begin with," says Ray Stannard.
Stannard was one of the drivers. As the truck burned, he held a friend who died in his arms.
"What they did was murder," he says, "and I stick by that."
But his anger is not directed at the insurgents. Instead, it's directed at his employer, Kellogg Brown and Root, a subsidiary of Halliburton.
"They sent these men down the road, under attack with mortars, land mines, machine guns, rifles, grenade and explosives. Knowing the army was in combat. Knowing that people were being wounded. Knowing that trucks were destroyed. And they chose to do it anyway," says Scott Allen, who represents former KBR employees now suing the company for wrongful death.
In depositions obtained exclusively by CBS News, another KBR convoy leader describes what he saw just three hours before the massacre.
"I can only say that the escorts for my convoy expended 2,000 rounds of ammunition in a five mile period," the leader says, adding that he informed Halliburton KBR of the attack on his convoy.
And yet, KBR security coordinator Steve Pulley testified that none of his superiors put a stop to the fuel convoy.
"KBR security did their job that day, KBR security did their job that week, and KBR security was overruled," Pulley says.
So why would KBR bosses, despite all the warnings, still send so many civilians into harm's way?
An anonymous letter from someone who describes himself as a former manager at KBR offers a cold-blooded explanation.
"The executive responsible ... was under pressure" ... and "having that convoy proceed in the face of danger was one way to show improved performance," the letter says.
KBR denies the charges and says, like the Army, it should be immune from lawsuits. Yet, in a letter sent to Stannard just prior to the lawsuit, the company offers to help him receive the Army Defense of Freedom medal, but only if Stannard will agree to "release" KBR "from any and all claims." In essence, this means giving up any right to sue.
Top Senate Democrat Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., says he finds KBR's behavior outrageous.
"These are all serious issues and, in some cases, life and death issues, and the American people would expect there to be accountability," Sen. Dorgan says. "Who's accountable?"
On Monday, Sen. Dorgan plans to find out. He'll hold a hearing designed to shed light on the incident.
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved. "It could have been prevented. And it never, never should have happened to begin with," says Ray Stannard.
Stannard was one of the drivers. As the truck burned, he held a friend who died in his arms.
"What they did was murder," he says, "and I stick by that."
But his anger is not directed at the insurgents. Instead, it's directed at his employer, Kellogg Brown and Root, a subsidiary of Halliburton.
"They sent these men down the road, under attack with mortars, land mines, machine guns, rifles, grenade and explosives. Knowing the army was in combat. Knowing that people were being wounded. Knowing that trucks were destroyed. And they chose to do it anyway," says Scott Allen, who represents former KBR employees now suing the company for wrongful death.
In depositions obtained exclusively by CBS News, another KBR convoy leader describes what he saw just three hours before the massacre.
"I can only say that the escorts for my convoy expended 2,000 rounds of ammunition in a five mile period," the leader says, adding that he informed Halliburton KBR of the attack on his convoy.
And yet, KBR security coordinator Steve Pulley testified that none of his superiors put a stop to the fuel convoy.
"KBR security did their job that day, KBR security did their job that week, and KBR security was overruled," Pulley says.
So why would KBR bosses, despite all the warnings, still send so many civilians into harm's way?
An anonymous letter from someone who describes himself as a former manager at KBR offers a cold-blooded explanation.
"The executive responsible ... was under pressure" ... and "having that convoy proceed in the face of danger was one way to show improved performance," the letter says.
KBR denies the charges and says, like the Army, it should be immune from lawsuits. Yet, in a letter sent to Stannard just prior to the lawsuit, the company offers to help him receive the Army Defense of Freedom medal, but only if Stannard will agree to "release" KBR "from any and all claims." In essence, this means giving up any right to sue.
Top Senate Democrat Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., says he finds KBR's behavior outrageous.
"These are all serious issues and, in some cases, life and death issues, and the American people would expect there to be accountability," Sen. Dorgan says. "Who's accountable?"
On Monday, Sen. Dorgan plans to find out. He'll hold a hearing designed to shed light on the incident.
Ask the SOLIDERS that were over there. They will tell you how much they are thankfull for the sacrifice that these civilians give to them.
Drop the money issues. It's about being an AMERICAN my freind, something you will not understand unless you are being fried at by an AK47. GOD bless our men and women and the civilians.
Of course the destruction of lives could have been prevented; they could have chosen to not place their lives on the line for a mere pittance in the first place.
I do hope the family of the decease win some compensation from those who were smart enough to stay out of a war zone themselves, and instead send their 'sheep' to the slaughter.
Will this waste of lives be a lesson to future potential %u2018sheep%u2019? Time will tell.
In stead of waiting to sue someone, the family members should instead be using the energies in preventing their love ones from making stupid trips to a war zone.
Looking into major companys can and will help us taxpayers. We need to see the waist of our dollars.
There is te respect that the KBR drivers can give our soldiers over there that I can give.
The Marines lost a 5 ton a year ago when a flood came through. The Marines lost several in the 5 ton. The Marines came to the KBR drivers for help. The unarmed KBR drivers went out into the unsafe zone to help out. They were able to find all the Marines that had drown. It's not for the money people. It's to help out that country and our soldiers. My brother was one that gave his life to help others over there. He died in that ambush. He gave all to help others. His convoy was delivering the mail out of annoconda to the northern bases. I honor those over there for the job that others would NEVER do. GOD bless to all.
this isn't the 1st and will not be the last. 9-20-2005 (3) were killed in an ambush north of Balad, Iraq. The machinegun fire, IED's and murder happened there too. This time it was caught on video. KBR had NO protection for these drivers. Three (3) unarmed KBR drivers were murdered that day. There were no armour plating on the trucks. The area north of Balad was a hot zone. The drivers knew it but their jobs demaned it. I have seen this video and it hurts to hear the yells of the drivers as they were killed by al-quida, I.N.P. and the I.N.G.
I would love for you to see this video. It was also shown on Canadian tv last year.
GOD bless our troops and the unarmed civililans