Did Contractor Expose Troops To Toxin?

CBS Evening News Exclusive: American Soldiers Are Dying Of Lung Cancer - And May Have Been Knowingly Exposed

(CBS)  The military contractor Kellogg Brown and Root, known as KBR, has won more than $28 billion in U.S. military contracts since the beginning of the Iraq war. KBR may be facing a new scandal. First, accusations its then-parent company Halliburton was given the lucrative contract. And later, allegations of shoddy construction oversight that resulted in Americans getting electrocuted. Now, some other American soldiers say the company knowingly put their lives at risk, CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian and investigative producer Laura Strickler exclusively report.

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In April of 2003, James Gentry of the Indiana National Guard arrived in Southern Iraq to take command of more than 600 other guardsmen. Their job: protect KBR contractors working at a local water plant.

"We didn't question what we were doing, we just knew we had to provide a security service for the KBR," said Battalion Cmdr. Gentry.

Today James Gentry is dying from rare form of lung cancer. The result, he believes, of months of inhaling hexavalent chromium - an orange dust that's part of a toxic chemical found all over the plant.

At least one other Indiana guardsman has already died from lung cancer, and others are said to be suffering from tumors and rashes consistent with exposure to the deadly toxin.

"I'm a nonsmoker. I believe that I received this cancer from the southern oil fields in Iraq," he said.

Now CBS News has obtained information that indicates KBR knew about the danger months before the soldiers were ever informed.

Depositions from KBR employees detailed concerns about the toxin in one part of the plant as early as May of 2003. And KBR minutes, from a later meeting state "that 60 percent of the people … exhibit symptoms of exposure," including bloody noses and rashes.

Gentry says it wasn't until the last day of August in 2003 - after four long months at the facility - that he was told the plant was contaminated.

"We would never have been there if we would have known," Gentry said.

A new internal Army investigation obtained exclusively by CBS News says the Army's medical response was "prompt and effective."

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Read the report on the internal Army investigation.
Read an Indiana court complaint against KBR, including evidence and images.

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But even after a briefing Monday, Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh says that KBR has a lot to answer for.

"Look, I think the burden of proof at this point is on the company," Bayh said. "To come forward and very forthrightly explain what happened, why we should trust them, and why the health and well-being of our soldiers should continue to be in their hands."

In a statement, the company told CBS News: "We deny the assertion that KBR harmed troops and was responsible for an unsafe condition."

The company says it notified the Army as soon as it identified the toxin.

Still, some Indiana guardsmen say they only just learned of the risk.

"I didn’t know I was exposed to a deadly carcinogen until five years later when I received a letter," said Indiana National Guardsman Jody Aistrop.

This is far from the first time the multi-billion dollar contractor has been accused of questionable conduct at Iraq. In addition to convictions for bribery, it's alleged KBR provided contaminated water to troops. The company denies all charges.

"It's going to cost American lives, I'm afraid," Gentry said. "I love them. I love my men so much."

So much so Gentry says he will urge each and every one of them get tested for the cancer that he fears is taking his life.

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If any Indiana National Guardsmen want more information on whether or not they were exposed in Southern Iraq to sodium dichromate, they should call this Indiana National Guard hotline: [phone], ext. 3128.

[allzwell]

GREED KILLS!

[cbscrash072]

No! Bureaucracies kill.

[rudy6543]

These pig contractors should have to pay back every cent they took in and then be sent to jail for life. It won''t happen because our present government doesn''t care about its soldiers.

[lila356]

Cheney''s private Army......blackwater, halliburton, kbr, the list goes on.

[cmgoser]

So who is the chairman of the board and who are the other board members? Who are the mostly heavily invested stockholders? They need to brought to justice! !

[kansas1946]

Oh, this just figures. All of that talk from the right about "supporting the troops" and Cheney''s pet company Halliburton was killing them. Disgusting.

[debinok1]

KBR aka Halliburton should be held responsible for the medical care and death benefits for every soldier they harmed. These are our sons, daughters, husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, they deserve better than this.

[cbscrash072]

I wonder why a toxic chemical was spread all around a water plant. Its not a chemical you want in your water. There is more to this story.

[stevador39]

Bush and this congress of prostitutes don''t care about the U.S. soldiers. They care about corporations. Keep in mind that ''VICE president'' *** Cheney headed Halliburton. Bush and Cheney care about money. And they bought their positions and they will avoid prosecution because of their money and a public to stupid to keep the civil right it inherited.

[legacyabq]

sickening..

and this was a NO BID contract..

Now you know the real reason we went to Iraq..

Weapons contractors, oil contractors, defense services contrators..



$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[t-4680linda]

To work in water plant you had to be frinds with managment or have a split, no water treatment experince.I had 11 years in chemicals and chlorine expert could not get a job in water treatment.The supervisor was over TCN not americans.KBR managment is the worest I ever saw.The bottle water you drink is in clear plastic bottle out in the sun for weeks. The SUN will neutrallize the chemicals in it. IT is still like that. I wrote it up but nothing was done.

[idnnsg]

Halliburton is STILL PAYING Cheney for his services ("deferred pay" is pay you are getting, but will not be given to you until later). Doesn''t that make Cheney liable for these MURDERS? G-D D-MN neocon scum!

[trish2654]

it would have been nice of CBS to at least credit the local affiliate station for bringing this to THEIR attention. My son filmed this story locally (local CBS affiliate) and contacted CBS to get it brought out into the public arena. My son was very upset filming this local story and hopes that his efforts will bring about a huge public outcry and full investigation of what really happened!

[trish2654]

it would have been nice of CBS to at least credit the local affiliate station for bringing this to THEIR attention. My son filmed this story locally (local CBS affiliate) and contacted CBS to get it brought out into the public arena. My son was very upset filming this local story and hopes that his efforts will bring about a huge public outcry and full investigation of what really happened!

This problem sounds just like the Agent Orange problem my people had when they came back from Nam. Nobody in authority cared then either.

[excoachken]

But your service was not in vain----------Dich Cheyney got very rich because of it. When does Cheyney''s war crimes trial begin?????

[mssparky1]

This is just another classic example of corporate greed. And....this is just one of the many incidents that have been found out and publicized. What don''t we know yet?

Also...a good look needs to be taken into the use if Depleted Uranium weapons. I don''t think the military is telling us everything our soldiers need to know about that exposure. Detonated depleted uranium weapons could very well be the agent orange of the Gulf War.

Ms Sparky
http://mssparky.com/

[daniel_sied]

I discovered an alternative treatment which puts cancer into spontaneous remission. The alternative treatment is no phosphates in the diet for a week. Fast overnight and then in the morning drink 1 fluid ounce of vinegar per 80 pounds body weight. The patient may follow with 1 fluid ounce of water to prevent burning of the ear canals and throat. Consume nothing else and let the acid burn out the cancer. Some reduction in tumor size the first day but it takes about two weeks for the immune system to clear the cancer completely. I had cancer 12 times. Acid is the Achilles'' heel of cancer. Acetic acid in vinegar dissolves and moves metal poisons which cause cancer. I am the man of wisdom right out of the book of Revelation. Render unto her a double shot is the relevant passage in the book of Revelation. The cancer can come back in a different place because the metal poisons remain in the body. But I conquered that and am now cancer free for many years.

[redhawk1021]

Yet another heartwarming story brought to you by the Bush administration. If we hadn''t been so stupid as to give the White House to these crooks NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED!

I am proud to have been able to vote against these monsters both times. If you voted for these criminal that have ruined this nation I don''t know how you all don''t die of shame.

[macusweil]

I guess just another fine example of Cheney and his henchmen''s idea of support our troops.

[rayo3400]

and Rumsfeld gets his wherever Tamiflu is sold.

[jw218389]

Thanks George!!!

Thanks for killing America''s greatest with your GREED.

You and D!CK should rot in Guantanemo with the other WAR PROFITEERS.

I am pro-military but I am NOT PRO-GREED!!!!

Jail BUSH AND CHENEY NOW!!!

[jamurphy4]

Just a little more of the "bush-cheney" LEGACY.. This is just the tip of the iceberg.. There will be more, and we can thank good Ol bush, cheney, and all their greedy friends over at KBR, and Halliburton.. I''m sure that the Republican''s will try to blame this on someone else. The "Dirty Tricks Machine" over at the RNC will be working overtime.

[bobgee_1999]

What the hell? We have these wars to see exotic countries and enforce U.S. foreign policy, nobody said anything about it being dangerous. Not cool, Bush.

[rudy6543]

Posted by trishab59 at 11:17 PM

It''s probably best to try and read the article before commenting.

[alphaa10000]

This story is far from over. In the end, it will be difficult to say who did more damage to American interests, the enemy or KBR.

KBR''s handiwork already includes at least 16 US soldier deaths from improperly-wired facilities, and now this, an explicit tale of both indifference and incompetence from Halliburton/KBR-- the very people who got a no-bid contract for Cheney-Rumsfeld & Co. at premium prices.

And what was the rationale for awarding a no-bid contract to Halliburton/KBR? Because Cheney-Rumsfeld insisted only Halliburton/KBR could do the job correctly. (Cheney is the former head of Halliburton, and retains generous profit-sharing options. In effect, Cheney awarded himself a contract in clear conflict of interest. US taxpayers made him even richer.)

KBR is now a spin-off of Halliburton, though the same mendacity pervades both companies.

[notfooled]

This is criminal behavior. The executives at KBR should face a firing squad right along with the rest of the Bush/Cheney crime syndicate.

Who will be the first to bring these criminals to justice?

[lila356]

More KBR horrors in the news.

http://livingliberally.org/drinking/chapter_blog/Horror-KBR-Exposed-US-Forces

http://www.worldwiderant.com/2007/12/10/blame-halliburton-the-victim/

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/05/28/soldier.electrocutions/index.html

[downtowner97]

Watch "Iraq for Sale". It''s an incredible documentary that pointed out the problems with hiring war contractors a few years ago. Why is it patriotic to support Bush''s use of no-bid contractors in a supposedly important war? Why isn''t the military performing functions like construction and water filtration like they always did before?

[caliengineer]

In OIF in 2003, I contracted a rash. FIVE Army doctors told me it was from the heat, and that about 10% of deployed soldiers received the same.

American doctors also failed to identify it. 4 months ago, this was identified as ureaplasma, a type of STD passed easily in sweat and saliva.

Ureaplasma causes miscarriages. My wife had three before we learned what it was. We only learned from my wife''s visit to a doctor in Kyiv, Ukraine. American doctors also failed to identify this common disease.

Why do American doctors not know about this???

Their incompetence has killed three of my children. I have none, but should have at least two at this time.

[juwboy]

CBS:

FYI, a "toxin" is a BIOLOGICAL poisonous agent e.g. snake or spider venom.

[farmerbb]

Isn''t hexavalent chromium the same chemical that was the problem in the movie "Erin Brockovich" with Julia Roberts ???

[ofbyfor3]

The phrase ''Support the Troops'' should be more than a meaningless motto.

This administration is great at ''talking the talk'', but falls far short in actual support and care to the troops and doesn''t ''walk the walk''. It''s disgusting how so many of these young man and women have been treated.

[evian_ycnan]

And yet, no outrage.

Cheney admits to a war crime, and still no outrage.

We are slaves of comfort.

[rf35]

I wonder if Bush can pardon himself and Cheney before leaving office.

[dimmu19]

Bush and Cheney need to GO TO HELL !!!!

[dimmu19]

All republican scum need to GO TO HELL right now !!!

[babooph]

Many troops knew they could die for Israel & the corporations,but not in this way.

[irmcvet971]

The Iraq war is all about putting money into Cheney and Bush''''s pockets. In fact, all of government, both parties, has become nothing but looting the middle-class to further enrich the wealthy. The Constitution is toilet paper. Lock and load.

Posted by BRdeckard at 05:57 AM : Dec 23, 2008


How can anyone, even a KNOWN fascist, blame the Democrat Party for this? It was BUSH and the REPUBLICAN''S who took this nation into Iraq, It was BUSH and the REPUBLICAN''S who cooked up the "Contractors" as a method of "Outsourcing" the responsibilities of our Military. Time to get real here people and just say NEVER again. NEVER again will I vote for a REPUBLICAN OR a Southern Fascist. NEVER again!!

[zzy-izzy]

trish2654 many thanks to your son!

[gowens1]

Bush and Cheney need to be charged with war crimes for this.

[longtree-2009]

wonder if kbr contractor employees are ill too. or is it just soldiers. still with all the lessons learned about military life, especially in a combat zone, from previous wars since the draft ended men and women keep on volunteering.

[zzy-izzy]

ToldYouSO74 ANYONE THAT WOULD DEFEND BUSH/CHENNY ARE JUST SICK,SICK,SICK PEOPLE.

[straightmate]

Go get Erin Brockovich, she can tell you about hexavalent chromium, we all know that. This is all Bush/Cheney. Money says they don''t offer a dime''s compensation. I''d be amazed if Cheney didn''t use his "they voluntered", ***.

[straightmate]

Go get Erin Brockovich, she can tell you about hexavalent chromium, we all know that. This is all Bush/Cheney. Money says they don''t offer a dime''s compensation. I''d be amazed if Cheney didn''t use his "they voluntered", ***.

[ofbyfor3]

Shh you hear that.....Silence.....Where''''s RowdyinTX. txgrouch, and all the other Bush, Cheney, War, defenders now. The have so much to talk about when they a Democrat criticize their beloved MASTERS. Always wanting proof of every anyone say. Then reject that proof as being left wing lies.

Posted by ToldYouSo74 at 07:17 AM : Dec 23, 2008

Precisely! Yet they rarely offer ANY proof of their own BS.

[twistedsister1959]

Disgusting and shameful. Treating our military personel with such little disregard for their health not to mention the fact they are there to begin with is shameful. My prayers to the troops. God bless you all. Hold those who are accountable as just that, accountable for their actions.

[armydog2]

This is truly pathetic. The greed and total disregard of the lives of our finest, who put their lives on the line for this Country, only to be poisoned by the very leaders who send them to fight in a war. Charge all the b=astards with war crimes and sue them for every dime they made on this godforsaken war.

[hairyonetooo]

Old Dik should be indicted, KBR is company that still pays money to him thru Halliburton.
Dubya along with him.

I still say Dubya will pardon himself and Dik on1/19/09

[citizenusa-2009]

NOW, do you believe that Cheney IS SATAN? Bush was simply his ego-starved puppet who was HAPPY to follow orders for a pat on the back and an "atta boy" from Uncle D.i.c.k.e.y. On judgment day, those two will have the opportunity to shake Hitler''s hand, and hopefully suffer the same fate, for eternity!