Did Contractor Expose Troops To Toxin?

(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.

[nincomp]

What US soldiers have been exposed to is miniscule compared to what Iraqi citizens are suffering from due to the Nepalm bombs that US dropped over Iraq.

Just to let people know before they shed alligator tears while reading this CBS report.

[runningralph]

I have worked for KBR on 2 occasions. They have good employee benefits, and a good safety program, and a good safety record. In fact, they go overboard on safety to the point of making the work difficult and time consuming to accomplish. If some chemical was accidently spilt then it should be addressed as an accident. KBR did not start out with the intention of poisoning people.

[frankhoron]

we soliders who fought this war will end up in hospital slowly dying of cancer while the government and KBR rule their own hands clean. keep in mind a dead man in hill can not recieve ice water. so go go on lie a little are.i imagine it will be of some commorfft after you are gone.

[docadams3]

I worked for B&R for three months before someone informed me that one of my routine activities as lethal: plugging in banks of welding machines without shutting the power off. No one even showed me how, I just quit doing it at all.

[riptide213]

THE EAGLE AND THE WOLF

Gen. Charles H. Krulak Commandant USMC

There is a great battle that rages inside me.

One side is a soaring eagle.

Everything the eagle stands for is good and true and beautiful.

It soars above the clouds.

Even though it dips down into the valleys, it lays its eggs on the mountain tops.

The other side of me is a howling wolf.

And that raging, howling wolf represents the worst that is in me.

He eats upon my downfalls and justifies himself by his presence in the pack.

Who wins this great battle?

The one I feed.

Quote above says it all. As voters we need to know moral feeding habits of our legislators.

We are either part of the problem or part of the solution.

US citizens should not lie, steal, or cheat, nor tolerate any US politician among us who does.

President and all elected politicians irrespective of party affiliation ultimately serve public as national leaders, role models, guardians and stewards, torch bearers for how Americans put into practice integrity, liberty, and justice.

How elected legislators support or tolerate tax funded contract support of those honorable citizens and veterans who had enough courage to voluntarily step forward or obey call up orders to defend our nation during peace, war, and every operation other than war is the ultimate test of national character.

A nation worth defending; is a nation led by those who exemplify good old fashion fidelity.

[mick7744]

One of the few things to look forward to in an otherwise dismal looking 2009 is the plethora of %u201Ctell all... behind the scenes at the Bush White House%u201D books that are sure to come out once the b@stards are finally out of office. Such creatures are not known for their loyalty.

The fact that these callous criminals were not impeached years ago when it became apparent that the Bush administration was nothing more than a gigantic thieving machine with the sole purpose of stealing all they possibly could at every level for as long as they possibly could, is a mark of shame our nation will have to bear for many decades.

[t-4680linda]

Hexavalet Chromium IS used to make Plastics Bottles used fot Drinking Water IN THE HOT SUN FOR WEEKS AT Temp. 135 THE CHEMICALS will go into the DRINKING WATER, ALL THAT USED THE WATER NEED TO BE CHECKED OUT TOO

[faletinme]

Dianne Feinstein''s husband, Richard C. Blum, is the majority owner of two substantial, and oft-awarded defense contractors, URS Corp. and Perini Corp.

As the chairperson in charge of the Military Construction Appropriations subcommittee from 2001 through 2005, the senator funneled military projects to her husband''s companies.

Now, in the most ironic twist of all: Feinstein is in charge of the Senate Rules Committee, the "ethics" arm of the U.S. Senate.

Will she charge herself with ethics violations?

Wonder how many folks they killed or placed in harm''s way.


Bad Dems.....!

[faletinme]

Sound''s like when the Dems and Lyndon Johnson knowingly exposed our troops to Agent Orange in the Kennedy-inspired Vietnam War. Except that many more soldiers were harmed due to Dioxins Exposure.

Bad Dems....

[blindersoff]

Cheney and company don''t give a *** about the troops, lets make that clear. As Cheney would say "SO?". I don''t care that they are voluntary troops or Bill Clinton supposedly allowed this in the Balkans. Cheney and Co. are the ones that brand everyone else cowards and not "Country First", people like promaclaura and the other mouthbreathers should wake up to the fact that the true Republicans (the rich ones), hold you in contempt and only seek your votes around election time.