Posted: 10/24/2008 9:26:11 AM EDT
|
I saw this video on youtube and got really pissed off, but I'm not sure how true it actually is. If there are any service people or KBR employees out there that can comment on this stuff please do. If this is a dupe, please point me to the original thread and lock. Video Link |
| I was in Iraq and Kuwait. Everywhere I was KBR/Halliburton was. If your water or food was jacked up it was because of the third country nationals that service the areas. I do know that KBR Truck drivers used to get screwed and shot up on alot of our convoys. But all in all I have nmajor complaints and I did two tours over there. The British bases at Um Qasar and Basra used KBR as well I never heard any complaints. KBR provided the equipment but TCNs worked the food and garbage details TCNs are like the day laborers of the Middle east, phillipino, indonesian, pakistani,nepalese. They hate us too so....??? |
The government required TCNs for some jobs. Other jobs, only ExPats are allowed to do. This was per the LogCAP III criteria set by the government. Now, with LogCAP iV in place, evern more jobs will utlize TCN labor. As far as no bid contracts go.....the government needed the job done RFN (Right Fucking Now). There were no other companies with the resources or track record of KBR at that time. I've been here since 2003. I love this company. We do alot in small ways to make everyone's life here a little better. I don't carry a weapon, but I am damn proud of how we did our jobs in Al Anbar supporting the Marines in 2004. Also, I wouldn't say the TCN's hate us. They are like anybody else, there is a bad apple in every barrel. Most that I have worked with are cheerful, hardworking, and don't complain about living conditions and food that would drive a buzzard to suicide. Try to get an American to clean your shitter for $700 a month in a war zone. You'd be floating in your own feces in no time. Sorry for the rant, I just wanted to shed some light on the misconceptions. |
OK not ALL TCNs hate us. I would say a large portion of them do. And I will say alot were thieving bastards. (Yeah I know theyre poor boohoo) but the ones that worked worked hard. |
|
Sounds pretty shitty, but it's strange the MSM isn't all over this considering it was put up over a year ago. They usually jump at the chance to slam Halliburton's connections to the .gov. I don't dispute anything they are saying because I have no way to verify it, just find it strange that the media isn't all over it. This message was posted from a Halliburton computer. 
|
What are the casualty numbers like for the truckers? Unarmored trucks and they aren't even allowed to carry sidearms.  |
I couldnt tell you any numbers but Ive seen at least 6 trucks shot up that werent armored as for weapons well most of the driver were former military and there is a lucrative black market over there and well...oh look time for Matlock. ETA I could definately testify in front of congress and say "I never saw any weapons in any KBR/Halliburton vehicle operated by American citizens Senator"  I have no problem with Halliburton except for the Bush Hurricane/weather machine. |
You guys do realize, don't you, that these were not "no bid" contracts, but merely an extension of an existing contract that has been in effect for some time... with a clause to extend when necessary? And there are literally no other companies that can provide all of the various services that Halliburton/KBR can provide, but for Schlumberger - a French company. And for several years now KBR has no longer been part of Halliburton. Just trying to keep the details straight for you guys. |
| I'm glad to hear some positive stuff about Halliburton and KBR. I actually watched that video about a year ago and then stumbled upon it today, again. I posted it because I thought it was interesting, and I thought if the content were true, that something should definitely be done about it. I figured this forum would have at least a few people with personal knowledge on the matter, and I think that assumption was correct. Thanks for the input. |
Yes, I do realize that. I'm sorry if I wasn't more clear. I was in a hurry. |
|
Brown & Root, later purchased by Halliburton (several decades back), then merged with Kellog to become Kellog-Brown & Root (KBR), is now a separate company, no longer part of Halliburton. But Brown & Root (now KBR), under these various names and ownership, had been providing various support services to the US Military since before the Vietnam War. They are mainly an industrial construction company who build refineries, chemical plants, etc. They have the logistics to move material and equipment anywhere in the world right f'in' now. When these things happen (war) it would be foolish to begin negotiating a contract, which can take years the way our legislative branch works, or rather, fails to work. If a contract had been let out to bid when the Iraq war started, they'd still be working on it. And one more time guys, just a little reminder, Halliburton is not an oil company. It is an energy related service company. They provide various service to the energy industry. But you'll never find any place where you can fill your tank with Halliburton Regular, nor can you put a quart of Halliburton 10w30 in your crankcase. This is not Dick Cheney's war to steal Iraq's oil for Halliburton. What Halliburton really does (and this is top secret) is make and operate weather machines. |
Guess who got no-bid contracts under Clinton for Kosovo logistics? KBR. Not any wrong-doing on Clinton's part (any more than on Bush's), he just needed it RIGHT NOW. KBR has been the go-to company for the DOD for many decades. They've been doing logistics for the military since WWII. |
KBR/Haliburton allways put food in my belly and made sure I had water and a place to sleep so I have no beef at all with them. Especially being out in the field for a few days and you were going back to your FOB you knew you had stuff waiting for you. Plus I think the employees have balls and care about the mission. There are always gonna be critics of something. |
|
Not many, if any companies that can do what KBR does as well as they do it, and that costs money. They aren't perfect, but they're pretty darn good in my book. A lot of complaints about KBR are due to the fact that KBR HAS to follow the contract stipulations imposed on them by the U.S. Gov't. The average KBR employee in Iraq will bust their ass to help a service member or their unit. Many times they would do things for us that they really weren't supposed to or didn't have to do under their contract at the risk of getting fired. Not all contractors doing work for us over there are KBR or even a KBR subcontractors. There's dozens of other companies. As far as the whole water controversy. Everywhere I ever went in Iraq during my 3 tours, we drank bottled water. Shower/sink water was always non potable and everyone is briefed on it and there's signs posted EVERYWHERE about not drinking it or even using it to brush your teeth. I was normally too lazy to take a bottle of water with me to brush my teeth and always used the water from the sinks, but I made sure I didn't drink it. Never had any problems. Every chow hall I ate in with the exception of COP Rawah (where they served T-Rats) was typically better then the chow halls we currently have here in CONUS. With the size of their operation, there's bound to be something get screwed up once in awhile. |
|
I just did a google search for the source of this vid. The clips were taken from "Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers" I think it's important to remember that just because something is biased, doesn't mean there isn't some truth in what's being said. That being said, I have yet to watch the whole documentary so I can't comment on the director's research methods and sources. Once I watch the entire film I think it will become clear how true (or fabricated) these accounts actually are. |
The only people that need to say that are the ones who are trying to defend Fahrenheit 911 or Loose Change or similarly stupid propaganda. |
So everything you've accepted as fact in your life has come from unbiased sources? |
From trusted sources. Some insane blogger that claims that 9/11 footage was all faked is not, in my book, a trusted source. YMMV. |