Betraying Our Troops: The Destructive Results of Privatizing War by Dina Rasor, Robert Bauman not only exposed this problem with KBR a couple of years ago, it also revealed the complicity of civilians and the military in Washington and in some cases a failure of military leadership in Iraq.

The health hazards of hexavalent chromium are well established and known. This particular chemical, commonly used in some wastewater treatment and other industrial processes has been used for over 30 years responsibly when properly stored and handled.

The published reports clearly indicated that KBR personnel knowingly allowed troops to be over exposed to this toxic chemical. Those responsible should be tried under US law and punished to the fullest extent of the law. KBR, as the contractor should be barred from further government contracting work.

"Those responsible should be tried under US law and punished to the fullest extent of the law. KBR, as the contractor should be barred from further government contracting work."

Unfortunately, we are now in a "moving-on" mode.

We would also do well to ask why Congress didn't act on this before? Could it be they really don't give a s@#t about the troops because they are more concerned with campaign donations?

I am so grateful to have a REAL word returned to coinage: MERCENARY. These are not contractors. These are mercenaries. I knew an Army Ranger in NC who was involved as a Captain training Kurds on our dollar on our soil years before 9-11 happened. He was leading the northern assault arm when we invaded. And as soon as he was able, went to Blackwater to work, doing exactly what he was doing for the Rangers, but at enormous pay. On top of it, he was allowed to indulge in his more-illicit predilictions.

Bill, I hate to say it, but you are probably more correct than you might know. The history of military contractor work in the US is riddled with similar documented issues of deliberate ignorance when it comes to proper handling of, and protection from hazardous materials and waste.

Take the asbestos rules that were ignored at every ship building location during WWII, or the well documented excesses at every site in the US associated with the build-up of the Atomic bomb.

Hanford is not the exception - it is symbolic of every site involved in the production of plutonium and/or uranium for the Nuclear Age and our arsenal. The Savannah River Project in rural SC and GA still has creeks that run so hot that they give off steam in the heat of a southern summer. The Goodrich plant in Ohio has all but been made a total Haz/Waste site and the plutonium enrichment facility in Paducah, KY was so bad that about 10 years ago our government quietly set up a fund to compensate workers, their families or widows sufffering from the illnesses associated with over exposure to these toxic chemicals.

Eventually the businesses are made to pay, but our government keeps going on as if they had no hand in the deliberate issues going on. This is also, unfortunately an area where bipartisanship reigns with neither party having clean hands.

"Because Congress moves slowly? Because it takes a while to assemble the research and evidence about what happened half a planet away and years ago? Because if you're going to accuse a massive corporations of deliberately sickening US troops you'd better have your act together?"

The book I referenced had loads of evidence based on research and it was published in 2007. I read the book then and was confident the authors had their act together. As for asking politicians if they really cared about the troops we woould get the stock answers - of course they do - how could you ask such a thing? Well, senator (representative) how come it took the Washington Post to expose the miserable treatment wounded troops were getting at Walter Reed? What were your armed services committee members doing? After all, I understand they only spend half their time hustling funds for their next campaigns, so couldn't they spend part of the other half maybe checking to see if the troops are getting what they needed? And, what's with three out of four people in Congress sending the troops off into harm's way on a pack of lies? It didn't take them three or four years to accumulate the "evidence" to justify an illegal war.

"Bill, I hate to say it, but you are probably more correct than you might know. The history of military contractor work in the US is riddled with similar documented issues of deliberate ignorance when it comes to proper handling of, and protection from hazardous materials and waste."

I understand that this kind of scamming by military contractors was also prevalent in the civil war.

"Could it be they really don't give a s@#t about the troops because they are more concerned with campaign donations?

That's offensive. I dare you to say that to Harry Reid's face. "

How about this comment that I just posted on Harry Reid's web form? Will you settle for that?

"I note with interest that the Democratic Policy Committee is holding hearings related to our military personnel being put at risk because of hazardous procedures in place at facilities in Iraq supposedly serviced by KBR personnel.

"I have to ask what has taken the Democratic party and, for that matter, Congress so long to investigate and correct these deplorable conditions and practices that were exposed so well in 2007 by Dina Rasor and Robert Bauman in their book “Betraying Our Troops: The Destructive Results of Privatizing War.” Why has Congress failed to hold the appropriate KBR personnel accountable for whatever transgressions they may have committed?

"Having witnessed how Congress treated our military personnel afflicted by Agent Orange and those suffering from what came to be known as the Gulf War Syndrome I must say in all candor that I am skeptical of all but a few members of Congress when they claim to care about our troops. Add to those disgraces the more recent failure of the members of the armed services committees to ensure returning wounded vets from Iraq were properly taken care of. Instead, it was left to diligent reporters from the Washington Post to reveal the third-rate treatment of several patients at Walter Reed Hospital.

"I sincerely hope that the Democratic Policy Committee will do what is right for the troops and against KBR in this matter, but, again, to be candid, I remain skeptical. I hope this committee will prove my skepticism to be unwarranted. "

"Bill, I hate to say it, but you are probably more correct than you might know. The history of military contractor work in the US is riddled with similar documented issues of deliberate ignorance when it comes to proper handling of, and protection from hazardous materials and waste."

Has there ever been a war in which war profiteers didn't engage is avaricious behavior even if it meant putting the lives of the troops in jeopardy? At least Harry Truman had the integrity to go after these wretches during WWII. Why not now in the Iraq and Aghanistant wars? (There may have been a war or two somewhere in the world that was exceptional, so consider the preceding question as applying only to the United States.)

Bill, my lack of a response does not indicate disagreement. Certainly, I appluad your posts here and especially like your challenge to Harry reid and the rst of Congress. Wars involving US troops at least have one thing in common which you have already pointed out - war profiteers.

Bill, you should say that to Harry Reid's face. Or maybe I am wrong, and since he really supports the troops and would never think of putting them in harm's way for an illegal and trumped up war, you can thank him for voting against going to war as well as pulling the plug on the war.

In light of this Kari, if you want to see something really offensive, here's a number: 4,330. That's the number of US soldiers killed in Iraq since the fiasco began. That is dwarfed by the number of Iraqis killed, although perhaps you will tell us that Senator Reid also supports the Iraqi people.

Great. We know about how many soldiers and what level of exposure. Let's treat this the way the Corporations do, risk analysis. The toxicity level of Sodium Dichromate is known so we can calculate the number of soldiers who will get cancer and resperatory and organ damage from that level of exposure very closely. Then calculate the cost of treatment and lifetime disability payements for all of those young men and women, add 15% cost plus for overhead and admin and that should be the fine levied against KBR. And if just one Soldier dies from the exposure try every member of KBR board of directors and the management team overseeing Iraq at the time for criminal negligence and manslaughter.

"That's offensive. I dare you to say that to Harry Reid's face. You're liable to get the Jack Gordon treatment."

Kari: Is that a veiled or overt threat of violence directed towards me? You have rightly opposed the GOP crowd for their hostile and abusive tactics, but what does it say if you are doing something similar yourself if in a different form; that is, introducing the concept of violence and intimidation into this debate.

You might want to consider the old Chinese saying about the person who strikes the first blow admitting to having the weaker mind.

And,talking of violence, what is your position on Obama's wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan? Are you for them because you are pro-war or because you are a Democrat going along with the party?

As for saying what I wrote to Harry Reid's face, you might want to re-read that and note it was in the form of a question, so instead of putting my neck in an arm-lock I suspect Reid would have answered my question with some statement that attempted to prove the people in Congress care. (I'll let you know what, if any, response I get from Reid to my written comment to him.) Also, did you think you were being fair offering me a dare that would have required me to go to the expense and trouble of getting an appointment with Reid in Las Vegas or Washington? How about you telling Michael Steele to his face what you think of his and his party's town hall tactics.

Thanks for this report. I am one of the attorneys representing some of the Oregon soldiers in a lawsuit for damages in federal court in Portland. Fair to say that Oregon Guard members appreciate that Congress, the Oregon Legislative Assembly and activists are keeping these issues alive. It's a sad and troubling story.

"In light of this Kari, if you want to see something really offensive, here's a number: 4,330. That's the number of US soldiers killed in Iraq since the fiasco began."

Let's not forget the tens of thousands wounded and those suffering from PTSD for which there appears to be no accurate count.

Dave Sugarman: I am requesting that you write a factual post/update when it's legally feasible. You are taking part in history. PLEASE don't leave it to foggy rememberings, Freedom of INformation Act petitions and years from now for us to know what happened. The ConLaw ins and outs as well as the rest.

Wouldja? My bet is a lot of folks would like that.

Betraying Our Troops: The Destructive Results of Privatizing War by Dina Rasor and Robert Bauman is available in new paperback at Powell's for $10.50 and from alibris dot com from $2.09 (used) to $10.00 (new). Check it out. You'll learn about the heroes, villains and victims in this tragedy.

<h2>I am a Viet nam era vet and am appaled at this BUT where were you media when we were fighting? Your were painting us (18-20 years olds) as drug heads and baby killers. How soon you forget and jump on the bandwagon of solders who CHOSE to be solders. Everytime i read these articles I get very mad and wonder what country I am living in. One that picks and chooses who should get attention and what era of solider is most important. Do not worry-soon we will be gone and then forgotten like we are now.</h2>