[North-NV-Greens] Fwd: [usgp-PAX] US troops protecting Halliburton

[Paul Etxeberri]

>
>I don't know when this was written but we have heard very little in 
>the corporate press about US soldiers running shot gun for 
>Halliburton.  I have sent letters to my Congressional delegation and 
>hope everyone on this list will also...nancy
>
> 
>http://www.optruth.org/main.cfm?actionId=globalShowStaticContent&screenKey=hear&htmlId=1042
>A Plea for Help
>The following is a letter written by a soldier stationed in Iraq 
>concerning the role of private contractors in Iraq:
>
>
>Dear friends and family members -
>
>I need your help here in Iraq. How can you who are way over there 
>help me way over here well let me tell you how.
>
>For those of you not aware, the US military is not the only US 
>organization that is functioning over here in Iraq. A large US 
>contractor called KBR (Kellogg, Brown, and Root), a daughter company 
>of Halliburton (once run by VP Dick Cheney), is operating on every 
>US base in Iraq. KBR manages many of the solider services that we 
>have here on the base; things like running the food service, waste 
>disposal, pumping the latrines, laundry services, movement and 
>control, and the central distribution center. KBR is also scheduled 
>to take over all fuel hauling and freight hauling in general. When 
>things started to heat up earlier this month KBR put a hold on 
>taking over hauling operations. Now that things are seeming to come 
>back under some control KBR is looking at taking over again.
>
>Now I know you are asking yourself what in the world this has to do with you.
>
>Let me explain... KBR is now requesting, and the army is allowing, 
>US soldiers to ride "shot gun" in KBR convoys hauling KBR goods all 
>over Iraq. KBR is afraid to be out on the roads alone and want our 
>US soldiers to risk their lives riding shot gun for their missions. 
>KBR is currently staffed by mainly non US international personnel 
>along with a growing number of Iraqis. Most do not speak English, 
>none have had military training on defensive driving, proper convoy 
>operations, avoiding ambushes, navigating around IED's[hidden 
>roadside bombs], proper procedure for calling in support or medivac 
>or fire support, procedures to follow after taking enemy fire, the 
>list goes on. These drivers are simply paid drivers that are making 
>roughly 5 -8 times our wages and get paid whether the freight 
>arrives or not. KBR is requesting that US soldiers risk their lives 
>at the hands of inexperienced and improperly trained individuals to 
>provide them with security. Now there is no doubt that we need to 
>protect KBR's missions but we have suggested and to date have been 
>denied the opportunity to run the convoys with properly modified and 
>equipped military vehicles. We have suggested that we run in the 
>convoys with every third vehicle being a US Army gun truck with 
>proper drivers and fire support. With this arrangement KBR can still 
>haul the freight in their vehicles but we would run the mission and 
>deal with any situations as they develop the way we have been 
>trained to. This is the only way that most of us want the missions 
>to be run, the others are just afraid to be opposed to the decisions 
>our leadership is making.
>
>Here is where you come in. out of a desire to honor the oath we took 
>upon entering the army we do not want to disobey a direct order if 
>and when the order comes for us to ride with KBR. We do however want 
>to make all the lawmakers and politicians aware of the danger we are 
>being unnecessarily exposed to on these missions. Our hope is that 
>each of our friends and loved ones back home will take a few minutes 
>and send out emails to any local, state, and US congressman and 
>senators and demand that they require the US military to stop this 
>practice of allowing US troops in KBR vehicles.
>
>The only ones who have the power to force the military to honor the 
>wishes of the people are the lawmakers and politicians. So please 
>take a moment and send a letter or email to one of your senators or 
>congressman and ask or demand that they inquire into this matter and 
>demand that it cease.
>
>As of this writing 3rd Platoon of the 283rd TC (my unit) is 
>currently running these missions. We have been warned that it is 
>only a matter of time and my whole unit will be running these 
>missions. If nothing is done back home then more soldiers and myself 
>in particular will be placed in unnecessary danger.
>
>Please help.
>
>Thank you for your time and help. I miss you all and look forward to 
>seeing you all again upon my return. Please keep myself and my wife 
>and my sons in your hearts and in your prayers.
>
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
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>Peace at lists.gp-us.org
>http://lists.gp-us.org/mailman/listinfo/peace


-- 
Paul Etxeberri

"Forests precede civilizations and deserts follow"   ---Chateaubriand