Military Contractor Awaits Medical Treatment Two Years Later

Two and a half years ago, Texan Mark McLean found himself “running for his life” one hot evening on a military base in Baghdad.
It was, according to McLean, “the number one shelled base in Iraq for a couple of years” “ and just such a mortar event sent McLean, a Kellogg Brown & Root, Inc. [...]

Spc Bayshee Velez charged with murder in shooting death of Trent Lucas Vinson

Update

US soldier charged with murder in Iraq base death
(AP) – 45 minutes ago
BAGHDAD — The U.S. military says a soldier has been charged with murder in the slaying of a civilian contractor on an American base in Iraq.
Spc. Beyshee Velez of Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, was charged Monday in the Sept. 13 shooting death of a [...]

Defense Base Act “Withholding”

Defense Base Act Insurance is a requirement of your employer by the US Government.  You, the taxpayer, the US Government  reimburses the contract company for the insurance “premiums”.
Defense Base Act Insurance is in NO WAY a benefit provided by the contractor company.   Nor is it medical or life  insurance that you would ever consider [...]

Former Iraq Security Contractors Say Firm Bought Black Market Weapons, Swapped Booze for Rockets

by T. Christian Miller, ProPublica and Aram Roston – September 18, 2009 10:05 am EDT

Last spring, the U.S. diplomatic mission in Iraq got a makeover,replacing the scandal-plagued Blackwater private security company with a firm named Triple Canopy.
The new $1 billion contract cemented Triple Canopy’s status as the pre-eminent provider of private security services in [...]

Damaged and Discharged

by:  Julia O’Malley
September 17, 2009
John Mayo had mayhem etched in his skin. I noticed it when I first saw him in the lobby of the Daily News. Sleeve tattoos. Black skulls, explosions and flames. Demon drill sergeants. A rifle made to look like a deadly cartoon.
He introduced himself and his wife, Ellie. [...]

Drugs suspected in death of Afghanistan contractor

The Associated Press
Original Story here
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
WASHINGTON — A U.S. contractor in Afghanistan helping train the national police was found dead last week of a possible drug overdose, just months after his company was reprimanded by the State Department for another worker’s drug-related death.
The deaths have raised questions over how well DynCorp International selects [...]

Pentagon Study Proposes Overhaul of Defense Base Act to Cover Care for Injured Contractors

Pentagon Study Proposes Overhaul of Defense Base Act to Cover Care for Injured Contractors
by T. Christian Miller, ProPublica – September 15, 2009 6:52 pm EDT
WASHINGTON, DC – Congress could save as much as $250 million a year through a sweeping overhaul of the controversial U.S. system to care for civilian contractors injured in war zones, [...]

Appeals Court Sends Contractors Case to Court

NEW ORLEANS — The case of a Texas woman who alleges she was gang-raped by co-workers while working for a military contractor in Iraq will go to court.
A three-judge panel from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled Tuesday that Jamie Leigh Jones’ claims against Halliburton Co., former subsidiary KBR and several [...]

Wartime Contracting in Afganistan and Iraq Airs on C Span today

Witnesses testify on the U.S. State Department’s selection, management, and oversight of security and other contractors.
9:30 am  C Span 3
Summary

Melt Down

Lucas Vinson was apparently shot by a soldier who was in a rage.
These incidences are occurring at an alarming rate even if you do not count the ones that have been covered up.
Have no doubt we’ll soon hear about all the clues leading up to this trajedy.
It’s a shame that the people sitting comfortably at [...]