Army Community - Army Discussions - Army Times

Editorial: An avoidable danger

Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth was killed in Baghdad on Jan. 2 — not on the battlefield, but in his barracks. He was the 13th American electrocuted at U.S. facilities in the war zone since 2003.

That they would die when the danger was repeatedly made known to contractors and Army officials is an outrage.

But faulty wiring is an even worse danger than what had been made public. According to Army documents obtained by the New York Times, electrical problems are the most urgent noncombat safety hazard for soldiers in Iraq. From August 2006 through January 2007 alone, the paper reported, there were at least 283 electrical fires at U.S. facilities there.

The failures are many. Contracting giant KBR has questions to answer about faulty wiring and shoddy workmanship. DoD officials have provided little oversight. And not until July did Army leaders order electrical inspections of all KBR-maintained buildings the newspaper reported.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates must promptly respond to lawmakers’ demands for details on steps being taken to eliminate the problem.

Congress and the Pentagon must then hold personally accountable those officials — both military and contractors — who allowed this danger to continue for five years.

DISCUSS: Who’s accountable?