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| Iraq | |
| U.S. Forces Kill American Worker in Iraq | |
| 2007-02-11 | |
Lt. Cmdr. Bill Speaks said in Baghdad that the death Monday resulted from ``an escalation of force incident,'' which typically means a driver approaching a checkpoint did not respond to military orders to approach slowly and stop. Speaks did not identify the dead contractor. Melissa Norcross, a spokeswoman for KBR, said the shooting was under investigation and the company would not release the name of the driver or a second person in the truck who was wounded in the shooting. The Walker-Martin Funeral Home in Chesaning, Mich., posted an obituary on its Web site Saturday saying that a man named Donald Tolfree of nearby Owosso, Mich., had been killed Monday in Balad, Iraq, where he was employed as a civilian contractor. Camp Anaconda is located near Balad, about 50 miles north of Baghdad. | |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #12 With unarmed drivers, how hard would it be for a jihadi to hijack a contract truck & crash it into a checkpoint? Things like that are done in the CONUS every day, except the carjackers here hit telephone poles and buildings, since US streets are largely free of checkpoints, for the time being. Keeping the contract truckers unarmed is another brainless policy on the mean streets of Iraq. Whatever those guys get paid, it ain't nearly enough. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2007-02-11 15:48 |
| #11 We had tons of KBR contractors at TQ - many were truck drivers. I used to shoot the breeze w/them in the chow hall some times. Interesting group. Many former mil. Some of them were fairly eccentric, I remember a couple even took to wearing cowboy type garb. They do get payed pretty well but I'm not envious of their job. The real studs (IMHO) were the dudes who drove some of those petrol tankers. I think they should be trained and allowed to carry concealed pistols or what not - I personally see no issue w/self defense weapons on contractors - especially on the MSR's in iraq. |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2007-02-11 12:20 |
| #10 Tragic. Doubly so if caused by some fog-of-war foo-up. We've ranted on this subject before, but allow me to replant the seed of autonomous vehicles as a solution to just this sort of tragedy. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2007-02-11 09:23 |
| #9 Precopius2k: I actually worked with an old duffer years ago who had been a Merchant Mariner during WWII. You are correct, those deserving men were eventually recognized by the Veterans Administration. I will never forget how proud he was at the time. He didn't need the benefits, he was comfortable and on in years, but the recognition by a greatful nation and accompanying documents brought him and others great pride I am certain. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2007-02-11 09:02 |
| #8 Similar to the Merchant Marine during WWII running ship convoys with military personnel manning retro fitted guns in some cases. The MM received major dinero for the '40s for their work compared to the GI pay of the time. Years later they would demand and get VA status for their 'contract' work. I'm sure sometime in the future there will be a lobby to get these individuals VA bennies as well using the same rationale. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2007-02-11 08:48 |
| #7 Thank you, Besoeker dear. My thoughts are with you and your troops as I scroll through Rantburg each day. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-02-11 08:35 |
| #6 I stand admonished Besoeker. I didn't think convoy. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2007-02-11 08:32 |
| #5 He drove out of the camp, but then for some reason turned around and drove back. Hmmm. http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=local&id=5020385 |
| Posted by: Parabellum 2007-02-11 08:25 |
| #4 Trailing Wife: The convoys generally have military or other personnel who provide convoy security and are authorized to return fire. This however, has not prevented some pretty tragic incidents including snipings and kidnappings and the like. The US gov't will arm crooked Iraqi police to the teeth (and re-arm them as they "lose" or sell the weapons), or give millions to Hamas for security, but arm a US contractor going outside the wire? No way, he might have to actually shoot someone! Bad PR, very, very bad. What would the embassy say, State Dept? Drive a truck for KBR? No way in Hell! |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2007-02-11 08:16 |
| #3 Brave indeed, Besoeker. But why must they be completely unarmed? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-02-11 07:55 |
| #2 Melissa Norcross, a spokeswoman for KBR, said the shooting was under investigation and the company would not release the name of the driver or a second person in the truck who was wounded in the shooting. Stupid maybe, or maybe the dust was blowing and his and his partners vision was obscured, or maybe it was dark and raining. It is the rainy season here. Just for everyone's situational awareness, the bravest men in the world drive convoys in IZ for KBR, and they do so totally un-armed. If they or anyone else employed by KBR is found with a weapon, they are fired immediately and an air movement request (AMR) is processed for their return to CONUS... end of contract. Their convoys are attacked frequently by SAFIRE (small arms fire) and RPG's. It's a national pastime in IZ. Oh yes, they make pretty good dough, but it they were NOT doing the job, some 19 year old from... Chesaning, Mich would be. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2007-02-11 07:10 |
| #1 Sounds like someone died of rampant stupidty. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2007-02-11 06:03 |