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There are inherent dangers unique to a war zone. But the contractor should still be required to do their best to provide a safe working environment for their employees, subcontractors and troop support. Money is the bottom line for the big corporations. Why else would they be in business? To lose money? Money is the biggest motivator in the States for providing a safe work environment. If you don't, there are fines, liquidated damages for jobs that have been shut down for safety violations, lawsuits for injuries or deaths. The motivator for a safe workplace is money and the employees benefit. When you take that motivator away in Iraq it's a free for all. There is absolutely no incentive to do a job safely. It doesn't matter. Get the job done and if someone is injured or killed the company may feel bad about it but they don't have to worry about it cutting into their bottom line.

posted 2 years, 10 months ago
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I don't think it would accomplish anything to lump PTSD together with physical injuries. The Soldiers and civilians at Qarmat Ali may very well have PTSD symptoms as do 1000's and 1000's of soldiers and civilians returning. But the negligent exposure of these people, Americian soldiers and civilians, British soldiers and local Iraqi has manifested itself into severe physical illnesses and in some cases death. I don't see where that would fit into a tidy little package.

posted 2 years, 10 months ago
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