Military contractors sued over Iraq 'burn pits'

AP Reports - Military contractors sued over Iraq 'burn pits'

 
BRETT BARROUQUERE of the Associated Press wrote an article about an Air Force veteran and a one-time contractor who served in Iraq.  The two are suing military contractors Halliburton Co. and KBR Inc., accusing the companies of exposing them and others to toxic fumes by burning everything from human remains to tires in massive open-air pits.

The law suit names Houston-based companies KBR and Halliburton, as well as the Turkish company ERKA Ltd. The lawsuit is the latest on behalf of former military members and contract workers who claim they were exposed to toxins from burning waste in the warzone. At least 32 suits over burn pits have been filed in 32 states.

The article quoted Capt. Jeffrey Cox, of the Massachusetts National Guard who stated "In many ways, I consider the burn pits like the Agent Orange of the Iraq War."

The article concluded by stating that earlier this year, several members of Congress asked Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to investigate potential burn pit hazards. Shinseki said his agency is conducting a health study of 30,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and noted the VA "has learned important lessons from previous military conflicts" as it deals with environmental exposure questions.

Associated Press writer Bob Salsberg in Boston contributed to the AP report.