thedrifter
08-05-08, 09:54 AM
Petraeus: More than 80,000 buildings under review
By KIMBERLY HEFLING, Associated Press Writer
Mon Aug 4, 1:17 PM ET
More than 80,000 facilities in Iraq will be inspected for faulty wiring as part of an effort to prevent future accidental electrocutions of U.S. troops, the top commander in Iraq said.
At least 10 U.S. soldiers, five Marines and a third-country contractor for the Defense Department have been identified as having died by electrocution in Iraq.
Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, spelled out the extent of the review that began last month in a letter to Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., that was released Monday by Casey's office. Casey had questioned what changes had been made following the death of a Green Beret from Pittsburgh, Sgt. Ryan Maseth, who was electrocuted while showering.
Petraeus said a team was named to oversee the review of more than 80,000 facilities, which include 6,000 pre-existing Iraqi facilities. All are maintained by the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program, which Petraeus said performs operations and maintenance on 61 bases in Iraq as well as smaller combat outposts and security stations.
The team will also develop repair and prevention plans, Petraeus said.
Casey said in a statement the inspections "should have been taken a long time ago," but he was pleased that Petraeus was making the changes.
Ellie
By KIMBERLY HEFLING, Associated Press Writer
Mon Aug 4, 1:17 PM ET
More than 80,000 facilities in Iraq will be inspected for faulty wiring as part of an effort to prevent future accidental electrocutions of U.S. troops, the top commander in Iraq said.
At least 10 U.S. soldiers, five Marines and a third-country contractor for the Defense Department have been identified as having died by electrocution in Iraq.
Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, spelled out the extent of the review that began last month in a letter to Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., that was released Monday by Casey's office. Casey had questioned what changes had been made following the death of a Green Beret from Pittsburgh, Sgt. Ryan Maseth, who was electrocuted while showering.
Petraeus said a team was named to oversee the review of more than 80,000 facilities, which include 6,000 pre-existing Iraqi facilities. All are maintained by the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program, which Petraeus said performs operations and maintenance on 61 bases in Iraq as well as smaller combat outposts and security stations.
The team will also develop repair and prevention plans, Petraeus said.
Casey said in a statement the inspections "should have been taken a long time ago," but he was pleased that Petraeus was making the changes.
Ellie