Shoddy electrical work by private contractors on United States military bases in Iraq is widespread and dangerous, causing more deaths and injuries from fires and shocks than the Pentagon has acknowledged, according to internal Army documents.
During just one six-month period — August 2006 through January 2007 — at least 283 electrical fires destroyed or damaged American military facilities in Iraq, including the military’s largest dining hall in the country, documents obtained by The New York Times show. Two soldiers died in an electrical fire at their base near Tikrit in 2006, the records note, while another was injured while jumping from a burning guard tower in May 2007.
And while the Pentagon has previously reported that 13 Americans have been electrocuted in Iraq, many more have been injured, some seriously, by shocks, according to the documents. A log compiled earlier this year at one building complex in Baghdad disclosed that soldiers complained of receiving electrical shocks in their living quarters on an almost daily basis.
Electrical problems were the most urgent noncombat safety hazard for soldiers in Iraq, according to an Army survey issued in February 2007. It noted “a safety threat theaterwide created by the poor-quality electrical fixtures procured and installed, sometimes incorrectly, thus resulting in a significant number of fires.”
The Army report said KBR, the Houston-based company that is responsible for providing basic services for American troops in Iraq, including housing, did its own study and found a “systemic problem” with electrical work.
No one who truly supports the troops would allow this to happen. George Bush deserves most of the blame. But where the Senate's leading investigators -- Joe Lieberman and Susan Collins? They all let this happen.
Susan Collins has served twelve years. She pledged to serve only two terms. But, she's running for a third term. Now, Susan Collins has a very, very, very thin skin. So, expect her to cause a furor because her own words are being used against her. Watch the video. She's unequivocal:
In the campaign in 2002, Susan Collins stood by George Bush's side as he led the nation to war. I mean, she literally stood by his side. In October of 2002, Bush did a campaign stop in Bangor, Maine to sing Susan's praises -- and to push the case for his war against Iraq. Reading Bush's speech from that campaign appearance will bring you back to the warmongering that dominated American politics in 2002:
We learned a tough lesson on September the 11th. See, it used to be oceans could protect us, and if there was a war on another continent we'd make the choice as to whether or not we would join that war; that we were safe and secure as a nation because nations could keep us safe and secure. But the harsh reality of the 21st century came home. Oceans no longer protect us. Threats overseas are threats that we must recognize here at home and deal with them.
That's why I asked the United States Congress to have a dialogue on Iraq. That's why I asked the Congress to seriously consider, along with the administration, as to whether or not we should deal with a true threat to our country.
I want to remind you that we're dealing with a man who has used weapons of mass destruction on his own people, on people in his neighborhood. This is a man who has defied the United Nations 16 times over an 11-year period. The world has said, you must do what you said you would do, Saddam Hussein, and that is disarm. And 16 times the United Nations, over and over and over again, has written resolution after resolution, saying, Mr. Saddam Hussein, you must disarm. And he has defied and international body.
That was the GOP message in 2002 and Susan stood with Bush. National security was used as a political club by the Bush/Cheney/Rove/Collins crew.
A couple years later, after the Iraq war was exposed as a debacle, Susan whined that Iraq shouldn't be a political issue.
Now, Susan has flipped back and wants to play politics with national security. Fear is her only weapon. Clearly, given the latest poll showing that her support is tanking, Collins is getting desperate and hauling out the Karl Rove playbook to attack Tom Allen over FISA. Pathetic.
The fear factor strategy worked in 2002. It won't work in 2008. Help Tom Allen beat Susan Collins and the politics of fear.
John posted updates on a number of Senate races below, but we're giving the Maine race its own post. Tom Allen is closing the gap against Susan Collins. In fact, for the first time, Collins has dropped under 50%. That's a danger zone for incumbents.
We've been watching this one for awhile. Susan Collins is especially despicable. She purports to be a moderate in Maine while doing the dirty work for George Bush in the Senate. Back her 2002 Senate race, Susan couldn't attach herself any closer to George Bush. She can't run from him this time. Collins is getting caught up in the anti-GOP wave. Here's an analysis I wrote about this race in March of 2007:
Maine is a blue state. Tom has represented the first Congressional District, which includes Greater Portland, since 1996. Approximately 72% of the media market in Maine comes out of the Portland-Auburn stations, which comprise the southern part of the state. A good chunk of voters in the Second District, including the very blue city of Waterville (hometown of the venerated George J. Mitchell) was in Tom's District until the last re-districting (in 2002). In the 2006 election, Tom got 60% of the vote without running one t.v. ad – meanwhile, the Democratic Governor was re-elected with only 38% of the vote in a four-way race. Collins best election was in 2002 -- the best GOP year ever, and she got just 58%. A lot has changed since 2002, but not Susan's loyalty to Bush and the GOP. She voted for the war and she can't escape that.
I just got off the phone with Tom Allen. He's feeling very upbeat especially about the very sophisticated field operation underway in Maine -- probably the best the state has ever seen. And, keep in mind, this gap has closed without Tom running any t.v. ads. Tom also wanted me to thank everyone for the support he's received from so many of AMERICAblog's readers. Our ActBlue page has already exceeded $10,000. This is real money for a campaign in Maine. Every dollar really helps. So give -- or give again. And, don't forget, McCain's biggest cheerleader, Joe Lieberman, is supporting Collins. It was just a year ago, June 20, 2007, when Lieberman hosted a fundraiser for her.
And, finally, here are those latest poll numbers that show Collins is in trouble:
Senator Susan Collins’ lead in her bid for reelection in Maine continues to fade, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey.
Two months ago Collins led her Democratic challenger Tom Allen by 16 percentage points, but that spread fell to 10 points in May. Now her lead is down to seven points, 49% to 42%, dropping her below 50% for the first time and putting her among the Republican senators at risk this November. Incumbents who poll less than 50% are generally viewed as potentially vulnerable.
Collins’ favorability rating has fallen as well for the third month in a row, but she is still is viewed favorably by a substantial majority of Maine voters (65%), down from 70% last month. By a nearly identical number, the incumbent’s unfavorables have risen from 29% in May to 33% now.
By contrast, Allen, who has served in the House since 1997, is viewed favorably by 56% of voters and unfavorably by 37%, virtually identical to his ratings in May.
The trend is looking very good for Tom Allen. He is going to win this race. Help make that happen.
Yes, I'm obsessed with the Allen-Collins race. I really think Tom can win and the latest poll shows the race is tightening:
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Maine voters shows that the state’s U.S. Senate race has gotten a little bit tighter this month. In her bid for re-election, Republican Senator Susan Collins now leads Democratic challenger Tom Allen 52% to 42%.
Collins’ lead has decreased from sixteen percentage points last month to ten points this month. But, the incumbent still earns support from 89% of Republican voters and 34% of Democrats. The candidates are tied at 44% among unaffiliated voters.
Rasmussen shows Obama leading McCain 51% - 38%. Maine is a very blue state and Susan Collins owns the Bush/McCain legacy.
The campaign changed this week when Maine news finally picked up on Susan's abysmal record on oversight of Iraq. The video clip has been getting a lot of attention in the blogosphere. We put it up as did DailyKos,Cliff Schecter,MyDD,Crooks and Liars,Senate Guru and Turn Maine Blue. It's devastating for Collins. She plays moderate in Maine, but when she's in D.C., Collins does the dirty work for George Bush. Don't forget, in 2002, Susan was one of Bush's biggest cheerleaders for the war in Iraq. It was a staple of her campaign back then. She owns the failures in Iraq -- and did nothing to stop it.
Keep an eye on this race. It's going to get really interesting. And, help Tom out at our ActBlue page. We've raised almost just over $10,000. Small contributions really matter in Maine....they'll go a long way.
Despite being the Chair of the powerful Senate committee with oversight authority for several years, Susan Collins failed to do any real oversight of the mess in Iraq. She did George Bush's dirty work -- and never held him accountable. She was also one of Halliburton's chief enablers. Her gross failure's are exposed by a local station in Maine tonight. The clip is five minutes long, but it is so worth watching.
Remember what Harry Reid said about this race on Monday:
We just have a lot of places to look that are very important. I believe that Maine is going to be our Rhode Island this time. I think Sue Collins who has favorability not nearly as high as Chaffee's, but once Allen starts tying her to what Bush has done Maine which has a very progressive state, are, they're going to turn her out.
Tom Allen is tying Collins to Bush and Iraq. One of her big claims to fame was Stuart Bowen, the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. He's special all right. Collins brought Bowen to Maine to campaign for her, which was very shady. Now, Bowen is facing a federal criminal investigation. That's Susan idea of great work.
Tom Allen can beat her. Help him out. Every dollar contributed goes a long way in Maine. Send her into retirement with George Bush.
The Kennebec Journal blasted Susan Collins for trying to make attendance one of the major issues in her re-election campaign:
While Collins' attendance record is an accomplishment, it's a big stretch to propose that it should provide a significant basis for evaluation of her record. Conversely, short of Allen missing a large number of votes -- say 10 percent or more -- we don't think his attendance record is a substantial issue.
Attendance at votes speaks nothing about the substance of those votes. And in the end, what Maine voters should focus on in this race and others are not diversionary tactics, but where candidates have stood and now stand on significant issues such as the economy, health care and the war in Iraq.
Clearly, this is a typical GOP distraction from the real issues. Tom didn't miss that many votes -- and he always votes the right way.
But, Susan's big issue is apparently her perfect attendance. Twelve years in the Senate and that's the best she can do? It's pathetic. And, as the Kennebec Journal notes, it's very "high school." Maybe she should have missed a couple of votes:
You may recall that pro-Iraq war Senator Susan Collins brought the Stuart Bowen, the Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, to Maine for campaign events earlier this year. At a recent Senate hearing, Senator Frank Lautenberg called the visits "inappropriate" -- and it was.
Well, guess who is now facing a federal grand jury investigation for alleged criminal improprieties? Stuart Bowen:
Federal investigators called at least nine current and former employees of the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction before a grand jury in Richmond on March 18, and the FBI has summoned others for questioning this week, marking a new phase in the probe of allegations against SIGIR chief Stuart W. Bowen Jr., according to witnesses and other sources familiar with the investigation.
The FBI and U.S. attorneys have been investigating whether Bowen and his top deputy, Ginger Cruz, improperly accessed staff e-mails in violation of federal law. Current and former SIGIR employees interviewed by the FBI and questioned before the grand jury have complained of mismanagement and abuse of authority, including retaliatory firing of staff members.
Wonder if Bowen will be making any more "inappropriate" campaign appearances for Collins. Oh, keep in mind, that Collins chaired the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee when the GOP controlled Congress. She had oversight authority over Iraq and all the other Bush disasters. She and her pal, Joe Lieberman (who endorsed Collins already), rarely used their authority to challenge George Bush and Dick Cheney.
Collins has to go. Tom Allen can beat her, but he needs help. Today's the FEC filing deadline. First, a big thanks to all those who have contributed. Our ActBlue page has hit $8,250. Show Tom some love today. Let's shoot to pass $10,000 today. Every dollar helps defeat Collins and her corrupt GOP cronies. Your contributions will go along way in Maine.
Pam Spaulding, who is filling in for Glenn Greenwald over at Salon.com, has been keeping us up-to-date on the campaign to defeat Elizabeth Dole in North Carolina. The Dems. were having a tough time finding a candidate to run against the hapless Dole. No longer. The major revelation is that potential candidate Jim Neal is an unabashedly out gay man:
Enter investment banker, former Democratic presidential fundraiser and Chapel Hill resident Jim Neal. For those of you who may have missed this story over the weekend, my friends at the progressive blog community BlueNC broke big news, as Neal participated in an online forum with readers and moderator James Protzman ("Anglico").
He came out of the closet. And he did so in a very matter-of-fact manner that should be a lesson to all of the closeted head cases in the GOP, writhing in the pathology of their self-loathing that usually turns into anti-gay positions and policies -- and sometimes hilariously into scandal.
Pam is waiting for the DSCC to catch up with Neal's announcement.
In the Maine race, Markos released a poll showing Susan Collins ahead of Tom Allen by a margin of 56 - 33:
This one won't be easy. But Iraq will loom large, and hopefully will work to peel away Collins' significant Democratic and Independent support. Crosstabs are below the fold. I'll be commissioning periodic polls of this race to track our progress. Allen needs to push Collins below 50 percent within the next 4-6 months for this race to become top-tier. He's got the material to work with.
Very cool that Markos is doing these polls. Jonathan Singer offers an astute analysis of the race over at MYDD. I'd add one thing from a Maine perspective. This race is starting to remind me of the 1982 race between George Mitchell and David Emery. In 1980, Mitchell had been appointed to the Senate seat to replace Ed Muskie. Emery was a very popular four-term members of Congress. In 1981, this race looked like a goner. Emery was releasing polls showing he had a 30 point lead over Mitchell. On October 7, 1982, The New York Times (available in archives) described the situation:
Mr. Emery had a 2-to-1 lead in polls a year ago, his name wellknown after four successful House races; Mr. Mitchell had left the obscurity of a Federal judgeship for a Senate appointment in 1980 when Edmund S. Muskie resigned to become Secretary of State.
Emery made a series of stupid mistakes, just like Susan's recent attack on Tom Allen for missing votes because Allen was at a family funeral. Like Collins, Emery was exposed as a very negative campaigner. Also, Emery was tied to an unpopular President -- and in 1982 in Maine, Reagan was unpopular. And just like Emery couldn't hide his support for Reagan, Susan Collins cannot hide from her support of Bush and his war in Iraq. Mitchell, who was down by 30 points in 1981, won 62% - 38% in November of 1982.
Both North Carolina and Maine offer opportunities for Democrats to pick up GOP seats -- very good opportunities that will take a lot of work.
Five years ago today, Senator Susan Collins voted to go to war against Iraq. In her floor speech, Collins invoked every bit of Bush-produced propaganda -- biological, chemical, even nuclear weapons -- to justify that vote. Reading what Susan Collins said is a stark reminder of the war-mongering that had taken over back in 2002. Of course, this was shortly before the '02 elections so Collins was giving a campaign speech:
While the evidence of Iraq’s pursuit of biological and chemical weapons is overwhelming, it is more difficult to determine the state of Iraq’s development of nuclear weapons. Numerous reports suggest, however, a renewed determination by Saddam to obtain materials for a nuclear bomb. A September report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) paints a chilling picture of Saddam’s quest for nuclear weapons. Had the Gulf War not intervened, Iraq “could have accumulated a nuclear stockpile of a dozen or so weapons by the end of the decade,” according to the report. It concludes that the scientific and technical expertise of Iraq’s nuclear program remains intact. And the British government has revealed that Iraqi nuclear personnel were ordered to resume work on nuclear projects in 1998.
According to British intelligence, Iraq also has attempted to obtain uranium from Africa. Since Iraq has no active civil nuclear power program or nuclear power plants, it has no peaceful reason to procure uranium. In addition, the CIA has reported that Iraq has attempted to procure “tens of thousands” of high-strength aluminum tubes that could be used in centrifuges designed to enrich uranium to provide the fissile material for a nuclear bomb.
How soon could Iraq acquire nuclear weapons? While the International Institute for Strategic Studies estimates that Iraq is “probably years away from producing nuclear weapons from indigenously produced material,” it points out that, if Iraq were to acquire nuclear material from a foreign source, the time frame could be reduced to perhaps a matter of months. This is a scenario that the Institute calls the “nuclear wildcard.”
Susan has continued her support of Bush's failed war strategy. Ironically, today, Collins launched another misguided attack on the people who want to end the war she helped start.
Meanwhile, Tom Allen is marking the anniversary of his vote against the Iraq war by holding an online peace vigil. Shows the difference once again between the two campaigns. Tom is looking for solutions to the war that Bush and Collins won't end. Susan is launching negative political attacks.
Susan Collins is a notoriously negative campaigner. She has the patina of being a good government moderate, so the narrative that she's a nasty campaigner hasn't sunk in with the traditional media, especially in Maine. However, one particularly nasty episode this week exposed Susan for what she is.
Last week, The Hill reported that Collins was planning to run a spurious negative campaign against Tom Allen. Her biggest issue was going to be Tom's missed votes. Yes, after two terms in the U.S. Senate, this is her best issue:
An aide to Collins, speaking on background, said that before last week, the senator’s campaign had polled on the issue of Allen’s missed votes twice, and both times, “and not surprisingly, it’s an issue that polls really well for us.”
The aide said that the senator includes a line in her stump speech when addressing Republican-only crowds that mentions her perfect attendance.
“That’s the biggest applause line that she gets every time,” the aide said.
In front of mixed crowds, Collins adds a line about Allen’s 129 missed votes, and there are “audible gasps” from the crowd.
Audible gasps? Tom Allen has a 98% voting record over the past 10+ years. Now, of course, Collins doesn't want to talk about her own votes -- like her unwavering support for George Bush and the war in Iraq. Susan doesn't want to compare the votes she's taken with Tom, hence the diversion tactic.
Earlier this week, sticking to the Collins attack plan, the head of the Maine GOP attacked Allen for missing some votes. You can imagine the Collins campaign staff high-fiving when this nasty release went out. (Interestingly, it still seems that the Collins campaign staff is basically her U.S. Senate staff -- yeah, they're all on the federal payroll.) Here's the GOP attack:
"October 2, 2007
"Congressman Tom Allen missed each of the three votes the House of Representatives held yesterday, bringing his missed votes total to 132. He also missed three days of votes for a fundraising [sic] trip to California two weeks ago. Over the last three weeks the House has only held votes on ten days -- Congressman Allen has missed four of those days completely, for a total of 22 votes.
"Maine Republican Party Chairman Mark Ellis said, "Congressman Allen really seems to have lost interest in showing up to work. At the very least, he should tell his constituents why he is choosing to leave them unrepresented in Congress less than a year after he was reelected. For these and the many other days that Tom has skipped votes, Mainers deserve to know the answer to the question: Where was Tom?"
Maine's got a strong hunting tradition. I've always been told that you never take a shot unless you know what your target is. Never, ever. So, talk about shoot first, ask questions later. Susan's toadies at the Maine GOP later got the answer to their "Where was Tom?" question when they found out that Tom Allen was actually attending a funeral of a family member. Yes. Collins and the GOP attacked Tom for missing votes because he was at a funeral. The state GOP had to issue another statement, notably lacking an apology:
"October 2, 2007
"It has come to our attention that Congressman Tom Allen was in Bangor on Monday attending the funeral of a family member. Without question, the most difficult times in our lives are those in which we grieve the loss of family or friends. Our thoughts are with Congressman Allen and his family during this difficult time," said Maine Republican Party Chairman Mark Ellis."
Collins' Director of Internet Strategy, who also works for Fox News, detailed the episode here.
This episode indicates just how desperate Susan Collins is. She is going to run a very negative campaign because it's all she can do. The Senate 2008 Guru nails it:
And, the If Ellis had instead said something to the effect of, "Hey, Maine Republicans including myself and Susan Collins tried to manufacture a sleazy, misleading attack against Tom Allen and it blew up in our faces. We are real jerks and apologize profusely," I might be more content with Ellis' fake remorse. In fact, nowhere in the addendum is there an apology for the attack! No, "Sorry we tried to exploit for cheap political gain a few missed votes while you were at a family funeral." Nothing. Ellis should immediately lose his job and Susan Collins should immediately repudiate Ellis and the Maine Republican Party for this. Otherwise, since it was her sleazy, misleading attack that Ellis was simply advancing, we can take it as Collins' tacit approval for Ellis' disgusting remarks and subsequent lack of apology.
AMERICAblog has an Act Blue page for Tom Allen. Every dollar will help Tom defeat Susan and her pro-Iraq war, pro-Bush agenda.
