Another Perspective on KBR and the Jamie Leigh Jones Case
He has issues with Jones' allegations and wants to see them investigated.
And he has concerns that her statements are hurting the lives of countless other KBR employees who had nothing to do with what happened, yet are now being targeted and persecuted by the troops they work side-by-side with in Iraq.
His comments, posted on this blog, are below:
As a former cop and former KBR Security Tech, I can tell you that no Army doctor or investigator...would turn evidence over to a civilian and that is what anyone in KBR is, a civilian....If Jones' story is true, then we all want to see the rapists identified, charged, and prosecuted. But it's never right to meet violence with violence. Especially when going after random KBR workers is as senseless and as cruel as the incident these actions are intended to avenge.I have 5 daughters and I hope none of them have to face even half of what she claims to have been through but, until I see actual proof then her story is just that a story that needs to be investigated....
It won’t matter if her accusations were true or not, because the damage has been done....Having many friends who are still in Iraq that I keep in touch with, I can tell you of the collateral damage she has caused many thousands of KBR employees who are just trying to survive and support the troops.
The same soldiers who already “Hated” KBR because they think we made too much money now have more reason to hate them and it has started to show in the fact that there has been name calling by soldiers directed at KBR employees.
It won’t be long before we will see in the news the story of some KBR employee who was beaten viciously by soldiers because he was seen talking to a female and they thought he might be planning to rape her.
You may laugh but I have had 2 friends who have already been told “Go home rapist” and “don’t let me see you out at night”.
Comment by Tom — December 20, 2007 @ 12:33 pm
Additional articles:
Let me get this straight now: It i not the behavior of KBR that besmirches America’s image and incurs the wrath of our enemies and aids them in their mission, but it is Ms. Jones fault for being a victim and seeking justice? Is that your theory?
You are truely a shallow sychophant to suggest such a thing.
Perhaps if this man and others took their jobs seriously and spent more time protecting the employees from situations like this; there would be no need to call attention to this type of gross negligence. However, the bulk of KBR Security are merely “rent-a-cops” who spend their days flexing their muscles and intimidating fellow employees. I tend to believe that most of men working for KBR are more upset that their overseas lifestyle has been found out than trying to seek justice for the female employees that have been abused.
Oh, have a cry, Tom. You know where the anger stems from? It mostly isn’t the rape itself. It’s that the girl has spent 2 years trying to get a day in court and hasn’t been able to even get a trial. That’s why she went public.
Halliburton and the DOJ have had two years to quietly make good. Instead, they tried to bury this, and it turned out to be a seed. The fact that what they tried to keep secret is now being shouted from the rooftops inspires no pity in me.
I have been with KBR in Iraq since 2003. There is no doubt that more of this type of issues will be forthcoming(past and present). KBR “on the ground” employees are subjected to an extreme amount of reasons (or non reasons) that will gain oneself “termination” that the stress levels of most employees are above the clouds. Sadly, if you are not qualified (or are just plain ole crazy) to perform the service you contracted to perform, you get to keep your job, maybe even gain a promotion. The hiring of mostly non qualified, non english speaking-writing-reading foreign nationals to replace Americans has added to the stress levels. What is KBR or our Government to do when a few of these non qualified or crazy people decide to take advantage of the females that are not even slightly protected by our KBR “rent a cops”? The Military police occasionally make rounds through the KBR mancamps, but this is very predictable and they would rather perform house to house searchs with KBR HR and Security personnel while you are away at work to try to find drugs, liquor or porno style CD’s that you can buy at the PX. KBR’s human abuses go deeper than just KBR employees. Take at look at KBR Sub Contracors since 2003. All of us KBR employees have to take a laughable “Human Trafficking Course”. Ms Jones, stick to your guns. There are many of us rooting for you.
My brother worked for KBR and 4 relatives and 2 friends are still over there working. All of them say that they believe Jamie’s story 100%. My brother said that hiring standards are so low for contracters that individuals with criminal backgrounds and very little experience or education are working out there. Not to mention the fact that a disproportionately large number of expats that work overseas do so to escape their pasts in the U.S. My brother said that it’s hard to work with people with such backward mindsets, who continually violate any rule applicable to businesses inside the continenal U.S. and the still keep their jobs. Companies like KBR will hire any goon or thug because they are expendable. They hire Slappy, the baitshop guy with a 5th grade education because who’s going to miss him if something happens to him?
I am the person you are all making your comments to and I want to ask you one thing. How much do you truly know about this case? I have read every story I could find about it and I have actually read the Lawsuit filed. I have read the comments from all sides in this issue and I stand by what I say. I am not a judge nor jury here and can only speak on what I know. I believe that something happened to Ms. Jones and I concede that she may have been raped and I do not excuse that behavior. If this man or men, as she claims, raped her they should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Does anyone know that, according to her lawsuit, she holds KBR guilty of not explaining to her before she went overseas that there was a possibility that she could be raped? Her lawsuit claims that at no time did she ever act in an unprofessional manner or do anything to invite any type of attention that she received. I would take issue with the fact that she accepted an invitation to “have a drink” with some co-workers (did you know that she was married at the time?) which was in direct violation of KBR policy with regards to general order no. 1
I also have difficulty believing that this “strong minded” young lady was involved in a “forced” sexual relationship with her boss in Houston for a year. Did she report this to anyone then? Did she call the police? Did she tell her husband? By all accounts, no. Ask yourself why not.
James-read my comments again, I have not said she was at fault for what happened to her but I do believe that if she had made wiser choices we wouldn’t be talking about this today.
Someone made in a comment about this issue on one of the news reports that Ms. Jones has the right to work in an environment free from threat and harrasment just as they have the right to walk through 3rd ward and not get mugged or shot. That person was correct but having the right to do so doesn’t mean you will be able to walk through 3rd ward (wherever that is) and not get mugged or shot.
If I know that there is a house burning to the ground between me and where I want to go, Why would I try to walk through the house and not go around it.
As I have read, Ms. Jones was involved in a relationship with her supervisor which she claims was forced upon her. She didn’t blow the whistle during this nearly yearlong relationship where she would have had the support of the police and society to back her and make it right. Then she transfered to another country to work “to get away from the supervisor”. During her first four days in country, she complained to her supervisor about her living arrangements (as I would have done in her shoes) and then agrees to “have a drink” (of alcohol as stated in her lawsuit) with the same people she was complaining about.
What she claims happened to her is both horrific and wrong and should never happen to anyone but, I still think her story needs to be carefully investigated to find the truth.
To the individual who does not want to be Identified, I can only say this. I took my job very seriously but, unfortunatly that isn’t enough for people like you. KBR Security Officers are not the police. They are civilians and the only authority they have is the authority to make recommendations to management based on their experience. When a crime is committed, they do not investigate but can only make inquiries. All investigations are handled by CID.
Hmm. WHere is your proof that she tried to resolve this issue prior to the year 2007? Wasn’t she “rescued” by a senator who is reputed to be a “media whore” in 2005. I am shocked that it wasn’t front page news then as much as MSM loves “shedding light” on these type of sensational stories.
Lilith – By your statements, you have labeled your brother, 4 relatives, and 2 friends as a “goon”, “thug”, and “slappy, the baitshop guy” which I find sad.
I don’t dispute the fact that there are people working for KBR with a past criminal record and that some of the people are not qualified to do what they are hired to do but, can you truly tell me that this doesn’t happen all over America?
Let’s get something straight: having a drink with a coworker is not consent to sexual activity. I’ll say it again: having a drink with a coworker is not consent to sexual activity.
And what’s most unfortunate, is that most of the things that women do to try to cope with sexual harassment: consent to the relationship; keep quiet about it; go out with coworkers in order to be “one of the guys” are always the things that are held against them later. Here we go again…