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Return to Article: Protests could put brakes on new Iraq logistics contract

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  LED, what dream world are you living in. Eastern Europeans aren't exactly known for their social skills or customer service skills. Actually what they are known for is how poor they are at both of those. In Iraq former Yugoslavians got replaced in any customer service position that had to deal with the US military because of their poor customer service skills.

  I should also mention that I believe ALL contractors and equipment on a US military base should be made in America - no Turk subcontractors, no Mercedes trucks and NO TCN's. LN's are better then TCN's if they can pass security.

  And who's the wacko that thinks KBR has a record of high performance? Come on where do I start....how about starting with the dead electrocuted US soldiers and hiring anyone with a pulse for LOGCAP III. Obviously you've never been in Iraq or Afghanistan, if you have you are suffering from some serious delusions.

  David ex KBR Posted June 12, 2009 5:18 PM
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  The information about the Bosnian is mixed I have met a lot of people from that area, but for the most part they are rude. They do not like american they do not try to learn English and for Food Service they are NASTY........I have told my supervisor of the Defac that I work at in Afghanistan and he does not care he is African American and but the Americans on the back burner we work hard we know have the skills we take care of the Soliders and everyone with respect. There is one where I work that has pulled a Knife on an American and nothing happen to her. If we (the Americans) are late we catch it if we need help we dont get it . When you talk about sexual favors they are the best at it and get promoted quick, and we the american have a lot of skills when we go over we have to take sometimes what we can get just to get over there and hope to move up and it is hard. KBR offers not days off and funny with your sick time what is why they want the people from Eastern Europe because they do favors for things they need and Americans will pull out the book and let them know what they are entitled to per KBR policies and there is no sex involed.

  Boue Posted December 2, 2008 12:21 PM
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  Couldn't resist writing a comment, and very gladding that someone such as Milton Manaki is honestly expressed him in words he wrote against Bosnia. For his information and all of them didn't know, Bosnia has a Army contingent as part of coalition which proves our dedication in Operation of Iraq Freedom and our willing to help US Army as well. So this is our mission too. Macedonians are nothing but jealous chauvinist cowards. No more comments and come and post the when you get competent to do so. Term TCN has economy meaning which EUROPE has nothing to do with and Bosnia is European Country, so every treating of Bosnians as TCN is discrimination. Why most of the Americans hates Bosnians when it comes to the work and KBR. I'll tell you why. In the morning, we come to the work and say "Good morning to everybody" even we know that most of the American co-workers don't reply Next thing is review of Business mail while American co-workers check and write their personal emails and laughing as crazy without sharing fun. Phone calls are available to make 4 hours after the last American co-worker finish talking to his family. Due the client service we hang up the phone, get up the chair and say "How can we help you?" unless some High ranking client looking for a blank Form, then American co-workers stand up fighting each other to win and help the Boss. We go to lunch 11:00 and get back to work 11:30 while American co-workers are still in DFAC where talking to the incoming buddy ends up waiting so they together go to the PX. We continue to work while American co-workers are still in PX or they took a nap in their rooms. We work 12.5 hours and write 12 hours in timesheet (lunch time is not included in work time) while American co-workers work 12 (including 2 hours of personal phone calls, 2 hours of personal emails, 2 hour of lunch, 2 hours of nap, 2 hours of dinner and 2 hours of talking nonsense, and write 12 hours in timesheet. We leave the office with Good night to everyone even no reply come to us from American co-workers

  And on the end WE ARE HERE TO MAKE MONEY ONLY FOR OURSELVES. We are sick and tired of parasites expecting the Bosnians react and do every task ordered. If this has no sense, Recruiters would never get back to Bosnia for recruiting events.

  L.E.D Posted April 6, 2008 10:22 AM
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  "Why do we employ Bosnians, why don't we pump money into our own economy?" Because it's the common business sense for every company on this planet to employ less paid workers. Why do you make shoes in China instead in US? 'Cause they are cheaper, right? And yes, Bosnians are way less paid than Americans, and yes, most of Bosnians do their jobs way better then most of Americans do. As a matter of fact, most of Bosnians are more qualified for their jobs than most of the Americans are. And to say how Bosnians are "very bad people" is ridiculous - American military and KBR were always more then welcome in Bosnia, and in fact, I can't remember any other country that welcomed US military in better way than Bosnians did. And if somebody has their own personal issue with some Bosnian, or can't recognize cultural and/or religious diversities - well, I'm sorry but that's only his personal problem, not a Government or tax related issue.

  JK Posted April 6, 2008 10:00 AM
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  You people don't have a clue what country is Bosnia, Croatia or Macedonia. When Americans get there we ware so welcomed and yes Bosnians are paid so much less then American citizens and they are performing job much better then us. I witness new hires coming from US and they don't know anything about computers, I mean they don't have basic computer skills. I received help from Bosnian employees that I work with, they are lovely people and they are not rood as us. Come on people ask your self and you Jim Rock if you ware so good and dedicated to your work how come you was laid from your company?? I wish all of us can look up to Balkan people and be such a nice as they are.

  Tanja Posted April 2, 2008 5:00 AM
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  At the begining i want to say that i am from the Balkans to be more specific i am from Macedonia country that use to be part of Yugoslavia togather with Bosnia , Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and Slovenia . When i came to work with KBR i have a chance to stay in contact with the people from Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia .Croats nd Serbs where very good with the Macedonians and finaly we meet the Bosnians and see the satan in human face ,Bosnians are very bad people and they will do everything to take your job they can perfom a scenario that even the famous directors from the USA not be eble to prodyced this included lied , set up, and sexual favor any time any where.They dont need to work and need to be sent home.

  Milton Manaki Posted December 22, 2007 3:45 PM
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  I worked in Bosnia for KBR for over 4 years and i have never been around such outstanding and dedicated employees as the Bosnians i had working of me there. If it were not for them KBR would not have been as sucessfull in providing the excellent services to our US Troops throughout the Balkans. Im not sure who wrote the article about the Bosnians but i also brought over 5 with me to Kuwait and Iraq in the early years. They all contributed to getting the Logcap Program off the ground in a very difficult enviroment. Keep in mind you are all on the same Team and are there to support the US Troops and the Coalition Troops.

  Bruce Kallage Posted October 17, 2007 9:47 AM
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  I am an us civilian working for KBR and I have a few comments about the Bosnians. Bosnia's that work for KBR are very disrespectful people. All they do is complain. Every day they huddle up and find something to complain about. They go to the human resources and try to get people written up. If it was up to me all Bosnians would be FIRED and all Americans hired. I mean it's a USA war. Why not pump that money into our economy? Bosnians go from making 500 a month in their home country to making 5500 here! And all they do is complain even though they are making 10 times what they would make in one month. Very irritating thought that contractors paid based off their economy at their point of origin? I mean us citizen pay is right at 6500. That sure isn't 10 times what we a USA citizen would make in the states.

  Savage Posted August 29, 2007 3:17 PM
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  I am a so called TCN from Bosnia working on LOGCAP III in Iraq (thank you Jim for a clarification what a TCN stands for. FYI, in a host country of Iraq, we are all TCNs).

  I do not appreciate the way Jim Rock belittled me or any other Bosnian, Croatian or Mexican. We don't hate Americans as he stated and believe me, most of us speak a better English than the one he writes. We are all here working for the same cause, supporting American and Coalition forces and it is something each and every one of us should be proud of.

  I get sick and tired of being bellitled like that and am glad that we don't have people of Jim's stands and views working among us. There's no place for such attitude in a war zone where we stand united.

  Jazz Posted August 17, 2007 10:15 AM
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  With all the "controls" that are in place to watch over these contractors, why do they not work. I spent 2 years in Afganistan and watched KBR managment throw somewhere in the range of a million dollars worth of generators in the ECOD. Some with only 40 hrs on them. If our government is once again going to contract KBR for services, they need to be held responsible for the waste.

  jack Posted August 16, 2007 12:34 PM
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  There's some truth to what Jim Rock states, KBR AND other companies ARE hiring TCNs and more Local Nationals because they are in a business and since the new LC4 contract is being split three ways, KBR will be in a much lower revenue bracket. Despite Jim's rantings, that's common business sense. Also Jim, almost anyone is qualified to do your job, so keep looking. As for KBR performance, I challenge anyone to assert their so-called under-performance. KBR has a consistent track record of high performance, more so than any other in the conflict zones. You should be asking why isn't Parsons (Construction Company) across the table from Waxman? Is it because they are a California based company, located in Waxman's collegue's sister district of Pasadena?

  SCK Posted August 6, 2007 12:12 PM
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  KBR should not even be allowed to work on the project any more. I worked in Afghanistan for 1 and 1/2 years, and have been trying to go back, I really did not care for the way KBR operates they hire people that do not even have the qualificatons for the jobs they are given, that is a waste of money right there and cause for more waste as well. I initially went over to Afghanistan because I was laid off from the factory I worked at and was about to lose my home and evrything and really had to make some good money fast and I did . there were a lot of good americans over there because of bad situations due to the economy and the emplyment situation here at home. Well I have been trying to get back over there and untill now KBR was the only game in town, I have been trying for over a year to get back with them, and what my few friends that are still over there are telling me is that they are replacing americans with TCNs(third country nationals) people from Bosnia, Croatia and mexico because they do not have to pay them as much as an american, so befor where we had americans working over there and sending the tax dollars they make back here to the economy we now have TCNs who hardly speak english and some hate americans taking the tax dollars and sending them to wherever they are from. I welcome some new Contractors to logcap maybe they will hire americans. I called my old recruiter back in may when he had just returned to the country from recruiting events in Bosnia , Croatia and mexico and asked him if they were only hiring TCNs now and he said well the push is on. KBR should be put off the contract alltogather.

  Jim Rock Posted July 19, 2007 9:49 PM
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  I generally agree with Stephen McAdams. Fraud is a prospect, and a reality, to be dealt with in all forms of contracting (government and commercial). However, it tends to be overplayed by those with a political ax to grind. In the fog of war, there is much inefficiency and waste - and fraud. It is called "war", not "commerce". What further magnifies the incidence of abuse in the Iraq scenario is the fact that, as compared to the past, so much of military logistics has been outsourced, instead of being performed by organic military units. At the same time, government contract management resources have not kept pace. Perhaps the political ax grinders would prefer to see a reinstated draft? Then perhaps such activities need no longer be put under contract.

  Contract Specialist Posted July 19, 2007 12:42 PM
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  I'm surprised that you tag this contract as "lucrative." You've laid out the fee structure, which is low for a cost-plus contract--but appropriate for the commodity services provided under lousy conditions. If the dust ever cleared on KBR, we'd also see some significant disallowances of cost that the company would have to eat, plus some cost-only (no fee paid) work packages for which the original budget and fee were already consumed. The profitability is not attractive--but the volume might be. Also note that KBR was not ejected (sold off) by Halliburton because it was generating a pile of profit and was good for the corporation's reputation. That said, it's interesting to consider how well the Army and DLA would have fared with the same mission in terms of cost and quality of service.

  Michael Lent Posted July 19, 2007 12:20 PM
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  I am speaking to those who live in an idealistic world. Fraud can and will take place from time to time and should be rooted out and eliminated. As a former soldier and now a superintendent who is accountable for corporate assets and productivity, I can honestly say that if you have never been in a hostile environment, attempting to conduct business, utilizing an undertrained and underskilled workforce, while trying to do the best you can, then you should probably keep your mouth shut. There are plenty of people in our own country who suck the taxpayers dollar out of the system, and I dont hear anyone trying to reform that. I would rather my money go to support my brothers and sisters in an area where they are trying to do some good, than to some lazy good for nothing welfare jockey who wont try to improve their life. I have faith that in the end justice will be served.Instead of talking why dont you whiners DO something. Rangers lead the way!

  Stephen C. McAdams Posted July 19, 2007 11:37 AM
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  We should all be outraged at how these thieves, some of who are connected with our elected government officials, are stealing taxpayer dollars. We have our soldiers paying the ultimate sacrifice for all Americans, while these criminals steal from us all. I hope anyone having anything to do with the deception and thief of taxpayer dollars are prosecuted and receive the maximum fines and jail time possible. I also hope all fines are retured to the taxpayers in the form of a tax cut. I am appauled and digusted at what some elected goverment officials and United States citizens will do for money.

  JCD Posted July 19, 2007 10:03 AM