US soldier electrocuted in Iraq

[DuctapeFatwa]

An American soldier was electrocuted while clearing away low-hanging power lines from a road north of Baghdad, the US military said today..

http://www.dawn.com/2003/09/19/welcome.htm

[wryter2000]

1. OMG

How many awful ways can these poor kids get killed?

[htuttle]

2. You beat me by a minute

Here's additional info from Centcom I have in my duplicate post:
http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/Casualty_Report.asp?CasualtyReport=20030910.txt

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A Fourth Infantry Division soldier died from injuries sustained while clearing low hanging power lines across Highway 1 south of Ad Dujayl on September 18 at approximately 3 p.m.

The soldier’s unit was clearing dangerously low hanging power lines when he apparently touched a power line that was still active and suffered severe electrical shock.

The soldier was immediately given first aid and evacuated to the 21st Combat Support Hospital for further medical treatment but later died of injuries.

(little bit more)

[DuctapeFatwa]

6. LOL Were you on Dawn looking for more about the Khi bomb too?

Great minds.... :)

[htuttle]

7. Yup

:hi:

[MaineDem]

3. I mourn

His poor family!

[sham]

4. Jesus!

Bring them home!!!

[sspiderjohn]

11. Amen! Bring them home!

nm

[pippin]

5. Enough already!

Enough already! Dear god haven't we anymore sense of decency left than to let this madness drag on?

[oasis]

8. I thought U.S. taxpayers commisioned Halliburton for the job of

rebuilding Iraq. Why the hell are our guys performing non-military duties?

[DuctapeFatwa]

9. It probably costs more if they lose a Halliburton employee

And the Halliburton guy is probably more skilled, and therefore less expendable.

Unless they have imported contract labor from a developing country, in which case they would be more expendable than even a soldier, even if they are more skilled because the payout for death is so much less and a replacement is so easy to get.

[lindashaw]

10. Of course, he won't be counted. I could cry.

[damnraddem]

12. Another American who would (and should) be alive today, ...

had Dubya not perpetrated his criminal invasion.

[Vitruvius]

13. That poor soldier didn't have the proper equipment -- or training --

you NEVER trust somebody elses' word that a power line is "supposed to be disconnected".

In the telco, we used a special probe that could tell -- from a safe distance -- whether a line was "live" or not. Which is handy after a hurricane -- for example -- when you aren't sure if that 'phone line might have a few kV on it from a downed power line... They're plastic, battery powered, with a pointed probe on the tip, with ribs (like on a high-voltage insulator) behind the probe; the ribs also shield your hand. You hold it before you as you approach a suspect wire (e.g. by climbing the pole). Back in the '80s, they cost under $200.

There's more sophisticated equipment for higher-voltage power lines and for different situations.

Soldiers' lives are cheap to the BFEE. Under $200 in this case.

Vitruvius

P.S: I wonder if some Iraqi who wants us out of Iraq "just happened to" apply power to that line that was "supposed to be disconnected". If so, that poor soldier's death was in fact "combat related" IMHO.

[joshcryer]

14. FUCK YOU BUSH*!

God, I hope that's not my brother. Got a major sinking feeling.

FUCK YOU BUSH*! FUCK YOU.

[saigon68]

15. Sad very sad

i wonder who in the hell gave him the order to do this. It was criminal.