Ten years after the 9/11 tragedy, I am thinking today of the first responders and veterans who volunteered for service. They did so understanding the dangers and the risks, and they did so as a matter of duty and conscience. In answering the call, they put themselves in harm’s way. It was not just them, of course. Their families have borne heavy costs from their service.
Against this backdrop, I continue to represent the sick veterans of the Oregon Army National Guard 1/162. They provided security at the heavily-contaminated Qarmat Ali Water Treatment Plant in Iraq. KBR was responsible for the facility as part of its secret, no-bid, multi-billion dollar Restore Iraqi Oil contract.
Many of the vets who provided security to KBR contractors at Qarmat Ali are sick. Some vets from other units have perished from cancer. All who served in that toxic facility are rightfully worried about the future.
I am something of a cynic–I suppose that’s part of my job. I usually distrust flag waving because it can distract us from what is important. So let’s commit to do more than wave flags. How about we resolve to take care of our sick and injured veterans and their families? How about we hold accountable those who profited from the war contracts and insist that they take responsibility for what they have wrought?
Debts are owed. It is time to pay.
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