Military
Despite crimes, U.S. soldiers immune from punishments in Iraq
Russell Carollo and Larry Kaplow of the Dayton Daily News and Cox News Service used a Pentagon database to show that "dozens of soldiers have been accused of crimes against Iraqis since the first troops deployed for Iraq. But despite strong evidence and convictions in some cases, only a small percentage resulted in punishments nearing…
Read MoreHomes in high-risk areas predate Navy base
Jon W. Glass and David Gulliver of The Virginian-Pilot used city property records to show that " hundreds of homes in the highest-risk areas around Oceana Naval Air Station were built before it became an air base and before Navy flight patterns exposed some neighborhoods to potential jet crashes." A base-closing commission has recommended that…
Read MoreNavy contracted for planes in CIA operation
Seth Hettena of The Associated Press reports the Navy issued contracts for planes “reportedly used to fly terror suspects to countries known to practice torture.” The AP says documents from the Department of Defense, obtained through a FOIA request, involve more planes (33) than previously reported. While there was “scrutiny in 2001, but what hasn’t…
Read MoreConcerns raised over Guard’s possible spying
Army investigators and a state senator are examining California’s National Guard after Dion Nissenbaum of the San Jose Mercury News reported the Guard established an intelligence unit that has “been involved in tracking at least one recent Mother’s Day anti-war rally organized by families of slain American soldiers.” The Information Synchronization, Knowledge Management and Intelligence…
Read MorePrivate contractors pour $2.5 billion into city
L.A. Lorek of the San Antonio Express-News used federal contracts data to examine the largest military contractors in San Antonio. Lorek found the Pentagon’s reliance on private companies has let to a boom for local businesses who “provide everything from oil and food to aircraft parts and weapons research.” In 2003, the top 20 contractors…
Read MoreFire district underestimates cost of helicopter
Andrew McIntosh of The Sacramento Bee used state public records to show that “the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District spent at least $790,000 to refurbish and equip a military surplus helicopter for firefighting and rescues, more than twice the $300,000 budget its elected board originally approved for the project.” A member of the fire district’s board…
Read MoreMarine Corps issued flawed armor
Christian Lowe of the Marine Corps Times used the Freedom of Information Act to show that “the Marine Corps issued to nearly 10,000 troops body armor that government experts urged the Corps to reject after tests revealed critical, life-threatening flaws in the vests.” The Marines obtained about 19,000 pieces of armor from Point Blank Body…
Read MoreProblems shielding troops more extensive than thought
Michael Moss of the New York Times used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain documents showing that “the Pentagon’s difficulties in shielding troops and their vehicles with armor have been far more extensive and intractable than officials have acknowledged.” The paper used a Department of Defense inspector general’s report that outlined the problems in…
Read MoreDelays, inconsistencies plague veteran affairs
Chris Adams and Alison Young of Knight-Ridder Newspapers sued the Veterans Administration to obtain records never before released to the public. They showed that “injured soldiers who petition the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for those payments are often doomed by lengthy delays, hurt by inconsistent rulings and failed by the veterans representatives who try…
Read MoreHelicopter problems put crew members at risk
Michael Fabey of the Savannah Morning News used Coast Guard data to find that “Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopter engines continue to lose power, threatening the lives of pilots and crew members. There were 423 incidents of power failure in the helicopters in the fleet between Aug. 4, 1985, and Sept. 30, 2004.” Air Station…
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