Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 13:26:04 PM EST
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| CREW, VoteVets.org, and two of Sioux Manufacturing's former employees dealt a severe blow to the defense contractor's case this morning when they released taped recordings showing that Sioux management was aware that it was under-weaving the Kevlar used in helmets.
We've been writing about the Sioux Manufacturing/crappy helmet issue here at VetVoice since the New York Times first wrote about the issue over three weeks ago. To sum up, defense sub-contractor Sioux Manufacturing, was accused by two company whistleblowers, Jeff Kenner and Tamra Elshaug, of under-weaving the Kevlar used in 2.2 million combat helmets. A Justice Department investigation was begun and Sioux eventually settled with the government for $2 million.
But it didn't stop there. Only 12 days before the settlement, Sioux Manufacturing was awarded another government contract for more Kevlar worth millions. This was in addition to the MRAP armor contract they received in November--while still under investigation for producing substandard helmet protection.
The tapes released this morning show that Rhea Crane, the Sioux Manufacturing Quality Assurance Manager, was not only aware that the company was shortchanging America's troops, but that she was concerned about what would happen if this was ever discovered. From the transcript of the tapes:
RHEA CRANE: ". . .but you know, and I thought of this many times since I realized that how much we have sent out under weight, under picks, now I can't do anything about what's already happened, so forget it. But, if we ever had someone get killed and they decided to investigate why, because they thought maybe the helmet wasn't any good, and they picked that thing apart [finger snap]."
JEFF KENNER: "Oof."
RHEA CRANE: "Oof is right."
JEFF KENNER: "They say. . ."
RHEA CRANE: "They can do the same thing with any of our panels we sent out too."
How do you like that, troops? Your government is apparently doling out multi-million-dollar contracts to companies that are deliberately fucking you. According to Rhea, if anyone ever studied a Kevlar helmet and "picked that thing apart," they'd realize that it didn't meet the government's minimum standard. She goes on to admit on tape:
"If we ever got audited, you know what they would do to us, shut us down and fine us big time."
Nice. I wonder how Sioux's lawyers are going to spin this one.
This is why CREW, VoteVets.org, and 16,000 supporters who've signed our petition are demanding that Congress hold hearings on this issue. Our troops deserve no less than the best equipment available--and it seems that they haven't been getting it. |
| Brandon Friedman :: Sioux Manufacturing Busted in Document Release Today |
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