Faulty Helmets? Here's Another $74 Million

When it comes to providing helmets for U.S. soldiers abroad, the Defense Department hasn't shown itself to be particularly discriminating in its choice of manufacturers.

Last December, after secret tapes revealed the North Dakota Sioux Manufacturing Company charged with producing helmets for soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan had knowingly delivered some 2.2 million helmets made with substandard weave, the Defense Department wasn't fazed by the controversy. Rather, 12 days before the pending Justice Department lawsuit was settled (with a $2-million slap on the wrist), the DOD issued another contract to the Sioux Manufacturing Company worth up to $74 million.

Today, VoteVets.org and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington launched a campaign for Congressional inquiry into the contract. Two whistleblowers from Sioux Manufacturing publicly released their recorded tapes with Sioux Manufacturing employees this morning (available with transcripts here); Sens. Kerry and Clinton have joined them in their call.

"We and our families deserve a government that will only give contracts to companies with an unblemished record," says Jon Schultz, VoteVets.org founder who served in Iraq and Kosovo. "The Bush Pentagon has once again let us down."

Since the Spirit Lake Nation owns the Sioux Manufacturing Company, the company can assert sovereign immunity in any private lawsuits brought by soldiers.

Comments (5)

1. wow - that is wierd...

   an indian tribe owns the manufacturing company that makes helmets? and cant be sued for faulty helmets?

   what?

   Posted by ibbleblibble at 02/28/2008 @ 3:18pm

2. Revenge is a bitch isn't it.

   Posted by BlueTexan at 02/28/2008 @ 3:33pm

3. Posted by BLUETEXAN 02/28/2008 @ 3:33pm

   There are Native Americans (Or "Indians", many don't care which you use)....who are in the Army and in Iraq, too, BLUE.

   Not funny.

   Posted by Mask at 02/28/2008 @ 3:36pm

4. The GVT goes from mandates to utilize the lowest bidder, to no bid contracts to Cheneys buddies. I am not sure which this was but is anyone really surprised? I think I remember the military paying $500 for hammers (or was it toilet seats?)in the past.

   see http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-3926890.html

   Posted by Extraneous at 02/28/2008 @ 4:15pm

5. Rio-White owned businesses made crap for the military,too.M-16s jammed in damp climates,like Viet Nam, even though it was designed to be used in any climate.Many of your tools were of low quality and would easily break,but they only cost $500 per crappy screw driver so it was okay.

   Posted by i'm nobody at 02/28/2008 @ 4:55pm