Pentagon to examine wiring in Afghanistan - Military News | News From Afghanistan, Iraq And Around The World - Military Times

Pentagon to examine wiring in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon’s internal watchdog has sent inspectors to U.S. military bases in Afghanistan to examine the electrical wiring.

At least three U.S. service members have been electrocuted in Iraq while taking showers. Other troops and contractors have died or have been seriously injured in other electrical incidents involving faulty wiring in the country. A task force inspecting tens of thousands of U.S.-maintained facilities in Iraq has found that about one-third have major electrical problems.

There have been concerns, too, that U.S. facilities in Afghanistan have similar electrical problems.

The Defense Department’s office of inspector general sent the team to the bases in Afghanistan in April. The findings are being compiled and haven’t been released yet.

The Senate Democrats’ policy committee has scheduled a hearing on Capitol Hill next week to examine the electrical work in the war zones and look at what the Pentagon has done in response to the problem. Much of the electrical work at U.S. facilities in both countries was installed and maintained by defense contractors.

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