Sources and resources pt.2

by Austin on November 09, 2006

A second installment of what you need to know about US tax dollars paying for human trafficking during the Iraq war: a CNN report from 2004 as well as old and new articles by David Phinney.

If you have anything to add, please post it as a comment to this message!

CNN

Probe into Iraq trafficking claims,
CNN State Department Producer Elise Labott
Wednesday, May 5, 2004 Posted: 2330 GMT

This early report of trafficking for labor exploitation on US bases made news and the State Department promised to investigate. That was 2004. To date, FTS has unable to find any record of the investigation, its findings, punishments to companies or services to survivors.

David Phinney

A U.S. Fortress Rises in Baghdad: Asian Workers Trafficked to Build World’s Largest Embassy,
October 17, 2006, CorpWatch

Independent journalist David Phinney continues his investigation of trafficking into Iraq for the construction of the new American Embassy in Bagdhad. One contractor tells Phinney: “All the workers had their passports taken away by First Kuwaiti.”

Labour Laws Trampled at New US Embassy, Ex-Foreman Says,
October 25th, 2006, Inter Press Service News Agency

Phinney reports on the illegal transport of workers into Iraq, their employment and abuse on US-funded projects, especially the new American embassy in Bagdad. He also interviews a worker who states: “every U.S. labour law was broken” on the embassy contract.

Complaints Mount at U.S. Fortress in Iraq,
October 25th, 2006, Inter Press Service News Agency

This report from Phinney asks tough questions about the US State Department and reports of abuse and trafficking at the new American embassy in Baghdad. “If you don’t have your passport or an embassy to go to, what you do to get out of a bad situation?” [a contractor] asked. “How can they go to the U.S. State Department for help if First Kuwaiti is building their embassy?”