Off The Hook

Vega 1 Enrique Vega Per. 6 9/16/08 Off the Hook? It’s not fair. “It felt like prison,” Jones said. "I was upset; I was curled up in a ball on the bed; I just could not believe what had happened." Without food, water or medical help, Jamie Leigh Jones managed to survive for 24 hours inside a container guarded by KBR security. The company was once two companies; Kellogg and Brown and Root. The two companies united. The rape happened in 2005. The company held Jones against her innocence; false imprisonment. She convinced one of the security guards to let her borrow his cell. Jones called her father, and her father called the Texas state representative, Ted Poe. Poe called immediate attention and sent for help to the camp where Jones was locked up. Jamie was rescued. The company was once two companies; Kellogg and Brown and Root. The two companies united. Halliburton is Kellogg Brown and Root is an unfair organization that has several issues regarding its employees such as employee safety, restrictions bound by contracts, and violations to human rights. Every company has a responsibility to provide care for its employees. Some companies, such as KBR, have no such care. Many conflicts are seen through history involving the company. The majority of the conflicts dealt with sexual assaults of female employees. Employees are people who dedicate time working for a certain organization, and without employees, KBR could fall apart. Kellogg Brown and Root poor medical service and care for employees that suffer from rape. Jones, a victim, was bound by contracts stating that a KBR employee may not sue the company. Jamie Leigh Jones has

Vega 2 no right to sue the company for gang-rape therefore the offenders are free of charge? Justice is far from being served. Jones never expected to be in such a conflict when she signed the contracts that stripped her from certain citizen rights. An offense such as rape should have a certain punishment, but because of the contracts, there is no consequence to the action. Why do the offenders walk free of charge while Jones suffers emotionally and physically from rape? Why not let a killer walk the streets without supervision or attention? Contracts are designed to set certain restrictions and to give an employee rights. Jones signed a contract stating that an employee has no right to bring a trial against KBR. Congress and the United States government try to avoid interfering with the conflict because contracts are legal pieces of documents and are between the defendant and the victim. Jones was strict from her right to a trial. Is it fair to take away a precious teddy bear from a child? By signing the contract and working for the company at age 19, she trapped herself in a cage where she is allowed food, water and shelter. Jones was sent to an Iraq base camp. She was under a contract mentioning she would be sent to the camp. Contracts have much involvement in deciding a case such as Jones vs. KBR. Attention rose significantly, but the case was never brought to court. The charges were never filed and they were dropped, all because of the contract that bound Jones from suing the company. Sometimes, contracts should be carefully read and understood before someone signs them. Jones may be at fault for signing the contract, but how in the world should she expect a gang-rape by her former co-workers? Citizen rights are human rights are granted to people to give liberties for all. Jones was deprived from her unalienable right to live. She was stripped from many other rights

Vega 3 granted by the constitution. Kellogg, Brown and Root restrict employees from several rights. Contractors in Iraq are beyond the reach of U.S. law. The offenders won’t face any charges because of that. Should nothing be done to them? Why does the U.S. government insist on not filing any charges towards the workers? Secrecy only causes suspicion of mal behavior. This leads to the inquiry whether or not the U.S. government is doing the job of securing the rights and safety of workers in the military. The company’s ignorance caused much media attention. After all the attention the conflict received, the case was never tried and charges were never brought upon those who committed such an appalling act. Such outrage led Jones to a solution to help all female workers who were working overseas for government contractors; a non-profit organization, the Jamie Leigh Foundation. A solution finally arrived. Many other workers overseas suffer from sexual assault and hardly any take the case to court. Many workers have been assaulted, wounded, and even killed. The company has over 80% wins over workers who try their cases in the courtroom. KBR should be closely supervised by the government to keep a secure job for people working for the military. Since citizens offer to work and help out in military associations, they should at least be provided with appropriate security and well care. More foundations, such as the Jamie Leigh Foundation, should be established to keep a secure place for citizens to work without any interruptions and halts. Help should be provided for those who suffer emotionally and physically. The government has the responsibility of keeping the law fair for every citizen and making sure that no crime such as sexual assault should be ignored, but handled in an appropriate manner. 

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