On the front page of the Sun Journal on March 10 was the headline, “Bad water sickens troops in Iraq.” The article went on to say, “Soldiers experienced skin abscesses, cellulitis, skin infections, diarrhea and other illnesses after using discolored, smelly water for personal hygiene and laundry at five U.S. military sites in Iraq.”

Due to outsourcing, KBR provided water treatment to U.S. troops under a large defense contract that also included housing and food to soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Djbouti and Georgia. Perhaps privatization of government services to corporations that only care about profits is not a good idea.

Sen. Patrick Leahy submitted the Anti-War Profiteering Amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill on June 14, 2004, “… to prohibit profiteering and fraud relating to military action, relief, and reconstruction.” People should remember that Sen. Susan Collins voted against that bill.

As chairwoman of the Senate oversight committee from 2003 to 2006, Collins continually refused to hold hearings on no-bid contracting, fraud and abuse. One hearing was finally held at the end of 2006 with one witness, a Bush appointee, which shows Collins’ loyal support for the Bush-Cheney policies.

Maine needs a new voice in the Senate.

Rep. Tom Allen’s legislation, which would have established an independent commission to investigate the waste of taxpayers’ dollars, passed both the House and Senate. Sadly, President Bush removed the provision with a signing statement.

Tom Allen thinks our troops deserve better.

Diane Poirier, Lewiston