http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20080424/wl_csm/oembassy
"...For many Iraqis, though, the sand-and-ochre-colored compound peering out across the city from a reedy stretch of riverfront within the fortified Green Zone is an unsettling symbol both of what they have become in the five years since the fall of Saddam Hussein, and of what they have yet to achieve.
"It is a symbol of occupation for the Iraqi people, that is all," says Anouar, a Baghdad graduate student who thought it was risk enough to give her first name. "We see the size of this embassy and we think we will be part of the American plan for our country and our region for many, many years..."
"...$1 billion a year to operate
The $740 million compound – expected to cost more than $1 billion a year to operate – was originally expected to cost $600 million to build and was to open in September 2007. Design changes and faulty construction caused repeated delays..."
Pentagon needs to force workers to live there! lol
"...But even the embassy's opening may not be assuaging diplomats' concerns about assignments in Iraq. Last week, the State Department warned that it may start ordering employees to serve at the embassy next year if more volunteers do not come forward for the 300 posts expected to open.
The State Department announcement follows a similar warning last fall of a shortfall of volunteers for about 50 Iraq positions. Candidates were eventually found without any compulsory assignments for 2008, but the prospect of ordered assignments to a war zone caused tensions at the department..."
So what do you think of this? I've known they had been building it (two I thought) and that it would be a small base of sorts (i believe actual bases are also being built around the country). Is this the rudest thing ever? Was it paid for with oil revenue or taxes? Will it be destroyed and left inhabited because of neverending mortar fire (with any luck!)? I'm sure we asked permission from the sovereign country of Iraq if we could build it... lol
"...For many Iraqis, though, the sand-and-ochre-colored compound peering out across the city from a reedy stretch of riverfront within the fortified Green Zone is an unsettling symbol both of what they have become in the five years since the fall of Saddam Hussein, and of what they have yet to achieve.
"It is a symbol of occupation for the Iraqi people, that is all," says Anouar, a Baghdad graduate student who thought it was risk enough to give her first name. "We see the size of this embassy and we think we will be part of the American plan for our country and our region for many, many years..."
"...$1 billion a year to operate
The $740 million compound – expected to cost more than $1 billion a year to operate – was originally expected to cost $600 million to build and was to open in September 2007. Design changes and faulty construction caused repeated delays..."
Pentagon needs to force workers to live there! lol
"...But even the embassy's opening may not be assuaging diplomats' concerns about assignments in Iraq. Last week, the State Department warned that it may start ordering employees to serve at the embassy next year if more volunteers do not come forward for the 300 posts expected to open.
The State Department announcement follows a similar warning last fall of a shortfall of volunteers for about 50 Iraq positions. Candidates were eventually found without any compulsory assignments for 2008, but the prospect of ordered assignments to a war zone caused tensions at the department..."
So what do you think of this? I've known they had been building it (two I thought) and that it would be a small base of sorts (i believe actual bases are also being built around the country). Is this the rudest thing ever? Was it paid for with oil revenue or taxes? Will it be destroyed and left inhabited because of neverending mortar fire (with any luck!)? I'm sure we asked permission from the sovereign country of Iraq if we could build it... lol
