What about the Embassy we built in Iraq?

[CatWoman]

what's going to happen to/with it?

[GarbagemanLB]

1. Why would anything happen to it?

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. We'll keep it for our ambassadors and others

[FrenchieCat]

3. We are not even going to have ambassadors in Iraq?

Geeze, that would be odd.

[CatWoman]

4. that place is more a fortress than an embassy

I would like to see it turned over to the Iraqis.

[DrDan]

5. and build another embassy?

KBR have made enough on this debacle. no more.

[Forkboy]

20. It's hardly just any old embassy, and you should know that.

It's the size of 80 football fields (104 acres), it needs a staff of a 1,000 Americans, and up to 3,000 more citizens from the country itself, and it's yearly operating budget is over a billion dollars a year. Your pithy comment is a very, very weak attempt to act like this is just an ordinary embassy like any other in the world, with no ramifications beyond that.

An embassy building is an ambassador for the country it represents. Ideally it should be gracious, well mannered and welcoming. It should offer something of the culture of its home country while nodding appreciatively to that of its host. It need not be old-fashioned, but nor should it attempt to be "cool". Passing fads are just that.

What embassy architecture really shouldn't be, is like the new US embassy in Baghdad. Opened this week, this monster of a modern fortress designed by Berger Devine Yaeger , has been described by at least one US commentator as the "imperial mother ship dropping into Baghdad." It could, I suppose, be seen as a latter-day, Wild East-version of a 7th Cavalry fort, with the Iraqis playing the role of Native Americans.

Whatever it might be in our imaginations, it spells "undiplomatic" in the kind of rough and ready capital letters found stenciled on to the side of tanks, armoured cars and military trucks. And given that this vast compound – 10 times bigger than the UN complex in Manhattan and comprising over 20 buildings – has been built for the most part by humbly-paid "guest" workers from Bangladesh, the Philippines and elsewhere , it looks and feels like the work of a regime battling for first place with the galactic empire itself.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/jan/09/embassy-iraq-us-architecture

[Cha]

6. The good news is that

the new Ambassador to Iraq, Chris Hill, has come via the Peace Corp.

<snip>

"This effort will be led by our new Ambassador to Iraq – Chris Hill. From his time in the Peace Corps, to his work in Kosovo and Korea, Ambassador Hill has been tested, and he has shown the pragmatism and skill that we need right now. He will be supported by the courageous and capable work of so many American diplomats and aid workers who are serving in Iraq."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8234262

[CatWoman]

9. thanks for that

:hi:

[Cha]

10. You're welcome, Cat..

It stood out to me 'cause I work with someone who was in the Peace Corp with her husband in '70's and their son and future daughter-in-law just put in their time, recently, in Armenia.

:hi:

[Forkboy]

21. Yep. One of many good things already happening.

Can't ask for a more uphill battle with the mess they've been left, but I already see steps being made in the right direction.

[nevergiveup]

7. I'm thinking bowling ally

Convert it to a really really big bowling ally.

[denem]

8. Declare it a palace.

[Hieronymus]

11. The building cost was a gift to friends of Bush.

[4lbs]

12. Once the Iraq becomes stabilized, hopefully the hundreds of U.S. families that were planned to live

there will actually be there.

[CatWoman]

13. do the Iraqis want them there?

[GreenPartyVoter]

14. Collapse, most likely. I heard it was a piece of crap.

[BuyingThyme]

15. Shhhhh!

[JeffR]

16. The perfect venue for the George W. Bush Presidential Library!

It'll be especially nice when it's a smoking ruin.

[Numba6]

22. recommended

[rug]

17. It's a residual building.

[OwnedByFerrets]

18. You mean that "occupation" building?

B-)

[blindpig]

19. Not to worry

it will remain at full occupancy. There's a bunch of wiggle room in the sofa, combat units will be re-designated as support. The military is also counting on getting a renegotiated sofa when our client state finally gels.

We ain't really leaving Iraq.