Negroponte opens $700 million US embassy in the middle of the Green Zone

[deminks]

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte speaks during the formal opening of the new U.S. embassy in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone January 5, 2009. The United States opened its new embassy building in Baghdad on Monday, a step meant to symbolise its transition from occupying power to an ally of a sovereign Iraqi government.
REUTERS/Erik de Castro (IRAQ)

http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/37117459.html

BAGHDAD – The United States inaugurated its largest embassy ever on Monday, a fortress-like compound in the heart of the Green Zone — and the most visible sign of what U.S. officials call a new chapter in relations between America and a more sovereign Iraq.

U.S. Marines raised the American flag over the adobe-colored buildings, which sit on a 104-acre site and has space for 1,000 employees — more than 10 times the size of any other American Embassy in the world.

"Iraq is in a new era and so is the Iraqi-U.S. relationship," Ambassador Ryan Crocker proclaimed.

In perhaps an unintended sign of the new relationship, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki did not attend Monday's ceremony because he was traveling in Iran, a country the U.S. has accused of aiding and arming Iraqi militants.

Explaining the opening of such a large embassy three years before the U.S. must finish withdrawing its 146,000 troops from Iraq, Crocker told The Associated Press that it is vital for the U.S. to remain involved in nonmilitary ways.

"I think we have seen a tremendous amount of progress," Crocker said before the ceremony, "but the development of this new Iraq is going to be a very long time in the making, and we need to be engaged here."

(end snip)

[MadMaddie]

1. I bet the US abandons the building after a couple of years

Apparantly the construction has been shoddy at best...

[malaise]

2. It will be the biggest white elephant in history

A fitting tribute to Rethugs.

[Xipe Totec]

3. Fortress La Brea - Iraq

We are as stuck in the tar of Iraq, as the Mastodons in the La Brea Tar Pits.

[Swede Atlanta]

4. War Crimes Tribunal....

This frigging war criminal should be at the Hague facing charges of crimes against humanity. He is the lowest scum in the pond. Hopefully we will open up and allow those charged with war crimes such as Bush, Cheney, Rumsfelt, Wolfowitz, Rice and this asshole to be extradited and held for such crimes. They all need to be sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole. 23 hours a day in a small cell and no access to Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter or Sean Hannity!!!!

[crimsonblue]

8. wouldn't it be more agonizing

if they were submitted to 24 hour Limbaugh, Coulter, and Hannity loops? Then again, that may constitute torture.

[stillcool]

5. No "Mission Accomplished" banner?

[NOW tense]

6. Does it have a death squad training center in it?

[Poll_Blind]

10. No kidding, I bet it DOES.

PB

[arcadian]

7. In 5 years it will be the "Museum in Commemoration of Martyrs of the Imperialist American Infidels"

Just like the one in Tehran. They tend to crop up where American Imperialism shows it's ugly head.

[Stinky The Clown]

9. John Blackbridge .... one creepy motherfucker

Really, really creepy.

[spanone]

11. 700 million wasted dollars....some 'contractors' did pretty damn well, you think?