Per the Washington Post, in April 2014 the US State Department had over 1,700 diplomats, 4,000 contractors and uncounted intelligence gathering personnel working in the Bagdad Embassy. Just a year ago there were over 11,000 persons on the State Department payroll in the city of Bagdad, down from a high of over 20,000. If you believe no one told the John Kerry State Department, Obama’s Security Advisor, and Obama about the potential for the current crisis, the rise of ISIS, and a probable insurgency in Iraq, then I understand there is a bridge over the Hudson River for sale. AND ----- Obama just left for a golfing holiday in Palm Springs where he will “think things over and formulate a response”. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The US Embassy In Baghdad Cost A Staggering $750 Million [PHOTOS – increase page width] America’s largest embassy, in the Green Zone in Baghdad. The embassy itself will cost over one billion dollars with recently proposed expansion (Feb 2014), and at 106 acres (80 football fields), it occupies as much land as the Vatican. The U.S. ambassador of the time boasted it would be seen from space. As America’s largest embassy, no, the world’s largest embassy, it was to be a symbol of American might and power dropped smack dab into the heart of the Middle East. At one point the State Department had close to 20,000 personnel on its pay roll in Iraq. A year ago State still had some16,000 people in Baghdad. Even on the sad tenth anniversary of the Iraq invasion, State somehow still has 10,500 personnel on the ground. Finally, now, State has caught a glimmer of reality and ironically on the tenth anniversary date itself, announced that they will cut the head count to only 5,500 including contractors. The embassy has a $6 billion budget, its own airline and three hospitals, and imports virtually all of its food. Its central fortress, otherwise known as the Baghdad embassy compound, is nearly as large as Vatican City. Heres the Chancellery Building — located at the intersection of Broadway and Main Street within the compound. Heres the Chancellery Building âââ‰â¬Â located at the intersection of REUTERS/Lucas Jackson Here, a man carries dry cleaning past the blast walls that surround the dining facility. Here, a man carries dry cleaning past the blast walls that surround the dining facility. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson This is the Annex I building. The embassy compound is larger than Vatican City, and contains a food court and a shopping mall where embassy staff can spend their hazard pay. This is the Annex I building. The embassy compound is larger than Vatican City, and contains a food court and a shopping mall where embassy staff can spend their hazard pay. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson A Christmas tree stands in the lobby of the Chancellery building in the compound. A Christmas tree stands in the lobby of the Chancellery building in the compound. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson Americans residing in the Embassy are encouraged to wash their hands when returning inside. Americans residing in the Embassy are encouraged to wash their hands when returning inside. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson Theres a six-lane swimming pool where Americans can swim laps. Theres a six-lane swimming pool where Americans can swim laps. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson Heres an embassy employee — one of over 1,350 government employees, and an additional thousands of contractors — working out in the fitness center. Heres an embassy employee âââ‰â¬Â one of 1,350 government employees, and thousands of contractors âââ‰â¬Â working out in the fitness center. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson Next to the weight room there is a regulation-size basketball court. Next to the weight room there is a regulation-size basketball court. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson Heres a private contractor comment box near scales in a hallway of the facilities building. The Embassy cost seven times as much as the Iraqi Police College. Heres a private contractor comment box near scales in a hallway of the facilities building. The Embassy cost seven times as much as the Iraqi Police College. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson Source: Business Insider Heres the palatial dining room. Heres the palatial dining room. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson Embassy employees get to choose from burgers, sushi, Mexican Fiesta, Thai beef, grilled shrimp salad, sandwiches and more. Embassy employees get to choose from burgers, sushi, REUTERS/Lucas Jackson Source: Reuters, Vanity Fair Fresh fruit stands stacked next to a palm tree. While the U.S. spared no expense on the facility, the palm is admittedly fake. Fresh fruit stands stacked next to a palm tree. While the U.S. spared no expense on the facility, the palm is admittedly fake. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson Embassy employees can choose from a wide variety of desserts as well. Embassy employees can choose from a wide variety of desserts as well. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson The Embassy generates its own power, has wells for water, as well as treatment and sewage plants. The Embassy generates its own power, has wells for water, as well as treatment and sewage plants. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson Theres even an irrigation system, which makes this regulation-size soccer field possible. Theres even an irrigation system, which makes this regulation-size soccer field possible. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson The six apartment complexes within the compound are stocked with bullet-proof glass all around. Marks covering up shrapnel damage can be seen on some buildings. The apartment complexes within the compound are stocked with bullet-proof glass all around. Marks covering up shrapnel damage can be seen on some buildings. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson Read more: businessinsider/750-million-united-states-embassy-iraq-baghdad-2013-3?op=1#ixzz34aYOpb32
Posted on: Fri, 20 Jun 2014 19:13:57 +0000
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