Embassy of the United States in Baghdad

The Embassy of the United States in Baghdad is the diplomatic mission of the United States in Iraq. It is located in Baghdad and is home to the Ambassador Ryan Crocker.

The current embassy, which opened July 1, 2004 in the Baghdad's Green Zone is being replaced with what has been described as the largest and most expensive embassy in the world. The new embassy has been mired in construction delays, but is expected to be completed in 2008. As of 2006, the embassy employed over 1,000 people.

Old embassy

The United States' Legation Baghdad was changed to embassy status in 1946. This building remained the embassy until 1967, after the Six-Day War. The U.S. Interests Section was moved to the Belgian embassy in 1972; in 1984 this was upgraded to embassy status following the resumption of U.S.-Iraqi ties. Just days before the Gulf War, the embassy closed. [ [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/po/com/10885.htm Iraq ] ] The old embassy is now apparently deserted and for rent. [ [http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/11/08/the_atypical_ambassador/ The atypical ambassador - The Boston Globe ] ]

New embassy

A new embassy, which has been referred to as "Fortress America" [http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3936 Foreign Policy: Fortress America] , is currently under construction in the Green Zone of Baghdad. The compound will comprise 21 buildings on 104 acres (42 ha), making it the largest and most expensive U.S. embassy in the world. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12319798 New U.S. Embassy in Iraq cloaked in mystery] , "MSNBC", April 14 2006] It is to be located along the Tigris river, west of the Arbataash Tamuz bridge, and facing Al Kindi street to the north. The embassy is to be a permanent structure, relieving the 5,500 Americans currently working from the Republican Palace and living in housing scattered across the Green Zone. The US government has kept many aspects of the project under wraps, with many details released only in a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee report. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12319798 New U.S. Embassy in Iraq cloaked in mystery] , "MSNBC", April 14 2006] Apart from the 1,000 regular employees, up to 3,000 additional staff members will be hired, such as security personnel.

Under construction since mid-2005, the target completion date was September 2007. "A week after submitting his FY2006 budget to Congress, the President sent Congress an FY2005 emergency supplemental funding request. Included in the supplemental is more than $1.3 billion for the embassy in Iraq..." An emergency supplemental appropriation (H.R. 1268/P.L. 109-13), which included $592 million for embassy construction, was signed into law on May 11 2005. According to the Department of State, this funding is all that is needed for construction of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. [http://vienna.usembassy.gov/en/download/pdf/iraq_emb.pdf CRS Report to Congress, U.S. Embassy in Iraq] , "CRS2", June 29 2006] Construction is being led by the Kuwaiti firm First Kuwaiti Trading & Contracting. [http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2006-04-19-us-embassy_x.htm Giant U.S. embassy rising in Baghdad] , "USA TODAY", 19 April 2006.] Oliver Poole [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/06/07/wirq07.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/06/07/ixnews.html US super-embassy emerges in the heart of Baghdad] The Daily Telegraph June 7, 2006] [http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=13258 Baghdad Embassy Bonanza, Kuwait Company's Secret Contract & Low-Wage Labor] , "CorpWatch", February 12 2006]

When complete, the embassy will have extensive housing and infrastructure facilities in addition to the usual diplomatic buildings. The buildings include:

* Six apartment buildings for employees
* Water and waste treatment facilities
* A power station
* Two "major diplomatic office buildings"
* Recreation, including a gym, cinema, and a swimming pool

The complex is said to be heavily fortified, even by the standards of the Green Zone. The details are largely secret, but it is likely to include a significant U.S. Marine Security Guard detachment. Fortifications are to include deep security perimeters, buildings reinforced beyond the standard, and five highly guarded entrances. Fact|date=October 2007

On October 5 2007, the Associated Press reported the initial target completion date of September would not be met, and that it was unlikely any buildings would be occupied until 2008. [http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/10/05/iraq.embassy.ap/index.html Huge U.S. Embassy compound delayed - CNN.com ] ] In May 2008, U.S. diplomats began moving in to the embassy. [ [http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2008-04-11-iraq-embassy_N.htm "USAToday": U.S. Ambassador to Iraq says embassy ready] ] The embassy still does not have enough fortified living quarters for hundreds of diplomats and other workers, a problem which may run in to 2009. [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24314642/ MSNBC: New US Embassy in Iraq has no housing for all its workers] ]

Controversy

There have been allegations of unethical practices and human trafficking connected to construction of the new embassy. [ [http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20070726115612.pdf Testimony of Rory Mayberry: Allegations of Waste, Fraud, and Abuse at the New U.S. Embassy in Iraq ] ] [http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RS21867.pdf CRS Report for Congress, U.S. Embassy in Iraq] , MSNBC, April 14 2006] Some opponents of the U.S. presence in Iraq consider the embassy to be a "de facto" military base or "fortress," considering the large numbers of U.S. soldiers and personnel and their beliefs about Iraqi sovereignty, comparing it to the United States Embassy in Saigon during the Vietnam War, or the Soviet Embassy in Kabul during the Soviet war in Afghanistan.

References

External links

* [http://iraq.usembassy.gov/ US Embassy in Iraq Website]
* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article712424.ece "In the chaos of Iraq, one project is on target: a giant US embassy", Daniel McGrory, "Times Online", May 03, 2006]
* [http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/11/langewiesche200711 "The Mega-Bunker of Baghdad", William Langewiesche, "Vanity Fair", November 2007]