Opening of US Embassy in Iraq Delayed

[cal04]

Source: The Guardian

The opening of a mammoth, $600 million U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, which had been planned for last month, has now been delayed well into next year, U.S. officials said Thursday.

The Vatican-sized compound, which will be the world's largest diplomatic mission, has been beset by construction and logistical problems.

``They are substantially behind at this point,'' and it would be surprising if any offices or living quarters could be occupied before the end of the year, one official told The Associated Press.

Problems identified so far are related to the complex's physical plant, including electrical systems, and do not pose a security risk, said the official, who was not authorized to speak publicly.

The official also said the delays would have no direct cost to taxpayers because contractor First Kuwaiti General Trading & Contracting Co. had agreed to deliver for a set $592 million price.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6973094,00.html

[MadMaddie]

1. So anyone care to speculate how much $600 million would have

done to rebuild the Gulf?

The damn Democratic party needs to start putting this information in a way Americans understand it? This embassy is a city unto itself....why can't we rebuild our damn cities in America? They build this building in 6 years folks....

[Demeter]

2. Did They Ever Fix the Upper Storey Drains?

Or is sewage still running down the walls?

[TomInTib]

3. Well, at least it's only costing $592,000 per employee.

You can barely get a decent FEMA trailer for that.

"Deputy spokesman Tom Casey said Thursday he was not aware of any new major delay in the opening of the embassy that will sit on a 104-acre site and have working space for about 1,000 people."

[seemslikeadream]

4. maybe they should have hired Bechtel

:crazy:

[Skink]

5. What happened to the last one?

[onehandle]

6. That embassy is going to be a Hell of a fortress for a future Iraqi Dictator.

Right after the helicopters evacuate the last American occupants.

[Javaman]

7. apparently, someone didn't make enough money. nt

[Magleetis]

8. It would be great

If we could exile Bush and Cheney there for the remainder of their pathetic lives.

[Barrett808]

9. k & r