Cots available for Baghdad embassy personnel who wish to sleep there for security reasons..

[madfloridian]

according to a memo from embassy officials. But only a few cots.

It is just so safe there in Iraq now.

A "Duck and Cover Alert" from the embassy security office yesterday offered important tips on what to do

More signs of progress in Iraq. In response to the recent increase in mortar and rocket attacks in Baghdad's Green Zone, U.S. Embassy officials announced yesterday that "a limited number of cots are available for use by authorized . . . personnel who wish to sleep in their offices for security reasons."

Why? Offices tend to be in concrete buildings, affording better protection against mortars and other projectiles than the metal-roofed trailers commonly used for housing.

..."Remember, though, the notice continued, "cots will be issued on a first-come, first-serve basis, according to the time stamp on e-mail requests received," and you needed to pick them up between 2 and 5 p.m. yesterday. But, if you missed the deadline, not to worry. A "Duck and Cover Alert" from the embassy security office yesterday offered important tips on what to do if you're in an "unfortified structure (e.g. trailer, self-serve laundry facility, etc.) or outdoors."

"If there is a nearby Duck and Cover bunker" -- echoes of an earlier era? -- "quickly seek cover within and remain there until the All Clear signal is given." But "if no fortified structure is near-by, get as low as possible and protect your vital areas." (Of course, these may vary from person to person.) "Remain in place until the initial salvo has ended," the notice says, then hightail it to "the nearest Duck and Cover bunker."

Meanwhile the same WP blog mentions, the State Department is looking for "an energetic, self-motivated U.S. citizen to serve as a Senior Rule of Law Advisor in Embassy Baghdad." That person will "play a central role . . . in developing policy and programs to assist in developing the Iraqi justice system."

Sounds so good on the surface.

[Raven]

1. Cots are also available to the fat-assed Republican Senators

tonight. Maybe we should send them all to the Green Zone, cots and all.

[madfloridian]

2. I could go along with that.

Send them there to stay, and see how they start squawking.

:hi:

[yy4me]

3. Hide under your desks, hands over your head. What worked

years ago as a precaution, may work again. Do you have air raid drills in your billion dollar embassy? Climb into the safe with all the billions of petro-dollars you are tucking away in there!

While you are there, figure out the translation of the sentence above: "That person will 'play a central role...in developing policy and programs to assist in developing the Iraqi justice system".

Boggles the mind!

[madfloridian]

5. Duck and Cover.....picture from long ago rehearsals...

[Javaman]

4. So that ugly ass embassy that is being build for ungodly amounts of money????

it looks like a freakin soviet prison!!

[madfloridian]

6. Sounds like it might be becoming a fortress against those who want to kill them.

Isn't that sad? Having to send a memo that cots are available for your security and then lying to the nation that all is going well?

And look what we are doing to that country.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1383

[Supersedeas]

7. the amenities are on the inside

[madfloridian]

8. Embassy officials furious with McClatchy for leaking these fears.

First they denied it, then got angry when shown the memo.

http://www.kansascity.com/news/world/story/190382.html

The embassy issued its memo later that day.

“As a result of the recent increase of indirect fire attacks on the International Zone, outdoor movement is restricted to a minimum,” it states. “Remain within a hardened structure to the maximum extent possible and strictly avoid congregating outdoors. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is mandatory until further notice.

“Public places that are not in a hardened structure — such as the Blue Star Restaurant — should be frequented only in conjunction with the use of your PPE.”

An embassy spokesman on Saturday initially denied that the State Department now requires workers to wear body armor in the Green Zone.
He got upset when shown the memo.

“You’re asking me to comment on an internal document?” said the man, who refused to give his name. “How did you get it? We don’t talk to what our security posture is.”

It appears the embassy workers are angry and scared, as well they should be. After all so many government officials and congressmen are spouting rhetoric about how safe it is there.

[bobthedrummer]

9. For some the security posture is the fetal position sucking on cots or something eom