Iraqis see red as U.S. opens world's biggest embassy

[ensho]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20080424/wl_csm/oembassy;_ylt=Aq2MlzwOhqsK._clQHSFWOKs0NUE


-snip-

Like the infamous Boston highway project, the embassy is a mammoth development that is overbudget, overdue, and casts a whiff of corruption.

For many Iraqis, though, the sand-and-ochre-colored compound peering out across the city from a reedy stretch of riverfront within the fortified Green Zone is an unsettling symbol both of what they have become in the five years since the fall of Saddam Hussein, and of what they have yet to achieve.

"It is a symbol of occupation for the Iraqi people, that is all," says Anouar, a Baghdad graduate student who thought it was risk enough to give her first name. "We see the size of this embassy and we think we will be part of the American plan for our country and our region for many, many years."

-snip-

The $740 million compound – expected to cost more than $1 billion a year to operate – was originally expected to cost $600 million to build and was to open in September 2007. Design changes and faulty construction caused repeated delays.

-snip-

"What does it say to Iraqis that we cannot walk along a beautiful part of the river in our own land because of this big American place?" says Qasim Sabti, an Iraqi artist and Baghdad gallery owner. "But it shows us something else about our own government," he adds. "At least the Americans could build this thing, but we Iraqis have no new buildings or streets, everything is destroyed – but still the corruption is so great that the money goes into pockets before it can build something new."

-snip-

"That is too much of a symbol," he says. "It sends a message to the Iraqis that says, 'Be careful, we removed Saddam Hussein and we can remove what has come after him anytime we want.'"
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which is exactly how the neo cons want it

[Indenturedebtor]

1. Disgusting

Before you know it these medieval bastards will be instituting Prima Noctae.

[Skink]

2. Yep....

[Hugabear]

3. Just giving their freedom fighters a bigger target, that's all

Sorry, I refuse to call anybody who is fighting to liberate their own country as terrorists or insurgents. We'd be doing the same if the Chinese, Russians, or any other foreign power was occupying our country.

[The Blue Flower]

4. I predict it will go the way of Saddam's palace

For the revolutionaries.

[Frustratedlady]

5. I think George should claim that building(s) as his own, personal

palace, upon retirement as pResident.

He could insist groups of Iraqis kiss his feet each morning, be at his beck and call 24/7 and fill his coffers with gold and oil proceeds.

That's what I think....

[LiberalFighter]

6. I look forward to seeing it bombed.

We have no business having such a monstrosity as an embassy.

[RethugAssKicker]

7. Its grandness is a direct statement to the Iraqi people that

"We rule you now... and always will"

[damntexdem]

8. They're not alone:

we Americans can see nothing but red in our national budgets -- and this megaembassy is just one symbol of the waste that has brought that about.

[Supersedeas]

9. McIraq and Buger Baghdad don't come cheap