Baghdad anger at Bush's undiplomatic palace

[norml]

Baghdad anger at Bush's undiplomatic palace

Daniel McGrory, Baghdad
May 04, 2006

THE question puzzles and enrages a city: how is it that the Americans cannot keep the electricity running in Baghdad for more than a couple of hours a day, yet still manage to build the biggest embassy on earth?

Irritation grows as residents deprived of airconditioning and running water three years after the US-led invasion watch the massive US embassy they call "George W's palace" rising from the banks of the Tigris.

In the pavement cafes, people moan that the structure is bigger than anything Saddam Hussein built. They are not impressed by the architects' claims that it will be visible from space and cover an area larger than Vatican City. They are more interested in knowing whether the US State Department paid for the prime real estate or simply took it.

While families suffer electricity cuts, queue all day to fuel their cars and wait for water pipes to be connected, the US mission, due to open in June next year, will have its own power and water plants to cater for a population the size of a small town.

The design of the compound is supposed to be a secret, but you cannot hide the concrete contours of the 21 buildings that are taking shape.

snip

More at link:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19019060-2703,00.html

EDIT: COPYRIGHT. PLEASE POST ONLY 4 OR 5
PARAGRAPHS FROM THE COPYRIGHTED NEWS SOURCE
PER DU RULES.

[Norquist Nemesis]

1. Just a tiny little footprint in the sand

:grr:

[ptolle]

12. footprints

If they feel this strongly about the imperial embassy how are they going to feel about the enduring garrisons for imperial troops on their soil? If we can wrest control of congress from these creatures later this year we might have a better than a snowball's chance of addressing some of the injustices we've perpetrated on the Iraqis. At the very least we could bring those problems to the attention of the General populace which, I still feel is fair-minded and sympathetic to the plight of our fellow man.The SCLM could help out here immensely, but I don't know if they'll ever discover the cojones necessary to do the job.

[Supersedeas]

2. another unmentionable for the US M$M

[highplainsdem]

3. Bush just defines "the Ugly American," doesn't he?

Do you suppose his moron minions expect the locals to throw flowers at the embassy?

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

4. Twenty-one fucking buildings?

Jesus Christ!

[Missy M]

5. The Iraqi's are not the only ones angry over this....

I am furious that the Bush administration is building this monsterosity costing $772 million. It seems they are planning to stay permanently and run the country.

[rodeodance]

6. aka Fort Bush: (which will have a 3m-thick perimeter wall )

[rodeodance]

7. wonder if the design calls for a moot with aligators?-supplied by JEB

[The_Casual_Observer]

8. Makes for a mighty big target & even more tempting than the WTC.

I doubt it will last long.

[DinahMoeHum]

10. Want to take bets on how long? You are so right.

:evilfrown:

[Oversea Visitor]

9. Guess he wants to own one of the wonders in the world

What a legacy.
A perpetual reminder to all of Americans Value
Their pride and moral

[norml]

11. Maybe they'll make it the new Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

[Oversea Visitor]

13. Well sure sure

But the Iraqies will own it in the end :rofl:

[pdxmom]

14. Another point to make regarding the myriad mistakes this

administration has made in its grab for oil. I wonder how they square this with their "plan" to win the hearts and minds of the people of Iraq? Just another reason for them to hate us.

[norml]

15. Here's a distant photo of the construction cranes.

http://images.thetimes.co.uk/TGD/picture/0,,295185,00.jpg