U.S. Envoy Hosts First Event at New Embassy in Baghdad

[struggle4progress]

Source: NYT

By SUADAD AL-SALHY and KATHERINE ZOEPF
Published: November 5, 2008

BAGHDAD — The vast, new American Embassy in Baghdad, which cost well over half a billion dollars, has not yet officially opened. But the ambassador, Ryan C. Crocker, welcomed about 250 Iraqi officials, diplomats and dignitaries for a preliminary glimpse on Wednesday morning in what was described as a party to celebrate the 2008 American presidential election ...

If the security pact, known as the status of forces agreement, is not signed before Dec. 31, when the United Nations mandate allowing United States forces to remain in Iraq expires, American troops will have to halt operations in Iraq ...

A few feet behind Mr. Zebari, a waiter served green-tinted fruit punch out of a silver fountain. A cake the size of a cafeteria table, with a State Department seal drawn in shiny black icing, anchored one end of the room. Scenes of President-elect Barack Obama’s victory speech were projected on a wall and, on a buffet, an eagle had been carved meticulously into the side of an upended watermelon ...

The election reception was held on a relatively quiet day in Iraq. However, a car bombing on Baghdad’s airport road killed four people and wounded nine.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/world/middleeast/06ir...

[Shardik]

1. There are so many things screaming WRONG in this article.