U.S. Opens New Iraq Embassy - Democratic Underground

Source: Reuters

US opens new Iraq embassy, moves to normalise ties
Mon Jan 5, 2009 6:27am EST

By Missy Ryan and Peter Graff

BAGHDAD, Jan 5 (Reuters) - The United States opened its new embassy building in Baghdad on Monday, a step meant to symbolise its transition from occupying power to an ally of a sovereign Iraqi government.

In recent weeks U.S. diplomats have gradually moved into the $592 million newly-built compound, the world's largest U.S. embassy building, leaving behind a sprawling palace they had inhabited since toppling Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in 2003. U.S. officials ruled Iraq directly from the same palace for more than a year after taking Baghdad.

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The embassy has 1,200 employees, including diplomats, servicemen and staff from 14 federal agencies, U.S. embassy spokeswoman Susan Ziadeh told Reuters. "Its scale reflects the importance of the U.S.-Iraq bilateral relationship," she said. "It reflects a more normal situation. This is a broadening of the relationship because the situation is more secure."

U.S. forces on New Year's Day handed over responsibility to Iraqi troops for the Green Zone, a fortified compound in the heart of Baghdad off limits to most Iraqis, who have widely viewed it as a symbol of foreign military occupation. The new embassy is located in the zone.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL588652

The world's largest	Botany	Jan-05-09 08:51 AM	#1
Another massive republicon boondoggle	SpiralHawk	Jan-05-09 08:57 AM	#2
Or the money went to KBR, Haliburton, & Bechtel	Botany	Jan-05-09 10:39 AM	#3
Does the sign read "Open For Business As Usual" ? n/t	balantz	Jan-05-09 10:50 AM	#4
It opens just in time for this re-enactment	awoke_in_2003	Jan-05-09 12:12 PM	#5