$2 billion US embassy planned for Iraq?

It seems the US government is planning to maintain a major presence in Iraq.
I was just reading up on the new supplemental funds for Iraq and noticed the following:

Yahoo:
The administration is also considering including $1 billion to $2 billion to construct a new U.S. embassy complex in Baghdad

I wonder how much is going to be allocated to those 'enduring bases' we've heard about.

[edit on 22-1-2005 by AceOfBase]

You have to house the real Iraqi government somewhere. May as well make it as pompous and opulent as your militaristic foreign policy.

Umm, shouldn't we restore water and power to the country before spending one billion dollars on a freaking embassy?!

This makes me all sick and squishy inside, I love my country but a billion dollars for an embassy is ridiculous.

Bet it'll have both xbox and ps2 though.

SPiderj

Yes it’s insane but they need somewhere for the al-CIA-dua to work from, I also read that they are building 14 military bases I believe, and the U.S. is supposed to be pulling out of Iraq,? LOL yea right,In 50 years maybe.



We're Building 14 Military Bases in Iraq - Bush Never Intends to Leave Iraq

to add link

[edit on 22/1/2005 by Sauron]

Reminds me of the Colonial buildings we used to put up in places like India back when the Sun never set on the Old British Empire. They were made as grand as possible to remind the native people who was really in charge. Very strange that the US would spend such a huge amount on an Embassy.

If everything goes as planned and Iraq becomes a stable democracy, the first significant one in the area, then it would make sense to have that Iraq as a headquarters U.S. presence in the region.

Originally posted by Spiderj
Umm, shouldn't we restore water and power to the country before spending one billion dollars on a freaking embassy?!

Electricity and water should be a priority as Electricity levels are now below pre-war levels. (HoustonChronicle)

It appears however, that electricity is low on the list of priorities as a large portion of the money that was supposed to be allocated to improving electricy and water has been diverted.

(State.gov)

Not forgetting all the Billions being spent on reparations from the first Gulf War to corporations who allegedly lost a lot of money due to not being able to trade in Iraq

They were made as grand as possible to remind the native people who was really in charge.

Sounds like the DWP buildings out here in California.

ANd if anyone can read that budget thing AceofBase posted without wanting a big shot of bourbon, youre a better person then me.

SPiderj

I guess as we in the US have been getting more cuts on state level programs for the poor like health care.

Iraq will have a 1 to 2 billion dollar fortress to house the Iraqi government and their officials as to make sure that they will not be blown up on their way to work.

So now they will live and work in their own "Citadel and Fortress"

Occurs we have to make room for Haliburton also.