lily
04-26-2008, 01:11 AM
"I'm begining to wonder why they even pretend they are spending our tax payer money wisely........why don't they just hold monthly BBQ and use the money instead of charcoal, or just have a huge bonfired and us taxpayers will BYOHD." (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24314784/)
New U.S. embassy in Iraq short on housing
updated 3:11 p.m. ET, Fri., April. 25, 2008
BAGHDAD - The new U.S. Embassy complex does not have enough fortified living
quarters for hundreds of diplomats and other workers, who must remain
temporarily in trailers without special rooftop protection against mortars
and rockets, government officials have told The Associated Press.
Sorting out the housing crunch and funding could further delay moving all
personnel into the compound until next year and exposes shortcomings in the
planning for America's more than $700 million diplomatic hub in Iraq.
The issue of "hardened" housing in the U.S.-protected Green Zone has gained
renewed prominence since Shiite militias resumed steady attacks on the
enclave in late March as part of backlash to an Iraqi-led crackdown.
More than a dozen people have been killed in the Green Zone in the latest
waves of attacks, including a U.S. civilian government worker whose housing
trailer was hit.
At one point — during the heaviest barrages early this month — the State
Department ordered all its Baghdad employees to wear body armor and other
protective gear while outside buildings in the Green Zone, which also
contains the British Embassy, key Iraqi government offices and other
international compounds.
No sleeping in trailers
Staffers also were ordered not to sleep in their trailers, and hundreds of
cots were placed inside the current embassy — a former Saddam Hussein
palace.
The State Department took legal possession of the new embassy site last
week — a step that had been delayed for months by construction problems —
and the move could begin next month.
But there is not enough blast-resistant housing at the new site for
"hundreds" of embassy workers, said Patrick Kennedy, undersecretary of state
for management. One reason is because staffing levels are more than double
what was projected in 2005 when the compound was being designed.
The precise figure for the looming housing shortfall was not disclosed.
Currently, the trailers behind the embassy hold more than 1,000 people
including diplomats, embassy employees, translators, civilian support staff
and others. Private security contractors generally have their own housing.
New U.S. embassy in Iraq short on housing
updated 3:11 p.m. ET, Fri., April. 25, 2008
BAGHDAD - The new U.S. Embassy complex does not have enough fortified living
quarters for hundreds of diplomats and other workers, who must remain
temporarily in trailers without special rooftop protection against mortars
and rockets, government officials have told The Associated Press.
Sorting out the housing crunch and funding could further delay moving all
personnel into the compound until next year and exposes shortcomings in the
planning for America's more than $700 million diplomatic hub in Iraq.
The issue of "hardened" housing in the U.S.-protected Green Zone has gained
renewed prominence since Shiite militias resumed steady attacks on the
enclave in late March as part of backlash to an Iraqi-led crackdown.
More than a dozen people have been killed in the Green Zone in the latest
waves of attacks, including a U.S. civilian government worker whose housing
trailer was hit.
At one point — during the heaviest barrages early this month — the State
Department ordered all its Baghdad employees to wear body armor and other
protective gear while outside buildings in the Green Zone, which also
contains the British Embassy, key Iraqi government offices and other
international compounds.
No sleeping in trailers
Staffers also were ordered not to sleep in their trailers, and hundreds of
cots were placed inside the current embassy — a former Saddam Hussein
palace.
The State Department took legal possession of the new embassy site last
week — a step that had been delayed for months by construction problems —
and the move could begin next month.
But there is not enough blast-resistant housing at the new site for
"hundreds" of embassy workers, said Patrick Kennedy, undersecretary of state
for management. One reason is because staffing levels are more than double
what was projected in 2005 when the compound was being designed.
The precise figure for the looming housing shortfall was not disclosed.
Currently, the trailers behind the embassy hold more than 1,000 people
including diplomats, embassy employees, translators, civilian support staff
and others. Private security contractors generally have their own housing.