Posted by
Boris Tiraspolsky on Sunday, April 11, 2010 12:07:16 PM
"Six years ago, I declared myself uneasy due to "the monumental size of this embassy, … Far better would be to turn decisionmaking over to a strong Iraqi leader and maintain a small U.S. presence. If not done earlier, I fear, this will be done later, and under less auspicious circumstances." Those inauspicious circumstances are now five months away; the oversized complex on appropriated land in central Baghdad will likely become a symbol of U.S. arrogance, irritating Iraqis and making the country more vulnerable to Iranian influence."
U.S. Embassy Baghdad under construction
White Elephant in Baghdad
by Daniel Pipes
Iraq's recently-concluded,
inconclusive elections will be followed in August by the pullout of American troops, making this a good time to ask what American taxpayers have achieved with the
US$45 billion spent on reconstructing Iraq since 2003 and what steps to take next.
Continued...