World's Largest What?
It must be appropriate somehow, that the world's most successful country, in the sense of its being the wealthiest, the most powerful, the most respected/ hated, most secular/religious, most population-diverse, most opinionated, most responsible/irresponsible, most controlling/laissez-faire, most capitalist, would now be in the throes of construction of the most comprehensively complicated and largest embassy in the world.Where do countries construct embassies of note with respect to size, mission, staffing other than in countries where they conduct the most external or cross-border business, consular, immigration, defence, cultural cross-fertilization. Stands to reason, of course.
Why then does reason elude one's reckoning on learning that the United States is in the throes of constructing the world's largest embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, a country that has been invaded by American forces, along with some signal U.S. allies in the "war against terror". A country, just coincidentally, which views itself as no particular friend of the United States, a country which is desperately attempting to save itself from deadly internecine, factional war.
While the United States has been good-heartedly investing untold billions of dollars in defence/offence within the borders of Iraq in a seemingly vain attempt to bring law and order to bear, while simultaneously trying to restore the elements of good governership of the country, along with its invasion-destroyed infrastructure, the vested enemies of the United States, both Shi'a and Sunni have been busy blowing up said restored infrastructure, and themselves as well.
Bringing democracy to a country accustomed to firm dictatorship is the order of the day, so we've been told. And while the currently-ruling and fractious factions appear to be willing to give democracy, Islam-style a good try, the vast numbers of insurgents representing either Sunni or Shi'a remain adamantly opposed to U.S.-style anything at all. The country, in fact, appears to be slowly self-destructing.
Everyone wants the occupying forces out. It's clear the occupying forces aren't entirely thrilled with the situation in Iraq. Not the governments which sent them there; let's be clear on that. No, it's the armed forces representing the various countries which signed on to this mission, but primarily that of the United States. We'll be gone, fellas, soon as you're capable of picking up the beat, they intone. Meanwhile, our troops stay put, just to make sure you don't implode. Guarantees? there are none.
But guys, if that's the plan, and an admirable one it may well be, why an embassy the size of Vatican City? With its soon-to0-be population of a small town, its own defence force, self-contained power and water? It is destined to have 100% independence from city utilities. A swimming pool, gymnasion, commissary, food court and American Club. Huh? 42 hectares, wow! Five and a half thousand embassy employees, wow! A little bit of U.S.-style heaven centered smack in the middle of a teeming, hostile host.
When the rest of Baghdad suffers from power outages, water shortages and continuing turmoil (which American soldiers, handily bunkered down, do not venture out into, until and unless they are compelled to) all the cozily happy residents of the embassy will go about their various duties in comfort and style. Designed to further endear them to the hearts and minds of their hosts.
Remind me: what's that agenda again?
posted by Pieface @ Tuesday, April 18, 2006
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