Four Cranes A-rising...

Yes, giant construction cranes tower over the golden, onion-shaped dome of the great mosque in Baghdad, due to this government’s aggressive plan to erect the grandest embassy known to man. Don’t believe me? Read on.

THE SITE HAS 21 STRUCTURES!

U.S. diplomatic employees in Iraq are to move next year into a multimillion-dollar complex that will be among the largest U.S. embassies. The facility is slated for completion June 2007. It will include

- New office building that includes facilities for classified activities
- New office annex for public diplomacy staff, consular affairs, and the U.S. Agency for International Development
- Interim office building designed for future use as a school
- General services annex to house facilities management, break areas, and staff locker rooms
- Recreation building featuring gym, exercise room, swimming pool, locker rooms, the American Club, commissary, food court, barber and beauty shop
- Six staff apartment buildings featuring one-bedroom apartments
- Residences for the chief and deputy chief of mission
- Marine security guard quarters
- Remaining buildings that are dedicated to security, vehicle maintenance and facilities management, storage, utilities, and water and wastewater treatment

Sources: State Department, Mall of America, Disneyland, Architect of the Capitol, wire reports, and Senate Foreign Relations Committee.