Embassy of the United States in Baghdad

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U.S. Ambassador to Iraq John D. Negroponte, right, shows honors to the colors as U.S. Marine Security Guards lift the U.S. flag on the grounds of the new U.S. Embassy in Iraq on July 1, 2004.

The Embassy of the United States in Baghdad (or US Embassy in Baghdad) is the diplomatic mission of the United States in Iraq. It is located in Baghdad, Iraq. It is home to the US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad.

The current embassy opened July 1, 2004, located in the so-called "Green Zone", is being replaced with what has been described as the largest and most expensive embassy in the world. As of 2006, the embassy employed over 1,000 people, six of whom can speak Arabic fluently.^[1]

1 Old embassy
2 New Embassy
- 2.1 Facilities
- 2.2 Security
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Old embassy

The United States' Legation Baghdad was changed to embassy status in 1946. This building remained the embassy until 1967, after the Six Day War. The U.S. Interests Section was moved to the Belgian embassy in 1972; in 1984 this was upgraded to embassy status following the resumption of U.S.-Iraqi ties. Just days before the Gulf War, the embassy closed. [1] The old embassy is now apparently deserted and for rent. [2]

[edit] New Embassy

The embassy is to be built by the Tigris River in the Green Zone

A new embassy is currently under construction in the Green Zone of Baghdad. The compound will be comprised of 21 buildings across 104 acres, making it the largest U.S. embassy in the world. The embassy is to be a permanent structure, relieving the 5,500 Americans currently working from the Republican Palace and living in housing scattered across the Green Zone. The US government has kept many aspects of the project under wraps, with many details released only in a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee report.^[2]

Under construction since mid-2005, the target completion date is June 2007. The US Congress has allotted $592 million for the project. Construction is being led by the Kuwaiti firm First Kuwaiti Trading & Contracting, a subcontractor of Halliburton's Kellogg, Brown and Root.^[3]^[4]^[5]

[edit] Facilities

When complete, the embassy will have extensive housing and infrastructure facilities in addition to the usual diplomatic buildings. The buildings include:^[2]

Six apartment buildings for employees
Water and waste treatment facilities
A power station
Two "major diplomatic office buildings"
Recreation, including a gym, cinema, and a swimming pool "rumoured to be the biggest... in Iraq" ^[6]

[edit] Security

The complex is said to be heavily fortified, even by the standard of the Green Zone. The details are largely secret, but it is likely to include a significant U.S. Marine Security Guard detachment. Fortifications are to include deep security perimeters, buildings reinforced beyond the standard, and five highly guarded entrances.^[2] A surface-to-air missile station defends against aircraft.^[7]

Despite the heavy security, the building remains vulnerable to other forms of attack. On the night of January 29, 2005, a rocket struck the embassy annex, killing two Americans and injuring five. ^[8]