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George W.'s Palace in Iraq Will Be Visible From Space |
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Written by Staff
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Thursday, 04 May 2006 |
What massive man-made structure, currently under construction promises to be visible from space, be larger in area than Vatican City and when complete will be the largest structure of its kind on the planet? Here's a hint - the locals refer to it as “George W’s palace”.
At an estimated cost of $592 million, the United States is erecting the largest American embassy in the world inside what is known as the Green Zone in Baghdad on the banks of the Tigris river. While the people in Iraq are forced to endure unreliable electricity including regular black-outs, long wait lines for gas, unclean water and daily violence, the U.S. embassy which is due to be operational in June of 2007 will enjoy on-site power and water facilities as well as all the luxuries suitable for diplomats.
With infrastructure in Iraq destroyed as the result of three years of war, foreign occupation and civil strife, the embassy complex has the distinction of being the only American-built structure in the country to be on schedule and within budget. In an effort to maintain the budget all materials necessary for construction had been stockpiled and all 900 construction workers - none are Iraqi - are housed nearby in a secure area.
The lucrative constuction contract was awarded to First Kuwaiti General Trading & Contracting (FKTC) which in the past had been accused of exploiting their employees and coercing low-paid laborers to work in Iraq against their wishes, according to a February 2006 article by David Phinney which was published on CorpWatch.org .
Sprawling over 104 acres of prime Baghdad real estate, the embassy will be comprised of 21 buildings enclosed behind a security wall that will be 15 feet thick and equipped with state-of-the-art security systems. The complex will include:
-Residences for the Ambassador and staff
-Six apartment buildings with a total of 619 one-bedroom units
-Two large office blocks where 8,000 people will work
-Another building slated for a school
-Recreational facilities including a massive swimming pool, gymnasium equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, theatre complex, popular U.S.-based restaurant chains, multiple tennis courts, barber and beauty salons, the exclusive American Club
-Water, electricity and sewage treatment plants.
Critics of the project are questioning the American acquisition of what is considered to be prime acreage. The land was transferred to American ownership in 2004 by the interim Iraqi government but the terms of the agreement remain secret. Other critics suggest that the very size of the embassy located next door to the Iraqi government indictates that perhaps the Americans will remain in charge for decades.
A State Department spokesperson defended the embassy explaining that its size simply reflects the "massive amount of work" still facing the United States. |
