Letters to the Editor
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Don't speak for KC
This embassy that was apparently designed in KC is hardly "Kansas City's idea of a palace." We prefer drinks at Davey's Uptown or Buzzard Beach, thank you very much. Come here sometime and we'll show ya. Until then, speak for yourselves.
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A Diplomats rebuttle
Well of COURSE the tennis court is on the government dime. We don't get to live at home, we are surrounded by danger. Do you think municipal tennis courts in the US are a bad idea? You can talk about policy errors and how it may be grandiose, but come on! Real live people have to be convinced to serve their country and live there. Do you really begrudge them pretty minimal recreational opportunities? What are they supposed to do, work 12 hours and stay in their room and drink for the rest of the day?
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Fatal Hubris
Speer, an architect when he wasn't a toady, would know all about grandiose structures for overblown ideologies. We could ask him so we could learn from his mistakes, but, oops, he's dead - and this administration doesn't seem to care about past lessons or repeating recent history. Hopefully there's plenty of heliports on the roofs for just such occasions; one never knows.
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Trouble made or in the making...
Architecture that reflects power,conquest or duration is not hard to find as there are many examples of it. Greece has some vintage examples,Italy,France and Russia do as well. China's Forbidden City despite the worst excesses of Mao survives intact today...that is remarkable indeed. Washington DC is full of symbolic edifices. It was custom designed for this purpose. Hitler was quite interested in architecture and the Imperial Berlin of one thousand years he envisioned reflected that interest. Surprisingly Templehof which was constructed during Hitler's somewhat short of one thousand year regime span is still quite intact today and only recently was demoted as a primary Berlin airport terminal. The roof which was designed to hold large crowds of Hitler followers remains as it was built. Like China's Forbidden City...this is remarkable.
Saddam had many tiks and quirks it is certain. He left behind many palaces and monuments after his fall from power. As pointed out the 'victory swords' are falling now too. On the Ferdy and Immy Marcos scale of kitsch and excess Saddam is /was a contender.He messed up some ancient ruins sites from past epochs that still remain in Iraq today for the worst of reasons. The Americans however allowed even more senseless destruction,looting and pillage/plundering to take place after the Shock and Awe portion of invasion got done. That will be a black mark against the Americans for all time. Not a good list to be on in global image terms.
The new American Citadel/Embassy appears to be no new Hanging Gardens of Babylon. I doubt Frank Lloyd Wright would have approved. Perhaps it should be called Dick's Petro Palace or Cheney's New Babylon Tower. It is certain G.W.Bush must have signed off on this monster now building in Iraq. Congress seems to be going along too. It is not so clear if the Iraqis are going to warm up to this pile though. This edifice to American ignorance/arrogance may provide them with a Bastille moment in Iraqi history. The Romans were adept at being imperial as they actually were careful about details of empire rule and form. The Americans are displaying little of that savvy in Iraq. The Iraq Oil Law? The super-bases? The embassy citadel? The reckless/heedless post-invasion conduct? The CPA?
All point to trouble made or in the making.
An idea for the G.W.Bush 'Mission Accomplished' Iraq monument. Beach a retired American super carrier and drag it to Baghdad somehow. Once there it can replace Saddams 'Victory Swords' as a monument to G.W.Bush...The Victor of Iraq--Mission Accomplished...being the carrier is battle hardened and equipped with defense systems already it will work out fine. Helos can land easily to supply the troops defending it.
Maybe G.W,Dick,Bill Kristol and the Kagans will all visit it at least once. The question then being will there be a guest record kept? Dick has problems with keeping guest records.
Perhaps the Israelis can be brought in to help set up what is likely to be the Americans very own WestBank and Gaza zones in Iraq. They have lots of real world experience to share and the Americans surely will need all the help they can find. The Iraqis may frown on that but somehow the impression being made is what the Iraqis desire or seek is not on the Americans top ten list of things to do in Iraq. This American embassy citadel surely is sending some strong negative signals is it not? If viewed otherwise then allow the Iraqis to build a citadel in Central Park of New York City. Seems fair to me.
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The Imperial Presidency Redux
"Follow the money" is more than just a tired phrase; following the money will, eventually, end up at the front-door of some Bush administration hack or his investment portfolio. It should surprise no one that most/many of the contractors in Iraq have deep ties to the Bushies...financially and philosophically. Therefore, revenue from huge overseas contracts will eventually find its way back to the Administration in the way of campaign contributions at best and payoffs at worst.
Building an extravagant embassy in Baghdad that resembles the ornate palaces of Hussein signals to the locals that a dictator has been replaced simply by a capitalist cabal. Security should be a consideration, but, the sensibilities of Iraqis should be as well; exchanging one tyrant's palace for another's palatial embassy fools no one.
Remember Richard Nixon's "Student Prince" uniforms for the White House Palace Guard that drew derisive hoots when they were unveiled? Those derisive hoots you hear in Baghdad over our "imperial presence" is just as derisive...and, just as deserved.
The Emperor Bush is naked...and, that ain't a pretty sight.
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way to win the hearts and minds!
This hideous collection of buildings and recreational facilities is evidence that the U.S. NEVER plans to leave Iraq.. Until we can figure out a better way to fuel our cars and trains and houses we will stay there, infuriating and killing the local people and stealing their oil. We will never leave. If we ever get rid of this "administration", the whole complex should be turned over to the Iraqis to deal with it as they wish...maybe it would make a nice center for all the orphans we've created there. WE need to figure out another fuel, and quick. It is no wonder we are hated by so many people around the world. What pigs we are.