U.S. Embassy employees fearful over Green Zone attacks

[grytpype]

Source: McClatchy Washington Bureau

U.S. Embassy employees fearful over Green Zone attacks
By Leila Fadel
McClatchy Newspapers

BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. Embassy employees in Iraq are growing increasingly angry over what they say are inadequate security precautions in the heavily fortified Green Zone, where recent mortar and rocket attacks have claimed the lives of six people, including two U.S. citizens.

In spite of the attacks, embassy employees complain, most staff members still sleep in trailers that one described as "tin cans" that offer virtually no protection from rocket and mortar fire. The government has refused to harden the roofs because of the cost, one employee said.

A second official called it "criminally negligent" not to reduce the size of the embassy staff, which a year ago was estimated at 1,000, in the face of the increasing attacks and blamed the administration's failure to respond on concerns that doing so might undermine support for President Bush's Iraq policy.

"What responsible person and responsible government would ask you to put yourself at risk like that? We don't belong here," the employee said, adding, "They're not going to send us home because it's going to be another admission of failure."

Embassy employees have been ordered not to talk about security concerns or precautions with reporters, but three State Department employees in Baghdad discussed the issue with McClatchy Newspapers. All three asked not to be identified for fear that they'd lose their jobs.

Read more: http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/news/world/17225907.htm

[Kelvin Mace]

1. Why?

According to the administration everything is tranquil and safe over there.

[IndianaGreen]

2. They should surround those trailers with lots and lots of sandbags

which at least will protect from anything other than a direct hit. Just wait a while longer, soon the new $1 billion embassy building will be completed, just in time to serve as a landing pad for the evacuation helicopters.

[Amonester]

14. But... but... but... Sandbags COST moneyiiiiiiiiii...

The USSA ministry of "quick retaliation if you talk to the press" can't allow that.

[dysfunctional press]

25. how much could sandbags really cost in iraq?

sand is one thing that they have in abundance.

[coalition_unwilling]

27. No doubt, Halliburton has a contract to import sand into Iraq -n/t

[Thor_MN]

20. Leave it to the Bush administration to not be able to find sand in Iraq

Can you spell incompetent?

[natrat]

3. sad that our system of government allows for such negligent people to gain power

[Barrett808]

4. "They want to say everything is fine. But if I'm asked I'm not going to lie."

"They want to say everything is fine. But if I'm asked I'm not going to lie," he said. "It's my life and it would be my grave and it would be my body flying back to my family."

There you have it, folks. This US official is emboldening the enemy.

[saigon68]

5. Its the "SURGE Baby" Get over it

and die

[FloridaJudy]

6. Further proof - if any is needed

That we are officially being governed by sociopathic lunatics.

[BeHereNow]

7. And just WHAT makes then think they have ANY right to be there in the first place?

Fuck em.
That's my reaction to their whining.

BHN

[Hekate]

15. My cousin almost ended up in Baghdad.His other choice was Abuja.He took Abuja.

Abuja, where there are bugs so big you could put a saddle on 'em. In the house.

Embassy employees like my cuz are careerists, a species of civil servant. They are not to be confused with political appointees or Halliburton. Please don't wish harm on their heads -- they are not profiting from this godforsaken war.

And now Bush won't let them come home -- they're imprisoned in that hellhole just like our soldiers, only they don't have weapons.

God have mercy on all there.

Hekate

[coalition_unwilling]

28. Any "careerist" with a shred of self respect would resign (or leak

as Daniel Ellsburg did so many years ago) rather than continue to serve the Bush junta.

Adolf Eichmann was a careerist, for what it's worth.

[Hekate]

29. And do what for a living? Besides, they serve the US, not a particular president.

They are not political appointees.

I don't understand the misdirected thirst for vengeance among some DUers. It's not becoming.

Hekate

[coalition_unwilling]

30. "Serve the US". The US is engaged in a criminal enterprise currently,

the illegal occupation of Iraq. Anyone serving in the Baghdad embassy is an accomplice and enabler.

Sorry to take such a hard line. Check out what Daniel Ellsburg has to say on "careerism" and its role in facilitating US crimes.

[annabanana]

8. They're getting "angry"!?!

At the "lack of Security"??

What a steaming heap of unmitigated gall. The population of the entire Country has been suffering from a "lack of Security" for quite some time now.

Are the booms interrupting their trips to those Green Zone McDonald's? Messing up their tee times? What?

[Robbien]

9. Yup.

That was my first thought also. And it is about time. If the rest of the country is suffering, it is not appropriate to have a little haven of security for a few elite occupier agencies.

[TheLastMohican]

19. It is tough to be an occupation force

sometimes mortar volleys interrupt your tea breaks.

[krkaufman]

10. Embassy officials starting to get a taste of "The Real World - Iraq"

From the article...

A second official called it "criminally negligent" not to reduce the size of the embassy staff, which a year ago was estimated at 1,000, in the face of the increasing attacks and blamed the administration's failure to respond on concerns that doing so might undermine support for President Bush's Iraq policy.

"What responsible person and responsible government would ask you to put yourself at risk like that? We don't belong here," the employee said, adding, "They're not going to send us home because it's going to be another admission of failure."

Sounds like someone's crossing the city limits into the reality-based community.

[anitar1]

11. I read an article on DU 2 or 3 weeks ago that the admin was

having trouble filling civilian jobs in the Green zone. It was also reported that some who had served there were being treated for stress, after returning to the States. Guess all is not well in the so called safe area.

[Lerkfish]

12. but...but what about the SOLDIERS? the Iraqi citizens?

I guess it's alright if they suffer, but god no, don't let the embassy staff be at risk.

That is so wrong on so many different levels.

[Theduckno2]

13. What happened to the "Bring'em on!" attitude?

I guess that attitude is reserved for those that have either 24/7 protection or spend their time at an undisclosed location. You know, the real 'tough guys'.

I have some empathy for these Embassy employees, but when I read Riverbend's postings or think of the soldiers, civilians, or journalists that have died or been wounded, I find that my empathy for Embassy employees is easily dispensed with an eyedropper.

[Rose Siding]

16. Look! They set aside security rules when McCain and Cheney visited-

The officials also complained that important security precautions appeared to have been set aside during highly publicized official visits. During a March 31 visit from Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a high-profile presidential candidate, the embassy lifted a requirement that bulletproof vests and helmets be worn at all times. When a rocket landed outside the U.S. Embassy while Vice President Dick Cheney and several reporters visited last week, no warning sirens were sounded.


"Where were the sirens then?" one official asked. "We don't belong here, and people are afraid to say it."

But DEMOCRATS are being accused of "politicizing" the war :grr:

[Screwfly]

17. Let 'em quit is they don't like.

There's no government guardian angel looking out for me. I've never seen a fire marshal, OSHA inspector, building inspector, cop, etc. inspect any place I've ever worked at for dangerous conditions--let alone shut a place down for safety reasons.

[TheLastMohican]

18. The USA reminds more and more USSR

where speaking aloud against the "higher ups" was a crime. It took just 15 years to slip down that road.

[tanyev]

21. I hate to break this to them, but as long as Bush is in office, the only

way their situation is going to change is if they resign. At least they can quit without facing a court-martial.

[truth2power]

22. McClatchy News. Good for them. Getting the word out. n/t

[Javaman]

23. Recent voice mail menu at the US embassy in the Iraqi green zone...

hello, you have reached the US embassy green zone Iraq. Please listen to the following choices because our menu has changed.

press 1 for: US ambassador

press 2 for: general help

press 3 for: emergency

3

Hello, you have pressed 3, you are experiencing an emergency.

press 1 for: water emergency

press 2 for: electrical emergency

press 3 for: embassy being over run by rabid anti-american rebels that are pissed off because we have totally fucked their country for the next 1000 years.

3 3 3

hello, you have pressed 3. this means that you are being over run by rabid anti-american rebels that are pissed off because we have totally fucked their country for the next 1000 years.

Please look out the window and determine if the helipad is built.

If yes press 1

If no press 2

2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

hello, you have pressed 2

Press 1 if you see masses of people crowed around the front gate

press 2 if you hear gun fire

press 3 if people are screaming in Farsi in the hallway and are pounding on the door.

mash the numerical pad for all of the above.

mash! mash! mash! mash! mash!

Hello, you have mashed the numerical pad. If this is correct press 1 if not press 2

11111111111111111111111111111111111111111

You have frantically pressed 1

at the beep please leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as we are state side. In the mean time, the fire extinguisher is actually filed with scotch and your chair leg is a pistol containing a single bullet. Have a nice day...beeeeeep!

[PsN2Wind]

24. But,but,but, They're ALL volunteers.

They had the option of saying "Fuck it, I ain't going" unlike the poor grunts over there and out "in the shit".
If all the REMFs had to take a patrol on an occasional basis we'd be outta there very soon.

[BigDDem]

26. Problems in the Green Zone?

Hmmmmm, last I heard it was like Indiana over there.

[Barrett808]

31. And now a couple of people are dead.

Thanks, George.