Comments on: The “NEC” aka New Embassy Compound http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/820/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/ Sun, 27 May 2012 12:54:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Shirin http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/820/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-24226 Shirin Sun, 09 Sep 2007 00:16:48 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2007/09/06/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-24226 To the best of my knowledge, the U.S. did not buy the land on which they set up their imperial city-state. The just took it. I suspect that if - or more likely when - the Americans are tossed out, their escape route will be, Viet Nam style, via the two helipads on the roof of the embassy office building. Therefore, I guess they will be forced to abandon that monstrosity of a "Castle". Hopefully, the Iraqis will put it to use in some way that benefits the Iraqi people. To the best of my knowledge, the U.S. did not buy the land on which they set up their imperial city-state. The just took it.

I suspect that if – or more likely when – the Americans are tossed out, their escape route will be, Viet Nam style, via the two helipads on the roof of the embassy office building. Therefore, I guess they will be forced to abandon that monstrosity of a “Castle”. Hopefully, the Iraqis will put it to use in some way that benefits the Iraqi people.

]]> By: Jess Wonderin http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/820/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-24205 Jess Wonderin Sat, 08 Sep 2007 22:15:31 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2007/09/06/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-24205 Now I wonder - if a Democratically elected government of Iraq decides to cut relations off and "toss the Crusaders out" - do we lose the Castle? Seems hard to claim an "Embassy" if we are asked to leave . . . or did we "buy/annex" the territory "forever"? Kinda of like the Tehran or Saigon Embassy Compounds . . . and what would Decider Guy think if the Soviets in light of their reassessment of the Cold War, set up an expanded Washington compound with troops and missile defense? Now I wonder – if a Democratically elected government of Iraq decides to cut relations off and “toss the Crusaders out” – do we lose the Castle? Seems hard to claim an “Embassy” if we are asked to leave . . . or did we “buy/annex” the territory “forever”? Kinda of like the Tehran or Saigon Embassy Compounds . . . and what would Decider Guy think if the Soviets in light of their reassessment of the Cold War, set up an expanded Washington compound with troops and missile defense?

]]> By: Shirin http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/820/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23897 Shirin Fri, 07 Sep 2007 18:31:51 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2007/09/06/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23897 Tom Englehardt is a national treasure! Tom Englehardt is a national treasure!

]]> By: GR3 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/820/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23869 GR3 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:49:29 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2007/09/06/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23869 Thanks for the link, it's definitely worth reading. Some great quotes there: "In short, they presided over a striking increase in the state's coercive powers, as embodied in a single, theoretically unrestrained commander-in-chief presidency and the first imperial vice-presidency in American history." "But the essential fiasco lay not in acts, however blundering and empty-headed, in Iraq, but in the fundamentalism of a militarized (corporatized and privatized) cult of armed imperial isolationists, who blindly drove the country to the edge of an imperial cliff (or beyond) and were incapable of changing course even when reality essentially spit in their faces." Thanks for the link, it’s definitely worth reading. Some great quotes there:
“In short, they presided over a striking increase in the state’s coercive powers, as embodied in a single, theoretically unrestrained commander-in-chief presidency and the first imperial vice-presidency in American history.”
“But the essential fiasco lay not in acts, however blundering and empty-headed, in Iraq, but in the fundamentalism of a militarized (corporatized and privatized) cult of armed imperial isolationists, who blindly drove the country to the edge of an imperial cliff (or beyond) and were incapable of changing course even when reality essentially spit in their faces.”

]]> By: Shirin http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/820/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23746 Shirin Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:28:12 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2007/09/06/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23746 Let's hope that the "embassy" (wink, wink) does not last as long as that Roman Castle did. Let’s hope that the “embassy” (wink, wink) does not last as long as that Roman Castle did.

]]> By: Shirin http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/820/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23745 Shirin Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:21:01 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2007/09/06/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23745 Thanks, Retired. I only hope I live long enough to see the U.S. empire go the way of the Romans. And of course, they do not believe you are ever going to leave, because you have made it 100% clear that if it is up to you, you will not, and it really doesn't matter who gets control of Congress, or who because president. It will be the same story whether it is a Republican or a Democrat. The only way you will leave Iraq is if the toe of the Iraqi boot is planted firmly in your backside. Given Iraq's history, that is almost certain to happen sooner or later, and the sooner the better. If you want to be added to my mailing list, send your e-mail address to Susan and she will send it to me. Thanks, Retired. I only hope I live long enough to see the U.S. empire go the way of the Romans.

And of course, they do not believe you are ever going to leave, because you have made it 100% clear that if it is up to you, you will not, and it really doesn’t matter who gets control of Congress, or who because president. It will be the same story whether it is a Republican or a Democrat. The only way you will leave Iraq is if the toe of the Iraqi boot is planted firmly in your backside. Given Iraq’s history, that is almost certain to happen sooner or later, and the sooner the better.

If you want to be added to my mailing list, send your e-mail address to Susan and she will send it to me.

]]> By: Cujo359 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/820/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23726 Cujo359 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 04:09:10 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2007/09/06/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23726 Shirin, I don't know if you saw this, but I wrote it a couple of months ago when I noticed some similarities between and AP photo of the new embassy and some old architecture: http://cujo359.blogspot.com/2007/05/why-were-not-winning-in-iraq.html Shirin, I don’t know if you saw this, but I wrote it a couple of months ago when I noticed some similarities between and AP photo of the new embassy and some old architecture:

http://cujo359.blogspot.com/2007/05/why-were-not-winning-in-iraq.html

]]> By: Delia http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/820/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23724 Delia Fri, 07 Sep 2007 04:03:30 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2007/09/06/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23724 BTW, everybody, there's an excellent article (long) up at Tomdespatch called The Empire of Stupidity on these themes http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/174832/empire_of_stupidity It reminds me of my favorite Nietzsche quote: "Power makes stupid." BTW, everybody, there’s an excellent article (long) up at Tomdespatch called The Empire of Stupidity on these themes
http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/174832/empire_of_stupidity

It reminds me of my favorite Nietzsche quote: “Power makes stupid.”

]]> By: Montag http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/820/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23706 Montag Fri, 07 Sep 2007 02:54:57 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2007/09/06/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23706 That "fortress within a fortress" reminds me of the citadels within fortified towns during the Middle Ages. The town itself would have a fortified wall around it, but if that was stormed the garrison would be able to hold out in the citadel, a fortress with its own defenses. When the Crusader city of Acre fell to the Muslims in 1291, effectively ending the Crusader presence on the mainland of the Middlle East, some people held out for a further 10 days in the Templar Castle on the harbor. Of course their plight was hopeless. That “fortress within a fortress” reminds me of the citadels within fortified towns during the Middle Ages. The town itself would have a fortified wall around it, but if that was stormed the garrison would be able to hold out in the citadel, a fortress with its own defenses. When the Crusader city of Acre fell to the Muslims in 1291, effectively ending the Crusader presence on the mainland of the Middlle East, some people held out for a further 10 days in the Templar Castle on the harbor. Of course their plight was hopeless.

]]> By: Brenda Stewart http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/820/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23695 Brenda Stewart Fri, 07 Sep 2007 02:26:54 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2007/09/06/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23695 please add me as well...thanks Susan and again for the post Shirin..it was great. I have been reading about this for sometime and the way it is to be used. What a thing it is! please add me as well…thanks Susan and again for the post Shirin..it was great. I have been reading about this for sometime and the way it is to be used. What a thing it is!

]]> By: Retired http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/820/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23649 Retired Thu, 06 Sep 2007 23:31:35 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2007/09/06/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23649 Having served in a few embassies, including in the Middle East, I find the NEC totally beyond any degree of rational comprehension. The only explanation I can come up with is that the contracting community must have paid the Foggo/Wilkes team to spike American drinking water with the national LSD reserve that was secretly being held by Pfizer at Area 51. No wonder they don't believe that we're ever going to leave. Shirin, I don't know whether you have ever toured England, but if so, I hope that the Roman ruins there provide some degree of comfort. They came, they saw, they built, and then they left because they were too hard pressed elsewhere to stay. Now their ruins are a great tourist attraction. That's about the best fate that I can think of for the NEC. Larry, please add me to Shirin's mailing list, thanks! Having served in a few embassies, including in the Middle East, I find the NEC totally beyond any degree of rational comprehension. The only explanation I can come up with is that the contracting community must have paid the Foggo/Wilkes team to spike American drinking water with the national LSD reserve that was secretly being held by Pfizer at Area 51.

No wonder they don’t believe that we’re ever going to leave.

Shirin, I don’t know whether you have ever toured England, but if so, I hope that the Roman ruins there provide some degree of comfort. They came, they saw, they built, and then they left because they were too hard pressed elsewhere to stay. Now their ruins are a great tourist attraction. That’s about the best fate that I can think of for the NEC.

Larry, please add me to Shirin’s mailing list, thanks!

]]> By: SusanUnPC http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/820/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23648 SusanUnPC Thu, 06 Sep 2007 23:28:52 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2007/09/06/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23648 Just e-mail me at susanunpc at gmail dot com and i'll make sure Shirin gets it. Just e-mail me at susanunpc at gmail dot com and i’ll make sure Shirin gets it.

]]> By: Shirin http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/820/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23642 Shirin Thu, 06 Sep 2007 23:01:46 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2007/09/06/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23642 You can give your e-mail address to Susan, Larry, or Leslie, and ask them to send it to me. I will add you as soon as I receive the address. You can give your e-mail address to Susan, Larry, or Leslie, and ask them to send it to me. I will add you as soon as I receive the address.

]]> By: Leslie http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/820/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23641 Leslie Thu, 06 Sep 2007 22:51:54 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2007/09/06/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23641 Is that the NEC pool in the right foreground? If so, embassy staff will be able to enjoy the pool as they watch all the <strike>corpses</strike> collateral damage floating past on the Tigris. Is that the NEC pool in the right foreground? If so, embassy staff will be able to enjoy the pool as they watch all the corpses collateral damage floating past on the Tigris.

]]> By: wethornet http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/820/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23639 wethornet Thu, 06 Sep 2007 22:48:17 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2007/09/06/the-nec-aka-new-embassy-compound/#comment-23639 <em>Shirin sent this today (ask her if you can join her mailing list, which is quite informative</em> Shirin, I would love to join your mailing list. How do I/we do that? Shirin sent this today (ask her if you can join her mailing list, which is quite informative

Shirin, I would love to join your mailing list.

How do I/we do that?

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