Apparently the security has deteriorated to the point that we’re going to start abandoning the largest embassy we’ve ever built at a cost of $592 million. So that’s a good sign of confidence in Iraq forces to defend Baghdad from ISIS, right?
Via NY Times:
The American Embassy in Baghdad plans to evacuate a substantial number of its personnel this week in the face of a militant advance that rapidly swept from the north toward the capital, the State Department announced on Sunday.
The embassy, a beige fortress on the banks of the Tigris River within the heavily-secured Green Zone, where Iraqi government buildings are also located, has the largest staff of any United States Embassy.
The exact number of people being evacuated was not clear Sunday. The embassy would remain open, a person familiar with the planning said, and much of its staff of about 5,500 would stay in Baghdad. The American government is expected to call the move a relocation, suggesting that it is a temporary precaution, the person said.
Let’s hope they didn’t have to interrupt Obama’s golf game today! No seriously, he was golfing for five hours:
Pres Obama playing a round of golf toay at Porcupine Creek in Rancho Mirage, a 249-acre private club owned by Oracle founder Larry Ellison.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 15, 2014
A Pentagon statement says it's helping to relocate US personnel as needed from Iraq & standing by to evacuate more should State Dept ask.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 15, 2014
WH says Rice also informed POTUS of Pentagon action to deploy additional military personnel protect US diplomatic facilities in Baghdad.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 15, 2014
Here’s a map:
https://twitter.com/MsIntervention/status/477874804503355392