BernieHund: The Political Watchdog

I swear I would laugh, if the situation were not so pathetic.  The new U.S. Embassy in Iraq…. the monstrosity that looks more like a fortified castle or the world’s largest prison, doesn’t have enough beds for the employees.

If once again I may suggest that our government simplify their philosophy to the 7P Principles.  Proper Positive Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

The new U.S. Embassy complex does not have enough fortified living quarters for hundreds of diplomats and other workers, who must remain temporarily in trailers without special rooftop protection against mortars and rockets, government officials have told The Associated Press.

Sorting out the housing crunch and funding could further delay moving all personnel into the compound until next year and exposes shortcomings in the planning for America’s more than $700 million diplomatic hub in Iraq.

Apparently, the apartments inside the compound are large enough to be divided in two.  Imagine that.  If you have trouble wrapping you mind around that, visit any apartment in your area.  Would it be large enough to be cut in half and double the number of occupants?  Well, it seems that the U.S Embassy has luxury sized apartments sufficiently large to make two from one. 

The State Department took legal possession of the new embassy site last week — a step that had been delayed for months by construction problems — and the move could begin next month.

But there is not enough blast-resistant housing at the new site for “hundreds” of embassy workers, said Patrick Kennedy, undersecretary of state for management. One reason is because staffing levels are more than double what was projected in 2005 when the compound was being designed.

The precise figure for the looming housing shortfall was not disclosed. Currently, the trailers behind the embassy hold more than 1,000 people including diplomats, embassy employees, translators, civilian support staff and others. Private security contractors generally have their own housing.

Well, hell…. my vote is to send the Embassy some of those really fine Toxic Trailers from FEMA.  Thousands are still sitting on the runway in Arkansas.  (Another example of Piss Poor Performance!)

Now here is where I can’t decide whether I want to scream at the government waste or just laugh at the stupidity of the government planners… and that includes Secretary Rice who apparently never kept up with the invoices for the construction and now obviously never looked at the plans.

So, here we are $700 Million in the hole for a building that isn’t suitable and will be asked to foot another kazillion dollars or so to remodel a building that has not assumed its first occupants.

The new embassy compound also needs to absorb about 100 workers from the State Department’s aid division — which currently has a separate facility — and others from the U.S. military command staff.

To meet the demand, many apartments inside the embassy compound are being divided into two units.

Capital Hill officials with knowledge of the embassy plans told the AP that the State Department is working to secure funding for 600 to 700 trailers — with overhead protection — to be located at the new compound.

Call FEMA!  They can offer some really great trailers and who knows, maybe they have some “overhead protection” somewhere in storage.

How bad is the situation?  Well, everyone asked AP that they be quoted but not named.  None of those speaking to AP had authority to speak to the media.  I guess this is a part of a “keep quiet cover-up” by the Department of State. 

An American diplomat — who hunkered down during the wave of attacks in recent weeks — called it a “difficult pill to swallow.” The diplomat asked not to be named, lacking authorization to speak to media.

It’s a damn bitter pill for the taxpayers to swallow, too.