Even though Bush spent a billion or two building that embassy, it was a boondoggle then and now it's starting to look like a deathtrap. Do we have another (pseudo-) Benghazi developing?

we should be evacuating the embassy now. Baghdad is likely to fall within days based on recent news reports. If so we wait to see what government arises out of the ashes and take it from there. I think an embassy with about 20 people is all we need there.

Just a guess, but the Embassy probably already had 500 or more armed security. I do agree, that the whole compoud is so huge defending it will be difficult if attacked.

but not more troops. JMHO of course

... the new embassies we have around the world that have been built in the last 10 years or so, including I believe in Iraq, Kenya, Tanzania, Panama and various others, are built with a huge perimeter around them that attempts to put a lot of distance between the large outer fence/wall and the facilities therein. In many cases, such as Panama and Kenya that I know of for sure, the embassy is also located in the outskirts of the city, not in the center like they used to be.

I'm guessing that the additional troops are to staff the perimeter and in the event of an attack, they can hold out long enough to allow the majority of the people inside to be evacuated.

Our embassy in Iraq



US embassy in Panama (note, the land around it is so large the fence is not visible in this pic...