Report: US Embassy moving due to shelling (Iraq) UPDATED

Well this is no April Fool's joke, seeing as how it was actually reported yesterday, and in the Arab press:

A military source lifted the veil on information that the American ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker has decided to change the location of the American Embassy [which is now] in the Green Zone in Baghdad, because it has been suject to a series of rocket attacks in recent days, that have led to the killing and injuring of a number of American employees.

UPDATE:  This move is apparently temporary.  I thought I quoted that in the story, but I guess I missed it.  They are temporarily moving the embassy to a "safer" place (whatever that would be):

American Ambassador Ryan Crocker gave the order Saturday night to move the location of the Baghdad Embassy, temporarily, from the Green Zone to an alternate location, which he didn't specify.

If this is true, then things are quite a bit worse than we're being told by our "journalists".  And according to the report, there is a good chance that it's being suppressed:

The AlArab reporter notes that American officials have barred his paper and others from bringing any video equipment into the Green Zone since the attacks started, and have barred the taking of any pictures of the damage.

What I'm quoting is from a blog which has translated the original Arabic into English.  I'm not exactly a cunning linguist in regards to Arabic, so I have no idea if it's accurate.  However, if anyone is, the link to the Qatari newspaper that had this on its front page yesterday is right here.

Just doing a quick google news search it does indeed look as though there has been consistent, daily shelling of the Green Zone, which is where the Embassy is located.  

Anyone else reminded of Saigon?  I know I am.

Looks like McLame's war is going just dandy.

•  tip jar

  by Inky99 on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 03:06:42 PM PDT

•  There's another billion dollars...

  down the drain.

  by Oreo on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 03:07:24 PM PDT

  •  Not down the drain at all!

    Into the pockets of American "conractors".

    Mission accomplished!

    by Inky99 on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 03:26:24 PM PDT

•  A bunker in Nebraska, maybe? nt

  by Bob Love on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 03:07:42 PM PDT

•  this is just more evidence

  that the surge is so, so, so working.

  by elmo on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 03:08:31 PM PDT

•  We may be out of Iraq sooner than anyone thought

  by Wee Mama on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 03:09:17 PM PDT

•  How would you move a building that size?

  I tend not to believe it.

  by Owllwoman on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 03:09:27 PM PDT

•  Embassy being moved to helicopters on the roof?

  by LanceBoyle on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 03:10:59 PM PDT

•  this is the $700 million plus complex

  of over 21 buildings, that "is also intended to provide diplomats with housing that is better protected to withstand mortar and rocket attacks" ???

  Guess that extra $144 million has gone to good use.

  Iraq Embassy Cost Rises $144 Million Amid Project Delays

  Holy sh*t.

  by exmearden on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 03:11:49 PM PDT

•  Another billion gone that could've been spent...

  ...here rebuilding America. It won't look like this for long:
  

  by ImpeachKingBushII on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 03:13:57 PM PDT

  •  Have they moved to the new embassy yet?

    I hadn't heard that.  I thought they were still in the Embassy that was in Saddam's Palace.  

    The new one looks like a prison - which is probably how the folks inside are feeling these days.

    by alhoo on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 03:20:33 PM PDT

    •  Good question

      I don't know

      by Inky99 on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 03:23:50 PM PDT

    •  Completed in 06.07 and it's in the Green zone...

      ...if you were the Iraqis and you wanted to send a strong message we weren't welcome anymore, the new facility's demise would be the best way to do it, no? I hope it wasn't occupied but like I said it was completed last June.

      by ImpeachKingBushII on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 03:37:45 PM PDT

•  Hmm. There's this:

  http://wenatcheeworld.com/...

  On Monday several rockets or mortars slammed into the Green Zone, the nerve center of the American mission in Iraq. But the U.S. Embassy said there were no reports of serious injuries. At least two Americans working for the U.S. government were killed in Green Zone attacks last week.

  by jeepdad on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 03:14:27 PM PDT

•  But where will the new embassy be?

  Apparently, nowhere is safe, unless it'll be moved underground.  That won't instill confidence in foreign dignitaries.

  by Ice Blue on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 03:17:35 PM PDT

  •  You can see when Hitler moved into the

    underground bunker in the movie Downfall.  You can read about the move in Traudl Junge's memoir.

    by lysias on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 04:12:38 PM PDT

•  Maybe they could move it to the USS Enterprise...

  the aircraft carrier, not the starship. Then again...

  by Jimdotz on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 03:26:50 PM PDT

  •  Or they could move it to Kuwait,

    and take the puppet Iraqi government along as a government in exile while they're about it.

    by lysias on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 04:13:38 PM PDT