The Baghdad Embassy, a W Hotel

By Al Kamen
Wednesday, April 23, 2008

There's been constant grousing that the gigantic, $750 million U.S. Embassy in Baghdad is way too big and expensive, even though it came in at scarcely more than 20 percent over budget (and nearly a year late).

But critics, who acknowledge it's a whole lot safer than those tin cans our diplomats sleep in as the rockets and mortars rain down on the old embassy, are completely missing the boat.

The money is not an expenditure. Think of it as an investment. Should things calm down in Baghdad, and Washington -- or a truly democratic Iraqi government -- decides a smaller, more normal embassy would do, they'd be sitting on a gold mine any hotel resort chain would snap up for huge bucks.

We're talking a heavily guarded, gated expanse of 27 buildings on 104 acres -- about the size of the Vatican, or two-thirds the size of the Mall -- with a wonderful river view on the historic Euphrates, according to the contractor's press release. The complex boasts 619 lovely -- if a tad small -- blast-resistant apartments, office buildings, restaurants, indoor and outdoor basketball courts, a volleyball court and an Olympic-size indoor pool.

And if, just by chance, things later go south in terms of security, prospective buyers would be assured by other features of this self-contained city within a city: its own water supply, power plant and waste-treatment facility.

In addition to all that, there's the lore of the construction itself. The supply routes were closed "due to war" for 232 days about one third of the time it took to build the project, according to the main contractor. The site "was under direct enemy fire" for 12 days, and there were 14 "trucks lost."

The contractor explained that these were not trucks that missed a confusing road sign in Najaf but were "lost due to violence."

Hey, maybe the embassy could ask for bids in euros?

Feith and Hope

Speaking of Iraq, the Georgetown Hoya newspaper last week quoted a student saying she was "displeased that university officials have not asked" former Pentagon undersecretary Douglas Feith"to return to teach next year."

Asked about Feith's status, Robert Gallucci, dean of Georgetown's foreign service school, told us that when Feith was hired -- something that caused an uproar among the faculty -- it was understood he "was on a two-year appointment." Any decision not to renew should not be seen as "a judgment on his performance," Gallucci said, noting that Feith's students' "course evaluations were really good."

Feith, author of a bestseller about his Pentagon days called "War and Decision," said he hadn't decided what to do next. "I'm intensely occupied with book stuff," and there are "several things I'm thinking about," he said.

Word is that keeping Feith on beyond the two-year term again would have infuriated a number of faculty members. Well, there are always those "dead-enders," as former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld so eloquently noted back in June 2003.

Tear Down This Wall

It seems the door had just barely missed former Housing and Urban Development secretary Alphonso Jackson on the way out Friday when aides began planning to take down that spectacular photo homage to him in the HUD lobby.

By Monday, the 21 large photos of Jackson beaming, testifying, in the Rose Garden, on the Hill, hanging with the prez and so on were down -- replaced, under orders of acting Secretary Roy Bernardi, with an equal number of photos of homeowners, cityscapes and housing, which is apparently the agency's mission.

We're told the order was for the displays in the north and south entrances to be about HUD and its people, and that there'll soon be shots of employees who receive awards for service.

Interesting idea.

I'm With Hugo

All these movie and television stars -- including Ben Affleck, Colin Firth and Jenny McCarthy-- are coming to town Saturday for the annual black-tie White House correspondents' dinner, the last one featuring President Bush. And the Washington Post's invited guest? New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, more lately known as Judas amongst Hillary Rodham Clinton supporters for his backing of Barack Obama.

But Richardson just stiffed us to go hang with none other than Venezuelan troublemaker Hugo Chávez. Was he just jealous of former president Jimmy Carter's much-publicized meetings with Hamas?

No, a Richardson aide explained yesterday, he's going on a humanitarian mission to try to get Colombian guerrillas to release three Americans who have been held hostage since 2003. The hostages' families had engaged Richardson, who has a history of meeting bad guys -- Saddam, Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, North Korean generals and Fidel Castro-- to secure prisoner releases. A few months ago, Chavez helped broker a release of six Colombians, and Richardson figured it would be worth consulting with him on what steps to take.

He's also planning to meet with U.S. Ambassador Patrick Duddy and other political folks down there who've had a role in the Colombian peace process. He's allegedly leaving Friday and coming back on Sunday, thereby missing Bush and late night talk show host Craig Ferguson.

There was some reason this mission couldn't happen Monday? Did we mention Pamela Anderson?

Viva New Orleans

President Bush was in fine form for his New Orleans trip this week. He stepped off Air Force One on Monday waving and smiling at the greeting party. He shook hands with Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) and kissed his wife, Supriya Jindal, on the cheek. Bush then greeted Rep. William "Cold Cash" Jefferson (D-La.), and, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, exchanged "pats on the arm with the embattled Democratic congressman Bush playfully calls 'Jeff.' "

At a U.S. Chamber of Commerce reception later Monday, Bush danced briefly with a brass band. "I want to thank the band for giving me a chance to relive my youth. I spent many a fine day here in New Orleans," he said, "and a pretty good night, too."

He noted dignitaries there, including Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) who barely escaped testifying recently at the D.C. Madam trial in federal court here. "Senator, it's good to have you here. Thanks for coming," Bush said. (Applause.)

And Bush singled out Jefferson, saying "thanks for being here -- appreciate you being here." Loop Fans may recall Jefferson or "Jeff," was indicted in June on corruption charges after the FBI found $90,000 in cash in his freezer.

Guess he couldn't bring in former Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards, who was sentenced in 2001 to 10 years in prison on corruption charges. Still in the slammer.