McClatchy has an investigative report on corruption in the construction of the huge US embassy complex in Baghdad. It's a mess -- full of coverups and overpayments and delays. It's now the object of a criminal investigation. The report also reveals that the military are planning a very long stay in Iraq.
The Baghdad embassy complex, while incomplete, is about to be dramatically expanded to make room for a U.S. military presence that wasn't anticipated when the structures were first planned in 2004.
Kennedy said the $144 million additional price tag isn't a cost overrun, but the result of a decision to locate Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. military commander in Iraq, and his staff in the compound. That will involve converting some space planned for unclassified use to classified use.
