US to spend $511 million to expand Kabul embassy

[1775]

By RAHIM FAIEZ, Associated Press Rahim Faiez, Associated Press
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101103/ap_on_re_as/as_afghan_us_embassy#mwpphu-container

KABUL, Afghanistan – The U.S. government will spend $511 million to expand its embassy in Kabul, the U.S. ambassador said Wednesday, describing the work as a demonstration of America's long-term commitment to Afghanistan.

"We make this commitment by commemorating the recent award of a $511 million contract to expand the U.S. Embassy here in Kabul," Ambassador Karl Eikenberry said during a ceremony at the construction site that marked the formal announcement of the contract.

"We're going to get a day when that embassy's up and there's not going to be these barriers out there, there's no barbed wire, there's not going to be all kinds of obstacles out there," Eikenberry said.

Currently the road to the embassy, located in downtown Kabul, is blocked by large concrete barriers and the building is surrounded by armed security guards.

"This next generation of Afghans growing up, we hope that they come to this embassy, they're welcome here and this is going to be the new normal for Kabul," he added.

Eikenberry's remarks come amid Afghan concerns that the proposal to begin drawing down U.S. forces by July 2011 could leave Afghanistan alone to fight the Taliban insurgency.

Many Afghans felt abandoned by the U.S. after 1989, when the Soviet Union withdrew its army from Afghanistan and U.S. support to mujahedeen fighters dried up. The country sank into years of brutal civil war.

But Eikenberry used his speech to emphasize U.S. commitment to a peaceful Afghanistan, pointing out that the embassy has tripled its civilian staff in the past year. The new facilities will provide offices and living space for many of them.

The project started earlier this year and currently employs about 500 Afghans. Once construction gets under way, more than 1,500 Afghan workers will be employed, Eikenberry said.

Over the last two years, the U.S. has signed contracts to expand American diplomatic facilities in Kabul and consulates in Mazar-e Sharif and Herat provinces that total $790 million, he said. The figure includes the embassy expansion, which should be completed by June 2014.

[Neymar]

They need to get out. The Afghans dont want them there, and why should we be spending money that could be getting used here.

American military is so weak they couldnt even beat the Vietnamese, what chance is there against the warriors of Allah?

[Lonewolf]

As usual long on mouth short on knowledge. Dude, learn before you speak. It`s clear you don`t know anything about Vietnam. But if you would like I can educate you on it.

[Neymar]

As usual long on mouth short on knowledge. Dude, learn before you speak. It`s clear you don`t know anything about Vietnam. But if you would like I can educate you on it.

I know men who had their butts whooped in Vietnam, so lets not be a revisionist about history because of some patriotism.

[Lonewolf]

Dude, I use to say the same stupid sh!t you just did. Then I was provided some reference material to study. Not to mention that I have lived in Asia for 10 years. I think I know better than you as I have done the research. You know rather than just to accept what someone tells you go out and do the research for yourself. I too know people who were in Vietnam. So, don`t try the revisionist crap here.

[Neymar]

Dude, I use to say the same stupid sh!t you just did. Then I was provided some reference material to study. Not to mention that I have lived in Asia for 10 years. I think I know better than you as I have done the research. You know rather than just to accept what someone tells you go out and do the research for yourself. I too know people who were in Vietnam. So, don`t try the revisionist crap here.

The US getting their butts whooped is revisionist?

United States
58,159 dead;[8] 1,719 missing; 303,635 wounded

^^That is an a-- whooping...Seriously .

Post world war that is like being dominated for a first world nation(Which the US was at the time).

[y04185]

neymar, using your logic we lost world war 2.  over 600k died in the civil war.  we really lost that one.  can you name one battle that we lost in vietnam.  we kicked the nva and the viet cong and came home.  you need to talk the the vietnamese military and ask them if we lost the war.

[Neymar]

neymar, using your logic we lost world war 2.  over 600k died in the civil war.  we really lost that one.  can you name one battle that we lost in vietnam.  we kicked the nva and the viet cong and came home.  you need to talk the the vietnamese military and ask them if we lost the war.

If the USA ran like they did from Vietnam it would be a lost. The communist north took over all of vietnam...that was a lost.

[y04185]

the north vietnamese defeated the south vietnamese.  that is why there is one vietnam.  when saigon fell we had not had combat troops on vietnam for years.  we did not surrender.  south vietnam surrendered.  using your logic you think hitler surrendered to the allies in world war 2.

[Neymar]

the north vietnamese defeated the south vietnamese.  that is why there is one vietnam.  when saigon fell we had not had combat troops on vietnam for years.  we did not surrender.  south vietnam surrendered.  using your logic you think hitler surrendered to the allies in world war 2.

You all were helping the south Vietnamese, and ran away when it got too tough. They gave up because their"Boys" jumped shipped.

Using my logic the USA lost,which they did.

[y04185]

it never got tough for us when the u.s. was in vietnam.  name one battle the nva or the viet cong won.

using your logic the russians lost world war one.

[Neymar]

it never got tough for us when the u.s. was in vietnam.  name one battle the nva or the viet cong won.

using your logic the russians lost world war one.

Battles do not equal war.

They whooped you, and you ran. Why try to be a revisionist?

[Bison 4 Life]

it never got tough for us when the u.s. was in vietnam.  name one battle the nva or the viet cong won.

using your logic the russians lost world war one.

Battles do not equal war.

They whooped you, and you ran. Why try to be a revisionist?

Did Ethiopia beat the Italians?

[y04185]

it never got tough for us when the u.s. was in vietnam.  name one battle the nva or the viet cong won.

using your logic the russians lost world war one.

Battles do not equal war.

They whooped you, and you ran. Why try to be a revisionist?

Did Ethiopia beat the Italians?

hell no.  if it wasn't for the allies they'd still be speaking italian.  ciao

[Neymar]

it never got tough for us when the u.s. was in vietnam.  name one battle the nva or the viet cong won.

using your logic the russians lost world war one.

Battles do not equal war.

They whooped you, and you ran. Why try to be a revisionist?

Did Ethiopia beat the Italians?

Actually they did.

Italy later invaded present day eritrea, a place full of tigrays who effectively rolled over.