Existing US Embassy
Another View
Posted on 12/05/2005 10:04:48 AM PST by Kurt_Hectic
The long-simmering drama around relocation of the US Embassy reached the boiling point over the weekend, with local politicians hurling accusations at one another, residents of an affected area holding a chilly outdoor protest and embassy officials refusing to budge from their position. Two city politicians may decide the fate of the controversial embassy Monday evening.
Picture: Margaret Geelmuyden (center, with red scarf) has been leading the fight to prevent construction of a new US embassy in the Huseby area of Oslo. She's shown arguing her point to Oslo Mayor Per Ditlev-Simonsen, after handing him a petition with 10,000 signatures of people opposed to the move.
PHOTO: ROLF ØHMAN
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Nearly everyone agrees that the existing American embassy, perched on a prime corner near downtown, must be moved. It's long been considered a terrorist target and its security measures already have encroached on its neighbors and local traffic alike.
The problem is that the Americans insist there's only one site in the entire Oslo metropolitan area that's suitable for a new embassy complex, and that's a bit of open space called Husebyskogen on Oslo's northwest side.
Huseby's residents are livid over the prospect of not only losing a cherished recreational area but also having a terrorist target plunked down in their neighborhood. They've mounted a grass-roots effort that's threatened to undo a deal worked out earlier between local and American dignitaries.
Embassy officials in turn have threatened that if they don't get permission to move to Huseby, the embassy will simply have to stay where it is, and that they'll demand even more security measures that will make life even more difficult for its existing neighbors. The US State Department claims that none of some 30 sites examined in the Oslo area has met their requirements, without elaborating on which sites they considered or why they were rejected.
Minister adds fuel to the fire:
Things really heated up late last week when Norway's new Foreign Minister wrote a letter to city officials, seemingly supporting the American position. Some local politicians viewed the letter as a poorly disguised attempt to put undue pressure on them, while others claimed the Norwegian foreign minister was simply acting at the behest of the Americans, to avoid offending an important ally.
Margaret Geelmuyden, who's led the Huseby protest, claims Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre is letting himself be used by the Americans. The city politicians who already have given in to the Americans claim they've done so reluctantly, because any embassy site would be met with protests.
Oslo's city council (bystyre) is due to vote on the proposed move Wednesday evening. If a majority vote in favour of moving the embassy to Huseby, Geelmuyden's group already is planning to appeal to county officials and the national Minister of the Environment, who's from a party (the Socialist Left) where a majority is opposed to the Huseby move. Voting so far indicates that two politicians from that party can swing the council vote on Wednesday. Those two were expected to make their positions known Monday evening.
Meanwhile, some keep hoping the Americans will put an end to all the hostility by taking another look at alternative sites, and finding a location everyone can live with.
This is Europe. You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a protestor.
Build the embassy way out in the country. Self-sustained.
Really, why not?
Few bucks for a domain name, few lines of HTML, you've got a 'virtual embassy.'
It is time for the United States to recognize that large embassies are an anachronism. There should be a small office located in each capitol to house an ambassador and whatever public access functions are absolutely necessary, and the rest of the work should take place back in DC. With fast travel and instantaneous communications, there is simply no need to base large numbers of people overseas.
If the embassy is small, it is much easier to protect. And if it is blown up, it is not such a great loss.
I remember walking by the construction for our new embassy in Ottowa about a year after the American Embassies were blown up in Africa. It was set right on the sidewalk, with a sheer glass wall rising six or seven stories. It was all very pretty, but vulnerable as you can imagine. The only way to protect that structure will be to eliminate all traffic on adjacent streets. And I just don't think that is going to happen.
American embassies are first of all supposed to serve AMERICANS travelling or working in foreign countries. Where would Americans get new passports if theirs were stolen? Where would American children born overseas get their American birth certificates? Where would expatriates vote? Embassies are not favors to the host countries. They serve us.
Another View
And here's what the view is, of people protesting the war.
The war in KOSOVO.
Oh, and the second picture above is the US Embassy in London I think.
And here's what the view is, of people protesting the war.
The war in KOSOVO.
Oh, and the second picture above is the US Embassy in London I think.
Have an outlet, which is connected electronically to a hub on U.S. soil. Not unlike a bank, or a drivers' registration office.
Last I checked, the embassy in Cairo employed over 1500 people, had a commissary, booze store, post office etc, etc...and most ex-pats were NOT allowed to use the facilities except for mail, and many of us were limited to 1 lb. packages (not so for military and embassy personnel). They're little empires run by State department workers for the convenience of the King (ambassador). Not all US embassies are run like that, but Cairo was an absolute nightmare....
I've seen them do it elsewhere. Entire adjacent streets "disappear".
Is this Embassy Drama? And how do you know she is nearing a climax? Looks like her eyes are just starting to get glassy, she may need a battery change.
That's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who is allegedly pro-American.
The US could just build its embassy in shantytown outside Oslo and dare the authorities to come into the 'hood.
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