Plans for $1bn US embassy in London include 30m moat to foil bombers

The Australian ^ | February 24, 2010 8:01AM | Catherine Philp

[SunkenCiv]

The proposals were met with relief from both the present embassy's Mayfair neighbours and the residents and developers of the Battersea wasteland where the vast crystalline cube, surrounded by a moat, will be built.

This will come in handy when the Muzzies start burning down the UK. Thanks Former Military Chick.

[Windflier]

Looks like they'll be building the new US embassy on the same ugly mud flat as this place:

Y'all remember it, don't you?

[robomatik]

utilizing the water in the moat, combined with a chiller, might have an extremely inexpensive “chilling” effect. ;)

[jakerobins]

Obama’s Ministry of Truth??

[HereInTheHeartland]

I was in that embassy in 2002 and met with our agricultural attache.
A staffer asked us if we had driven in from Heathrow, and we said we had. He then asked if we parked outside; close to the embassy. No we hadn’t. He said good; if you had, your car would have been destroyed up by the security folks!

[karnage]

Our foes live in that time period.

[HBAR223]

The Battersea power station is on the cover of Pink Floyd’s Animals album.

[razorback-bert]

The new embassy, on a former industrial site behind Battersea power station known for its gay clubs

I think, I know why the State dept chose this site.

[Windflier]

The Battersea power station is on the cover of Pink Floyd’s Animals album.

Bingo. I knew that someone would remember that.

[ThermoNuclearWarrior]

I have seen several articles on this and some are saying it's estimated to cost $500 million while others are saying it's estimated to cost 1 billion. Does anyone know what the actual estimate is and why there are two different numbers being reported?

[americanophile]

...www.gotomeeting.com

[americanophile]

yes, it’s in a great area

[americanophile]

A billion dollars? Moats? Come on. Put the damn thing underground.

[Vanders9]

I think just out of central london. Probably better for everyone there.

[Vanders9]

The building is NOT American soil. Contrary to popular opinion, embassies in foreign countries are not extensions of the owning country.

[Beaten Valve]

“The new embassy, on a former industrial site behind Battersea power station known for its gay clubs..”

I wonder how many manholes they will install at this new location?

[Track9]

Will they have to install minarets? It is Londonistan, after all.

In all seriousness, I wouldn't be surprised if they build the "embassy" and then turn it into a Jihad recruiting center. I'm really not kidding either.

[lack-of-trust]

FMC,

No worry’s, the strength of FreeRepublic is the knowledge base of the commenters.

[Former Military Chick]

True words to be sure!

I watched the coverage on a couple of networks, oddly enough they talked about the cost, BUT, did not say that the old embassy was being sold for 1B as well.

That isn’t to say I trust any of these number’s but there will be revenue from the old building, I think that should be covered when reported.

Thanks for the reply.

~FMC

[AFreeBird]

This is one butt ugly building.