Begin forwarded message:
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: August 4, 2008 2:21:40 PM PDT
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Bush's half-billion$ embassy in China (2nd largest in the
world after Iraq's)
Huge new US embassy in China (2nd largest in the world behind Iraq's)
Source: AP
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3423354
BEIJING - A massive new U.S. Embassy, the second-largest in the world
after the heavily fortified compound in Baghdad, formally opens in the
Chinese capital this week, a testament to the depth and breadth of the
ties binding the trading partners and sometimes rivals.
President Bush, who will be attending the Beijing Olympics opening
ceremonies Friday, is to preside over the ribbon-cutting at the $434
million, 500,000-square-foot compound that same day. Embassy personnel
will not move in until after the Olympics in case there are glitches
in communications or other systems.
The eight-story main building, wrapped in an outer envelope of
freestanding transparent and opaque glass, was designed with
traditional Chinese elements in mind. Narrow walkways lined with
bamboo link diplomatic "neighborhoods."
"The scale and size of this embassy — set on 10 acres in a new
diplomatic zone — symbolizes the future of the relationship as
it expands in scope and breadth," said Victor Cha, director of Asian
studies at Georgetown University and author of a forthcoming book,
"Beyond the Final Score: The Politics of Sport in Asia."
Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080804/ap_on_re_as/china_u... ;_
Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? Read
reviews on AOL Autos.
