From The Christian Science Monitor:

Baghdad – Just inside the gateway of the new United States Embassy in Baghdad, a US Army lieutenant colonel acted as the diplomatic equivalent of a Wal-Mart greeter, welcoming guests Monday afternoon to the dedication ceremony for the largest – and most expensive – American mission in the world.

But even if visitors missed the significance of such a high-ranking doorman, more than 300 feet of red carpet and several hundred Iraqi, American, and other international guests hammered home just how significant this ribbon-cutting ceremony is to the long-term American vision for Iraq.

The $592 million, 104-acre compound that will house at least 1,200 US government employees from 14 federal agencies is brick-and-mortar proof of the value American politicians place on their relationship with this Middle Eastern nation still in the throes of war.

An “embassy compound” might sound uninviting, especially considering that the US Embassy just moved to its new location from Saddam Hussein’s Republican Palace. But the design is anything but. It’s made up of beige buildings constructed of stone and draped with giant sunscreens, giving it the appearance of a college campus in the American southwest rather than making it feel like a military installation.

Well, in a time when our economy is collapsing, it’s good to see that we’re sticking with the roughly half decade long trend of spending fuck-tons of money in Iraq.  $592 Million.  Well, that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  But hey, good for the Government and People of Iraq, I’m glad we’re showing our overwhelming commitment to their country.  Really, really happy about that.  Ah well, at least it’s another step in us handing over the country, so I guess that’s good.  Still though.  $592 Million?!?

On one hand, the U.S. denies Palestinian Fulbright scholars visas to study in the United States.  And on the other hand, they allow Arab students already studying in the U.S. entry to the Israeli Embassy in Washington DC.

Dozens of students from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Bahrain, The United Arab Emirates and Qatar visited the Israeli embassy in Washington this week.

“It was a unique opportunity to explain Israel’s position first hand,” said Rafi Harpaz, director of Public Affairs at the embassy, in a report sent to the Foreign Ministry.

When the briefing was over, the Arab students, all from affluent homes, shook Harpaz’ hand and asked to take photos with him, telling the director it was their first time meeting an Israeli.

Each student received a PR kit that included brochures about Israel, photos and CDs.

Perhaps the most important phrase here is that they’re “all from affluent homes”.

On the other side of the globe, Arabs are in a tiff:

Bahraini activists are upset with the United States after what they call unfair promoting of foreign interests as part of an international scholarship program for Arab students.

[Ibrahim Sharif, Secretary General of the National Democratic Action Society (NDAS)] said, “We have good relations with U.S. and several students go to pursue higher studies. It is normal for them to learn and understand American culture, but taking them to the Israeli embassy is bad taste.“

Bad taste? Welcome to free thinking, Mr. Sharif.

U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv

Haaretz did a nice write up this morning detailing the events leading towards the cancellation of the three Palestinian Fulbright scholar’s U.S. visas.

You can read it in its entirety here, or, I’ll highlight the important bits below….

• Two and a half months ago, Israel denied seven Palestinians entry to the U.S. Embassy for a visa interview (which is standard procedure for all foreigners seeking entry to the United States).
• Ms. Condi Rice gets involved, concerned that Israel is unfairly judging the students, and pulls some strings to get them the interview and, ultimately, visas.  (After a gambit of Israeli-American security checks, of course).
• Four students make it to America to study… the other three stayed in limbo due to “a problematic security background”.
• Last Sunday (August 3rd) two of the students were flown to Jordon to avoid further issues with the American administration.  The Israeli government worked hard to get the students to Jordon under intense pressure from American diplomats.
• When the students arrived at the Israeli border crossing en route to Jordon, the Israelis checked the Palestinian’s passports only to find they were expired! Israel notes the American diplomats failed to notice this simple step prior to the student’s arrival at the crossing.
  
• The students are held up in Jordon because their arrival was not properly coordinated by the American Embassy. The embassy firmly denies that any misstep was made with Jordon.
• Later, an American diplomat waited for the students who did not arrive on time having been delayed for 12 hours in Jordon.  At 8pm when the border is normally shut down for the night, the diplomat reportedly sat on the ground (literally) when asked to come back the next day and said, “I’m not interested, I’m not moving from here until they open the bridge”.   Jokes about temper-tantrums ensued.
• Several days later, all three visas were revoked for unknown reasons.  Officials vaguely cite security concerns but are unable to provide specific information.  One student managed to get on a flight to the United States but upon arrival in Washington (12 hour flight), he was advised by border control that his visa was expired.

In the end, Israel details the absurdity of the Americans handling of the situation. It wouldn’t be first time we’ve looked so clumsy. I’m still waiting on details of the security concerns though.