A government building project expected to cost around 500mil only ended up costing 750mil? Wow, that's actually quite impressive considering where it was being built...
Yeah. I was expecting him to say it actually cost a billion or something. For all the logistical complexity (and it being a government project), it remained quite close to its original budget.
Amy is actually doing some undercover investigative journalism that involves investigating how difficult it would be to steal space mountain piece by piece and reconstruct it in Sam's back yard.
speaking of Disney World, an original idea was that it would have it's own airport and nuclear power plant. Walt wanted it to be as self-sufficient as possible
i mean even now it is pretty self sustaining with its own garbage disposal system, security, firefighters and many other facilities. it is literally a town in florida.
but it sucks. I remember going all the way to Disneyland when I was a kid, flying all the way across the pond to go on Space Mountain, being really excited about it and then being very dissappointed with it. The rides at Bush Gardens were way better.
1:34 This appears to be based on the claim that the Magic Kingdom cost $400 million to build. There are no firm sources for this figure, and none of the sites that use this figure indicate that this figure is inflation-adjusted (the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971). If it isn't adjusted for inflation, then the cost to build the Magic Kingdom in 2009 (when the embassy opened) dollars would be $2 billion, making the embassy about 1/3 the cost of the Magic Kingdom.
3568 toner cartridges is 892 per color, if we assume all their printers are color. Let's guessproximate they have double the cartridges for black, meaning 713 full refills. If they have 7 printers, that's 100 refills. If they have 14 printers, that's 50 refills. If they have 28 printers that's 25 refills. So, no. Probably not too much toner.
People who work in an all digital environment never have to think about such things. The government isn't there yet, and probably won't be in any of our lifetimes.
I used to live on military bases as a kid, all of them had "American Clubs" and they were really just buffets, some of them had bars. Basically "fancy," slightly more expensive dining you could go to on more special occasions. They would host events for various groups every sunday (?) but you could eat there whenever. One of the bases my dad was stationed at was in England and the Club there was always *empty* like, we were the only ones there. Meant fast service at least.
Considering how many documents the government prints out on every occasion, I'd imagine the toner cartridge spending is in line with any other agency that's working abroad.
Yeah they're crazy, both of my uncles directed the construction of the pakistani embassy and are currently working on the lebanese one, they tell us stories about their construction
Fun fact, when you are in school to be one of those marine security guards, at any point during your schooling one of your instructors can just say "I don't like you" and that's it. You're done. No more embassy training for you
This is true for many schools in the DoD, from special forces to pilot training. Even if you complete the entire course without a hiccup, the instructor can say, "you're not that guy, pal" and you go back where you came from. This is mainly because they look for a very specific type of person to fit the role on top of being fully-qualified.
Trust me, I wish it was like that but there is a quota to fill, so some people do get pushed through. There's really only a handful of people who can drop you just because they don't like you. The instructors can absolutely push for you to be dropped but they don't hold the power to do it on their own.
@@vinnysworkshop All this time it's taking you to type out, "What is Space Mountain?" is time that could be spent typing into the Google search bar, "What is Space Mountain?"
When I was in the military, I was stationed at the Baghdad Embassy for a few months, and I have fond memories of the American Club. It's a pretty normal club, but in the old definition of club, a-la "Golf Club". No crazy raves or anything, it has the vibes of a country club mixed with a golf resort. The reason it's specifically called the "American Club" is because, being on an Embassy, it's considered to be on sovereign American soil, and operates on American law instead of Iraqi law. While this is true of everything in the complex, most places still have a lot of local visitors/staff, so they choose to at at least follow local customs as guidelines. The American Club is staffed and caters to Americans, however, so it serves things like alcohol and pork. It's also the only place in the complex to serve Rip It, which anyone who has served will confirm is what *truly* matters.
The references to Main Street and Disney made me think of Bagram. I only passed through Bagram, but I could've sworn they called one of the roads Disney Road (Just looked it up,; it was called Disney Drive, & it was named after a fallen soldier). The mentioning of bad traffic reminded me of Kabul. It once took us an hour to go one mile (we didn't travel in convoys, we were just in armored pick-ups and SUVs).
There's an American Club here in Singapore as well. It's pretty much a mini resort full of food and loud Americans, where all the coasters have the US Seal stamped on it.
As a former IT professional..It's common to keep 1-2 million dollars worth of toner cartridges in the supply closet..and with CDW pricing it comes to about 5 cartridges per floor.
In my city the US embassy is a large-ish complex that looks suspiciously clean but it's nothing too extra, the Russian embassy has a damn school, and then most other embassies are just a random house in a nice part of town or apartment building, except relevant to this video the Iraqi embassy which looks like a small palace with grand white pillars and arches surrounding a beautiful glass structure. But, well, it was designed for Saddam.
It’s not for flaunting. The three embassies are like that because in both Lebanon, Pakistan and Iraq there are a lot of groups who would like to mess up embassies and kidnap staff. Hell the one in Iraq was damaged by a proxy mob and because of that Soleimani got turned into salami. I don’t know which US embassy you are talking about specifically but for the more fortified ones that’s my answer
In my country, there's a fence around the US embassy. Apart from that, it looks like any other office building in Wellington. The Chinese one looks a bit extra, but I suspect that's because of the earthquake strengthening.
Embassies and ambassador residences are quite fun to visit, actually. Provided that you've been invited for a party. The US ambassador's residence is literally a few minutes on foot from our old house. At the time, the embassy was smack bang on a busy street near the capital, and that would no longer do. So they built a brand new embassy just outside the village (where the aforementioned ambassador lives), with a big perimeter fence. My wife got invited twice to the residence (which appears to have a much nicer pool than the embassy, judging by satellite imagery) and once to the embassy, which can accommodate many more people. Obviously, I tagged along. The job of embassy personnel is basically being the PR team for a country, so they're all really pleasant. You're made to feel welcome, although the layers of security of the embassy suggest that, if you're not welcome, it would be pretty difficult to get in.
Why wouldn't they use solar power to supplement the use of their diesel generators? I mean the area is quiet sunny and they use more electricity during the day. Seems like a win win to me
They would still need their generators to be able to handle 100% of their power demand, in case something happens to make the solar panels useless, but yeah that would still be smart. And it could provide shade, or just be put on top of buildings where you didn't need the space anyway
@@archerelms Yes, they'd probably still need their generators but they would last WAY longer and need less frequent services. Also running costs from fuel would be down. Even on a really cloudy day, which I would doubt is often in Iraq, you get 10% of the power out of your solar panels.
@@GeistView even with dust the panels will still produce electricity and you certainly have enlisted personell, that can clean them or even cheaper local labour
@@no-damn-alias I was C-RAM in the IZ 09-10. I had to clean a lot of my WAVES towers solar panels. What "enlisted personnel, the Marines? Let locals on, you crazy? Have you calculated the amount of acreage for the required solar panels to power the embassy grounds?
These embassies are particularly large for such countries/regions where terrorism is common. The large embassy allows for housing for the ambassador, the staff and their families all in one place. It can also contain grocery stores/supermarkets, entertainment facilities, and probably even daycares or schools all in one place. It is a mini city so that the staff will not have to go out because of the danger of terrorism.
All embassies are spy bases for their respective countries' spy agencies, because trying to enter the embassy without permission is basically a declaration of war.
Uh yeah. Intelligence agencies operate from basically every embassy on earth regardless of which country operates them. There’s nothing unique about CIA agents being stationed there, and there’s no reason it would be “illegal” unless you want to consider every embassy to be illegal
@@GeN56YoS Not entirely true. Americans are allowed to go outside the embassy compound but the threat level is high - so it's not recommended. Unfortunately that's true in many countries - especially Muslim controlled countries. Although, I wouldn't go out in Chicago after dark either. And I never go to New York City anymore. Maybe compounds like this should be built in major US cities too?
It took me this long to understand what "Mission accomplished" meant back there at the aircraft carrier where G.W. Bush held a speech. It was breaking ground for this thing.
5:00 Thank you for clarifying that this clip isn't at the embassy in Baghdad! I can now proceed with the absolute confidence that all your other stock footage _is_ at the embassy in Baghdad.
Visited the embassy in July 2011 for a couple of days after having spent a year at a forward operating base. Choppered in. The whole complex seemed like a fantasy land to this American. But I admit the pool was quite refreshing. The State Department had enormous plans for its presence in Iraq at that time as the DoD footprint was rapidly shrinking.
Anyone who has been in the military or worked for the government completely understands why they had so many toner cartridges. The amount of paperwork is staggering but it takes an act of Congress to get a single toner cartridge so you hold on to them like gold.
Half as interesting … half as right. There is also another compound for support next door that is part of the complex that wasn’t discussed. Plus more… When I was there the food court had an Anthony’s pizza and a Green Bean Coffee and a PX shopette. Maybe a sub shop? I can’t remember if there was a third place there then. All run by DOD vendors. Nothing in the food court was free. The dining hall or DFAC was free but take away was limited per person. There were three ‘office’ buildings. One being the chancery and two others. Why was there so much toner? I know why. It starts with funding. Look up ICASS and Program funding. Also, tenant agency funding.
@@hankhohn5017 no. Union III had a Burger King and Popeyes maybe when i was there. Meadowlands had…nothing except that big tower to climb. The diplomart was after my time. My tour had the PX/shoppette there. My band used to play at Baghdaddies on Thursday nights some…or the ‘corniche’.
@@DarrellChapman My comment was a smidge confusing, I meant was the compound next door you referred to Union III? Also, the diplomart is right next to the PX, maybe just the name was different
@@hankhohn5017 no next door had another name I can’t remember? Camp sully? There was the guard man camp and then at the end was a helipad and a checkpoint outside. Once had to sit inside a bunker because of a double dog sit down on a vehicle outside the compound.
2:44 when documents are redacted it can use up a LOT of ink. And they're probably required to have enough for a year bc it's a conflict zone. Given the apparent scale of operations at this embassy I'm not surprised
Spent a year living and working there. For all the amenities, lots of stress, danger and hardship, extreme heat, dust storms, rocket attacks. Hats off to all who serve and endure.
The video footage of the helicopters flying at the embassy at night makes me wonder how soundproof the apartment buildings and other residences are, for no particular reason at all.
There aren’t just marines actually, there are also Army soliders that do tower defense for the entire complex, the Marines are more specifically for just the embassy building itself.
I spent over a month living next to the Ministry of Defense building that’s in the sat images you’re showing. I’m a retired Army Infantryman and our unit (2-6 INF, 1st AD) arrived at the cross sabers stadium on 19 May 03 and the area still looked like a battlefield but 3rd Infantry Division had cleaned up the area pretty well but we still found dead Iraqi soldiers now and then. We firmed up the perimeter of the newly formed Green Zone mainly because the civilians had swarmed the area after the war ended and looted whatever they could and it was nasty. The palaces were amazing and we lived in one of them that was uncle Saddam’s daughters house. They had an indoor pool but it was empty and nasty but we sterilized it and filled it back up, got some pool chemicals from a local pool shop in Baghdad and put the pool to use, it was a lifesaver since most of the unit didn’t have A/C in the areas they slept in, we didn’t have nice trailers and internet, it was the Wild West back then. In the beginning we could drive around Baghdad and go shopping without any trouble and the people were nice, after a few months the bad guys started their crap and we had to limit our activities in built up areas.
There was supposed to be a couple of baseball diamonds but the area was turned into residences for Japanese diplomats instead. I was there when it opened…but didn’t have much business there so only visited a few times. Our flight path on a CIA Mi-17 helicopter to Baghdad Airport took us just behind the embassy grounds. Across the street was a couple of FOBs (Forward Operating Base) both called Union. But they were designated FU1 and FU3. I always wondered where FOB Union 2 was as it wasn’t on any maps, but then I realized it couldn’t be called FU2.
Sam, a US Defense Dept. project ONLY using 150% of the budget is a miracle and you know it. And there's no way that $400mil figure for Magic Kingdom is inflation adjusted.
You forgot to mention about the exit/entry secret tunnel under the Tigris river that goes to the opposite river banks and still a few hundred yards ahead. But it isn't a normal exit or entry point, only for emergencies, so you thought it's easier to not to mention it.
The food is good, there is in fact a desert bar, you can choose between the main food line, the made-to-order grills, the "unhealthy" food in the back, and there's a snack bar outside the DFAC. The apartments are pretty nice and have good AC, the "American Club" is a bar called Baghdaddy's, and there's actually two and a half gyms and two pools. Also, that big clock tower in the green zone hasn't worked in a long time. ruclips.net/video/C1ZbV3xr5Kk/видео.html this happened while I was there, good times.
@@hankhohn5017 can confirm everything here. though the “department store” is little more than a walgreens and i don’t recall an actual movie theater, but maybe i’m mistaken. played a lot of soccer with the ugandans and other 3rd nationals on that pitch.
And (on the self sustaining side) because they want the same quality of services that the Americans have. I think most people would get sick of seeing their neighbors flaunt their wealth and power while they live in a place that was only barely ranked better to live in than a warzone. Honestly I think you'd get tired of that even if you didn't live in such poor conditions.
Fun fact: the second largest US embassy before the newly constructed embassies in Lebanon and Pakistan was the US embassy in Armenia, which is now the 4th largest at 22 acres.
After the 2012 Benghazi attack, the DOS upgraded and upscaled its security architecture and systems worldwide. So, even more money is spent on the hundreds of compounds worldwide. This does not include the newest consulates/embassies in process. For example, the Mexico City Embassy would be larger in the American continent
It's worth mentioning that the internet tells me Iraq's electrical system works off 230v/50hz, rather than the US’ 120v/60hz system, which if the complex were to adopt, would pretty much break any import appliances (probably all of them) that are too dumb to adapt to whatever voltage/frequency they are being given. Best case scenario is they build a HVDC interconnect so they can have their own isolated grid while still getting power externally.
It’s not grass, it is Astro turf. There are many people there working and can’t go anywhere to really exercise or workout. It is a sports field and not just for soccer. Marines and other military assigned to the Embassy compound would do drills there later in the evenings or early mornings depending on weather. People and workers are entitled to Health and morale options. I worked 10 to 14 hours a day six days a week there. A place to relieve a little stress was nice.
@@Djuntas The President and each administration set the foreign policy priorities. The Embassy is there to support that and to relay information to and from the current government of each country. There are other jobs there too. Go to Google and search integrated country strategy Iraq and it is the first result- for me. that tells you what this admin is working on. priorities can shift under different presidents and secstates. hope this helps.
*When someone becomes rich, a lot of things change. Lifestyle upgrades, new social circles, and different financial responsibilities are just the beginning.*
Brian Humphery Services was my hope during the 'bear summer' last year. I made so many mistakes but also learned so much from it, and of course from Brian.
I'm surprised that you just mentioned and recommend Brian Humphery Services. I met him at a conference in 2018 and we have been working together ever since.
A suitable monument to otherworldly hubris. And a rich target environment for swarms of low-cost drones. The crowning touch would be for it to be named in honor of Paul Bremer.
This is called building a fort in a foreign land, this is flexing, this is modern day colonialism, this is literally British East India Company in India in 1850
I work at a professional B2B printing firm, and I can confirm we do not have anywhere near that amount of toner on hand. They are clearly up to something, possibly some toner based market manipulation.
I am from Iraq. Why were Iraqi citizens not allowed to work in the construction project? Many Iraqis were unemployed at that time. If they had allowed Iraqi workers, it would have alleviated the pain and would have improved Iraq’s economy.
Because of security plain and simple. The US embassy in Moscow literally had listening devices built into the concrete walls because the Soviet government at the time would only allow Russian workers.
@@archerelms Depends. Often these clubs are near the embassy's residences. There are US embassies where all the staff don't live on the land used by the embassy but on compounds elsewhere. Much of it has to do with the local threat level. BTW, there are embassies that do have such clubs inside the embassy. Australia's embassies, for example, for friday night socialising.
Back in the 80s while in the army I was designated the mail clerk for my battalion and participated in an exercise in Egypt, we were the first there and the last to go. There was two weeks at the beginning and two weeks at the end where the postal unit responsible for mail wasn't there, so I filled the gap. Went to the embassy in Ciaro everyday to get our mail and would drag my feet there. I swam in their pool and ate at their meal facility and enjoyed civilization. I hated going back to the desert at the end of each day but took advantage of everything they offered.😂
A government building project expected to cost around 500mil only ended up costing 750mil? Wow, that's actually quite impressive considering where it was being built...
Expected to cost us 192* million
These were the initial projections shown on cnn back then
Right, I thought he was gonna say it ended up costing 1.5B or something. I was fully expecting the figure to be in the billion(s) range 😂
Yeah. I was expecting him to say it actually cost a billion or something. For all the logistical complexity (and it being a government project), it remained quite close to its original budget.
That was my thought as well. I was fully expecting 3x or more of the initial cost projections
Sam didn't send his correspondent Amy to test the security of the embassy? What is journalism even coming to these days?!
What is Space Mountain?
No, he sent Ben instead, but he didn't mention it because it would spoil the next season of Jet Lag.
@@vinnysworkshopI don’t know. But Amy certainly wasn’t sent to test it
Sam did send Amy, but she just didn't come back to tell the story
Amy is actually doing some undercover investigative journalism that involves investigating how difficult it would be to steal space mountain piece by piece and reconstruct it in Sam's back yard.
But how does its smallest, least secure embassy work?
It's probably something like an Echo Dot that sits on a shelf in the Pope's assistant's office closet.
Now that’s a hard hitting question
A fast food head manager office with like 2 marines at the door
@@mmburgess11lmao probably yeah
Ha
speaking of Disney World, an original idea was that it would have it's own airport and nuclear power plant. Walt wanted it to be as self-sufficient as possible
Epcot was supposed to be a completely self-sustaining community.
@@bipolarminddroppings yeah, that's what i said
i mean even now it is pretty self sustaining with its own garbage disposal system, security, firefighters and many other facilities. it is literally a town in florida.
What is Space Mountain?
I mean they did. Celebration, Fl, is basically an entire town where everything is owned and run by Disney, including the utilities and city council.
Someone take this guy to Space Mountain
but it sucks. I remember going all the way to Disneyland when I was a kid, flying all the way across the pond to go on Space Mountain, being really excited about it and then being very dissappointed with it. The rides at Bush Gardens were way better.
What is Space Mountain?
Sam from Jet Lag the Game Might
Sam should have outside correspondent Amy go to space mountain
I’ve been to Disney World once. I despised it.
Hi Sam!
Big thanks to Amy for ditching work so she could go ride Space Mountain over and over again. She deserves a raise!
What is Space Mountain?
/Ric Flair has entered the chat
@@vinnysworkshopIt is a mountain made of space lol. It’s just a vaccum where air is supposed to be. It’s kinda like a negative mountain.
1:34 This appears to be based on the claim that the Magic Kingdom cost $400 million to build. There are no firm sources for this figure, and none of the sites that use this figure indicate that this figure is inflation-adjusted (the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971). If it isn't adjusted for inflation, then the cost to build the Magic Kingdom in 2009 (when the embassy opened) dollars would be $2 billion, making the embassy about 1/3 the cost of the Magic Kingdom.
What is Space Mountain?
This deserves to be in the end of year error video
But it has space mountain…
@@vinnysworkshop It's a mountain made out of space. Like a pile of empty holes.
thank you
3568 toner cartridges is 892 per color, if we assume all their printers are color. Let's guessproximate they have double the cartridges for black, meaning 713 full refills.
If they have 7 printers, that's 100 refills. If they have 14 printers, that's 50 refills. If they have 28 printers that's 25 refills.
So, no. Probably not too much toner.
Pretty wild that it costs $700 thousand though
@@дигл_лайв$20 a pop adds up quiick
@@scooterking136 That still only gets to USD 70,000ish, though, no?
What is Space Mountain?
People who work in an all digital environment never have to think about such things. The government isn't there yet, and probably won't be in any of our lifetimes.
I used to live on military bases as a kid, all of them had "American Clubs" and they were really just buffets, some of them had bars. Basically "fancy," slightly more expensive dining you could go to on more special occasions. They would host events for various groups every sunday (?) but you could eat there whenever. One of the bases my dad was stationed at was in England and the Club there was always *empty* like, we were the only ones there. Meant fast service at least.
Did you live in Mildenhall or lakenheath? I dont recall any other bases with schools.
Considering how many documents the government prints out on every occasion, I'd imagine the toner cartridge spending is in line with any other agency that's working abroad.
What is Space Mountain?
So it's basically more like an Military Base like Ramstein, but without the Airstrips?
Yeah they're crazy, both of my uncles directed the construction of the pakistani embassy and are currently working on the lebanese one, they tell us stories about their construction
What is Space Mountain?
Ssshush... its not a military base... um... oh maybe it is.
I'd say it's more like a federal prison.
CIA base for the middle east
"What the hell is an acre?"
"An acre is traditionally defined as the area of one chain by one furlong (66 by 660 feet)"
Wat.
An acre is the amount of land one man with 8 ox can plow and a day.
4050 square meters and change
@@deathpigeon2 Rainy or sunny day?
@@deathpigeon2 Eight African oxen or European oxen?
"Poems, everyone! The laddie reckons himself a poet!"
Fun fact, when you are in school to be one of those marine security guards, at any point during your schooling one of your instructors can just say "I don't like you" and that's it. You're done. No more embassy training for you
Can't you just have your mom talk to his mom and figure it out?
This is true for many schools in the DoD, from special forces to pilot training. Even if you complete the entire course without a hiccup, the instructor can say, "you're not that guy, pal" and you go back where you came from. This is mainly because they look for a very specific type of person to fit the role on top of being fully-qualified.
Trust me, I wish it was like that but there is a quota to fill, so some people do get pushed through. There's really only a handful of people who can drop you just because they don't like you. The instructors can absolutely push for you to be dropped but they don't hold the power to do it on their own.
Only the commandant can drop you. Instructors have no such authority.
So what I'm getting from this is that the Bagdad embassy needs to install a Space Mountain
What is Space Mountain?
@@vinnysworkshop All this time it's taking you to type out, "What is Space Mountain?" is time that could be spent typing into the Google search bar, "What is Space Mountain?"
@@vinnysworkshopride at Disney World
When I was in the military, I was stationed at the Baghdad Embassy for a few months, and I have fond memories of the American Club.
It's a pretty normal club, but in the old definition of club, a-la "Golf Club". No crazy raves or anything, it has the vibes of a country club mixed with a golf resort. The reason it's specifically called the "American Club" is because, being on an Embassy, it's considered to be on sovereign American soil, and operates on American law instead of Iraqi law.
While this is true of everything in the complex, most places still have a lot of local visitors/staff, so they choose to at at least follow local customs as guidelines. The American Club is staffed and caters to Americans, however, so it serves things like alcohol and pork. It's also the only place in the complex to serve Rip It, which anyone who has served will confirm is what *truly* matters.
If I recall correctly it was named Baghdaddy's
The references to Main Street and Disney made me think of Bagram. I only passed through Bagram, but I could've sworn they called one of the roads Disney Road (Just looked it up,; it was called Disney Drive, & it was named after a fallen soldier).
The mentioning of bad traffic reminded me of Kabul. It once took us an hour to go one mile (we didn't travel in convoys, we were just in armored pick-ups and SUVs).
I guess you didnt care much about how shitty this thing is?
Or maybe you were too motivated by post 9/11 revanchism to realize that...
Embassies are not sovereign American places lol.
@@felipea1399 cry more
The shape of the embassy looks like the shape of oklahoma
What is Space Mountain?
Baghlahoma
@@cxzact9204 Bagahomo
@@toolbaggers lmfao considering it's the Middle East, that seems fitting 😂
There's an American Club here in Singapore as well. It's pretty much a mini resort full of food and loud Americans, where all the coasters have the US Seal stamped on it.
As a former IT professional..It's common to keep 1-2 million dollars worth of toner cartridges in the supply closet..and with CDW pricing it comes to about 5 cartridges per floor.
Plot twist: Sam is just mad because Amy went on Space Mountain to do "research" and he didn't...
What is Space Mountain?
@@vinnysworkshopshut up!!!!
@@vinnysworkshop It is a roller coaster at Disney World.
/Ric Flair has entered the chat
Every other embassy in my city looks like a regular house. The US one looks like a futuristic fortress. I wonder why
its because they want to flaunt their power.
What city?
In my city the US embassy is a large-ish complex that looks suspiciously clean but it's nothing too extra, the Russian embassy has a damn school, and then most other embassies are just a random house in a nice part of town or apartment building, except relevant to this video the Iraqi embassy which looks like a small palace with grand white pillars and arches surrounding a beautiful glass structure. But, well, it was designed for Saddam.
It’s not for flaunting. The three embassies are like that because in both Lebanon, Pakistan and Iraq there are a lot of groups who would like to mess up embassies and kidnap staff. Hell the one in Iraq was damaged by a proxy mob and because of that Soleimani got turned into salami. I don’t know which US embassy you are talking about specifically but for the more fortified ones that’s my answer
In my country, there's a fence around the US embassy. Apart from that, it looks like any other office building in Wellington. The Chinese one looks a bit extra, but I suspect that's because of the earthquake strengthening.
All these videos and HAI STILL doesnt have a space mountain!
...that you know...
What is Space Mountain?
Embassies and ambassador residences are quite fun to visit, actually. Provided that you've been invited for a party.
The US ambassador's residence is literally a few minutes on foot from our old house. At the time, the embassy was smack bang on a busy street near the capital, and that would no longer do. So they built a brand new embassy just outside the village (where the aforementioned ambassador lives), with a big perimeter fence. My wife got invited twice to the residence (which appears to have a much nicer pool than the embassy, judging by satellite imagery) and once to the embassy, which can accommodate many more people. Obviously, I tagged along.
The job of embassy personnel is basically being the PR team for a country, so they're all really pleasant. You're made to feel welcome, although the layers of security of the embassy suggest that, if you're not welcome, it would be pretty difficult to get in.
Now hope they don't use... CrowdStrike
What is Space Mountain?
4:27 fun fact. The “expensive” Baghdad embassy power is still cheaper than retail rates in California. Thanks PG&E!
That sucks. Imagine having PG&E.
Why wouldn't they use solar power to supplement the use of their diesel generators?
I mean the area is quiet sunny and they use more electricity during the day.
Seems like a win win to me
They would still need their generators to be able to handle 100% of their power demand, in case something happens to make the solar panels useless, but yeah that would still be smart. And it could provide shade, or just be put on top of buildings where you didn't need the space anyway
@@archerelms Yes, they'd probably still need their generators but they would last WAY longer and need less frequent services.
Also running costs from fuel would be down.
Even on a really cloudy day, which I would doubt is often in Iraq, you get 10% of the power out of your solar panels.
dust
@@GeistView even with dust the panels will still produce electricity and you certainly have enlisted personell, that can clean them or even cheaper local labour
@@no-damn-alias I was C-RAM in the IZ 09-10. I had to clean a lot of my WAVES towers solar panels. What "enlisted personnel, the Marines? Let locals on, you crazy?
Have you calculated the amount of acreage for the required solar panels to power the embassy grounds?
These embassies are particularly large for such countries/regions where terrorism is common. The large embassy allows for housing for the ambassador, the staff and their families all in one place. It can also contain grocery stores/supermarkets, entertainment facilities, and probably even daycares or schools all in one place. It is a mini city so that the staff will not have to go out because of the danger of terrorism.
Remember US once discovered listening device built into the structure of the building of its embassy at USSR.
You forgot the part where it's also a giant legal CIA base in the middle of the middle east
What is Space Mountain?
"Legal" like how Russia legally annexed Eastern Ukraine.
All embassies are spy bases for their respective countries' spy agencies, because trying to enter the embassy without permission is basically a declaration of war.
Uh yeah. Intelligence agencies operate from basically every embassy on earth regardless of which country operates them. There’s nothing unique about CIA agents being stationed there, and there’s no reason it would be “illegal” unless you want to consider every embassy to be illegal
@@Patrick_120 the CIA has undocumented bases
The lack of Space Mountain is thoroughly disturbing. How do they manage to live in such uncivilized conditions? ;)
What is Space Mountain?
The CIA building is known a "Space Mountain."
When a 107-acre compound offers more amenities than most cities of the country it's located in.
What is Space Mountain?
Not at all lol these poor people are living in a glorified jail cell not being able to even see the country they're in. We aren't in 2003 are we now?
@@vinnysworkshoprollar coaster
@@GeN56YoS Not entirely true. Americans are allowed to go outside the embassy compound but the threat level is high - so it's not recommended. Unfortunately that's true in many countries - especially Muslim controlled countries. Although, I wouldn't go out in Chicago after dark either. And I never go to New York City anymore. Maybe compounds like this should be built in major US cities too?
@@vinnysworkshop google it
It took me this long to understand what "Mission accomplished" meant back there at the aircraft carrier where G.W. Bush held a speech. It was breaking ground for this thing.
What is Space Mountain?
5:00 Thank you for clarifying that this clip isn't at the embassy in Baghdad! I can now proceed with the absolute confidence that all your other stock footage _is_ at the embassy in Baghdad.
interesting as half
What is Space Mountain?
@@vinnysworkshop space mountain is a space mountain
@@pompomaddons don't, he's spamming everyone's it's dumb.
@@hunterchichester5720 Why not? I'm not but why shouldn't pompomaddons? It's not hurting anyone!
Very well written. The little bits of humor are truly appreciated.
Visited the embassy in July 2011 for a couple of days after having spent a year at a forward operating base. Choppered in. The whole complex seemed like a fantasy land to this American. But I admit the pool was quite refreshing. The State Department had enormous plans for its presence in Iraq at that time as the DoD footprint was rapidly shrinking.
Anyone who has been in the military or worked for the government completely understands why they had so many toner cartridges. The amount of paperwork is staggering but it takes an act of Congress to get a single toner cartridge so you hold on to them like gold.
Smallest US embassy is in Samoa which is manned by just one man. Non-US would be china's embassy in kiribati which is also manned by one person.
Half as interesting … half as right. There is also another compound for support next door that is part of the complex that wasn’t discussed. Plus more… When I was there the food court had an Anthony’s pizza and a Green Bean Coffee and a PX shopette. Maybe a sub shop? I can’t remember if there was a third place there then. All run by DOD vendors. Nothing in the food court was free. The dining hall or DFAC was free but take away was limited per person. There were three ‘office’ buildings. One being the chancery and two others.
Why was there so much toner? I know why. It starts with funding. Look up ICASS and Program funding. Also, tenant agency funding.
There was the PX and the Diplomart. There's also the real helipad to the west that wasn't mentioned. Are you talking about Union III?
@@hankhohn5017 no. Union III had a Burger King and Popeyes maybe when i was there. Meadowlands had…nothing except that big tower to climb. The diplomart was after my time. My tour had the PX/shoppette there. My band used to play at Baghdaddies on Thursday nights some…or the ‘corniche’.
@@DarrellChapman My comment was a smidge confusing, I meant was the compound next door you referred to Union III? Also, the diplomart is right next to the PX, maybe just the name was different
@@hankhohn5017 no next door had another name I can’t remember? Camp sully? There was the guard man camp and then at the end was a helipad and a checkpoint outside. Once had to sit inside a bunker because of a double dog sit down on a vehicle outside the compound.
@@DarrellChapman "Condor".
2:44 when documents are redacted it can use up a LOT of ink. And they're probably required to have enough for a year bc it's a conflict zone. Given the apparent scale of operations at this embassy I'm not surprised
Spent a year living and working there. For all the amenities, lots of stress, danger and hardship, extreme heat, dust storms, rocket attacks. Hats off to all who serve and endure.
THE SOCCER FIELD ISNT REAL GRASS. WE ALSO HAVE A SEPERATE HELO AND PLANE AIRPORT, SHOOTING RANGE AND A REALLY COOL SANTA SLED AT CHRISTMAS
Back to Eye-Rack, are we?
The video footage of the helicopters flying at the embassy at night makes me wonder how soundproof the apartment buildings and other residences are, for no particular reason at all.
If the goal is to be as independent from outside supplies as possible they should just install solar panels
They can be easily damaged by enemies.
I want to know who is the hair stylist at this embassy?! Now that’s an AMA I’d sit down for.
The Embassy is also defended against airborne threats by C-RAM.
This compound is essentially a castle within a walled city, so it's even more Disney-like.
I see a Wendover video about the logistics of running this place very soon.
This sounds a lot like a medieval castle
3:04, I love how they misspelled Auckland in that report.
Aukward…
There aren’t just marines actually, there are also Army soliders that do tower defense for the entire complex, the Marines are more specifically for just the embassy building itself.
"Most Secure" means about as much as "FDA Approved" after Saturday.
3:00 anyone else notice “Aukland” instead of Auckland New Zealand 🇳🇿 ?
I spent over a month living next to the Ministry of Defense building that’s in the sat images you’re showing. I’m a retired Army Infantryman and our unit (2-6 INF, 1st AD) arrived at the cross sabers stadium on 19 May 03 and the area still looked like a battlefield but 3rd Infantry Division had cleaned up the area pretty well but we still found dead Iraqi soldiers now and then. We firmed up the perimeter of the newly formed Green Zone mainly because the civilians had swarmed the area after the war ended and looted whatever they could and it was nasty. The palaces were amazing and we lived in one of them that was uncle Saddam’s daughters house. They had an indoor pool but it was empty and nasty but we sterilized it and filled it back up, got some pool chemicals from a local pool shop in Baghdad and put the pool to use, it was a lifesaver since most of the unit didn’t have A/C in the areas they slept in, we didn’t have nice trailers and internet, it was the Wild West back then. In the beginning we could drive around Baghdad and go shopping without any trouble and the people were nice, after a few months the bad guys started their crap and we had to limit our activities in built up areas.
The adjacent map of Disneys magic kingdom in the Baghdad graphics is a true chefs kiss.
No worries, I have Crowdstrike to keep me safe!
There was supposed to be a couple of baseball diamonds but the area was turned into residences for Japanese diplomats instead.
I was there when it opened…but didn’t have much business there so only visited a few times. Our flight path on a CIA Mi-17 helicopter to Baghdad Airport took us just behind the embassy grounds.
Across the street was a couple of FOBs (Forward Operating Base) both called Union. But they were designated FU1 and FU3.
I always wondered where FOB Union 2 was as it wasn’t on any maps, but then I realized it couldn’t be called FU2.
All those FOBs were Union 3 as of 2018 around the Ba'ath Party building.
But does it run crowdstrike tho
Happy New HAI video for all who celebrate
You've got a fan in me, keep 'em coming!
What is Space Mountain?
bot
I can confirm as a person in the military that that much toner wouldn't last long. The amount of paperwork is disheartening
Iraqi child points to embassy: What's that, daddy?
Daddy: Our nation's actual capital.
I was there in 2003 serving in the Marines.
USMC 1999-2007
Guys, i'm starting to think that there is no Space Mountain at the U.S Embassy in Iraq.
Sam, a US Defense Dept. project ONLY using 150% of the budget is a miracle and you know it. And there's no way that $400mil figure for Magic Kingdom is inflation adjusted.
These are not embassies, these are military bases.
No it is an embassy at least legally
There's an error at 2:52. You're showing Disneyland main street, not Magic Kingdom. Very disappointed.
What is Space Mountain?
@@vinnysworkshop Disney ride
Print ink cartridges cost more than gold in weight
Half as Interesting but 1000x better than the Infographics Show
You forgot to mention about the exit/entry secret tunnel under the Tigris river that goes to the opposite river banks and still a few hundred yards ahead. But it isn't a normal exit or entry point, only for emergencies, so you thought it's easier to not to mention it.
The food is good, there is in fact a desert bar, you can choose between the main food line, the made-to-order grills, the "unhealthy" food in the back, and there's a snack bar outside the DFAC. The apartments are pretty nice and have good AC, the "American Club" is a bar called Baghdaddy's, and there's actually two and a half gyms and two pools. Also, that big clock tower in the green zone hasn't worked in a long time. ruclips.net/video/C1ZbV3xr5Kk/видео.html this happened while I was there, good times.
@@hankhohn5017 can confirm everything here. though the “department store” is little more than a walgreens and i don’t recall an actual movie theater, but maybe i’m mistaken. played a lot of soccer with the ugandans and other 3rd nationals on that pitch.
@@markmarra3850 no movie theater as far as i know
the 'movie theater' is just Baghdaddys during the day. and that clock tower *FINALLY* got fixed a while back... LOL
@@dobrzpe I wouldn't know anything about baghdaddys, the lower enlisted weren't allowed inside
A good deal of it in the form of kickbacks and commissions. Yes that includes those Tone Cartridges 😅
3:29 Why would anyone in bagdad not want the embassy to be self sustaining and fortified?
Because they don't want americans to heavily influence their country from it.
And (on the self sustaining side) because they want the same quality of services that the Americans have. I think most people would get sick of seeing their neighbors flaunt their wealth and power while they live in a place that was only barely ranked better to live in than a warzone.
Honestly I think you'd get tired of that even if you didn't live in such poor conditions.
Because it conjures up an image of a foreign occupation, where the occupier lived in luxury
Especially considering what happened with the embassy in Tehran.
Fun fact: the second largest US embassy before the newly constructed embassies in Lebanon and Pakistan was the US embassy in Armenia, which is now the 4th largest at 22 acres.
Based on current staffing levels at that embassy, that acreage equates to roughly a Space Mountain for every 4.5 employees.
No Big Rick Candy Mountain is understandable, but no Space Mountain? Inexcusable!
"I"raq 0:41 . This country has been in America's political consciousness for quite some time and we still can't pronounce it properly
im impressed how you can spin occupation into something positive
That's a totally normal amount of toner, bro.
After the 2012 Benghazi attack, the DOS upgraded and upscaled its security architecture and systems worldwide. So, even more money is spent on the hundreds of compounds worldwide. This does not include the newest consulates/embassies in process. For example, the Mexico City Embassy would be larger in the American continent
I’m Iraqi and we know very well that it’s not an embassy, it’s a CIA base.
Amy knocked it out of the park with this one.
27 seconds, 47 views, bro will not fall off
What is Space Mountain?
It's worth mentioning that the internet tells me Iraq's electrical system works off 230v/50hz, rather than the US’ 120v/60hz system, which if the complex were to adopt, would pretty much break any import appliances (probably all of them) that are too dumb to adapt to whatever voltage/frequency they are being given. Best case scenario is they build a HVDC interconnect so they can have their own isolated grid while still getting power externally.
US tax money goes to pay for grass in a soccer field in Iraq. Why am I unsurprised?
It’s not grass, it is Astro turf. There are many people there working and can’t go anywhere to really exercise or workout. It is a sports field and not just for soccer. Marines and other military assigned to the Embassy compound would do drills there later in the evenings or early mornings depending on weather. People and workers are entitled to Health and morale options. I worked 10 to 14 hours a day six days a week there. A place to relieve a little stress was nice.
@@DarrellChapman The invading americans get those amenities, but screw the population that's been living there for centuries
@@DarrellChapman can i ask what is the point of a embassy in iraq. No trade, sanctions, they would maim us
@@Djuntas The President and each administration set the foreign policy priorities. The Embassy is there to support that and to relay information to and from the current government of each country. There are other jobs there too. Go to Google and search integrated country strategy Iraq and it is the first result- for me. that tells you what this admin is working on. priorities can shift under different presidents and secstates. hope this helps.
@@Djuntaswhat? Iraq is occuipes by America
I could've sworn you've covered this exact topic in a video years back.
No, he didn’t. Wendover, a completely different channel, did, but that’s irrelevant.
@@emilioalban1234 I see
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You mean like getting a private jet instead of flying commercial?
Managing wealth becomes crucial. Professional advice from expert financial analyst and advisors are important.
Brian Humphery Services was my hope during the 'bear summer' last year. I made so many mistakes but also learned so much from it, and of course from Brian.
I'm surprised that you just mentioned and recommend Brian Humphery Services. I met him at a conference in 2018 and we have been working together ever since.
nice! once you hit a big milestone, the next comes easier. How can i reach him, if you don't mind me asking?
A suitable monument to otherworldly hubris. And a rich target environment for swarms of low-cost drones. The crowning touch would be for it to be named in honor of Paul Bremer.
This is called building a fort in a foreign land, this is flexing, this is modern day colonialism, this is literally British East India Company in India in 1850
Exactly I was thinking
Back in 1600-1800, UK needs more embassies, it will improve our relations & lead to more trade🎉
I work at a professional B2B printing firm, and I can confirm we do not have anywhere near that amount of toner on hand. They are clearly up to something, possibly some toner based market manipulation.
anyone else here during the huge IT server outrage 😭? i’m stuck in new york airport rn
What is Space Mountain?
i have a feeling Sam realllllly likes space mountain. just a feeling.
bro is a disney adult 😂
This place would make a sick zombie apocalypse base
I am from Iraq. Why were Iraqi citizens not allowed to work in the construction project? Many Iraqis were unemployed at that time. If they had allowed Iraqi workers, it would have alleviated the pain and would have improved Iraq’s economy.
Because of security plain and simple. The US embassy in Moscow literally had listening devices built into the concrete walls because the Soviet government at the time would only allow Russian workers.
For context on the American Club: im an american in SG and we have an american club which is a socail club for americans in SG, possibly this?
But this is within the embassy so... just a social club really in this case?
@@archerelms Depends. Often these clubs are near the embassy's residences. There are US embassies where all the staff don't live on the land used by the embassy but on compounds elsewhere. Much of it has to do with the local threat level. BTW, there are embassies that do have such clubs inside the embassy. Australia's embassies, for example, for friday night socialising.
Back in the 80s while in the army I was designated the mail clerk for my battalion and participated in an exercise in Egypt, we were the first there and the last to go. There was two weeks at the beginning and two weeks at the end where the postal unit responsible for mail wasn't there, so I filled the gap. Went to the embassy in Ciaro everyday to get our mail and would drag my feet there. I swam in their pool and ate at their meal facility and enjoyed civilization. I hated going back to the desert at the end of each day but took advantage of everything they offered.😂
Sinai peacekeepers?
@@TXnine7nine Bright Star 87.
0:15 Thank goodness it's not Israel. (No hate to Jews though. Not all Jews are Zionists, and not all Zionists are Jews.)
🇵🇸
3:50 Oh...
What is bro yapping about
@@Pankkeli The US has the LARGEST embassy in Baghdad Iraq.
@@cjwms7279duh?
i’m pretty stoned but honestly this is probably one of the funniest videos i’ve ever watched
The most shocking fact here is that there‘s a soccer field, I assumed American diplomats would play baseball or something