Why a new one? Security in the highly-protected Green Zone, long a safe haven for international interests (including the U.S. military), was handed back to Iraqi forces on January 1.
Big and secure The new embassy, scheduled to open today, will house 4,000 workers. Security is so tight for the opening ceremony that film crews will not be allowed to show its buildings.
Going forward …Ambassador Ryan Crocker, who will preside over the opening ceremony, says recent attacks show al-Qaeda in Iraq to be a continuing threat despite great leaps forward in security. source