Flashback to September 2014: Obama declares Yemen a success in the fight against terror...

Obama closed the embassy in Yemen today and cut and run. The only thing left to do is make the "Mission Accomplished" speech.

Now, it will take time to eradicate a cancer like ISIL.  And any time we take military action, there are risks involved –- especially to the servicemen and women who carry out these missions.  But I want the American people to understand how this effort will be different from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  It will not involve American combat troops fighting on foreign soil.  This counterterrorism campaign will be waged through a steady, relentless effort to take out ISIL wherever they exist, using our air power and our support for partner forces on the ground.  This strategy of taking out terrorists who threaten us, while supporting partners on the front lines, is one that we have successfully pursued in Yemen and Somalia for years.  And it is consistent with the approach I outlined earlier this year:  to use force against anyone who threatens America’s core interests, but to mobilize partners wherever possible to address broader challenges to international order.

State Department: Personnel not being evacuated from Iraq embassy, just "temporarily relocated"

Wow!

U.S. evacuating much of Iraq embassy staff...

Between 50 and 100 U.S. Marines and U.S. Army personnel have arrived at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, official says. http://t.co/rZhsP1J2p3
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) June 15, 2014

Retreat...

Via NY Times:

The American Embassy in Baghdad plans to evacuate a substantial number of its personnel this week in the face of a militant advance that rapidly swept from the north toward the capital, the State Department announced on Sunday.

The embassy, a beige fortress on the banks of the Tigris River within the heavily-secured Green Zone, where Iraqi government buildings are also located, has the largest staff of any United States Embassy.

The exact number of people being evacuated was not clear Sunday. The embassy would remain open, a person familiar with the planning said, and much of its staff of about 5,500 would stay in Baghdad. The American government is expected to call the move a relocation, suggesting that it is a temporary precaution, the person said.

Keep on reading…

Obama issues memorandum preventing U.S. Israeli embassy from being moved to Jerusalem

Obama must really hate Israel. 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE
SUBJECT: Suspension of Limitations under the Jerusalem Embassy Act
Pursuant to the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 7(a) of the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-45)(the “Act”), I hereby determine that it is necessary, in order to protect the national security interests of the United States, to suspend for a period of 6 months the limitations set forth in sections 3(b) and 7(b) of the Act.
You are authorized and directed to transmit this determination to the Congress, accompanied by a report in accordance with section 7(a) of the Act, and to publish the determination in the Federal Register.
This suspension shall take effect after the transmission of this determination and report to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA

Besieged US Pakistani Embassy Grovels to Muslims on Twitter

#SecClinton: U.S. government had nothing to do with this video & we absolutely reject its message & contents. @statedept #Pakistan
— US Embassy Islamabad (@usembislamabad) September 20, 2012

What Billion Dollar Embassy Would be Complete Without a Moat?

Model of the US Embassy with 30m moat

The national deficit is skyrocketing, Americans are out of work and everyone is tightening their financial belts. Well, not exactly everyone. The Obama White House is planning a $1 billion new embassy in London. The most expensive embassy ever built will come complete with it's own moat. Yes, you read that right. The new embassy will have a moat. I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried.

A moat 30 metres (100ft) wide and rolling parkland will separate the building from the main road, protecting it from would-be bombers and removing the need for the blast barriers that so dismayed the people of Mayfair.

Oh, this doesn't include the 17.5 per cent VAT the British are demanding.

It also does not include the 17.5 per cent VAT demanded by the Treasury on all buildings in Britain and which the US has refused to pay.

It is close to gay clubs. So, the embassy staff will have plenty of recreational opportunities.

Obama Invites Iran to July 4th Events

President Obama wants to invite Iran to our Embassies for 4th of July celebrations. Hopefully, they can resist from calling our friend and ally Israel racist during the celebrations.
YNet reported:

In a new overture to Iran, the Obama administration has authorized US embassies around the world to invite Iranian officials to Independence Day parties they host on or around July 4th.

A State Department cable sent to all US embassies and consulates late last week said that US diplomats could ask their Iranian counterparts to attend the festivities, which generally feature speeches about American values, fireworks, and, of course, hot dogs and hamburgers.

The notice, sent on Friday, said that the posts "may invite representatives from the government of Iran" to the events, a State Department official said Tuesday, quoting from the document. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an internal communication.

It was not immediately clear how many embassies and consulates would actually invite Iranian diplomats to the July 4 parties or whether any Iranians would accept the invitations.