Order Code RS21867
Updated March 11, 2005
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
U.S. Embassy in Iraq
Susan B. Epstein
Specialist in Foreign Policy and Trade
Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
Summary
The Bush Administration is in the process of establishing a new embassy in
Baghdad with regional offices throughout Iraq. The President has requested more than
$1.3 billion in its FY2005 supplemental request for the logistical, security and
construction costs associated with the embassy. In 2005, even before it is built and fully
staffed, this embassy is the largest worldwide in both staff size and budget. As of June
28, 2004 sovereignty officially was transferred to the Iraqi interim government. At the
same time, the lines of U.S. government authority in Iraq were transferred from the
Department of Defense (DoD), the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), and
Ambassador Bremer to the Department of State (DoS), the American Embassy in
Baghdad, and the newly-confirmed Ambassador Negroponte. This report discusses re-
establishing diplomatic ties with Iraq and setting up the new embassy and regional
teams. It will be updated as changes occur.
Background
From July 17, 1979, when Saddam Hussein first came to power in Iraq, until just
prior to when Operation Desert Storm was begun in January 1991, the United States had
full diplomatic relations with Saddam Hussein’s government. On January 12, 1991, four
days before Operation Desert Storm, the United States closed its embassy doors in
Baghdad. At the time of its closing, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad maintained a staff of
41 and an annual budget of $3.5 million. From 1991 until 2004, the United States did not
have diplomatic relations with Iraq.
Now that the United States has removed Saddam Hussein from power and has
militarily occupied the country since March 19, 2003, the Bush Administration handed
over government self-rule to the Iraqis on June 28, 2004. Part of the transition toward
self-rule for Iraq is also a transition for the United States from being a military occupier
to re-establishing diplomatic ties with an independent Iraq.
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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Organizational Structure
While the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, John D. Negroponte (who was confirmed as
Chief of Mission (COM) by the Senate in May 2004) has had full authority for the
American presence in Iraq with two exceptions: 1 — military and security matters which
is under the authority of General George Casey, the U.S. Commander of the Multinational
Force-Iraq (MNF-I), and 2 — staff working for international organizations. In areas
where diplomacy, military, and/or security activities overlap, the Ambassador and the
U.S. commander continue cooperating to provide co-equal authority regarding what’s
best for America and its interests in Iraq.
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad is the largest American embassy in both staff size and
budget.1 According to the State Department, the U.S. Mission in Baghdad is staffed with
about 1,000 Americans representing various U.S. government agencies and between 300
and 400 locally engaged staff (LES, formerly referred to as foreign service nationals, or
FSN). The total staff estimate of about1,400 makes this the largest U.S. embassy
anywhere in the world.2
Americans representing about 11 government agencies are providing the face of
America in the embassy and regional offices in Iraq. The agencies include the
Departments of State (DoS), Defense (DoD), Agriculture (USDA), Commerce (DoC),
Homeland Security (DHS), Health and Human Services (HHS), Justice (DoJ), Labor
(DoL), Transportation (DoT), Treasury, and the Agency for International Development
(USAID). Agencies that did not recommend staff for an Iraq presence include
Departments of Energy, Interior, NASA, Peace Corps, Secret Service, Social Security, and
Veteran’s Affairs.
The United States has a number of experts from the various agencies on the ground
in Iraq working as teams to determine such needs as security, skills, expenditures,
contracting and logistics, communications/ information technology, and real estate. In
addition, the United States has consultants from the agencies working in an ongoing basis
with the various Iraqi ministries such as the Iraqi Health Ministry, Education Ministry,
Foreign Ministry, Ministry of Oil, etc. to help Iraq gain a strong foothold on democracy
and administrative skills. (See the organizational chart, Figure 1, on page 5.)
Location, Security, and the Role of U.S. Diplomatic Posts in Iraq
The State Department is using three sites for embassy-related needs. The sites are
the Chancery, formerly a Baathist residence which was later occupied by the U.S. Army;
the Annex (the Republican Palace) previously used by the CPA; and the Ambassador’s
residence, once occupied by Ambassador Bremer. The U.S. government is not paying
Iraq for the use of property and buildings, according to the State Department. State’s
Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) has identified property on which to eventually
build the New Embassy Compound (NEC) on a site adjacent to the Tigris River in the
1 As of January 2005, U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, Japan, ranks as the second largest with a staff of
214 and an annual budget of $43.8 million.
2 Estimates as of February 2005 by the Department of State.

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Green Zone. OBO has estimated that NEC can be constructed within two years of
receiving appropriations from Congress. All consular affairs activities, trade promotion,
and other diplomatic roles will be conducted from Baghdad.
Regional teams are located in Mosul, Kirkuk, Basrah, and Hillah; each consist of
small staff representing DoS, as well as other agencies and contractors in designated
locations. Altogether, 46 people are spread among the regional offices. (See the map,
Figure 2, on page 6.) Each regional team’s mission is primarily for coordinating and
advising with local officials and interacting with citizens to better understand the attitudes
of the Iraqi people toward America. Both in Baghdad and in the regional offices,
American Foreign Service Officers will be conducting public diplomacy — promoting
American values and policies in Iraq — and trying to “win the hearts and minds” of the
Iraqi people.
Beyond the official consulate posts in Iraq, the Department of State has Foreign
Service Officers embedded in U.S. military commands located in Tikrit, Ramadi,
Baqubah, Najaf, Karbala, and Diwaniyah. DoS and DoD civilian employees also are at
these locations. The State Department plans on having a total of 35 personnel in the Iraq
provinces, including diplomatic security personnel.
Security is key to establishing diplomatic relations. If the effort to achieve security
is unsuccessful, U.S. diplomacy will likely be ineffective. State’s Diplomatic Security
(DS) will have responsibility for keeping embassy personnel secure. Overall security in
the country, however, will continue to be the responsibility of the commander of the
multinational forces. DoD and contractors will be the major contributors to a secure
atmosphere. Regarding funding of security activities, the Administration has determined
that security for the embassy will come from a combination of DoD’s budget, as well as
State’s Diplomatic Security funds.
Funding
From the beginning, the Bush Administration estimated total needed funding (for
initial staffing and eventual leasing or building of the embassy) to be in the vicinity of
$1.5 to $1.6 billion. To date, Congress has authorized $20 million toward activities to
build a new embassy in Baghdad.
In his FY2006 budget request, President Bush did not include funds for construction
of the U.S. Mission in Iraq.3 Instead, a week after submitting his FY2006 budget to
Congress, the President sent Congress an FY2005 emergency supplemental funding
request. Included in the supplemental is more than $1.3 billion for the embassy in Iraq:
$690 million for logistical and security costs for the embassy in Baghdad and $658
million for construction of the new embassy compound there.
The State Department has identified $990.85 million thus far for security and
operation expenses of the U.S. Mission in Iraq: The FY2003 and FY2004 supplementals
provided $35.8 million from State’s Diplomatic and Consular Program (D&CP) account.
Another $105.75 million came from the 4th quarter FY2004 Coalition Provisional
3 The FY2006 budget request did include $65 million for Iraq embassy functions, however.

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Authority (CPA) appropriations. About 1% of the $18.4 billion (or $184 million) of the
Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Funds (IRRF) was designated for the embassy. Also,
DoD’s FY2005 appropriations bill (H.R. 4613/P.L. 108-287) included an amendment for
$665.3 million for State Department’s D&CP for costs in Iraq.
Congressional Responsibilities
While conducting foreign policy is the prerogative of the President, Congress
maintains three important responsibilities with respect to U.S. foreign policy: 1)
confirmation of political appointees (held by the Senate), 2) appropriations, and 3)
oversight. Congressional opportunities to have input on U.S. diplomatic relations with
Iraq and the embassy can occur within the nomination confirmation process, the annual
State Department appropriation legislation, and biennial foreign relations authorization.
The position of Ambassador to Iraq was filled when President Bush announced on
April 19, 2004 his intention to nominate John Negroponte. The Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, on an expedited basis, voiced its unanimous approval on April 29th with the
full Senate voting to confirm his nomination on May 6, 2004.
Appropriations have been the most complicated aspect of congressional involvement
with the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. The initial phase of establishing the embassy involved the
Administration finding funds without specific appropriations for the embassy. With little
of the total required funding appearing in the regular appropriation legislation, Congress
has had a difficult time determining exactly what the Administration has already received
and what is still needed; what has been spent and what is still in the pipeline.
Oversight includes congressional monitoring of how the embassy represents
American foreign policy, cultural and commercial interests. While the 108th Congress
was criticized in the media for doing too little oversight in general, and specifically with
transferring of supplemental funds from Afghanistan to Iraq, the effectiveness of the new
embassy in Iraq may be a high priority for many Members. Within the context of the
foreign relations authorization legislation to be undertaken by the 109th Congress,
Congress can provide the State Department with authority and direction to implement new
programs or new emphasis on existing programs — such as focusing democracy
promotion and public diplomacy programs toward Muslim populations. It can also set
reporting requirements on spending or conducting such activities. The success of the new
embassy will affect the success of the U.S.-Iraq relationship, as well as the strength of
Iraq’s democracy in the future.

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Figure 2. Post June 30 Field Presence
Source: U.S. Department of State.
Note:
Provincial capitals: Dahuk, Irbil, Kirkuk, Sulaymaniyah, Baqubah, Hillah, Kut, Samawah, Amarah,
Nasiriyah, Basrah
Areas with U.S. Mission Regional Teams: Mosul, Kirkuk, Hillah, Basrah
Areas with possible contractor presence: Mosul, Irbil, Tikrit, Baqubah, Ramadi, Karbala, Hillah, Najat,
Diwaniyah, Kut, Samawah, Basrah

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