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Embassies worldwide still need reinforcement

The U.S. State Department has made some progress in reinforcing security at some embassies throughout the world since the terrorist attacks at its embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, but the Government Accountability Office has concluded that a great deal remains to be accomplished.

In a review of State’s Compound Security Upgrade Program, the GAO determined that the U.S. Government had built 50 new embassies as of last year and moved nearly 15,000 overseas personnel to safer facilities. "However, most remaining facilities will not be replaced in the near term," observed the GAO, in a recently released report.

The government auditing agency reviewed construction records for 47 different embassy projects worldwide -- visiting 11 of them in the process -- and concluded that 81 percent of the projects had had their completion deadlines extended. In addition, contract modifications led to cost increases on all but two of the projects, the GAO added.

While physical security was enhanced at many sites, none of the 11 visited sites had been able to fully comply with the State Department’s new, stricter security standards.

"For example, more than one post’s urban location prevented it from achieving a 100-foot setback from the street, a key security standard," noted the GAO, which also examined access control facilities, safe areas for personnel, compound walls and barriers. "As a result, many buildings and their occupants may remain vulnerable to attack," the GAO concluded.

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