What did work out was a luxurious compound in the heart of Baghdad on the banks of the Tigris where the thousands of Americans who would remain behind could work, shop, eat, and relax in a palatial, $750 million embassy.

Here's the Chancellery Building — located at the intersection of "Broadway" and "Main Street" within the compound.

Here, a man carries dry cleaning past the blast walls that surround the dining facility.

This is the Annex I building. The embassy compound is larger than Vatican City, and contains a food court and a shopping mall where embassy staff can spend their hazard pay.

A Christmas tree stands in the lobby of the Chancellery building in the compound.

Americans residing in the Embassy are encouraged to wash their hands when returning inside.

There's a six-lane swimming pool where Americans can swim laps.

Here's an embassy employee — one of 1,350 government employees, and thousands of contractors — working out in the fitness center.

Next to the weight room there is a regulation-size basketball court.

Here's a private contractor comment box near scales in a hallway of the facilities building. The Embassy cost seven times as much as the Iraqi Police College.

Here's the palatial dining room.

Embassy employees get to choose from burgers, sushi, "Mexican Fiesta," Thai beef, grilled shrimp salad, sandwiches and more.

Fresh fruit stands stacked next to a palm tree. While the U.S. spared no expense on the facility, the palm is admittedly fake.

Embassy employees can choose from a wide variety of desserts as well.

The Embassy generates its own power, has wells for water, as well as treatment and sewage plants.

There's even an irrigation system, which makes this regulation-size soccer field possible.

The apartment complexes within the compound are stocked with bullet-proof glass all around. Marks covering up shrapnel damage can be seen on some buildings.

Here's the commemorative plaque that hangs outside of the Chancellery wall inside the compound.