You know, it's quite staggering that we have 150 embassies in the world; no, that's wrong, I mean 265 embassies and consulates. That's not even counting all the military bases we have in other people's countries. (How many military bases do other countries have in the US? Zero). Apparently all the attacks on the embassies led the State Department to do a review to see how much making them all safe would cost.

The State Department says it will need about $7.5 billion to construct new buildings at around 50 posts and $850 million for "major rehabilitation" at 40 others through 2013. The figures are contained in the department's Long-Range Overseas Buildings Plan that was sent to Congress last week.

In addition, about 60 other embassies and consulates will need to be replaced or will require substantial work by 2018, according to documents accompanying the 450-page plan, which is labeled "sensitive but unclassified" and not to be shared with foreign governments, according to officials familiar with its contents.