Since the mid 20th century, successive US embassies in Lebanon tell the story of US commercial and strategic interest in the country and how the space of the embassy has increasingly blurred the lines between militarization and diplomacy. The embassy became a meeting place for high level US diplomats such as then Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice, who was flown in to meet Lebanese warlords and politicians opposed to Hezbollah—one of whom even offered advice to embassy staff on where to bomb, according to a leaked cable. [9] "New Embassy Beirut Compound,” US Embassy in Lebanon Website.