Businessman Sees Iraq as a Potential Tourist Attraction

[midnight armadillo]

(NY Times)
Businessman Sees Iraq as a Potential Tourist Attraction
By ROBERT F. WORTH

AGHDAD, Iraq — At first glance, Iraq may not seem like an ideal place for a holiday in the sun. Terrorists and bandits roam through a bomb-scarred landscape, and gun battles rage by night in the capital.

But to Wathiq Hindo, this is the world's next great tourist destination.

<snip>

Mr. Hindo, a 55-year-old entrepreneur, does not just want to lure history buffs. He envisions package tours, four-star hotels and resorts, American families cruising in minivans down new superhighways, water-skiing, maybe even a Disneyland on Lake Habbaniya. Religious tourists will flock to see where Job and Jonas died, or to the Muslim holy cities Najaf and Karbala.

read more...
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Disneyland in Iraq? This guy is apparently trying to bring in tourists this fall. I suspect Western tourists would be prime targets, esp. since there are attacks on aid workers and the like starting up. Plus his idea of tourism makes Iraq sound like an ancient Babylonian theme park. Anyway, this is worth a read, but I think the guy's getting a little too clever for his own good.

[liberalnurse]

1. That may not be such a bad idea.....

I have an ex-husband who may enjoy such a festive visit. :)

[Jacobin]

2. What? For an urban paintball gun game with real bullets?

Texans are bizarre.

[IndianaGreen]

3. Bawahahahahaha

The next Survivor Show!

[LibDemAlways]

14. LOL...Survivor, Tikrit

in which 13 contestants hole up in a bombed out building without electricity or water while fending off attacks from "remnants of Saddam's regime." Last man or woman alive becomes the "sole survivor."

[ClintonTyree]

4. Just the place...........

for a nice relaxing, care-free vacation. Is Beirut on the itinerary as well?

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. Great site for a pilgrimmage for right-wing Christians

Pass it on.

[GOPisEvil]

6. Come - visit the tattered remains of American credibility!!!

See the mysterious 500 tons of biological agents!!!
Marvel at the cloud of depleted uranium!!!

:eyes: Good luck, dude...

[punpirate]

7. If you want a profile of the American dream...

... just look at this crazy fuck. Ordinary Americans give up control of their government, their futures and their sanity to believe what this guy believes--that Disneyland on the Euphrates would be the best thing anyone in the world can possibly envision.

We're fuckin' nuts. Completely fuckin' nuts.

[blondeatlast]

8. "You know why people get politicized here?"

he asked, eyebrows rising impishly. "They lack entertainment."

(snip)

'Nuff said.

[RC]

9. How about a museum in Baghdad

showing what explosives and bullets do to people & their possessions. Run by the physically handicapped.
Paid for by members of Congress by a TAX of their personal income, which increases by 1% per day during any military conflict Congress authorizes.

[onehandle]

10. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!!!!

KABOOOMMMMMMM!

No thanks.

[maxanne]

11. hee hee hee

we were talking about something like this at breakfast this morning, without having seen this article. Iraq - the new Club Med. :eyes:

[Brian Sweat]

12. Come see the violence inherent in the System!

[Scurrilous]

13. Sounds like something P. J. O'Rourke would come up with.

..like in his book 'Holidays in Hell.'