Baghdad Disneyland financier tells Iraqis: ‘I’m not here because I think you’re nice people.’
Baghdad Disneyland financier tells Iraqis: ‘I’m not here because I think you’re nice people.’
Llewellyn Werner, chairman of C3, a Los Angeles-based holding company for private equity firms, is pouring millions of dollars into developing the “Baghdad Zoo and Entertainment Experience.” In pitching his Disneyland idea to a deputy Baghdad mayor, Werner – displaying little sense for Iraqi culture – said the waterpark is “integral to the sex appeal” of the new amusement center. Speaking in deliberately slow English, Werner told the Iraqis, “One of the fastest growing sports in the world is skate…boarding.” NPR’s Eric Westervelt reported:
After explaining skate…boarding, Werner tells the assembled Iraqi business and government men, “I’m a businessman. I’m not here because I think you’re nice people. I think there’s money to be made here.”
Listen here:
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“I’m a businessman. I’m not here because I think you’re nice people. I think there’s money to be made here.”
Why didn't you just tell them they all suck and then have them tear-gassed , you pathetic piece of shit ?
May 5th, 2008 at 2:35 pmI sher hope somebody fires a nice fat RPG up his ass, right beside his obscene wallet.
"Skate....boarding."
Yeah, give the insurgents MOVING targets for a change...That'll work.
This is just another reason to keep USer troops in Iraq: defending the investments of billionaire speculators, along with the "tremporary' airbases out in the desert...
May 5th, 2008 at 2:36 pm./
I can't help thinking this assclown is going to get his head handed to him... literally. Could Americans appear any more greedy around the world?
PEACE
May 5th, 2008 at 2:38 pmWhat he means, is he thinks the situation is ripe for fraud. How many of his investors will recoup their losses when the project inevitably goes tits up? And who will pay for these inevitable losses? Uncle Sucker, that's who.
May 5th, 2008 at 2:38 pm... at least he's being honest instead of claiming to be there to support democracy or to defend the Iraqis from the evil terra'ists.
May 5th, 2008 at 2:39 pmYikes. I can't wait til the Iraqis start throwing ...flowers at him.
May 5th, 2008 at 2:44 pmIt's a small arms world after all
May 5th, 2008 at 2:49 pmIt's a small arms world after all
It's a small arms world after all
It's a small arms world after all
I think there’s money to be made here.”
May 5th, 2008 at 2:50 pmYup. That pretty much sums up the Bush Admin over the last 8 years.
“I wouldn’t be doing this if I wasn’t making money” he said. “I also have this wonderful sense that we’re doing the right thing – we’re going to employ thousands of Iraqis. But mostly everything here is for profit.”
Alienating prospective suppliers before the place is even built? Why would someone antagonize the very people he will have to do business with? This must be a scam.
May 5th, 2008 at 2:51 pm100 years in Iraq, huh? How much money have they contributed to McSame's campaign?
So, are we to send our hard-earned tax dollars to Washington, D.C., so a portion of this money can be used to protect newly-formed U. S. and multinational business interests there, so that they can then use part of their profits to ensure that their friends in Foggy Bottom can remain in office? This appears to be a closed-loop system where we are required to provide input, however, none of the output is ever intended to reach us.
The only question that remains is: Has our country already passed the point of no return?
May 5th, 2008 at 2:51 pmSounds like a Mickey Mouse operation to me...
May 5th, 2008 at 2:54 pmAnd skateboarding in 120 degree heat? Genius!
May 5th, 2008 at 2:55 pmZimzone Says:
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Sounds like a Mickey Mouse operation to me…
May 5th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Especially seeing as how Goofy and fu(king Pluto are currently occupying the offices of president and vice president............
May 5th, 2008 at 2:55 pmIt's okay - Looie - they don't think you're a nice person, either.
May 5th, 2008 at 2:56 pmSo, the incoming mortar fire - is that a feature of the enertainment park, or a distraction?
From the outset of the Iraq war, Republican leaders and their amen corner in the right-wing media have sought to calm squeamish Americans by favorably comparing the violence there to life in U.S. cities. Now, John March, a developer planning (believe it or not) a "Disneyland-style" theme park in Baghdad, says the carnage in the Iraqi capital is no different than the "drive-bys" in Southern California. But while grotesque, the analogy is not novel: it has already been repeatedly deployed by the GOP's best and brightest, including presidential nominee John McCain.
For the details, see:
May 5th, 2008 at 2:57 pm"GOP: Baghdad Still Safer Than U.S. Cities."
I actually heard this last week on NPR. He's not saying they're not nice people, he's just demonstrating what a no-nonsense businessman he is. It's the usual load of crap from bidnessmen. What amazes me is that he's dumb enough to think this is a good idea and that he's not going to lose his shirt.
May 5th, 2008 at 2:58 pmI must conclude that this guy's advance people spent most of the time in Kuwait, judging by the type of entertainment suggested for the site. Theaters? Great way to get your enemies all in one place...
May 5th, 2008 at 2:59 pmgummitch Says:
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I actually heard this last week on NPR. He’s not saying they’re not nice people, he’s just demonstrating what a no-nonsense businessman he is. It’s the usual load of crap from bidnessmen. What amazes me is that he’s dumb enough to think this is a good idea and that he’s not going to lose his shirt.
May 5th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Hey gum
There is not so fine a line between a "non nonsense businessman" and a dead businessman that said something remarkably stupid in front of the absolute wrong crowd............
May 5th, 2008 at 3:01 pmIs this guy related to Preznitential Medal of Freedom winner L. Paul Bremer, by any chance?
Cheers,
May 5th, 2008 at 3:03 pm#14 robbez_92107:
So, the incoming mortar fire - is that a feature of the enertainment park, or a distraction?
As I explained on the previous thread on this topic, that's an "F-ticket" ride. Sure to be a winner with today's doodz....
Cheers,
May 5th, 2008 at 3:06 pmAh, a disneyland with live fire.
May 5th, 2008 at 3:08 pmzuch Says:
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#14 robbez_92107:
So, the incoming mortar fire - is that a feature of the enertainment park, or a distraction?
As I explained on the previous thread on this topic, that’s an “F-ticket” ride. Sure to be a winner with today’s doodz….
Cheers,
May 5th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
It also is not included in the "regular tour" ; signed waivers and last will and testament made out to Halliburton must be signed and notorized , beforehand..........
May 5th, 2008 at 3:10 pmThe American Emabassy and this zoo water park will be for the iraqis what the BASTILLE was for the French, and like the BASTILLE its days are countted!
May 5th, 2008 at 3:11 pmIs he going to hire Blackwater for security?
May 5th, 2008 at 3:12 pmWelcome to unbridled corporate fascism, Iraq. And no, they don't give a shit about anything except fleecing you out of your meager paycheck.
May 5th, 2008 at 3:20 pmSo, will they have the half pipe bomb run>?
May 5th, 2008 at 3:22 pmWell, at least someone's upfront.
No credit given, though. I still bid him to choke on his bloody cash.
May 5th, 2008 at 3:29 pmJesus would be so proud.
May 5th, 2008 at 3:29 pm“I’m a businessman. I’m not here because I think you’re nice people. I think there’s money to be made here.”
Sounds like the Republican reasoning for invading Iraq to begin with, Money.
May 5th, 2008 at 3:33 pmDieNowForPeace Says:
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Jesus would be so proud.
May 5th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Is he allowed to be ? Doesn't Disney and/or the GOP own the copyright to that ?
May 5th, 2008 at 3:33 pmSometimes I feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz: It's just a dream.
May 5th, 2008 at 3:38 pmI said it before, this is just frigging crazy
Llewellyn Werner, chairman of C3, has to be the biggest
May 5th, 2008 at 3:43 pmReich Wing MORON I have come across on this site so far, everyone else is a close second. To even think about doing all this would mean we have to bring our troops home first and apparently that is not going to happen under dubya`s rule.
So will it be called Cheneyland or Chaneyworld or just plain Target?
May 5th, 2008 at 3:43 pmbentley1 Says:
Sometimes I feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz: It’s just a dream.
I said it before, this is just frigging crazy
Well, please hurry up and find those ruby slippers, Dorothy. Not sure how long the rest of us can take this crap in OZ-land...
/snark
May 5th, 2008 at 3:44 pmWill we be providing the hoodies, dickies, and vans for the skaters?
May 5th, 2008 at 3:47 pmBaghdad Disneyland financier tells Iraqis: ‘I’m not here because I think you’re nice people.’
Iraqi man in crowd : "We figured that out 5 years ago , when your retarded simian president claimed it was WMD's ; and everything in-between since then"....................
May 5th, 2008 at 3:50 pmWaterpark ?
I was a lifeguard for a group of Texas Baptists who would have been scandlized if men and women had been swimming together. And the Iraqis are gonna wear bikinis ?
And security - all costumed characters will have to carry munitions. You haven't experienced childhood till you've seen Donald mow down Mickey with an assault rifle.
Itcy and Scratchy are gonna be tame by comparison.
May 5th, 2008 at 3:58 pmFinally the Iraqi people will have someplace to go that has safe water, electricity 24 hours a day, and operating sewage facilities.
May 5th, 2008 at 4:11 pmHe made a nice CAPITALISTS impression on them, I'm sure. Just another reason to kick us the fk out of their country.
May 5th, 2008 at 4:21 pm"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Anonymous
May 5th, 2008 at 4:37 pmWell, on the plus side, a gigantic water park, and well-heeled American investors might make a compelling case for a dependable source of electricity in town...
May 5th, 2008 at 4:54 pmralph, guaranteed to run on gigantic generators, with a direct line to the oil fields for supply...
May 5th, 2008 at 4:59 pmWow.. does the name Milo Minderbinder come to mind at all? This gets more and more surreal with every passing minute in Iraq. So, rather than assuring them potable drinking water, they're getting a water park. Awesome.
What's next? Shoes for the legless?
May 5th, 2008 at 5:13 pmNah! There the ones that are gonna get the skateboards!
May 5th, 2008 at 5:43 pmDamn the RNC should run this guy for president , at least he's honest.
May 5th, 2008 at 5:57 pmThis meeting is unbelievable--beyond irony, beyond incongruity --most Iraqis still don't have power for more that 2-3 hours at a time and yet, utterly oblivious to such realities, one of our corporatist jackasses stands there expounding on the economic virtues of a skate park. You can't make up stuff like this.
May 5th, 2008 at 6:50 pmYes...let's do give the insurgents/terrorists yet another target, shall we? This is proof-positive that the Iraq fiasco is about MONEY MONEY MONEY.
How long will it be before our troops are patrolling and protecting Disney Iraq?
May 5th, 2008 at 7:23 pmWalk outside the stolen property aka the green zone chosen one and say that to Iraqis, to their face , but I doubt you have the balls to do so , war profiteering slum lord .
May 5th, 2008 at 7:53 pmforget electricity — this park's gonna run on 100% weapons-grade stupid.
May 5th, 2008 at 7:55 pmI can only imagine the "Baghdad Disneyland" entrance.
Main entrance: A statue of a flight-suited, cod-pieced George W. Bush, complete with voice over emitting from the statue, saying:
"To all who come to this cratered place – howdy!. Dubyaland is my...ERRR...I mean your land. Here age relives shitty memories of a shock and awe, abu ghraib stained past, and here youth may gag on the challenge and dread of no future. Dubyaland is dedicated to the partisan ideals, dreams and the bald-faced lies and deceit that has sustained the GOP … with the hope that it will be a source of fear and intimidation to all the world." - George W. Bush
May 5th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
I listened to the audio. this guy is a little optimistic for the near term future of Iraq, but he doesn't seem condescending when he explains skateboarding. He's trying to overcome language barriers. And I believe he is trying to establish that he respects and is selling the Iraqis as a relevant future market (and not a well intentioned charity cause); when he says he's there to make money.
Listen to the audio. He may be a little optimist, but his intentions are good. And if he's right, it will provide jobs for the Iraqis. How will that be bad?
And maybe he's on to something; he probably got a good rate on the lease.
May 6th, 2008 at 12:31 am.
EXPORTING DEMOCRACY AT THE END OF A GUN
OR
CORPORATISM AMERICAN FASCIST STYLE?
.
May 6th, 2008 at 1:12 amThese are Republicans, people; it's not about building a theme park, it's about getting the money to build a theme park.
May 6th, 2008 at 12:01 pmIt would be so nice if some of you actually did some research before spouting off. All of these "there go the Republicans" comments seem pretty silly when it seems that Mr. Werner's only major political donation in recent years was to the DNC:
http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?key=gw6gx&txtName=Werner,%20Llewellyn%20&txtState=(all%20states)&txtAll=Y&Order=N
Not 100% solid I.D. but certainly more to go on than your ignorant, uninformed ranting... I mean we're talking about 2 minutes of google searching here before you commence with your tired windbaggery.
I heard this Werner interview on NPR days ago, in the context of a bigger story about "adventure capitalism" and he came across as loads more credible than you're allowing.
For one, he does not refer to the water park as essential to the sex appeal of the park, he is, specifically, referring to the lagoons as a key feature for setting the tone of the landscape.
The fact that the poster of the article intentionally skews and misrepresents the comments is shameful. This is what we criticize the OTHER GUYS for doing. Please don't fall pray.
One of the very valid points raised in the piece is that if we expect the fighting in Iraq to end, the citizenry needs income, jobs, homes - something to lose. Business investment in Iraq is one way to achieve this.
We can argue about best practices and all that, but someone has got to get the ball rolling if we're ever going to be able to successfully get our troops out of there.
May 6th, 2008 at 1:53 pmdailycaveat. Thoughtful. Your comment is right on. It's refreshing to hear someone promoting something (anything) for the future of Iraq, instead of lamenting mistakes of the past.
It was a mistake for us to invade Iraq, because there were no WMD. But, let's do what we can now to help the Iraqis secure their future. We can come to agreement that the effort was a mistake, without having to endure the mutual pain (American and Iraqi) of a destructive abandonment of the situation.
And, I agree with you. The sooner we can help Iraqis stand on their own, the sooner we can get our troops out.
May 6th, 2008 at 7:34 pm