Comments on: Pentagon Backs Plan To Build U.S. ‘Zone Of Influence’ Of Hotels And Resorts In Baghdad http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 07:23:51 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: sbsimao http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/comment-page-2/#comment-4983068 sbsimao Wed, 28 May 2008 21:40:40 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/#comment-4983068 <strong>American citizens, It's hard to stomach all these negative comments to such an opportunistic idea. Developing the Green Zone into a haven for Pro-Westerners is exactly the type of forward-thinking the Bush Administration should deserve credit for. Avid travelers can tell you that former war-torn countries like Bosnia are becoming vacation hotspots today. Along with our Muslim allies, we can develop the Green Zone and begin to leave our legacy in Iraq. As we build, we push our barrier walls farther out. Yes, the Green Zone will have shopping malls, McDonalds, an amusement park, bars and even a George Bush Memorial Square but it was also provide neighborhoods to the many Iraqi citizens who have been working for the US-led Coalition and are targeted daily by insurgents. Please read more about this issue at www.thelistproject.org. The United States is becoming a country of naysayer and self-haters. Have a little pride for the country that has raised you in a manner no other country can dream of providing. GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR ALLIES S.B.S</strong> American citizens,

It’s hard to stomach all these negative comments to such an opportunistic idea. Developing the Green Zone into a haven for Pro-Westerners is exactly the type of forward-thinking the Bush Administration should deserve credit for.
Avid travelers can tell you that former war-torn countries like Bosnia are becoming vacation hotspots today. Along with our Muslim allies, we can develop the Green Zone and begin to leave our legacy in Iraq. As we build, we push our barrier walls farther out. Yes, the Green Zone will have shopping malls, McDonalds, an amusement park, bars and even a George Bush Memorial Square but it was also provide neighborhoods to the many Iraqi citizens who have been working for the US-led Coalition and are targeted daily by insurgents. Please read more about this issue at http://www.thelistproject.org.

The United States is becoming a country of naysayer and self-haters. Have a little pride for the country that has raised you in a manner no other country can dream of providing.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR ALLIES

S.B.S

]]> By: arkansaslady http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/comment-page-2/#comment-4945622 arkansaslady Mon, 05 May 2008 22:53:32 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/#comment-4945622 I've heard the Green Zone called the "Emerald City" and if there ever was a place of fantasy deserving the name, this is it! "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain," shouts the Bush Administration. But he's been exposed; we've seen the truth. Will we, like Dorothy, call 'em out or will we continue to drink the kool-aid? I’ve heard the Green Zone called the “Emerald City” and if there ever was a place of fantasy deserving the name, this is it! “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain,” shouts the Bush Administration. But he’s been exposed; we’ve seen the truth. Will we, like Dorothy, call ‘em out or will we continue to drink the kool-aid?

]]> By: MapleStreet http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/comment-page-2/#comment-4945298 MapleStreet Mon, 05 May 2008 20:03:38 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/#comment-4945298 *) OK - so we criticised Husein because he built an elaborate home town while the rest of the country was wanting. Now, not only is is a native, but the ugly Americans can stand on their roofs and sneer at the dirty Iraqis in the streets below. *) All that glass looks beautiful. What happens when a mortar hits it ? *) OK – so we criticised Husein because he built an elaborate home town while the rest of the country was wanting. Now, not only is is a native, but the ugly Americans can stand on their roofs and sneer at the dirty Iraqis in the streets below.

*) All that glass looks beautiful. What happens when a mortar hits it ?

]]> By: sacopenapa http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/comment-page-2/#comment-4945210 sacopenapa Mon, 05 May 2008 19:27:11 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/#comment-4945210 The new Baghdad BASTILLE! The new Baghdad BASTILLE!

]]> By: Fool Zero http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/comment-page-1/#comment-4945042 Fool Zero Mon, 05 May 2008 18:43:00 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/#comment-4945042 Does the $1 billion include bomb shelters or will those be extra? Does the $1 billion include bomb shelters or will those be extra?

]]> By: Doc Rock http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/comment-page-1/#comment-4944936 Doc Rock Mon, 05 May 2008 18:17:03 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/#comment-4944936 Time to clean out the top leadership on all five sides of that building and get some honest troops in there. Time to clean out the top leadership on all five sides of that building and get some honest troops in there.

]]> By: Nashoba nowa http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/comment-page-1/#comment-4944908 Nashoba nowa Mon, 05 May 2008 18:05:47 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/#comment-4944908 Flaunting the American Occupation in front of every Iraqi citizen, just how many ordinary Iraqis will get to even come close to this travisty......................... Flaunting the American Occupation in front of every Iraqi citizen, just how many ordinary Iraqis will get to even come close to this travisty…………………….

]]> By: EmilyD http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/comment-page-1/#comment-4944862 EmilyD Mon, 05 May 2008 17:47:03 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/#comment-4944862 Well this certainly proves Naomi Klein's thesis in Shock Doctrine. Since Nixon, and Reagan, it's always been about profits at ANY cost. The comment above about "Americaland" is right on. That is the "democracy" we're exporting and the irony of doing so in literally in the heart of Western civilization (Mesopotamia) is so bitter I need to spit. Read Klein's book if you haven't already...it's simply MIND BLOWING! http://www.naomiklein.org/shock-doctrine Well this certainly proves Naomi Klein’s thesis in Shock Doctrine. Since Nixon, and Reagan, it’s always been about profits at ANY cost. The comment above about “Americaland” is right on. That is the “democracy” we’re exporting and the irony of doing so in literally in the heart of Western civilization (Mesopotamia) is so bitter I need to spit. Read Klein’s book if you haven’t already…it’s simply MIND BLOWING!

http://www.naomiklein.org/shock-doctrine

]]> By: A Patriot Acting http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/comment-page-1/#comment-4944814 A Patriot Acting Mon, 05 May 2008 17:32:47 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/#comment-4944814 Maybe Georgie will have them build a major league baseball stadium so he can give that career another shot. He can put together a team filled with Blackwater employees and they can supply their own security. Maybe they can play against the Halliburton team. It looks like it'll be Georgie's Bushwackers against Dick's Profiteers for the championship! Maybe Georgie will have them build a major league baseball stadium so he can give that career another shot. He can put together a team filled with Blackwater employees and they can supply their own security. Maybe they can play against the Halliburton team. It looks like it’ll be Georgie’s Bushwackers against Dick’s Profiteers for the championship!

]]> By: Keith http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/comment-page-1/#comment-4944804 Keith Mon, 05 May 2008 17:28:35 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/#comment-4944804 "You want to influence what happens in your neighborhood over time,” Is there any square inch of this planet which we do not consider OUR neighborhood? Apparently not. “You want to influence what happens in your neighborhood over time,”

Is there any square inch of this planet which we do not consider OUR neighborhood? Apparently not.

]]> By: L. Hussein Annie http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/comment-page-1/#comment-4944740 L. Hussein Annie Mon, 05 May 2008 17:08:34 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/#comment-4944740 <em>“You better brace yourself for a whole lot of ugly, coming from a neverending parade of stupid.” </em>~ Queen Latifah in Hairspray That says it all. “You better brace yourself for a whole lot of ugly, coming from a neverending parade of stupid.” ~ Queen Latifah in Hairspray

That says it all.

]]> By: celtic cynic http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/comment-page-1/#comment-4944724 celtic cynic Mon, 05 May 2008 17:01:47 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/#comment-4944724 I thought April 1st had come and gone until I read this. Is this being passed around in the U.S. Congress, or is it only discussed in the Pentagon restrooms, RNC headquarters, PNAC, wherever? I thought April 1st had come and gone until I read this. Is this being passed around in the U.S. Congress, or is it only discussed in the Pentagon restrooms, RNC headquarters, PNAC, wherever?

]]> By: The Shadow http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/comment-page-1/#comment-4944690 The Shadow Mon, 05 May 2008 16:50:54 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/#comment-4944690 <strong>What the hell is wrong with those idiots at the Pentagon? They shouldn't be in the political business at all. The stupid Generals who support this shouldn't be in charge of our troops or anything else. This is the dumbest idea I've ever heard. What are they going to do about security? Who are the people who are stupid enough to stay at a hotel in the middle of a war zone? Is blackwater going to escort every guest downtown and kill a bunch of civilians daily? How will guest even get to the hotel without being blown up? Will they have to actually pay guest to stay there? What do they think will attact anyone to vacation in Iraq? Who ever dreamed this up should be kicked out of the military and never be heard from again. This is like us trying to built a hotel complex in Hanoi during the Viet Nam war. For those of you who don't know where Hanoi was it was the capital of North Viet Nam during the war. If our leaders don't have anything to keep them busy, I got something right down their alley. It's finding Osama Bin Laden! Now get off your asses and find him, and stop being stupid on my dime.</strong> What the hell is wrong with those idiots at the Pentagon? They shouldn’t be in the political business at all. The stupid Generals who support this shouldn’t be in charge of our troops or anything else. This is the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard. What are they going to do about security? Who are the people who are stupid enough to stay at a hotel in the middle of a war zone? Is blackwater going to escort every guest downtown and kill a bunch of civilians daily? How will guest even get to the hotel without being blown up? Will they have to actually pay guest to stay there? What do they think will attact anyone to vacation in Iraq? Who ever dreamed this up should be kicked out of the military and never be heard from again. This is like us trying to built a hotel complex in Hanoi during the Viet Nam war. For those of you who don’t know where Hanoi was it was the capital of North Viet Nam during the war. If our leaders don’t have anything to keep them busy, I got something right down their alley. It’s finding Osama Bin Laden! Now get off your asses and find him, and stop being stupid on my dime.

]]> By: DieNowForPeace http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/comment-page-1/#comment-4944688 DieNowForPeace Mon, 05 May 2008 16:50:49 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/#comment-4944688 Yet another of the bold-faced lies about the "war". Saddam, the once U.S. supported installed-dictator would still be alive if he'd only let us put a Starbucks and McDonalds in downtown Baghdad. Ah, smell the advancement of Imperialism... we blow you up, then profit handsomely from "helping you rebuild." Yet another of the bold-faced lies about the “war”.

Saddam, the once U.S. supported installed-dictator would still be alive if he’d only let us put a Starbucks and McDonalds in downtown Baghdad.

Ah, smell the advancement of Imperialism… we blow you up, then profit handsomely from “helping you rebuild.”

]]> By: Jackie http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/comment-page-1/#comment-4944658 Jackie Mon, 05 May 2008 16:38:20 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/#comment-4944658 One can only think what the US and American people would do if that were done to America. It is clear the White House and the Pentagon have taken over Iraq from the Iraq people. Now while Americans live in the Resort Green Zone with the best of everything, outside the Zone the Iraqi people live with nothing. The so called investors will wake up when the Zone Resorts is bombed. I wouldn't be surprised if the money that's used by the White House and Pentagon is from the US taxpayers, yes that just might be the real investors. One can only think what the US and American people would do if that were done to America. It is clear the White House and the Pentagon have taken over Iraq from the Iraq people. Now while Americans live in the Resort Green Zone with the best of everything, outside the Zone the Iraqi people live with nothing. The so called investors will wake up when the Zone Resorts is bombed. I wouldn’t be surprised if the money that’s used by the White House and Pentagon is from the US taxpayers, yes that just might be the real investors.

]]> By: IgnoranceIsNotBliss http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/comment-page-1/#comment-4944642 IgnoranceIsNotBliss Mon, 05 May 2008 16:32:58 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/#comment-4944642 Man, talk about stealing a country! Any thought as to what the Iraqi people might want? Water, electricity, food, jobs. You know, the basics? Man, talk about stealing a country! Any thought as to what the Iraqi people might want? Water, electricity, food, jobs. You know, the basics?

]]> By: DigDug http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/comment-page-1/#comment-4944576 DigDug Mon, 05 May 2008 16:09:44 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/#comment-4944576 Wouldn't it make sense for us to have a <em>low-profile</em> while we're there? I don't think they want our culture imported into their country, they just want their infrastructure fixed, <em>and us out.</em> I really keep thinking they can't screw this war up anymore than they have, but obviously I'm just not being imaginitive enough. Wouldn’t it make sense for us to have a low-profile while we’re there?

I don’t think they want our culture imported into their country, they just want their infrastructure fixed, and us out.

I really keep thinking they can’t screw this war up anymore than they have, but obviously I’m just not being imaginitive enough.

]]> By: Tired of being lied to http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/comment-page-1/#comment-4944534 Tired of being lied to Mon, 05 May 2008 15:54:35 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/#comment-4944534 <em>“When you have $1 billion hanging out there and 1,000 employees lying around, you kind of want to know who your neighbors are. You want to influence what happens in your neighborhood over time,” said Navy Capt. Thomas Karnowski, who led the team that created the development plan.</em> But, but, but...I thought we were only <em>liberators </em>and not <em>occupiers</em>. That's what George, and Rumsfield, and Condi, and everyone else has always said. This sure looks like occupying to me. “When you have $1 billion hanging out there and 1,000 employees lying around, you kind of want to know who your neighbors are. You want to influence what happens in your neighborhood over time,” said Navy Capt. Thomas Karnowski, who led the team that created the development plan.

But, but, but…I thought we were only liberators and not occupiers. That’s what George, and Rumsfield, and Condi, and everyone else has always said.

This sure looks like occupying to me.

]]> By: mary http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/comment-page-1/#comment-4944530 mary Mon, 05 May 2008 15:54:19 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/#comment-4944530 Immediately below the link above entitled, "big paydays for early investors" can be found this: Next Article in Middle East: Rice cautions Israel on West Bank What a joke. We invade a country, take whatever we want from it, and think that we can speak effectively to Israel about barricades in the West Bank? What a scripted play this all is. Immediately below the link above entitled, “big paydays for early investors” can be found this:

Next Article in Middle East:
Rice cautions Israel on West Bank

What a joke. We invade a country, take whatever we want from it, and think that we can speak effectively to Israel about barricades in the West Bank? What a scripted play this all is.

]]> By: Annie B. http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/comment-page-1/#comment-4944518 Annie B. Mon, 05 May 2008 15:51:34 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/05/zone-of-influence/#comment-4944518 What a waste of time, money, and effort building hotels, malls, etc. in Iraq. Logical people will not visit (reporters excepted) Iraq while there is any possibility of being killed. They will spend their money in less dangerous areas. Who would risk their lives to visit beautiful, downtown Bagdad? The big spenders are not stupid. What a waste of time, money, and effort building hotels, malls, etc. in Iraq.

Logical people will not visit (reporters excepted) Iraq while there is any possibility of being killed. They will spend their money in less dangerous areas. Who would risk their lives to visit beautiful, downtown Bagdad?

The big spenders are not stupid.

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