'DISNEYLAND' COMES TO BAGHDAD WITH MULTI-MILLION $$$$ ENTERTAINMENT PARK

[Orwellian_Ghost]

Llewellyn Werner admits he is facing obstacles most amusement park developers never have to deal with – insurgent attacks and looting.

When you are building an amusement park in downtown Baghdad, those risks come with the territory.

Mr 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, a massive American-style amusement park that will feature a skateboard park, rides, a concert theatre and a museum. It is being designed by the firm that developed Disneyland. “The people need this kind of positive influence. It’s going to have a huge psychological impact,” Mr Werner said.

...

But Mr Werner, whose company manages several hundred million dollars of equity, sees Iraq as a great opportunity. “Iraq to me is an open field. I have never in my life seen an opportunity with the potential that Iraq has with its skilled workforce and oil reserves.” He has begun partnerships with several Iraqi factories in the last year, investing tens of millions of dollars in joint ventures. But the Baghdad Zoo and Entertainment Experience could prove the most ambitious. General David Petraeus, head of US forces, is said to be a “big supporter” of the project, according to Mr Brinkley.

“There are all sorts of investment opportunities all over Iraq. But it’s not just hydrocarbons. Half the Iraqi population is under the age of 15. These kids really need something to do,” Mr Brinkley said.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article3802051.ece

Seems death and opportunity go hand in hand with investment.

Maybe a WaterBoard Park?

[Muttocracy]

1. as someone posted on another thread recently, The Onion is being put out of business. nt

[AnnieBW]

2. Minnie will be wearing a Burka

And they'll have the No-Electric Light Parade every night, followed by fireworks.

What do you mean, they're not fireworks?

:hide:

[TheWatcher]

3. It's Official.

The World has gone completely, irretrievably, Mad.

Please just let me off this planet.

[gatorboy]

4. It's equivilant to deciding to build a water park on Omaha Beach during D-Day.

What gets me is somewhere, someone making a salary probably 20 times mine thought this would make a great idea.

[Doctor Cynic]

5. The new IED Rollercoaster will be a blast!

[orleans]

6. small children run to get in line for the Spider Hole Spinner and then ride

up and down on the Wheel of Misfortune as the Shock & Awesome Singers perform in the Chalabi Chamber Concert Theater; others tour the museum of Un-Intelligent Designs. Guns & Roses play during the opening ceremonies. Tickets and ride bracelets will be in the form of Purple Fingers (8 purple fingers and two purple thumbs will give you access to every ride and event for the entire day--or until an i.e.d. is set off).