War PsyOps - Disneyland To Open Park In Baghdad

[Richard]

by Michel Chossudovsky
Global Research, April 28, 2008 

Disneyland  goes to war-torn Iraq, with a multi-million dollar entertainment complex, to be built on a 50 acre lot adjacent to the Green Zone.

The American-style amusement park will feature a skateboard park, rides, a concert theatre and a museum.

The occupation forces are of the opinion that Baghdad is "lacking in entertainment". General David Petraeus, is said to be a “big supporter” of bringing Disneyland to Baghdad.
Supported by the Pentagon, Los Angeles  based company C3 will be developing the "Baghdad Zoo and Entertainment Experience". The park will be designed by Ride and Show Engineering (RSE),

RSE founders Eduard Feuer and William Watkins pioneered Walt Disney's  "Imagineering", the design and engineering division of the Walt Disney Company, before setting up RSE as a separate corporate entity.

RSE has developed numerous large scale entertainment complexes around the world including a project at the Anaheim California Disney Complex. 

The American Dream

The entertainment park is an integral part of war propaganda.

Establishing an American cultural outpost in an occupied land serves to uphold the legitimacy of the invaders and their Worldwide "cultural values". 

Most of the country's cultural and educational infrastructure including museums, schools, universities, parks, theaters, cinemas have been destroyed and  now the invaders are "helping to rebuild".

Under this reconstruction effort, America is to donate 200,000 skateboards to Iraqi children.

Through Hollywood imagery, the Baghdad style Disneyland is intended to nurture Iraqi public opinion, to mould a pro-American view of the World.

Through the use of motion based simulations and sophisticated entertainment equipment, the harsh daily realities of poverty and military occupation are replaced by a World of fiction and fantasy. 

The concept underlying Disney's Imagineering (developed by RSE) is to "overcome the barriers between reality and dreams".

The objective is to replace reality by a dream world. 

Iraq's daily realities of death, destruction and torture are replaced by a "Dream World Made in America". 

The imagery and motion simulations intended for Iraqi children and adolescents provide a "human face" to the American invaders.

The project constitutes a despicable form of war propaganda. It is a cover-up of the extensive war crimes committed against the Iraqi people in the name of an illusory "American Dream".

The project will take possession of the existing Al Zawra park and Baghdad Zoo, which was ransacked when US troops entered Baghdad in April 2003.

Also in April 2003, Iraq's archeological treasures were looted with the support of American invaders. The pillaging of Iraq's cultural heritage was a premeditated act. The looters were protected by the invaders.

And now the looters return to Baghdad with a new museum 

Psychological Warfare

The Baghdad Disneyland-style project has all the essential features of a PsyOp. It is intended to instill American values and destroy Iraqi identity.

 "The people [of Iraq] need this kind of positive influence. Its going to have a huge psychological impact," said Mr. Werner of C3.

In a cruel irony the PsyOp target group are Iraqi Children:

“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, quoted in The Times, April 24, 2008)

Iraq's cultural heritage is destroyed.

The historical memory of Mesopotamia is wiped out.

US investors are to "bring badly needed fun" to the war theater.

The sponsor of project Mr.  Llewellyn Werner says the time is ripe for a "fun park":

"I think people will embrace it. They'll see it as an opportunity for their children regardless if they're Shia or Sunni. They'll say their kids deserve a place to play and they'll leave it alone."

According to a spokesman for the US installed Iraqi regime:

“There is a shortage of entertainment in the city. Cinemas can’t open. Playgrounds can’t open. The fun park is badly needed for Baghdad. Children don’t have any opportunities to enjoy their childhood.” Mr al-Dabbagh added that entry to the park would be strictly controlled." (Times, April 23, 2008)

Children don’t have any opportunities to enjoy their childhood?

What childhood in a land where public infrastructure including schools and hospitals have been transformed into rubble.

Imagine the road-blocks and military check points that impoverished Iraqi children will have to go through to see Mickey Mouse... 

The US investment company will essentially take possession of municipal lands in an undisclosed deal reached with the Mayor of Baghdad.

At the moment the site is occupied by the Al-Zawra park and zoo, where Baghdad residents gather on weekends. The park is typically Iraqi with ponds, fountains, sculptures, and children’s playgrounds.

Everything Here is for Profit

The site is a functioning national park, which is slated for privatization. It is prime real estate for the US investors. The California company C3 plans to use the land for subsequent lucrative investments in hotels and upscale housing: “I wouldn’t be doing this if I wasn’t making money”:

Mr Werner will retain exclusive rights to housing and hotel developments, which he says will be both culturally sensitive and enormously profitable... 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.”

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=20080428&articleId=8837

[MC]

How quaint.Americans have become the most hated on this planet thanks to a stupid reptilian hybrid who became president.

[ShadowRunner]

gee great. a programming theme park for for the hive minded military men. many of them still children themselves. i wonder if the museum will contain scenes of death, horror, and destruction. i wonder if for every innocent iraqi killed in the 'war' one free skateboard is given to a iraqi child.