UPDATE 2:11PM: This is whole thing was a very funny joke by some viral comedian. I didn’t know, sorry. It did seem too ridiculous, but Juan Cole is pretty legit and he posted it first. Well done, viral prankster, I honestly thought you were real. That interview is the best video I’ve ever seen.
Green Zone’s Al Rasid Hotel to become casino?
Breaking: Insane McCain advisor plans to open 6000-room casino with golf course in Green Zone
I really wish this was a joke, I do. But Juan Cole posted this video of Martin Eisenstadt on Iraq TV. Eisenstadt claims he’s a McCain advisor, and that McCain backs his insanity.
Quotes from the video:
“I’m excited to bring Madonna and Elton John here. Democracy is the first step, next comes capitalism and entertainment. Because that’s what brings people together. A boxer might come from America; a mixed martial artist from Brazil.
Iraq is going to be like Berlin, Okinawa, Seoul, and it’s going to be like Las Vegas. There will be a Mosque [at the casino]. We’re going to have OTB for the camel races in Dubai! The Vegas pizazz—unapologetically—we’re going bring that here. The rush of hitting on a 6 and 3 in Baghdad will bring people together, Sunni and Shia and Kurd.
I can assure you John McCain supports this effort. He knows how a casino, a golf course, a sauna can transform a people and a region and bring peace. Casinos fix the divide between people, like with Indians in America—they’re kids have Gameboys!
We’re in this together for at least 100 years. And I’ll see you at the black jack table. What happens in the Green Zone, stays in the Green Zone.”
Wow. This is real—-watch the video.
Ever heard of the word “Haram” (not Harem), it’s the Arabic word for verboten, forbidden, not f–king allowed or else you get your head chopped off? That’s what gambling is to Iraqis. This guy is nuts. And, of course, he has a blog, with a slogan of “Because freedom isn’t free.” From blog bio :
Founder and President of the influential Eisenstadt Group, Martin Eisenstadt is a senior fellow at the The Harding Institute for Freedom and Democracy. An expert on Near Eastern military and political affairs, Mr. Eisenstadt is an advisor and liaison to the Jewish community for the John McCain presidential campaign.
Advisor? Not for long. My mind is seriously blown…wow wow wow.
TAGS: free, India, Iraq, John McCain, kids, Las Vegas, Madonna, mccain, Mosque, NSA, political, Race, Video, youtube
SUBSCRIBE TO RSS
June 27th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Are you fucking kidding me? I honestly don’t know what to say about this.
June 27th, 2008 at 9:23 am
I wish this was joke. I’m just blown away.
June 27th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Not as blown away as that casino will be the minute it opens. Wow.
June 27th, 2008 at 11:13 am
Are they moving all the NY OTBs to Iraq? I’d love to see Kosmo Cramer betting on some camels on the simulcast.
June 27th, 2008 at 11:50 am
WOW
mind = blown
i can’t believe people have the option to pick this guy. insane.
June 27th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Send this to any media outlet you can think of…Someone associated with a Presidnetial campaign should not be allowed to insult an entire nation without recourse. This would be like Iraq carving out a slice along the Potomac to open a Sharia court.
June 27th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I guess this is a hoax. I hope not. Even if it is, it’s an awesome hoax.
http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2008/06/abrad2345-releases-latest-video-as-hoax.html