Iran makes a good move - will put tourist ads on CNN & BBC

[donsu]

http://www.buzzflash.com/mediawatch/05/04/wmw05043.html

IRAN TO PROMOTE TOURIST POTENTIAL ON CNN (Iran, which long castigated the United States as the "Great Satan," is to promote its tourist potential on America's CNN television station and Britain's BBC, the country's vice president for tourism Hossein Marachi has revealed to AFP. Tense relations between Tehran and Washington will not stop Iran from exploiting its attractions on the U.S. cable network, said Marachi, who insists U.S. sanctions preventing American companies from trading with Iran "will not apply in this instance." Both BBC and CNN campaigns should start within two months under a one-year contract, the value of which Marachi did not disclose. … Tehran's aim is not to persuade Americans to visit the country, but to have an impact on the two networks' worldwide audiences so Iran can develop an industry, largely neglected given its potential.)
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maybe the criminal bushgang would hesitate to shock and awe Iran if it's full of the world's tourists.

[Mistress Quickly]

1. I'd love to visit many countries

in the mid-east and persia area, but at this time, don't think I will.

[Brotherjohn]

2. This is brilliant. It's "pre-emtpive P.R."!

Given the harsher and harsher rhetoric we're likely to hear out of the administration in the next year or so, and the failure of the U.S. media to present any alternative voices, this is a stroke of genius by Iran.

Remember before the Iraq War, all we heard was how Iraq was a poor, backwards society struggling under an oppressive dictatorship. While the latter may have been true, much of the former was due to our sanctions and the Gulf War. Saddam aside, Iraq was in fact (emphasize WAS) one of the most "westernized" nations in the Mid-East, with high education and literacy rates, and a decnt infrastucture (what we didn't destroy of it in the Gulf War).

Yet our characterization of it as some backwards failing state made it a lot easier for the administration to sell their war.

Iran really seems to be a beautiful country, and from everything I've heard, its people are among the most hospitable anywhere on the planet (yes, even to Americans). Perhaps after a few months of "Beautiful Iran" on television sets may make a few people over here think "Now, why is it that we should invade them?

[peacetalksforall]

4. Yes...it's brilliant! Pnacers and the cabal never consulted us. They

only consulted the corporations. This is a predatory move by an entity that is not democratic or American-U.S.

[Ian David]

10. The goal isn't really tourism-- it's PR- "This is what we're really like"

"Hi, we're Iran and we would really welcome American tourists. We're really a nice place, and it would be a shame to bomb us. See all the smiling little children and the happily veiled-women? Aren't they cute? They want to be your friends. Iran: Friends not Fodder."

Then again, even in the desperately impoverished South Africa at the height of their civil war, Sun City was a popular tourist destination for white people all over the world.

And there are Club Med and Sandals resorts happily serving wealthy foreigners in a cocoon of safety and luxury where they are blissfully unaware of the oppression and poverty a couple of miles away from their swimming pool.

[mmonk]

15. I have a friend from Iran

who is now an American citizen. He goes back to visit every once in awhile. He was in the States when the revolution occured and decided he didn't want to live under an Ayatolah, so he stayed (he was formally in the Shah's airforce). His parents visited here once and I met them. They were very nice. They had owned rental cottages at a resort on the water, so I know there are resorts there.

[FreedomAngel82]

23. Exactly

It really is quite brilliant.

[thefloyd]

3. No way in hell I would visit Iran

Iran has crazies who kill unlike our crazies

[peacetalksforall]

5. Iran suffers from domination by religious hardnoses as we do.. Iranians

are wonderful people. I think your comment is very unfortunate. They kill UNLIKE OUR KILLERS? Are you being facetious? Your satire went over my head.

[thefloyd]

6. Oh I am not making a blanket statement about all Iranians

But there is a contigent of Iranians who would give anything to kill Americans. That is all. I was being sarcastic about the killing

[Vickers]

7. Do you think there are any Americans who would kill Iranians?

:eyes:

[thefloyd]

11. Absolutely

However, I am pretty positive Iranians live in America without recourse from Cons. I will still not visit Iran.

[peacetalksforall]

12. I would go there in a minute if I could. n/t

[Brotherjohn]

14. Iranians and Arabs in America experience significant bigotry in America.

And I would venture to say most of it comes from conservatives, even our own government.

I see very little difference between the indefinite detention of South Asians (many of whom are never charged, and if and when released, are no longer considered threats) and the Iranian Hostage taking in 1980. Little difference except for window-dressing, that is. Neither is acceptable.

As for today in Iran, Americans can and do travel there safely, and are treated very hospitably. Not that it is 100% safe, and you have every right to not want to travel there (nor do I). But you are apparently blind to the treatment of Arabic people in the U.S., and seem to think every American who sets foot in Iran runs a large risk of being taken hostage.

http://www.adc.org/

http://www.after911videos.org/content.php?sec=films&sub=browse_sub&subject_id=145

[Vickers]

17. Hey, thanks for typing all that out...saved me some trouble!

:yourock:

Mine would've had more profanity, too. :spank:

[Ian David]

18. Americans are routinely taken hostage in Mexico and the Phillipines

[cire4]

24. Iran is one of the safest countries in the world....

with some of the nicest people in the world.

Do some reasearch at travel web sites and you will see how popular Iran really is among world travelers.

It's a gem that ignorant people stay away from....

[Ian David]

8. They don't have two months to start airing the commercials

We will begin attacking Iran on June 6th (06/06/2005) at 6:06 AM (or maybe PM).

It will be code-named Operation Revelation.

[Jdemsindiana]

9. Yes...Yes..

Iran a good nation with nukes for....me to poop on

[On the Road]

13. Iran Has Been Promoting Kish Island

as a holiday destination:

http://www.kishisland.com/en/tourism/

although if I went to Iran, I would visit somewhere else. There's too much interesting stuff in that country.

[peacetalksforall]

16. I've heard M$Ms reference the rock bands and have heard statements

that the Iranians, especially the youth, like Americans...now the M$Ms will be silenced for the public relations game that will start in earnest. Someone has to save all of us. Where is Superman?

[0007]

19. Scott Ritter was just on Randi Rhodes talking about this very

issue. It was a real eye opener!

[Hobarticus]

20. Remember the Saudi commercials after 9/11?

They've got a PR machine to be envied.

[mainer]

21. I think Iran may actually be safe

Just like Iraq (pre-war) was considered pretty safe for Americans. Authoritian governments, as opposed to anarchies as we now see in Iraq, are often the safest places for tourists to visit.

I'm headed to Libya next spring. I'm not worried at all. It's the Egypt leg that concerns me!

[Gloria]

22. Have to laugh...I posted this Tues. here before Buzzflash posted the WMW

I think I had 3 responses...today...21.

Wish people would check the World Media Watch when I put it up here, the night before it goes up at Buzzflash!! LOL

[Lydia Leftcoast]

25. Iran makes some fine films, too, all the more remarkable

when you consider the censorship they have to deal with.

My favorites:

1. The Lizard: a comedy about a cheerful petty criminal who impersonates a mullah in his efforts to escape across the border. This was the most popular film in Iranian history until the government figured out that it was a spoof against the religious establishment and banned it.

2. Bitter Dreams: a surreal and surprisingly funny film about a corpse washer (that's his job, to prepare bodies for burial) who believes that he's haunted by the angel of death and hallucinates scenes on his TV.

3. The Circle: a series of connected stories about women undergoing various kinds of oppression from society and their own families.

4. A Time for Drunken Horses: A family of Kurdish orphans struggles to survive as smugglers in the mountains of northern Iran.