where are you all coming from

A dictatorship reforms:

Bahrain is aiming to reignite its tourism sector after months of civil unrest by building a US$5m theme park based on The Smurfs, the popular Belgian children’s cartoon centred around a group of small blue fictional creatures, it was reported at the weekend.

...The development will include 30 Smurf houses measuring around 50 sqm and which can accommodate up to 20 children each.

In addition, the report said there will also be a 250 sqm Papa Smurf house and a 220 sqm castle, which will home to the Smurf’s nemesis Gargamel. Plans will also include a café, aquarium, stables and a souvenir shop.

This sounds like the kind of weird, flaky econ.dev. project a regime under pressure goes in for. When it fails due to further unrest, the facilities are used as a detention centre and at night noises can be heard coming from Papa Smurf's house. Eventually, the place features in Amnesty reports and first person testimonials by broken men and women. This is put to the people responsible for the Smurf brand, who smile thinly and shift about in their chairs.

Comments

[Strategist]

This sounds like the kind of weird, flaky econ.dev. project a regime under pressure goes in for.

I'm sure Osborne would have their hand off.

[Strategist]

This is put to the people responsible for the Smurf brand, who smile thinly and shift about in their chairs.

Not squaring with their earlier right on behaviour (in a Eurotrashy kind of way). Maybe the family have sold out control? From Wikipedia:

In 2005, an advertisement featuring The Smurfs was aired in Belgium in which the smurf village is annihilated by warplanes. Designed as a UNICEF advertisement, and with the approval of the family of the Smurfs' late creator Peyo, the 25-second episode was shown on the national evening news after the 9pm timeslot to avoid children seeing it. The scene starts with happy peaceful Smurfs and butterflies, who are then bombed by warplanes, ending with a lone Baby Smurf surrounded by dead Smurfs. The final frame bears the message: "Don't let war destroy the world of childhood."

[CMcM]

I've formed a view that this is actually just the latest local move in a kind of Peacock's Tail game of 'Pissing Away the Oil Money In the Most Conspicuous Way Possible'.

Other entries apparently include: Real Madrid resort island, Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi,Sega Republic, Dubai Mall and - unexpected entry here - the Star Trek centre at the Red Sea Astrarium, Jordan, which will apparently both be Star Trek themed and,
"..provide a progressive and entertaining celebration of the region’s culture and heritage."

(all other references mentioned on page 3 of RM article)

[Throwaway Username]

the Star Trek centre at the Red Sea Astrarium, Jordan
Not so surprising - the King of Jordan loves Star Trek so much that he's actually been in an episode. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdullah_II_of_Jordan#Interests)