You've watched the war, now play the game ('Battle to Baghdad' board game)

[Barrett808]

You've watched the war, now play the game
By Philip Sherwell in Washington
(Filed: 27/11/2005)

The United States-led invasion of Iraq may not have been quite the "cakewalk" predicted by some, but now it has been made into a board game and released on the American market just in time for Christmas.

Battle to Baghdad: The Fight For Freedom, which was dreamt up in his shower by Rick Medina, a construction contractor from Oregon, has aroused predictable controversy - praised by some Iraq veterans for its accuracy; criticised by others for capitalising on war.

In the game of dice and cards, the victor is the first to make it to the Iraqi capital without losing all his or her soldiers. And just like US military commanders and their political masters, players encounter some painful and unexpected hazards on their dangerous journey through the desert.

Based on events that actually occurred during and after the invasion, cards drawn by the players determine whether they gain or lose troops from their initial 3,000-strong force on Iraq's borders.

"Captures!" declares one, rewarding the player with 300 extra men for the ensnaring of Saddam Hussein.

(more)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/11/27/wbagh27.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/11/27/ixworld.html

[thebigidea]

1. soon to be followed by Battle for Baghdad 2: Flight from Fuckup

[VegasWolf]

2. Yes, how many helicopters can YOU fit onto ONE embassy rooftop!nt

[Cocoa]

3. do you get to play the part of Jessica Lynch?

do you get to reenact the scene where she kills Chemical Ali with her bare hands?

[Media_Lies_Daily]

4. Why are you dumping on Jessica Lynch? What's your problem?

[Cocoa]

6. I like Lynch

I like her a lot. I was spoofing the war hero propaganda about her, which Lynch herself had absolutely no part in, and which she very impressively protested against.

[Barrett808]

7. No, but you do get a special "Hague" round

In which you get to defend yourself against prosecution for war crimes.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

5. What a screwed up game. I hope they lose their money on that venture.

[arewenotdemo]

9. If it's anything like the real thing they'll lose their asses on it.

[54anickel]

8. Bwahaha, little did he know when he created the game that there

would be the PSA business regarding Iraqi oil.

...Although most of the flak has come from the anti-war lobby, he himself also opposes the US presence in Iraq and even slipped in the one playing card not based on a real event. Entitled "Oily Deals", it gives the players an extra 200 men for the US striking an oil deal with Middle East allies.

[jazzjunkysue]

10. Brought to you by the same people who don't understand "Bowling for

Columbine."

Personally, I don't have a problem naming the team the "Indianapolis Insurgents."

[jazzjunkysue]

11. If you roll doubles twice do you get sent to Abu Graib or Guantanomo?

Is there a "Get Out Of Interrogation Free" card?

[jazzjunkysue]

12. "Take a ride on the CIA Ghost Plane. Do not pass Go, do not collect

your pension, your health insurance, your body armour, or your signing bonus."