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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Iraqi |
| 2004-08-21 |
| Friday, 20 August, 2004, 16:45 GMT 17:45 UK Iraq's successful Olympic football team has launched an outspoken attack on US President George W Bush. Midfielder Salih Sadir said the team - which won its group stage in Greece - was angry it had been used in Mr Bush's re-election campaign ads. We own your @ss. Get used to it you turf chewing nancy boys. One accused the US leader of committing "many crimes", and another said he would be fighting US troops if not for Athens. We'll Their comments were made in a US Sports Illustrated magazine interview. Sandwiched between some swimsuit pictures, no doubt. Salih Sadir said he was angry at Mr Bush's campaign adverts showing pictures of the Afghan and Iraqi flags with the words: "At this Olympics there will be two more free nations - and two fewer terrorist regimes". Any more whining and we'll set up Uday's spring training camp again. "Iraq as a team does not want Mr Bush to use us for the presidential campaign," said the Iraqi player. "He can find another way to advertise himself." He called for US troops to be withdrawn from Iraq. "We don't wish for the presence of the Americans in our country. We want them to go away." Sure, let us do all the heavy lifting and then don't even blink as you go to Athens for playtime. Another star player, 22-year-old Ahmed Manajid, asked: "How will [Mr Bush] meet his god having slaughtered so many men and women? He has committed so many crimes." A lot easier than all the Iraqi insurgents who have killed more of your countrymen than America ever did. 'Best people' Mr Manajid, from Falluja - a hotbed of armed opposition to the US-led occupation in Iraq - said if he was not playing football "for sure" he would be fighting as part of the resistance. Do worry, you prinking hotshot, we've got a bullet with your name on it just as soon as you come back and pick up arms against us in Iraq. "I want to defend my home. If a stranger invades America and the people resist, does that mean they are terrorists?" he asked. "Everyone [in Falluja] has been labelled a terrorist. These are all lies. Falluja people are some of the best people in Iraq." Wonderful folks, always sending their mothers flowers and all that ... Iraq's Olympic pride The team said they were glad Iraq's former Olympic committee head Uday Hussein - Saddam Hussein's notorious son killed by US forces after the invasion - was no longer in charge. But uttering a single word of thanks would choke the life out of your worthless skull. But coach Adnan Hamad said he was concerned with what the Bush administration was doing in Iraq. "My problems are not with the American people. They are with what America has done in Iraq: destroy everything," he said. Unlike Saddam, who built all of those splendid palaces with mortar made from your ground up bones. "The American army has killed so many people in Iraq. What is freedom when I go to the stadium and there are shootings on the road?" Let's start with how you won't be tortured for not winning the gold in Athens, you sh!theaded moron. Mr Bush's spokesman defended the war on Iraq and the campaign adverts. "The ad simply talks about President Bush's optimism and how democracy has triumphed over terror," he was quoted by the Press Association as saying. "Twenty-five million people in Iraq are free as a result of the actions of the coalition." Including some truly thankless b@stards who need to pound large quantities of hot Iraqi sand up their collective @sses. |
| Posted by:Zenster |
| #8 Nice spin, JDB, but no cigar. All of the Iraqi soccer players are "new" and had not played under Uday, so I'm not sure what previous "perks" you refer to. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/08/13/MNGVK87HAA1.DTL ...Although Iraq's 2004 Olympic roster is so young that it doesn't include anyone directly harmed by Odai, the players know many soccer players who were... As for the team, the majority of players are Shiites and some Sunnis but only 1 Kurd. Therefore, I seriously doubt you'd get a differing opinion of America by interviewing the other soccer players, because of the single Kurd on the team and everyone else Shiite or Sunni. As for the interviewed players "star" quality, you seem dismissive of one being a sub, whatever that means, since the team itself was formed in 2004. I read that Mahdi Karim was a substitute in a game against Costa Rica but he was not one of the 2 players interviewed. Here's the official Iraqi squad list: http://www.iraqsport.com/news/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=445#16 Salih Sadir scored 2 goals so far and he scored the winning goal to defeat the Portugal team, which was an important victory for Iraq. It strikes me that he deserved to be interviewed and he would represent the Shiite contingent on the team as well. As for Ahmed Manajid Abbas, he scored two crucial goals in the opening Olympic qualifier against Vietnam. Like Sadir, Abbas is on the official main squad and he is a star, and coming from Fallujah, I imagine he would represent the Sunni contingent of players. Maybe you don't like the comments but I don't think the interviewed players are not stars or un-representative of the team. The coach played on the Iraq team in the 1980's, but he was chosen by the German coach to be his assistent. The German guy left suddenly because of personal safety concerns and so the assistant coach got "promoted". It's not like he has been Uday's pick for coach. He is just peeved that there is no instant peace in Iraq. Once again, his opinions are not something we want to hear but I don't think he's being arm twisted by the SI reporter to be anti-Bush. We better get used to Iraqis' negativity. There's more of it where that came from. |
| Posted by: rex 2004-08-22 12:51:29 AM |
| #7 It would be a tremendous boost for Iraqi unity if they win a medal and would benefit the Coalition, too. Excellent point, JDB. Thank you for the insights. Since I am not a huge sportsfan, your clarification is quite apropos. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-08-21 10:32:35 PM |
| #6 The article here appeared on the BBC website and is essentially a reworking of Grant Wahl's controversial Sports Illustrated article. For Americans who don't follow soccer, take it from one who does: Grant Wahl is a known fool. He interviewed only three members, including the coach who was a friend of Uday's. One of the players is a sub. These guys do not speak for the entire team. Wahl is obviously looking to make a name for himself. I continue to support the team and wish them success. It would be a tremendous boost for Iraqi unity if they win a medal and would benefit the Coalition, too. |
| Posted by: JDB 2004-08-21 9:16:56 PM |
| #5 only three of the team members said this crap - how hard did the reporter have to dig and prod to get the response they were shopping for? (/cynical) |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-08-21 8:01:04 PM |
| #4 I would not expect anything less from these elitist. Yes they were tortured by Uday but they were part of the elite in Iraq under Saddam. The day we took down Saddam they lost a LOT of privileges. I don’t know, but I will bet my next paycheck they were card carrying member of Saddam’s party. They probably are in some way related to Saddam or someone in his inner circle. It would be like asking a former Nazi official after WWII if he is glad to be ‘liberated.’ You would get eth same type of response. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2004-08-21 7:59:19 PM |
| #3 Best comment I've seen on this: Friday's "Day By Day" Cartoon: Mission Accomplished |
| Posted by: Old Grouch 2004-08-21 6:56:07 PM |
| #2 TS(vg), I believe that in this case we have the special instance of real pearls before fake swine. Or is it, fake pearls before real swine? I always get those two confused. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-08-21 4:25:33 PM |
| #1 Pearls to swine. Ah well, if Kerry wins the election, maybe one of these fine soccer players can fill Uday's old shoes. |
| Posted by: TS(vice girl) 2004-08-21 3:39:13 PM |