Unwilling participants:Iraqi soccer players angered by Bush campaign ads

[JuniorPlankton]

>>>>snip
"Iraq as a team does not want Mr. Bush to use us for the presidential campaign," Sadir told SI.com through a translator, speaking calmly and directly. "He can find another way to advertise himself."

Ahmed Manajid, who played as a midfielder on Wednesday, had an even stronger response when asked about Bush's TV advertisement. "How will he meet his god having slaughtered so many men and women?" Manajid told me. "He has committed so many crimes."

The Bush campaign was contacted about the Iraqi soccer player's statements, but has yet to respond.
>>>>>>snip

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/olympics/2004/writers/08/19/iraq/index.html

[RobertSeattle]

1. Can you say "Backfire"

My first reaction to the Bush/Olympics ad was "slimey".

[2Design]

7. I haven't seen it but heard his claims.....and yes it is slimey....

[Feanorcurufinwe]

2. "He has committed so many crimes." -- well said, Manajid

[geek tragedy]

3. Great!

I hope the sports networks run this--nothing like a bit of Bush bashing on Sportscenter!

[klook]

4. They hate us for our football

They just wish they could be in the NFL.

[2Design]

5. They would be part of defending their country against Bush

Wonder what Bush will do to this guy for speaking up....

More torture and games by RumsFeld and Company
<snip>
Manajid, 22, who nearly scored his own goal with a driven header on Wednesday, hails from the city of Fallujah. He says coalition forces killed Manajid's cousin, Omar Jabbar al-Aziz, who was fighting as an insurgent, and several of his friends. In fact, Manajid says, if he were not playing soccer he would "for sure" be fighting as part of the resistance.

"I want to defend my home. If a stranger invades America and the people resist, does that mean they are terrorists?" Manajid says. "Everyone has been labeled a terrorist. These are all lies. Fallujah people are some of the best people in Iraq."

Everyone agrees that Iraq's soccer team is one of the Olympics' most remarkable stories. If the Iraqis beat Australia on Saturday -- which is entirely possible, given their performance so far -- they would reach the semifinals. Three of the four semifinalists will earn medals, a prospect that seemed unthinkable for Iraq before this tournament.

When the Games are over, though, Coach Hamad says, they will have to return home to a place where they fear walking the streets. "The war is not secure," says Hamad, 43. "Many people hate America now. The Americans have lost many people around the world--and that is what is happening in America also."
<snip>

[Rowdyboy]

6. "If I was not here playing soccer, I would surely be in the resistence..."

Priceless, absolutely priceless. Hope the media latches onto this story.

[Cocoa]

11. next, I want to hear someone from the Iraqi symphony orchestra say that

they're the other Iraqi institution being used by the invaders as propaganda.

[readmylips]

8. Blowback Baby!

Little georgie still looking for flowers at his feet. Iraq team has just served Fire!...

[Guaranteed]

9. Jesus- Bush is getting SLAMMED today. Left and right.

Unbelievable how these clowns set themselves up.

[iwantmycountryback]

10. More evidence

That Bush simply does not think things through. Or maybe Rove had a lapse. Again.

[RDL]

12. HE CALLS

Iraq a democracy??? Afghanistan a democracy?? This fucker runs the US under a dictatorship, how can the countries he invades possibly be called democracies? The only good law he supports is capital punishment, and when Kerry gets in I hope he uses it once this fuckin' "moran" is exposed for the criminal he is.

[blondeatlast]

13. Welcome to DU! Have a

:toast: on me, and beware of the dreaded Grovelbot!

I think you are gonna really like it here...

[RDL]

16. Thanks!

Been waiting 7 posts for a welcome. Lurking for 2 years, fed up with having an asshole living next door to me, will be donating this month. While I can't vote down there, it is comforting to know intelligent people are going to move this prick back to Connecticut or wherever he says he's from!

[Mike L]

17. "While I can't vote down there" What? Find a way :-)

And WELCOME !!!

[RDL]

18. Since I'm Canadian

will an "absentee ballot" work ;)

[A_Possum]

14. This needs major media coverage

But they also find it offensive that Bush is using Iraq for his own gain when they do not support his administration's actions. "My problems are not with the American people," says Iraqi soccer coach Adnan Hamad. "They are with what America has done in Iraq: destroy everything. 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?"

"I want the violence and the war to go away from the city," says Sadir, 21. "We don't wish for the presence of Americans in our country. We want them to go away."

Manajid, 22, who nearly scored his own goal with a driven header on Wednesday, hails from the city of Fallujah. He says coalition forces killed Manajid's cousin, Omar Jabbar al-Aziz, who was fighting as an insurgent, and several of his friends. In fact, Manajid says, if he were not playing soccer he would "for sure" be fighting as part of the resistance.

"I want to defend my home. If a stranger invades America and the people resist, does that mean they are terrorists?" Manajid says. "Everyone has been labeled a terrorist. These are all lies. Fallujah people are some of the best people in Iraq."

The American people should hear this.

[Mike L]

15. 9/11, Iraq. Bush having trouble exploiting ANY deaths for political gain.

I feel for him.

[Proud liberal Kat]

19. My heart goes out to...

the people in Iraq struggling with such violence and chaos in their own country. It didn't need to happen, BushCO will be held accountable at some point or another, I would like to see it happen, but am content knowing it will come back around to them in the end.
Kathy

[Tims]

20. I'm surrounded by Bush Buddies

were I work. They are continually claiming the majority of Iraqis want us there and are supporting us. I think this shows how wrong they are. I'm not sure how they would spin this. Are they going to claim Olympic Soccer teams are magnets for radical revolutionaries and could not possibly represent the views of their countrymen. I am just amazed at what Bush supporters will believe in order to continually justify their support of him.