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Not the poster girl for Bush!(Iraqi female athlete)
ESPN the Magazine ^ | 8/20/04 | Seth Wickersham

Posted on 08/22/2004 12:35:24 AM PDT by L.A.Justice

She doesn't want to be a symbol, either, nor the poster girl for President Bush getting four more years.

(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: bush; iraq; iraqiathletes; iraqiwomen; olympics
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I don't know what my reaction should be to stories like this...I am happy that athletes will not be physically abused by Saddam's son for not doing well. On the other hand, I am very irritated that some Iraqis forgot that US got rid of the evil Saddam regime.

I think that I should just shrug off these stories...I don't think it is possible to make 100% of Iraqis like US.

1 posted on 08/22/2004 12:35:25 AM PDT by L.A.Justice
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To: L.A.Justice
Your reaction should be what it is in your gut.... in the future- we will remember
2 posted on 08/22/2004 12:37:18 AM PDT by Porterville (Dare to hate that which hurts what you love.)
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To: L.A.Justice
Most likely what we're seeing is the media hunting for the few ingrates among the Iraqi athletes. Most are probably quite happy that Saddam is gone and do not harbor ill will toward President Bush.

Of course, the media is in full attack mode against the President so instead of talking to Afghan and Iraqi athletes are enjoy their new found freedom, they dig up the small handful of malcontents.

3 posted on 08/22/2004 12:37:57 AM PDT by COEXERJ145 (I Annoy Buchananites)
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To: L.A.Justice

You got it - - there's going to be scumbags in every crowd.
This ugly Iraqi girl is a scumbag. No biggie.


4 posted on 08/22/2004 12:39:32 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: L.A.Justice

I have the feeling that the leftist US media gets to them and distorts the truth, to get those answers.


5 posted on 08/22/2004 12:40:12 AM PDT by FairOpinion (FIGHT TERRORISM! VOTE BUSH/CHENEY 2004.)
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To: COEXERJ145

The Liberal Press must not win this election...otherwise say SOVIET UNION!


6 posted on 08/22/2004 12:40:32 AM PDT by Republic Rocker
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To: COEXERJ145
Most likely what we're seeing is the media hunting for the few ingrates among the Iraqi athletes.

The MM has become almost boringly obvious............they couldn't possibly BE any more in the tank for the democrats. Trouble is, they are so obvious, even the morons that usually vote for who Dan Blather tells them to, can see it.

7 posted on 08/22/2004 12:40:52 AM PDT by MamaLucci (Libs, want answers on 911? Ask Clinton why he met with Monica more than with his CIA director.)
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To: L.A.Justice

The media is the culprit for these anti-american reports.


8 posted on 08/22/2004 12:42:21 AM PDT by dc-zoo
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To: L.A.Justice

remember these athletes are heroes in their countries. they hedge their bets by coming off strongly against GWB because they know that they will not be harmed by the US, on the other hand supporting the removal of Saddaam will no doubt result in a bullet between the eyes by the Insurgency. As well, being silent is not enough, it would be tantamount to supporting the war against Saddam. Speaking out against GWB is an insurance policy. This is a people that are scarred and ravaged by this a$$hole. It will take years for these people to realize the gift of freedom.


On a side note, remember who owns ESPN...draw your own conclusions!


9 posted on 08/22/2004 12:43:01 AM PDT by bubman
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To: COEXERJ145

I really would like to hear exactly what the US media told her and asked her. Note the article only refers to so many "Iraqis" killed, without pointing out that those are members of the renegate Al Sadr militia, who want to stop Iraq from becoming Democratic and turn it into an Islamic, Taliban style dictatorship.

"The lone Iraqi woman in Athens, Ala'a Jassim, doesn't want to be packaged by politicos as living proof of freedom and Americana and the wonderful ways of the West.

She has been, of course. But why?

Because of the way she answers in English -- which she knows very little of -- when asked after Friday morning's 100- meter dash prelim if she would be running and representing her country if Saddam Hussein were still in power: "I don't know."

Because of what Ahmed Al-Samarri, Iraq's Olympic Committee President, said: "Women's sports started from ground zero here because of the previous regime, which had abused many, many girls who wish to practice or join sports."

Because of how the crowd at the opening ceremonies strongly applauded the few Iraqi athletes, who proudly carried their flag.

Because the night before her 100-meter race, as she slept, 77 Iraqis were killed and another 70 wounded in Najaf, and American writers want to see how she feels about the current state of her country.

And because she says, "I hope I'm the first step for a new generation" of Iraqi women who will see her sprint and train and flex and sweat and work for her own singular, liberating, empowering goals."


10 posted on 08/22/2004 12:44:21 AM PDT by FairOpinion (FIGHT TERRORISM! VOTE BUSH/CHENEY 2004.)
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To: dc-zoo

"The media is the culprit for these anti-american reports."

So, can we throw them in the shredder too?



11 posted on 08/22/2004 12:44:23 AM PDT by jocon307 (That's allowed, as long as we all vote for W.)
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To: L.A.Justice

We need to get the Swiftvet ads on as much free media as possible. That's the best way to fight the MSM.


12 posted on 08/22/2004 12:44:42 AM PDT by dc-zoo
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To: L.A.Justice
We have to remember that many lived lavishly under Saddam. Star athletes were among them. Placed on the world stage, athletes were Saddam's way to show off to the world. True athletes want to compete. Under a despotic regime, you dared not speak against it. Now that freedom is taking root in Iraq, and people who lived with prestige are losing their status, they at least have the freedom to criticize. The very argument of what seems to be what caused their fall from grace is really the country's salvation.
13 posted on 08/22/2004 12:44:54 AM PDT by endthematrix ("We've come a long way from John Kerry reporting for duty to Miguel reporting for booty!")
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To: COEXERJ145

Most likely what we're seeing is the media hunting for the few ingrates among the Iraqi athletes.

or flat out lying.


14 posted on 08/22/2004 12:44:56 AM PDT by Robert_Paulson2 (the madridification of our election is now officially underway.)
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To: L.A.Justice
I don't think it is possible to make 100% of Iraqis like US.

It's apparently not possible to make 100% of Americans to like US. Consider the Dem party and its co-conspirators.

15 posted on 08/22/2004 12:45:22 AM PDT by maryz
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To: L.A.Justice
Her face is angular and defined, and she has perfectly white teeth, which rarely are shown in smiles because American journalists keep asking her about the war, which for the record, she says, "was a very bad idea."

She is anxious to point out the mess that the mostly-American military has made of her country. She says in Arabic that sometimes she cannot train because of bombs or street fights.

Yet another grateful Iraqi.

16 posted on 08/22/2004 12:45:46 AM PDT by Joe Hadenuf (I failed anger management class, they decided to give me a passing grade anyway)
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To: L.A.Justice

the press totally played this out of context to generate anti-Bush sentiment - they go to the athletes and tell them Bush is playing a commercial based on them (individually) when, in fact, all that's shown is an Iraqi flag respectfully alongside Afghanistan's.


17 posted on 08/22/2004 12:47:43 AM PDT by Steven W.
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To: L.A.Justice

The Iraqis aren't sophisticated or educated in even the simplest things. The women are even more backward than the men, if that's possible. It's not their fault. They've had a steady diet of Saddam and company for years and don't know yet what freedom means. They're take everything literally. Of course there's fighting in the streets. They don't bother to figure out who's the aggressor, all they know is that American soldiers are still there and life is still hard. Culture shock awaits, big time. This is just the start of growing pains, and they'll look back in time and then they'll say, Thank you, America. You gave us the world.


18 posted on 08/22/2004 12:48:37 AM PDT by hershey
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To: L.A.Justice

I've been hearign about this ad for several days now. Does anyone have a link to it on the web (I don't get US TV here!!)

I would really like to see what all of the "noise" is about.


19 posted on 08/22/2004 12:48:55 AM PDT by An.American.Expatriate (A vote for JF'nK is a vote for Peace in our Time!)
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To: COEXERJ145
absolutely.....

the media is controlled from top to bottom with leftist and it infiltrates even sports...

so they look for a story....and push it even though it is petty, or insignificant...

let's hope the Iraqis and otheres like them learn that athletic success is the mark of a prosperous and open society, where people are free enough and safe enough to pursue great goals....

do I wish they were a little more gracious?....of course..

but don't hold your breath...."no good deed" and all that....

20 posted on 08/22/2004 12:49:17 AM PDT by cherry
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