'Blasphemous' U.S. Soccer Balls Anger Afghans

BBB/ABC ^ | August 26, 2007 | ALASTAIR LEITHEAD

[LurkedLongEnough]

A demonstration has been held in south-east Afghanistan accusing U.S. troops of insulting Islam after they distributed soccer balls bearing the name of Allah. The balls showed the Saudi Arabian flag, which features the Koranic declaration of faith.

The U.S. military said the idea had been to give something for Afghan children to enjoy and they did not realise it would cause offense.

The soccer balls were dropped from a helicopter in Khost province.

Some displayed flags from countries all over the world, including Saudi Arabia, which features the shahada, one of the five pillars of Islam -- the declaration of faith.

The words, which include the name of Allah, are revered, and Muslims are very sensitive about where and how they can be used.

Saudi Arabia has complained to the World Cup's ruling body in the past about the use of its flag on soccer balls.

[ozzymandus]

Oh, bitch, bitch, bitch. These cavemen even bitch about free soccer balls. Give them a truckload of pigskin footballs and tell them to STFU.

[miliantnutcase]

I got some brand new rage boy for you! Took me a few hours.

[VR-21]

It’s maddening. A freaking soccer game and some insipid symbol on a ball gets mouths a’foaming. It brings up the same feeling I get when I take my communist uncle to lunch.

[SkyPilot]

[ErnBatavia]

Excellent!

[SkyPilot]

OH! How terrible! Let's burn and kill someone!!!!!

[mathurine]

I wish the Chinese would manufacture ping-pong balls with the Saudi flag on them that could be dropped in urinals if that’s all it takes to rile up the infidels!

[freeangel]

So when are we going to distribute the TP with the saudi flag?

[SkyPilot]

I think they are also ticked off that the Star of David and the Christian Cross are also shown on that soccer ball.

We don't see Jews and Christians going ape.

Just the usual Koranimals.

[SkyPilot]

[SampleMan]

So if you write it on the side of a pig, who is going to scrub it off?

[Aria]

OMG! LOL....

[Alouette]

Ban the Saudi flag.

[Delta 21]

I love the ironic twist of the gas guzzling SUV. Truly a classic.

[Sir Gawain]

Hmm, so the Israeli flag didn’t bother them?

[SkyPilot]

I believe Muslims are always acting "offended" is because they are always looking for an excuse to riot, rape, and murder.

They are never persecuted in the acutal sense. Here is a website that documents real persecution of Christians - almost always by Muslims.

http://www.persecutionblog.com/christian_persecution/index.html

[SkyPilot]

Oh, I am sure it did.

[PLMerite]

You’d think with all this talk about “Jesus Saves!” he’d be a goalie.

Sorry.

[rawhide]

Thanks for the link.

[Texas Eagle]

A demonstration has been held in south-east Afghanistan accusing U.S. troops of insulting Islam after they distributed soccer balls bearing the name of Allah.