Posted on 08/20/2004 1:59:55 PM PDT by konijn
Iraqi footballers' fury at Bush
Sadir said he wanted the US to withdraw its troops from Iraq 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.
One accused the US leader of committing "many crimes", and another said he would be fighting US troops if not for Athens.
Their comments were made in a US Sports Illustrated magazine interview.
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".
What is freedom when I go to the stadium and there are shootings on the road?
Coach Adnan Hamad "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He called for US troops to be withdrawn from Iraq.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."
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."
'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.
"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."
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 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.
"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?"
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."
They'll get a visit when they lose their lives.
The Iraqi Secret police should arrest and torture this traitor immediately....
Oh that's right ...the USA got rid of the Secret Police and their torture squads...
Now even mullet heads like this guy can run their ungrateful yaps....without fear of being
lowered feet first into a shredder just because Uday didn't have his fiber for breakfast
The Iraqi Secret police should arrest and torture this traitor immediately....
Oh that's right ...the USA got rid of the Secret Police and their torture squads...
Now even mullet heads like this guy can run their ungrateful yaps....without fear of being
lowered feet first into a shredder just because Uday didn't have his fiber for breakfast
Ah, freedom of speech which he has now, has some drawbacks doesn't it. It frees up this jerk to show amazing stupidity and ingratitude. Oh well, I am sour on the whole damn bunch of those weasels. They have their freedom, wonder how long the dudes will take to give it away to the next brutal mullah.
Manji, Manji, Manji, so your balling got in the way of your true calling of resisting the infidels! Spoken like a true patriot. FOR SURE!
..."They have their freedom, wonder how long the dudes will take to give it away to the next brutal mullah."
Here's my bet--within one year after we leave.
"We don't wish for the presence of the Americans in our country. We want them to go away."
Well we don't wish for the presence of Arab Muslims in our country. We want them to go away!
Maybe the Iraqis are like what Swift described us Irish;
....who truckle most, when treated worst.
I wonder if Kerry will pick that one up...
Consider the source. The BBC butt boys will never "interview" an athlete that's positive toward liberation.
The Iraq/Australia soccer game has just started. I'm rooting for the Aussies. To hell with the Ingrates.
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