posted on August 23, 2004 08:51:57 AM
We're No Symbol of Freedom, Iraq Coach Says
THESSALONIKI, Greece (Reuters) - Iraq's Olympic soccer coach said Monday his side should not be seen as a symbol of freedom, taking issue with a campaign commercial for President Bush.
The flags of Iraq and Afghanistan appear in a commercial as part of Bush's drive for re-election in November. A narrator says: "At this Olympics there will be two more free nations -- and two fewer terrorist regimes."
But coach Adnan Hamad said Iraq, still plagued by violence daily, remained a country under occupation.
"You cannot speak about a team that represents freedom. We do not have freedom in Iraq, we have an occupying force. This is one of our most miserable times," he said.
"Freedom is just a word for the media. We are living in hard times, under occupation."
The Iraqi men's soccer side has been one of the surprises of the Olympics, reaching the semifinals of the competition. They play Paraguay Tuesday for a place in the final.
But their success has been overshadowed in the past few days by rows over the commercial for Bush, who went to war and ousted Iraq's Saddam Hussein last year.
Although Washington has officially handed power to an Iraqi interim government, more than 130,000 American soldiers remain in the country, battling with insurgents from various factions. Western officials also hold key positions behind the scenes.
"We want to give our people a cause to celebrate, to forget their problems," Hamad told reporters in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki, the venue for Tuesday's match.
After Sports Illustrated magazine quoted Iraqi team members expressing outrage at the Bush ad, a British adviser to the Iraqi Olympic committee accused journalists of taking advantage of players' naivete and said sport should not be politicized.
But Hamad said: "One cannot separate politics and sport because of the situation in the country right now."
He said the violence which continues to afflict Iraq, more than a year after Bush declared major combat there was over, meant the team could not fully enjoy its success.
"To be honest with you, even our happiness at winning is not happiness because we are worried about the problems in Iraq, all the daily problems that our people face back home, so to tell you the truth, we are not really happy," he said.
The International Olympic Committee said it had not been in touch with the Bush campaign about its use of the Games in the commercial. National Olympic committees own the rights to the Olympic name and symbols in their countries, a spokeswoman said.
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"One thing is for sure: the extremists have faith in our weakness. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us." --Tony Blair
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The War on Terror will not be won until America is united. And as long as Democrats target the Bush administration -- not the terrorists -- as the enemy, we are in trouble." --Oliver North
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Those are only two reasons why we need to:
posted on August 23, 2004 11:55:44 AM
Oh! And did we forget the "horrors" of the Iraqi prisons under the AMERICANS ????
These Olympic athletes better hope they're not rounded up and thrown in prison with no charges and no trial like a lot of other Iraqis.
If SOME people were actually living REAL life in Iraq like the IRAQIs then they'd have a lot more understanding of the coach and what he's living everyday!
Nope! No candy and flowers here! No kissing American asp here....good for them!
posted on August 23, 2004 12:12:19 PM
The clinton administration ALSO felt saddam needed to be removed.
kerry vote to approve war on Iraq and removal of saddam.
President Bush made it happen.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"One thing is for sure: the extremists have faith in our weakness. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us." --Tony Blair
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The War on Terror will not be won until America is united. And as long as Democrats target the Bush administration -- not the terrorists -- as the enemy, we are in trouble." --Oliver North
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Those are only two reasons why we need to:
posted on August 23, 2004 12:20:58 PM
The clinton administration ALSO felt saddam needed to be removed.
kerry vote to approve war on Iraq and removal of saddam.
President Bush made it happen.
That still does not make it right. Perhaps you would like it if some foreign country liberates us from Bush because they feel he is hurting America.
Let's have a BBQ, Texas style, ROAST BUSH
------------------------------
YOU CAN'T HAVE BULLSH** WITH OUT BUSH.
------------------------------
We the people, in order to form a more perfect Union....
.....one Nation indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for ALL.
posted on August 23, 2004 12:36:13 PM
Only frantic republicans like Linda_K and desquirrel can find something wrong or funny about what the Iraq coach and players said. Its very SCUMMY of Bush to run ANOTHER LYING AD similar to his now famous Carrier Landing declaring "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" PHOTO OPP.
IN IRAQ TODAY WE HAVE 950 DEAD AMERICAN TROOPS AND WE ARE STILL COUNTING. WE ALSO HAVE OVER 6,000 WOUNDED AMERICAN TROOPS AND WE ARE STILL COUNTING. NO ONE KNOWS OR THEY ARE NOT TELLING US HOW MANY INNOCENT PEOPLE OF IRAQ ARE DEAD OR WOUNDED. SEEMS LIKE THEY DON'T KNOW OR DON'T CARE OR WANT US TO KNOW.
posted on August 23, 2004 12:40:11 PM
Are you lefties here EVER supportive of your own countries polities? THREE administrations said saddam needed to be removed. This President did it, and rightfully so, especially after 9-11.
I seriously doubt you can mention all those world leaders who supported leaving saddam in power.
and logansdad - Read what John F. Kennedy stated about FREEDOM...and where the US stands on freedom for all.
The Iraqi people has been given a chance. IF they choose not to take advantage of having their own freedom after 30-35 years under saddam....IF they aren't appreciative of the fact that we've freed them....then that's their problem. Time will tell what they do with this chance President Bush has given them. But no one will ever convince me that they're worse off now than when living under saddam's reign and the torture palaces of his sons.
It will take time...and lots of help for them to establish a government of their own. When all can have a say in how the government is formed and run. saddam would have only remained a threat.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"One thing is for sure: the extremists have faith in our weakness. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us." --Tony Blair
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The War on Terror will not be won until America is united. And as long as Democrats target the Bush administration -- not the terrorists -- as the enemy, we are in trouble." --Oliver North
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Those are only two reasons why we need to:
posted on August 23, 2004 12:51:28 PM
The Iraqi people has been given a chance. IF they choose not to take advantage of having their own freedom after 30-35 years under saddam....IF they aren't appreciative of the fact that we've freed them....then that's their problem. Time will tell what they do with this chance President Bush has given them. But no one will ever convince me that they're worse off now than when living under saddam's reign and the torture palaces of his sons.
Just like you and the Republicans here, the Iraqi coach spoke his mind and you don't like what he said. This seems to be the trend against for all Republicans soembody speaking out against there country and the Republicans don't like it. Are you going to call him Un-Iraqian??
Let's have a BBQ, Texas style, ROAST BUSH
------------------------------
YOU CAN'T HAVE BULLSH** WITH OUT BUSH.
------------------------------
We the people, in order to form a more perfect Union....
.....one Nation indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for ALL.
posted on August 23, 2004 12:57:49 PM
No, logansdad, but I do believe he's forgetting who gave him this freedom to speak his mind. President Bush. Before he'd have had his tongue cut out or been killed for making any statement that saddam or his sons didn't like. That's not the case now....they're all free to speak out, thanks to Bush.
And please don't forget that kerry has said EVEN knowing what we know now about womd he STILL would have voted to remove saddam. kerry, too, felt he presented a danger to the world.
So...you're supporting a candidate that says he would have done the exact same thing - and supports it being done and VOTED for it to be done.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"One thing is for sure: the extremists have faith in our weakness. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us." --Tony Blair
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The War on Terror will not be won until America is united. And as long as Democrats target the Bush administration -- not the terrorists -- as the enemy, we are in trouble." --Oliver North
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Those are only two reasons why we need to:
posted on August 23, 2004 12:58:21 PM
Uh They agreed about removing Saddam.
They DIDN'T agree to start a war without a PLAN or help from other countries! DUH!
posted on August 23, 2004 01:09:59 PMSo...you're supporting a candidate that says he would have done the exact same thing - and supports it being done and VOTED for it to be done.
I am voting for Kerry because I don't like Bush's stance on a number of issues: he lied about why we went to war in Iraq, his stance on the environment and his hatred toward gays.
No, logansdad, but I do believe he's forgetting who gave him this freedom to speak his mind. President Bush. Before he'd have had his tongue cut out or been killed for making any statement that saddam or his sons didn't like. That's not the case now....they're all free to speak out, thanks to Bush.
Yes Bush gave him his freedom, but that doesn't mean he can enjoy it. I am sure he doesn't even feel like he has it since, American troops are still occupying Iraq and basically wrote the Iraqi Constitution.
Let's have a BBQ, Texas style, ROAST BUSH
------------------------------
YOU CAN'T HAVE BULLSH** WITH OUT BUSH.
------------------------------
We the people, in order to form a more perfect Union....
.....one Nation indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for ALL.
posted on August 23, 2004 01:17:16 PM
Some are so sadly stuck in their narrow-minded C&P world that they will never understand what the coach meant when he said those words about them not being a symbol of freedom.
It was easy for Bush to take out Saddam because there was no resistance whatsoever. Even Canada may have been able to do that!
The hard part was having a plan for what happened next. Bush failed miserably. Do you actually call all that turmoil freedom? Would love to see some who cheer and support this to actually go over there and live in the midst of it and experience Iraqi freedom first hand.
posted on August 23, 2004 01:26:18 PM
No kiara - your military is going bankrupt. Your fleets are rusting away. You'll need us to defend you should the need arise. I wouldn't brag about that.
And anyone who looks back to Europe, France and Germany, can easily see these same things were being said after the war ended there too...when the US was working to rebuild their countries. Lefties are always against everything productive and appear to demand immediate results. If they're not there immediately...it's the same old rhetoric we hear from them.....'it's a failure...it's a failure'.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"One thing is for sure: the extremists have faith in our weakness. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us." --Tony Blair
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The War on Terror will not be won until America is united. And as long as Democrats target the Bush administration -- not the terrorists -- as the enemy, we are in trouble." --Oliver North
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Those are only two reasons why we need to:
posted on August 23, 2004 01:35:25 PMAnd anyone who looks back to Europe, France and Germany, can easily see these same things were being said after the war ended there too...when the US was working to rebuild their countries
You are forgetting that the US went to war with our allies. We did not go to war alone.
I still do not feel the US should be the "policemen of the world". The Iraqi people should have found a way to defend themseleves if they were being persecuted.
Let's have a BBQ, Texas style, ROAST BUSH
------------------------------
YOU CAN'T HAVE BULLSH** WITH OUT BUSH.
------------------------------
We the people, in order to form a more perfect Union....
.....one Nation indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for ALL.
posted on August 23, 2004 01:39:22 PM
logansdad said:
he lied about why we went to war in Iraq,
It's evident that you don't believe the 9-11 commission's report on their statement he didn't lie to us. Keep saying it often enough, even while it's been disproven, and you might be lucky enough to convince someone it's true, when in reality it's not true at all.
his stance on the environment and his hatred toward gays.
You cannot provide, and I'll challenge you to prove, that President Bush has ever said he hates gays. He and kerry just agree that marriage is between one man and one woman....and you won't even acknowledge they BOTH hold the same position on that.
Yes Bush gave him his freedom, but that doesn't mean he can enjoy it.
He won't have to worry about the teams being tortured for not doing well....that's an accomplishment in itself.
In the US we refer to it as the 'pursuit of happiness'....not enjoying everything about every situation in our lives.
I am sure he doesn't even feel like he has it since, American troops are still occupying Iraq and basically wrote the Iraqi Constitution.
And American troops will continue to occupying Iraq even under a kerry administration. Iraq has ASKED us to remain....and until they change their minds....we'll be staying....even IF kerry is elected.
It's time for you to face some realities of the situation, logansdad.
Oh yes, logansdad...our US Constitution is just so terrible....we should never have offered it as 'an example' for them to choose what they like about it...and might decide to use for their own. We offered it as a suggestion....THEY will be making those decisions themselves.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"One thing is for sure: the extremists have faith in our weakness. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us." --Tony Blair
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The War on Terror will not be won until America is united. And as long as Democrats target the Bush administration -- not the terrorists -- as the enemy, we are in trouble." --Oliver North
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Those are only two reasons why we need to:
posted on August 23, 2004 01:55:50 PM
Yes Bush gave him his freedom, but that doesn't mean he can enjoy it.
He won't have to worry about the teams being tortured for not doing well....that's an accomplishment in itself.
No he just has to be worried about be blown up by bombs, killed by American troops or other extremist groups in Iraq, being without electric, not being able to support his family.
You cannot provide, and I'll challenge you to prove, that President Bush has ever said he hates gays. He and kerry just agree that marriage is between one man and one woman....and you won't even acknowledge they BOTH hold the same position on that.
No I will not acknowledge that because it is not true. Bush had to seek a constitutional amendment to get his belief across - because he feels that is the only way to "stop the gay agenda". That is proof enough for me and his dislike toward gays. Kerry favors civil unions which in my opinion is the same thing as marriage.
Oh yes, logansdad...our US Constitution is just so terrible....we should never have offered it as 'an example' for them to choose what they like about it...and might decide to use for their own. We offered it as a suggestion....THEY will be making those decisions themselves.
It is just another example of Bush pushing democracy in the middle east. If he truly wanted the Iraqi people to have their own form of government he could have let them wrote their own "constitution". The Iraqi Constitution could have been based on German, French , English or Canadian law. Why base it on the US Constution? yes, The US is superior to all other countries.
Yeah Bush the liberator ---- I freed you from the Big Bad Saadam. Now you are going to do what I say and set up the type of government I want. I am going to turn the Middle East into a democracy one country at a time.
Let's have a BBQ, Texas style, ROAST BUSH
------------------------------
YOU CAN'T HAVE BULLSH** WITH OUT BUSH.
------------------------------
We the people, in order to form a more perfect Union....
.....one Nation indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for ALL.
posted on August 23, 2004 02:07:26 PM
Now, our commander in chief is bombing the holy Shite city of Najaf near the shrine of Imam Ali....to win the peace.
posted on August 23, 2004 02:15:38 PM
Shaikh Ali Gumaa, the Mufti of Egypt, has warned of a "volcano" erupting in the Muslim world as a result of the U.S. military action in Najaf. Al-Jazeera.Net quotes him as saying,
"After the attack on the shrines of the Prophet's noble companions, after the humiliations and the terrorizing and killing of civilians, the world cannot expect… that a volcano of anger and indignation will not explode," Gumaa said . . . Gumaa said since occupation forces claimed to have saved Iraq from dictatorship, "the Dar al-Ifta cannot accept any justification… that enables them to play this ugly role, rejected by the world's reasonable people and lovers of peace".
posted on August 23, 2004 04:16:11 PM
LINDA_K Every time a post comes along that further discredits your failed leaders Bush and Cheney you go into overtime with the BLAH BLAH BLAH.
Sorry to pop your bubble and denial. I AM SURE THAT MOST PEOPLE ON THIS BOARD HAVE SUPPORTED ALL OF ARE PRESIDENTS DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN UNTIL BUSH AND CHENEY CAME ALONG.
I also believe that WACKOS like you Miss Linda have never supported one Democrat President. Your posts prove my point you have slammed every Democrat President you could think of.
LINDA_K these are your words. "Are you lefties here EVER supportive of your own countries polities?" In reality you and a few more WACKOS like you on this board are the ones that are ANTI-AMERICANS!!!!!!!
This "leftie" did support Bush in the beginning until he and Cheney showed their true colors. So LINDA_K you can just take your statement and "STUFF IT"
The ad by Bush Cheney about the Iraq OLYMPIC team is BIG TIME SLIME. Its nothing more than Bush and Cheney trying to get VOTES OFF DEAD AMERICAN BODIES!!!!
posted on August 23, 2004 05:18:09 PM
BIGPEEPA again shows us what an idiot he is. Hey, if you care so damn much about Iraq people why the hell don't you go there?
posted on August 24, 2004 06:43:48 AM
President Bush has been there.... have you?
Yeah I wouldn't call a secret flight for a couple of hours a visit. If you remember correctly Bush couldn't tell the difference between a fake turkey and a real one during his "pep rally". I wonder if he can tell the difference between a fake and real hand grenade.
Let's have a BBQ, Texas style, ROAST BUSH
------------------------------
YOU CAN'T HAVE BULLSH** WITH OUT BUSH.
------------------------------
We the people, in order to form a more perfect Union....
.....one Nation indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for ALL.
posted on August 24, 2004 07:04:56 AM
Do you really believe what you post logansdad?
or do you just hate President Bush so much that anything against him you are for?
That all it seems is going on now, President Bush is to much of an independent, strong leader...
No sane person would vote for kerry... Liar and traitor...
Iraqi coach had the right to say what he did, what is being missed by the left, as usual, is that he can say anything he wants with no repercutions when he returns home.
It is just politics there as ususal... nothing new
posted on August 24, 2004 07:14:42 AMor do you just hate President Bush so much that anything against him you are for?
Can you translate this into English because the above post makes no sense?
President Bush is to much of an independent, strong leader...
That's right Bush is an independent...Does whatever he wants without listening to the advice of others. I don't think that makes him a strong leader. The economy is still in shambles and there is no end in sight to the Iraq war. However Bush still keep saying the economy is improving. He has had three years to get things right and hasn't done it. Strong leader my ***. If given the chance Bush couldn't point out the snow covered terrain in Alaska.
Let's have a BBQ, Texas style, ROAST BUSH
------------------------------
YOU CAN'T HAVE BULLSH** WITH OUT BUSH.
------------------------------
We the people, in order to form a more perfect Union....
.....one Nation indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for ALL.
