Iraqi Soccer Team Wins Asian Cup - Team Captain Wants U.S. Out Of Iraq
AP Via Yahoo: (h/t Firedoglake)
Iraq won the Asian for the first time Sunday, a beacon of hope for a nation divided by war.
Iraq's 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia on a 71st-minute header by captain Younis Mahmoud was an inspirational triumph for a team whose players straddle bitter and violent ethnic divides. After the game, Mahmoud called for the United States to withdraw its troops from his nation.
"I want America to go out," he said. "Today, tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, but out. I wish the American people didn't invade Iraq and, hopefully, it will be over soon."
Mahmoud also said he will not return to Iraq to celebrate.
"I don't want the Iraqi people to be angry with me," he said. "If I go back with the team, anybody could kill me or try to hurt me." Read more...
As expected, this part of the story isn't getting much coverage from the media. For the Iraqi citizens who were lucky enough to have electricity to watch or listen to the game, these men are national heroes. Is there any doubt Mahmoud speaks for the majority of Iraqis? Shall we take bets on how long it will take for the right to attack this man?
UPDATE: (Nicole) Our friend Scarce sent us this video, with two very different versions of the Iraqi celebration; the first from CNN, the second from Reuters.
I'm a fan.
LOL! Seriously, our occupation cannot get any more ridiculous. ... I shouldn't have said that.
It's probably too late to take bets. I'm sure the wingnuts are already in full battle rattle against this guy.
[sarcasm]
Pffft, what do the silly Iraqis know?
[/sarcasm]
Obviously, he hates our freedoms.
Another voice to be drowned out in the frightwing reverberation chamber.
He must be a "secular progressive".
I saw some of the celebration on CNN. I realized I was crying as I watched. The Iraqis were so unified for that moment and so happy. I was fearful for each face I saw. Where will they be tomorrow and how long will their happiness be allowed to last? We must leave these people alone and allow them to find their own destiny. We have done too damned much damage already.
The irony!!! LOL They beat Saudi Arabia in the finals? Hmm, I wonder which country Bush and Cheney were for? Congratulations!
The truth is, Bush would have used this as a propaganda if it wasn't for the captain speaking out agains the occupation.
And Bush administration uses this as a metaphor for Sunnis and Shiites working together toward a common goal?
Naw.
Bush spokesman Tony Snow was quick to blame the situation on Bill Clinton.
Seriously, though, I think we should back off. I remember when the Republicons tried to make the 04 Iraqi Olympic soccer team their political poster boys, and we went to town on them for it. This time around, it does have the added bonus of containing an actual! political! statement! by one of the players, but to ride it like a victory for Our Side seems opportunistic and jingoistic, which is what we accused the Repigs of back in 04.
Dick Cheney has invited the team out for a victory round of canned quail hunting.
-GSD
The right's strategy for this story:
1. Deny his existence, then if he appears to actually "exist"
2. Attack him, if that fails
3. Blame Democrats.
Love it tommytip!! lol It's Clinton's fault! Actually, I don't think anyone is using it to ride it for a victory for our side. The captain of the team made acomment, like tha vast majority of the Iraqi people for the US to get out. If I rememebr, I think the Olympic team captain also made a similar statement.
The right-wingnuts and our obedient media will squash this story. This is the most we'll hear about it. They will also dismiss the team captain as liberal and a an athlete who doesnt understand the complexities of bleeding a country dry.
KG @ 13:
4. Blame the "librul media" for reporting facts that ultimately "will hurt our troops"
5. Declare that soccer is a "gay sport" so it doesn't matter.
6. Distract by bringing up Clintons' BJ, Kerry's purple heart, and Al Gore's concert
7. Mention that Faux's ratings are super duper awesome.
The criminal mainstream media will either demonize what Younis Mahmoud said, misinterpret it, brush over it quickly, or all three. Any criticism about the illegal, immoral "mass murder" disguised as war going on in Iraq is squashed, ridiculed, or not given a hoot of coverage. What a shock huh?
Dr. Matt @ 16:
You forgot Hillary's boobs.
Hi all. Went out for a few drinks with a couple of friends of mine last night here in Malmo, Sweden. Malmo has by far the largest population of people originally descending from regions such as the middle east, far east etc..
Anyway, not having heard about this news, we were really surprised to find literally hundreds of iraqis this victory celebrating in the town square we were heading for. It was great, cars all around the city sounding their car horns, hanging out of their windows waving their flags and hundreds of people jumping and singing in the square.
It´s fair to mention that our town were "mentioned" in a ridiculously exaggerated FOX news article about 3 years ago, according to this article all us swedes are afraid to go outside due to the risk of being beaten and robbed by gangs of muslims. To us the article was actually quite humorous.
Anyway, a lot of cops had been sent to the square of the iraqis celebration. it was a long time ago I´ve seen cops with so little to do.
Truly a night to remember :)
ysbaddaden @ 18:
I really don't want to remember them. ;-)
We will bring democracy to the Middle East if we have to kill every one of those brown skinned ingrates to do it.
There goes the Rose Garden photo op. I really wish a few of our own athletes would stop shooting up long enough to realize that their appearances with Fearless Leader just before the trip to Disneyland is nothing more than Rovian propaganda.
The first thing I noticed is how the "reporter" was part of the celebrations. Hard to be objective when you're partying with the people you're supposed to be reporting on. It's the same thing with the embedded reporters and the White House Press Corps.
Good for you! A pat on the back in compensation for the misery. President Bush won the democracy in iraq, lol.
Magnus from Sweden @ 19:
Great story. You should blog this somewhere including the anti-Muslinm Faux angle.
I wonder if Bush will have the teqm to the White House and get his own jersey, number 0.
I wonder if Bush will acknowledge the MLB juicer when he beats Aaron's record.
Speaking of "facts" I don't think I've ever heard the psychos at Faux use the word "facts". To them facts have a liberal bias. They prefer to call it "radical left propaganda".
He want us out but I bet he would love to get a residency card in the US, IRONIC!!
that captain is obviously a divider, we need a uniters in Iraq and George Bush is the Uniter that country needs!
how dare he!
Magnus from Sweden @ 19:
Good to hear that some Iraqis are happy about something. Heck, my neighbor who's home country is Iran (gasp!) came over to tell me about it and we drank some beers. He didn't even blow me up! ;)
And yes, Fox , the F is for fear.
babalooey @ 27:
The trolls are really baiting today. Too easy.
babalooey @ 27:
So, you speak for others now? That seems to be a reich-wing trait.
Look at how the right-wing punching bag CNN reports this story, the supposed "liberal media" just has this as a blip in the news. Perfect example of how the media isn't liberally biased:
VIDEO
http://beta.redlasso.com/Community/ClipPlayer.aspx?i=78c638c5-973f-4b85-...
Maybe Bush will freeze his assets.
Brawlin_Dem @ 22:
Don't ask, don't tell.
Dr. Matt @ 20:
http://www.hillary.org/hillary/dominatrix.jpg
ysbaddaden @ 35:
Egads, I just finished lunch.
This soccer game was a PR problem to begin with because the team had to train in and take the trophy back to that peaceful country that bush didn't invade, Jordan. It seems bushworld from hell(Iraq) was just too unsafe to hone their soccer skills in.
The Red Cross reports 50,000 Iraqis leave every month.
And bush is right, when they get the OK they WILL follow us home. Hope no evil ones fall thru the cracks.
ysbaddaden @ 18:
And John Edward's hair.
If they won the Asians cup, does that mean we have genitalia flopping around somewhere?
Dr. Matt @ 36:
Now you want melons for desert?
[...] Contact the Webmaster Link to Article yahoo Iraqi Soccer Team Wins Asian Cup - Team Captain Wants U.S. Out Of Iraq » [...]
TIKI AL @ 37:
Aha. Because as we all know they're very good swimmers. What part of Florida are you in, AL? The ignorant part?
The media is censoring what the actual Iraqi people want. On CNN right now they did a special highlighting the futbol victory and then meshing it with images of Bush and victory saying that heroic US soldiers had liberated Iraq and the Iraqis were crying with joy at the soccer victory and the noble and courageous US troops. GODDAMIT WHEN WILL THE LIES STOP? The Iraqi people want the US military OUT!! But the media is playing along with all the GOP talking points.
Astounding.
I think we found that thing that links Jarheads and Iraqi street fighters. Peace thru football!
Next, there'll be a war on scoccer.
Required @ 42:
I agree, they'll probably follow us home because they need a safe place to live in work after herr dubyah has finished completely destroying their country and culture.
Iraqis would riot in the streets after their team’s victory - ala Detroit - except there is nothing left to loot or burn.
I wouldn't take the comments of the team captain too seriously. It's obviously the 'roids speaking.
Damn liberal muslims! Stick to the plan!
George W Bush wants Iraq to have all the freedoms we enjoy except for the Iraqis freedom to choose what kind of country they want by themselves and the freedom to not have some government agency looking over their shoulder.
"Brown, Bush reaffirm shared values" http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070730/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_brown
What exactly would those values be? Lie based oil wars and global imperialism?
Jason Wolfe @ 2:
LOL.
Trust me, it can get a lot more ridiculous.
Next ? Cheney (or Petraeus) has Younis Mahmoud removed from the team.
Gort @ 47:
If you weren't such a sorry excuse of a human being you'd actually stand a chance of getting laid once in a while.
It's long past the time CONGRESS NEEDS TO ACT, and NEEDS TO ACT NOW -- USA OUT OF IRAQ. Why won't are Democratic majority in both houses of Congress just defud the war!?! There would be nothing to veto by Bush by simply refusing to fund. Everyone should tell the Congresspeople who are Democrats, out OF Iraq. They should follow the advice of Iraq's soccer champ!
“I want America to go out,” he said. “Today, tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, but out..."
If Iraq runs out of oil today, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow we will leave then. I have a sense we are going to be staying a little longer than that.
I am sick of our Democratic majority Congress not following through on their commitment to get the USA out of Iraq.
I'm sorry for repeating this, but we need some Democratic leadership and action on this -- out of Iraq, like the Iraqi soccer player says.
We on Crooks and Liars should unite to voice our concern -- get the USA out of Iraq, now!
The best way to get the USA out of Iraq is to get more Republicans out in the next election cycle.
I don't want to be too much of a spoilsport, but I have the feeling that this is bought and paid for. In 1971, when Greece was a dictatorship and the political climate was changing against the junta, a bought football game brought one of the major Greek teams to the European Cup finals. The goal behind that was to calm people down with a great achievement in the favorite sport.
The thing in common will be that neither victory will have silenced the public sentiment.
Rutheless people, you are missing the point. We HAVE A DEMOCRAT MAJORITY RIGHT NOW. All they have to do is NOT fund the war (there is nothing to veto). So beyond all that, it's all BS.
47 Stonicus Says: I wouldn’t take the comments of the team captain too seriously. It’s obviously the ‘roids speaking.
Hemmorhoids?
Rutheless people, and what good are these Democrats if they won't simply defund this phony war and get us out!
Belko @ 53:
You have to admit the ridiculousness of the celebration in light of what's going on in their country. It's reminicent of the movie The Boys of Company C.
"If I go back with the team, anybody could kill me or try to hurt me.”
True, if it can happen to Tillman, it can happen to him. He wasn't talking about Iraqis.
It's really really nice to see photos of Iraqis smiling and joyful, even if it is only temporary.
[...] Logan Murphy on Crooks and Liars in the USA: Iraqi Soccer Team Wins Asian Cup - Team Captain Wants U.S. Out Of [...]
Liberal AND Proud @ 38:
And John Edward's hair on Hillary's boobs.
Blue Buddha @ 67:
And the hair on Clarence Thomas's can of Coke.
Can we please get back on topic of the C&L thread. The Iraqi socccer champ says USA should get out of Iraq. Where are our Democrats in Congress, why are they not getting the USA out of Iraq -- simply by defunding thie (phony) war. There would be nothing to veto.
The soccer team has done more for the country than we ever have! Why not heed their sage advice?
I thought America worshipped sports. I wish there was an Iraqi football team that could kick America's flabby elitist ass!
ysbaddaden @ 40:
You guys would have made Benny Hill proud. "Zoom in on the two trophies..."
Belko @ 53:
Where’d that come from?
An American pro-sports team - hometown being one of the ten largest U.S. cities - wins the championship game. Next day the national news shows some cars overturned, some liquor stores in flames.
In Iraq, soccer team wins, rowdy groups run into the streets to celebrate, over-celebrate I should say, look around for cars to burn, Kwik-E-Mart to loot. Celebrants spin around; just see scorched earth, a Mar’s landscape... because… Chimp’s occupation has made their city streets a wasteland. Just sarcasm! Nothing against the Iraqis, nothing against Detroit’s fine citizens, a little something against the Chimp.
Simon White-Thatch Potentloins @ 71:
I was more a Monty Python fan. Check out these pairs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KTIdZZ5rAo
[...] –> Or the one on the Iraqi soccer team who has just won the Asian Cup and whose captain wants America o... [...]
First place- Continued death and destruction
Second place- 20 billion in weapons
Sounds fair.
The Iraq national team is fronted by three strikers one each Shiite, Sunni and Kurd.
How's that for national spirit from an artificial nation drawn on the back of Churchill's sopping scotch napkin?
The US is going to have a tough time taming these folk.
Time to bring 'em home!
Required @ 42:
CNN reported that the immigration department is considering bringing 10,000 Iraqis into the US like we did for the Vietnamese at the end of that of that other brilliant war.
I know it must be hard to keep up on current events living in the caretaker's cottage of the Creation Museum.
No wonder they want us out. Half the U. S. military is gang members. Imagine all those innocent Iraqis and Afghanis totally at the mercy of the Blood Crips (or whatever).
How wonderful for the Iraqis to have some small but cherishable moment of jubilation in 4 years.
How sad for CNN and the US to ignore the 57 deaths associated to car bombings and snipers.
“I want America to go out,” he said. “Today, tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, but out."
Sounds like a timeline.
The games were fixed-just like Boxing. How about Wrestling ?
Folks are starving in Iraq and just some how--they can win. Bullsh!t :(
There it is in a nutshell folks. This is why Amerkins are so stupid. Pure propaganda, plain and simple. Reuters reports ALL the relevant facts, in context and CNN reports the "happy" story that makes us all feel good. So sad.
[...] et auteur du but de la victoire, Younis Mahmoud a livr
I say congrats too on beating Saudi Arabia. Hmm seems they're beating them in more ways than soccer as well. I'm not surprised of the Iraqi captian. I only saw the "Daily Show" report of this and not even Stewart said anything with the captian which, now knowing they said this, I was surprised at. I'm sure George Bush would just roll his eyes and say he's on the side of terrorism and is against freedom.
I finally saw the two contrasting video's. It was an amazing contrast. While I was watching the CNN broadcast they made no mention whatsoever of the bus attack and the shootings and I found myself thinking about how strange it was throughout that whole time there didn't appear to be an attack. How strange that was. The only other time I can remember that happening was on the so-called "election" day that happened a couple of years ago. Speaking of which does anybody know if and when they're going to be having any other elections like how our Congress and Senate have elections every so many years? The CNN broadcast made it seem like they partied in the street for a good couple of hours but I knew not to trust that report and Reuters proved me right. So amazing to see the difference. I wonder about those Iraqi's with the Americans too when majority of the time you hear reports/stories of Iraqi's not wanting anything to do with the Americans in public (especially with a tv crew around and showing you on camera for everyone to see) because of safety for your family from the malitia's.
Some of you guys are haters. even in our happiness for once in our lives you guys make fun of us. i was so happy too see my people celebrating for one time... i just want to say thank you for liberting our country...BUT.. 4 years is enough.. Do you understand what the captian said GET THE HELL OUT..... it's enough already.........
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