Michelle Malkin » A brief moment of national unity in Iraq

A brief moment of national unity in Iraq

By Michelle Malkin • July 29, 2007 11:20 AM

Update: Celebration at Iraq The Model.

The Iraqi soccer team defied the odds and defeated the Saudi Arabian team 1-0 in the Asian Cup final today. Reuters reports:

Few people had given Iraq any chance of winning the tournament after a haphazard preparation brought about by the war at home and facing opponents who were appearing in their sixth final in 23 years. Iraq[is] were forced to train and play their qualifiers in neutral countries and their coach, Brazilian coach Jorvan Vieira, who said he planned to quit after the match, only had two months to mould a team that included Shi’ite, Sunni and Kurdish players.

None of the Iraqi players have been untouched by the war and although they have tried to mask their grief, there were constant reminders of the sectarian violence at home.

At least three players in the squad have lost relatives in the past two months and all the players wore black armbands during the final in memory of the 50 people killed by suicide bombers after Wednesday’s semi-final win over South Korea.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who was at the Gelora Bung National Stadium for the final, said Iraq’s achievement had inspired millions and was proof of sport’s unique power to unite people in the most desperate circumstances.

More hope:

Iraqis welcomed the victory as a chance to show the world they can come together and expressed frustration that their politicians couldn’t do the same.

“Those heroes have shown the real Iraq. They have done something useful for the people as opposed to the politicians and lawmakers who are stealing or killing each other,” said Sabah Shaiyal, a 43-year-old policeman in Baghdad. “The players have made us proud, not the greedy politicians. Once again, our national team has shown that there is only one, united Iraq.”

Sports riots, unfortunately, are a universal phenomenon. The fools and thugs are out and about despite post-victory security measures. Gunfire has already erupted in Baghdad:

Defying orders from authorities, celebratory gunfire resounded across Baghdad and revelers poured into the streets after Iraq beat Saudi Arabia to clinch its first Asian Cup soccer championship on Sunday while mosques broadcast calls for the shooting to stop.

Security forces, meanwhile, enforced a vehicle ban in an effort to prevent a repeat of car bombings that killed dozens celebrating Iraq’s progress to the finals in Asia’s top soccer tournament.

Savor the moment:

***

HA commenter JackStraw writes: “Violence breaks out over an international soccer match? Wow, Iraq is looking more like a European democracy everyday.”

Posted in: Iraq

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#1

On July 29th, 2007 at 11:38 am, zorro said:

Baby steps towards freedom.

Thank God for life’s little joys.
#2

On July 29th, 2007 at 11:49 am, 3Steps said:

As much as I dislike the violence that seems to be inherent in these ’sports celebrations’ I have to say that everything that can help bring them together in national unity is a good thing.
#3

On July 29th, 2007 at 11:50 am, MichaelO said:

Gunfire as celebration is really the standard over there and was unavoidable. Instead of trying to ban it, our troops would have been better served by passing out AK47 magazines- in a clearly marked color- loaded with blanks.
#4

On July 29th, 2007 at 11:53 am, Seth Halpern said:

What can I say? Soccer hooliganism should be the worst of their problems.
#5

On July 29th, 2007 at 11:57 am, gayle said:

Will BUSH get the credit??
#6

On July 29th, 2007 at 12:14 pm, DesertLover said:

3 cheers for the Nation of Iraq …

Just as a an NBA, NFL, NHL. or World Series trophy can invoke pride in a community in this country this victory will go a long way in showing that the different ethnic and religious backgrounds can be ONE IRAQ …

It is good that the players represented all the parts of Iraqi society …

Congratulations to all Iraqis on this accomplishment …
#7

On July 29th, 2007 at 12:50 pm, The Raging Republican said:

Its a long way away from when Saddam’s son ran the national soccer team isn’t it?
#8

On July 29th, 2007 at 1:21 pm, rightisright said:

Events like this will help Iraqi’s look at each other from different areas of the country and realize they are citizens of the same nation. Not saying it’s “all better now”, it is one small(helping) step.
#9

On July 29th, 2007 at 1:56 pm, olblueyes said:

I just love the contrasting headlines from Fox and “PMSnbc” about this. Fox shows a player kissing the trophy with the words “Victory”. pmsnbc just shows a couple guys firing AK’s in the air with the headline “Defiant Shots”. God forbid this be shown in a positive light. Those darn rascally Iraqis are at it again causing violence in the streets…when oh when will those “soccer crazy Iraqis” learn to control their emotions like their european neighbors to the west???
#10

On July 29th, 2007 at 2:55 pm, Gunny2112 said:

Cool!

nuff said..
#11

On July 29th, 2007 at 5:46 pm, jimC said:

Right on! They deserve that bit of good news. Many of these poor people have had such a rough time of it for the last four years. It’s nice to finally see them getting a break.

Jim C
#12

On July 29th, 2007 at 6:57 pm, bear1909 said:

Let the American MSM do what they will with “good news”.

When the tide turns in Iraq, and the Good Guys begin running the table in the Middle East for good- which is inevitable- the American MSM will be dust binned as the stoops who “didn’t cover the biggest story of all time”.

Soccer rocks!
#13

On July 29th, 2007 at 10:30 pm, greysheepdog said:

Very surreal. Bizarro world stuff.
#14

On July 29th, 2007 at 10:51 pm, xplodeit said:

Good for them.
#15

On July 29th, 2007 at 11:15 pm, LoneRanger said:

Celebratory gunfire. (sigh) Makes me miss Los Angeles.
#16

On July 30th, 2007 at 12:18 am, blacktygrrrr said:

Sports matter.

One thing that often gets lost in the USA hockey victory over the Russians in 1980 was the historical context.

The hostages in Iran were no closer to coming home, the US economy was in shambles, and for the first time in a long time, a belief that America’s finest days were behind them was spreading like a malaise.

While Ronald Reagan won the Cold War, The USA boys of Lake Placid brought back pride.

The Iraqis need their version of Ronald Reagan, but perhaps today’s soccer victory was the beginning of something special.

http://blacktygrrrr.wordpress.com/2007/04/06/the-national-football-league-why-football-matters/

http://blacktygrrrr.wordpress.com/2007/06/06/mighty-ducks-win-take-that-canada/

Respectfully,

eric
#17

On July 30th, 2007 at 12:24 am, Defector01 said:

Violence didn’t break out over a football (EURO) game, they shot guns into the air. Considering what happens when Arsenal beats Manchester United or AJAX wins the Dutch Premier league, they’re already a hell of a lot better then the Europeans.
#18

On July 30th, 2007 at 8:26 am, gregorystephens said:

Good for them. Maybe a little taste of victory is what they need.
#19

On July 30th, 2007 at 10:10 am, mattsanchez said:

I got into Baghdad as this happened. It’s nice to see a generally calmer country. Amazing what a soccer match can do.

Although there is a billow of smoke not far from where I am, in the Green Zone.
#20

On July 30th, 2007 at 11:12 am, theroc5156 said:

Matt Sanchez,

Pardon my ignorance, but what are you doing in Iraq? Stay safe.
#21

On July 30th, 2007 at 2:21 pm, greysheepdog said:

So much for normalcy…..

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23406188-details/If+I+go+back+to+Iraq+anybody+could+kill+me%2C+says+hero+football+captain/article.do
#22

On July 31st, 2007 at 12:48 pm, Brian72 said:

How long will it be before we have a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing exploiting this for politics?

Will anyone just be happy for a people who have endured one of the most sadistic brutal regimes in human history, and are targeted for domination by another of the most brutal ideologies right next door?

Will Dingy Harry “the body” Reid (AQ-NV) ever acknowledge a single victory in Iraq, even by an Iraqi soccer team? What’s the miserable failure here, and how is it Bush’s fault?

I’m on pins and needles waiting for the explanation. I’m sure it’s forthcoming.
#23

On July 31st, 2007 at 2:35 pm, Brian72 said:

Here is another sporting victory in Iraq

Micheal Yon fisking an AQI propaganda release about the surge:

Dissecting for accuracy:

“The strongest kinds of explosives are awaiting them on the streets and in the allies(sic). [This was true: we lost a soldier to an IED. But our guys caught most of the bombs, in many cases when local Iraqis pointed them out. Others that remain hidden will be neutralized by our engineer and EOD teams in a thorough, methodical process that will continue until the city is cleared.] Snipers of the Islamic State of Iraq are going ahead hunting down dozens of soldiers. They are in control of the high-rise buildings [They were until our guys killed them], and ambushes and traps are awaiting them everywhere. [This was true: there were ambushes and traps everywhere. But our guys killed them, ran them off, or foiled the ambushes in nearly ever case. We did lose one Stryker and one Bradley.] The American Army, in spite of its numbers and equipment, could not penetrate the region except for a couple of minutes to film so as to sell the photographs to the lying media. [The penetration was persistent and pervasive and eventually complete, something captured on film by dozens of reporters who finally embedded for the initial days of the operation. A minor point: the military’s own photographs and videos are always available free of charge to media agencies.] It is during those few minutes that a great number of airplanes were downed. [Completely false.] We are announcing this good news to the nation as the soldiers of the Islamic State of Iraq are basking in their victory in all parts of this and the rest of the provinces [It would be dangerous for al Qaeda to celebrate here in Baqubah, or in Anbar, or up in Mosul, or down in Basra, or in Sadr City. In fact, they are running out of places to peek out from, let alone bask in.], while the Crusaders will not escape this fierce battle but with slit throats and a defeat, the likes of which has never been witnessed.” [There are many American soldiers on FOB Warhorse in Baqubah. They’ve extended their invitation for al Qaeda to come visit.]
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