] ...[Iraqi midfielder Salih] Sadir had a message for U.S.
] president George W. Bush, who is using the Iraqi Olympic team
] in his latest re-election campaign advertisements.
]
] In those spots, the flags of Iraq and Afghanistan appear
] as a narrator says, "At this Olympics there will be two
] more free nations -- and two fewer terrorist regimes."
]
] "Iraq as a team does not want Mr. Bush to use us for the
] presidential campaign," Sadir told SI.com through a
] translator, speaking calmly and directly. "He can find
] another way to advertise himself."
]
] Ahmed Manajid, who played as a midfielder on Wednesday,
] had an even stronger response when asked about Bush's TV
] advertisement. "How will he meet his god having
] slaughtered so many men and women?" Manajid told me. "He
] has committed so many crimes."

[ You'd think they might have asked first.

The team coach weighed in as well, saying, "What is freedom when I go to the [national] stadium and there are shootings on the road?" -k]

SI.com - Writers - Wahl: Iraqi soccer players upset about Bush campaign ads using team - Thursday August 19, 2004 1:24PM