Iraq captain says he fears for his life, calls for US to leave country

[jefferson_dem]

Source: AP

Iraq captain says he fears for his life, calls for US to leave country
The Associated Press
Sunday, July 29, 2007

JAKARTA, Indonesia: Younis Mahmoud's victory celebrations were tempered by reality.

Mahmoud scored the winning goal in Iraq's 1-0 Asian Cup final win over Saudi Arabia on Sunday, yet he feared for his life if he went home to celebrate the stunning victory, and said he would not be returning to the war-torn country.

"I don't want the Iraqi people to be angry with me," he said. But, "If I go back with the team, anybody could kill me or try to hurt me.

"One of my closest friends, they (the authorities) came to arrest him, and for one year neither me nor his family knew where he is."

The Sunni Muslim Iraqi captain — who like the rest of the team wore a black arm band to remember the dozens killed by carbombers following the side's semifinal victory over South Korea on Wednesday — said the American presence in his homeland was a "problem."

"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."

Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/29/sports/AS-SPT-SOC-Iraq-Mahmoud.php

[Phrogman]

1. Well, no more purple ink for his finger!

ingrates!

[Cha]

2. Poor guy..who can blame him?

He's not the only one abandoning his country. More than four million of his country people have fled thanks to the bushits LIES.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19055852/

[emilyg]

5. And the ones that stayed

are in dire need of help. Shame on Bush for destroying a country for his gains.

[bdamomma]

11. we are committing genocide.

[pinto]

3. I hope the world hears this simple statement. I'd assume he's one of many Iraqis who want an end.

[Delphinus]

8. Oh, I think the *world* will hear it.

Question is, will *we*?

[OwnedByFerrets]

4. Sorry Younis, *ush isnt finished

raping your country of its resources or killing its citizens.

[Screwfly]

6. Isn't it ironic

they do so much to promote soccer in the U.S. and kill off the sport in another country.

You gotta know the end is near when soccer starts dying out in a country.

[cliss]

7. This man just got himself a podium.

Thanks to the Iraqi win, Mr. Mahmoud is now a celebrity. His voice will carry a lot of weight.

This is a good thing.

[groovedaddy]

9. Doesn't this man realize he needs to fear Al Qaeda

and not the occupation?
These people act like they know more about their country than Bush does. What's the matter with them any way? They just don't understand that it's our oil under their sand!

[bdamomma]

10. "I wish the American people did not invade Iraq"

there you have it our hands have blood on them also.