Alpha 1 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 919 times:
According to ABC, in the city of Numinyeh (think I spelled it right), Iraqi citizens took on the U.S. Marines in a game of soccer (football, to purists ).
Iraq beat the U.S. Marines 4-nil. And, apparently, by getting their asses kicked, the Marines have seem to established a lot of good will with the people in that town.
Also, in Basra, ABC reported that the Iraqi's took on the Brits, and soundly trounced the Brits, 9-3.
JBirdAV8r From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 4459 posts, RR: 22 Reply 3, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 905 times:
Racko From Germany, joined Nov 2001, 4838 posts, RR: 21 Reply 7, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 868 times:
Actually, in Afghanistan the German ISAF troops have been playing monthly football matches with the people, first against them, now they're playing with mixed teams. It has vastly improved the relationship and confidence. Good to see that the coalition forces are using this method, the people must see them as "friends" or friendlies, not as occupiers.
Banco From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, RR: 55 Reply 10, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 845 times:
Actually, arranging football matches with the locals has been British military policy for quite some time (seriously). In Afghanistan the Royal Marines arranged a match in Kabul almost as soon as they got there, holding it in the stadium where all of the Taliban's executions and punishments had taken place over the years - they got stuffed in that match too, by the way.
In Basra it was again one of the first things they arranged. Sounds to me like the Americans are adopting the same kind of policy, it is an excellent way for the forces to win over the local populace.
[Edited 2003-04-09 18:04:44]
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
Racko From Germany, joined Nov 2001, 4838 posts, RR: 21 Reply 13, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 818 times:
In Kabul, the matches are so full that they need the police to control the masses Everybody wants to see how the people kick the foreign soldiers butts
JetService From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 4798 posts, RR: 13 Reply 14, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 802 times:
"The Iraqi defenses squashed the infidels front lines while the honorable peoples of Iraq's valient fighters broke into enemy hold territory and breached the invading defenses."
That explains it! Baghdad Bob wasn't lying at all; he was just talking about the freaking soccer game!!!
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12707 posts, RR: 80 Reply 15, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 803 times:
When the Royal Marines offered the Basra youths a game of football, they were shocked when out of this impoverished city, a well kitted, well drilled, full local team appeared out of the woodwork!
Iraqis love football, English football in particular, David Beckham is probably better known to them than Tony Blair.
When the UK left Aden in 1967, the Defence Secretary asked the last British Govenor there what the UK's legacy would be
He replied that there would be two;
One was the game of football
The other was the expression 'fuck off'.
Krushny From Spain, joined Dec 2000, 776 posts, RR: 1 Reply 19, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 709 times:
Playing sports with the local population is done since a lot of time by the US military. When I was finishing high school, a group of friends and me played with the crew of a US Navy ship, a football match and a basketball match. The local consulate organised these events each time a USN ship stopped by our harbour.
In football we won easily 3-0, but basketball was a different matter, a couple of huge black guys trashed our team... Afterwards we got a tour of the ship and a US Navy cap which I still keep.
Alpha 1 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 21, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 668 times:
I wish it would be American football. What would the result be? Well, let me paraphrase from one of Bill Cosby's all-time great comedy pieces, called "Hofstra". After two straight seasons when the Iraqi's and Marines played an annual game, this would be the scene in the Iraqi clubhouse before game #3
Iraqi Coach: "As you know boys, we're playing the U.S. Marines, but of course you already know that. Last year, they beat us 900 to nothing; the year before that they beat us 900 to nothing; I had a chance to visit their locker room a few minutes ago, and, Christ, they're bigger than they were last year......"
Glenn From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2005, 0 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 665 times:
If it was American football, then it would be America vs America, Cuase apart from a few rebels world wide (in muinute numbers) It aint played anywhere
JetService From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 4798 posts, RR: 13 Reply 23, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 661 times:
CX747 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 4385 posts, RR: 5 Reply 24, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 649 times:
During the initial stages of operation in Afghanistan, the U.S. Special Forces played horseback games with the Afghans and actually won!
"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid." D. Eisenhower
25 Glenn: Yes but Afghanistan was different. people were pissy at Bin Ladin Both of 'em. Osama and Usama. Iraq is a PR war
26 G-KIRAN: IT WAS NOT 4-0 YOU LYING INFIDEL B*STARDS! IT WAS 1000-0!THE IRAQI TEAM LED BY THE GLORIOUS SADDAM HUSSAIN-AL-PELE-AL MARADONA DROVE THE INFIDELS BACK
27 Glenn: But you did a great job of Baghdad Bob Btw, where is he ?
28 GKirk: I am fishing for birds. Signed, Baghdad Bob
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