Monday, July 30, 2007

Iraq Wins The Asian Cup



A funny thing happened in Jakarta yesterday ... Iraq won the 2007 Asian Cup with a 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia. I don't mean funny "ha ha", I mean funny "strange". What was so strange about this victory, and this team is that it was made up of Shia, Sunnis, and Kurds. These three sects are unable to work together to govern their own country, yet were able to work together in what is a "team" sport ... and work well enough together to win .

From what I understand, when the team was first put together, there was a bit of conflict along sectarian lines ... but this team, under the leadership of their coach, Brazilian Jorvan Vieira.

So, what do we need to make the Iraqi government gel into a cohesive unit that can get something accomplished. Maybe the problem is at the top with Prime Minister al-Maliki? Should we bring in a Brazilian to run Iraq?

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14 comments:

Anonymous said...

A team of Kurd, Shia, Sunny. Score an assist for a Kurd, score a goal for a Sunny. Good teamwork. This team is doing all their training and work in Jordan [as per some reports they have NOT played in IRAQ for years]. The team shows that PERFORMANCE MATTERS. Today the IRAQI Parliament took off for a one month vacation. It is nice to see the do-nothing IRAQI Parliament taking a break. Now what we need is for the IRAQI Soccer Team to take over day to day operations of the IRAQI government because THEY CAN MAKE THINGS HAPPEN!

v/r tlrb

Paul Champagne said...

tlrb ... but only if they are taking directions from a Brazilian coach.

Jenny! said...

I guess if you put a huge ugly trophy as a reward...anyone can work together! It's too bad that politics doesn't work that way...like, hey I want to help bring peace...but only if there's a big trophy for me!

Paul Champagne said...

jenny ... what would you like inscribed on your trophy?

Anonymous said...

Yes, big difference now, playing without FEAR.

The team is allowed to make mistakes [NOW]. That was not the case when one of Saddam's sons was in charge of IRAQ's sport teams.

Uday "took care" of losing team players [more on the link].

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uday_Hussein

v/r tlrb

Keshi said...

**and this team is that it was made up of Shia, Sunnis, and Kurds.

what a great message it cries out! UNITY, PEACE AND HARMONY can be achieved if we work as a team!

Keshi.

Terri@SteelMagnolia said...

Amazin!!

David said...

Too bad the soccer team isn't the parliament. BTW, I changed my blog title from Where's Dinwiddie? to Mischief.

Jenny! said...

It doesn't matter what's inscribed on it...I would just melt it all down to make a super cool grill!

Mike Minzes said...

Money!! All things lead back to money. Take some away from the government and make them earn it.
If they reach goals in the alloted time, they get some of it back.

The government there has all the money.

These players earned the small salary they get by working hard an showing results. We should apply the same rules to the Iraqi government.

Anonymous said...

korea won japan.
i know we are always the loser...
thanks paul-chan for ur funny post!!

Paul Champagne said...

tlrb ... You are right on the money, I don't think a lot of tears were shed when Uday went to meet Allah.

keshi ... the message screams out that "together we are stronger", the question is ... Is any one listening?

terri ... It's an amazing ezample ... though one that will be dismissed I fear.

david ... is mischief a fitting title? I don't see you as a trouble maker. Is there something we don't know? And more importantly, can I sell this information to the tabloids?

jenny ... melt it down? but there are so many things you can use it for. My fav is as a really ugly candy dish.

mike ... economic sanctions are hard to implement when the results of taking away money may cause some of the Iraqi people to go without food, drinking water or electricity. However, using the carrot approach, we could give the Iraqi legislators bonuses for doing their jobs well ... come to think of it, I wonder if that would work in the US?

niki ... Japan wasn't a loser because they made it into the competition ... many countries did not.

Keshi said...

thats the sad part. no one WNATS to listen.

Keshi.

Anonymous said...

really? thank u paul-chan!
sooo sweet of u! :)