World Cup soccer returns to Kabul, Afghanistan

CNN ^ | Nov. 23, 2003 | AP

[FairOpinion]

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- World Cup soccer returned to Afghanistan in a match at the stadium where the ousted Taliban regime once carried out executions.

The home team lost 2-0 to neighboring Turkmenistan in Sunday's game, but that was beside the point. Some 2,500 Afghan fans cheered every time their side got the ball to midfield.

[FairOpinion]

Good news!

The first paragraph says it all. Do the Dems, French and others wish the Taliban were still executing the poor Afghan people, instead?

"World Cup soccer returned to Afghanistan in a match at the stadium where the ousted Taliban regime once carried out executions. "

[FairOpinion]

good news ping

"KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- World Cup soccer returned to Afghanistan in a match at the stadium where the ousted Taliban regime once carried out executions.

The Taliban, which came to power in 1996 and imposed their strict version of Islamic law until being ousted by a U.S.-led coalition in late 2001, initially banned soccer. The regime later relented, but demanded players wear long pants and sleeves and ordered them to stop for prayers during matches. Fans were forbidden to cheer.

The Taliban used Kabul's main stadium for public executions, dragging condemned men and women to midfield. One fan said he remembered watching as two convicted criminals had their throats slit, their blood running into the penalty area."

And this is all thanks to President Bush, our brave US military and our allies.

[ellery]

Still, fans and players said they felt immense pride to host a match sanctioned by soccer's world body, though some said they were embarrassed by the condition of the stadium, which is still pocked by bullets and a bit short on grass.

They have nothing to be ashamed of. They should feel immense pride that they have come through the pits of h*ll with their spirits still alive. Bravo, friends in Afghanistan!!!

[U S Army EOD]

The Afgans were once asked why they used the soccer stadium for the public executions. Their reply was because they could get the most people in there to watch. They also commented that if someone would be kind enough to build them a big enough stadium designed just to hold executions, they would just as soon us that. Trust me, I am not making this up. I wonder when they get television established in the country will they have the Wide World of Executions and sponsors will fight for ads during important executions. Stuff like, "I had rather drink a Bud before I have my head chopped off". I wouldn't put it past these morons. It is going to take many generations of our influence to civilize these people.

[FairOpinion]

That may have been during the Taliban era -- they basically wanted to have a stadium JUST for soccer.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

"In other news, Kabul residents rejected a tenth of a percent goat tax increase for a new stadium."

[dighton]

Fans were forbidden to cheer.

The Taliban in a nutshell.

[U S Army EOD]

I certainly hope it works out that way. However, the Taliban were basically a reflection of their society. Then again, less than 200 years ago in this country, public executions were treated as gay affairs by a lot of people.

[July 4th]

Bravo to the Afghanis!

[McGavin999]

Still, fans and players said they felt immense pride to host a match sanctioned by soccer's world body, though some said they were embarrassed by the condition of the stadium, which is still pocked by bullets and a bit short on grass.

Don't be embarrassed, get out some concrete and patch those holes and plant some grass. Make it a community project.

[July 4th]

Let's get the pic in here:

[FairOpinion]

Thanks for posting the picture. :)

The illustration always helps.

[jocon307]

"Ahmad is too young to remember the last internationally sanctioned match on Afghan soil, which was before the 1979 Soviet invasion that plunged the country into nearly a quarter-century of war."

"It is going to take many generations of our influence to civilize these people."

You are correct! This is going to be the next great slog. But I feel in my heat we will do it. And I know in my mind that we must.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

The home team lost 2-0 to neighboring Turkmenistan in Sunday's game, but that was beside the point. Some 2,500 Afghan fans cheered every time their side got the ball to midfield.

"Today is a happy day," said Mohammed Qasim, 22, a policemen guarding the field. "This used to be an execution ground for the old regime. But sport is an ambassador of peace."

~~~~~~~~~~
Freedom, ping!

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[PGalt]

bump!

[MEG33]

The last piblic execution in the United States was attended by 20,000 people in Owensboro,Kentucky in 1936.

[blackie]

World Cup soccer returns to Kabul, Afghanistan ~ Bump!

[sandlady]

bump