‘Blasphemous’ balls anger Afghans
bbc news
A demonstration has been held in south- east Afghanistan accusing US troops of insulting Islam after they distributed footballs bearing the name of Allah.
The balls showed the Saudi Arabian flag which features the Koranic declaration of faith.
The US military said the idea had been to give something for Afghan children to enjoy and they did not realise it would cause offence.
The footballs were dropped from a helicopter in Khost province.
Some displayed flags from countries all over the world, including Saudi Arabia, which features the shahada, one of the five pillars of Islam – the declaration of faith.
The words, which include the name of Allah, are revered, and Muslims are very sensitive about where and how they can be used.
Saudi Arabia has complained to the World Cup’s ruling body in the past about the use of its flag on footballs.
Mullahs in Afghanistan criticised the US forces for their insensitivity, and around 100 people held a demonstration in Khost.
Afghan MP Mirwais Yasini said: “To have a verse of the Koran on something you kick with your foot would be an insult in any Muslim country around the world.”
A spokeswoman for the US forces in Afghanistan said they made “significant efforts to work with local leaders, mullahs and elders to respect their culture” and distributing the footballs was an effort to give a gift the Afghan children would enjoy.
“Unfortunately,” she added, “there was something on those footballs we didn’t immediately understand to be offensive and we regret that as we do not want to offend.”
Wild Thing’s comment……..
Islamic holy writings on pig skin! GO MARINES!
Thuffering Thuccotash! You can’t win with these people! Oh, bitch, bitch, bitch. These cavemen even bitch about free soccer balls. Give them a truckload of pigskin footballs and tell them to STFU.
Muslims are very sensitive about where and how they can be used.
Obvious copyright infringement. Allah can only be used when one is planning to kill. DUH!
… you just don’t get it that unless we convert to Islam, we are always going to be infidels and the great satan – period! ‘Winning hearts and minds’ flopped in Vietnam, and it’s uesless with a religious war between crusaders and islamomaniacs. Try dropping pork chops from the chopper next time because when nobody is around, only bones will remain.
Why do we go so far out of our way to make friends with every person in the world. We are there to get Osama, and kill his followers.
No we are also suppose to be ambassadors of good will, Screw the good will, get the job done and we are out of there.
Back in 1981 when we were flying Elf One missions out or Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the AWACS guys somehow got hold of a goat for a mascot. They copied a Saudi line badge, put the goats picture on it, and hung it around the neck of the goat. When the Saudis saw it, they went ape. Like above, it has some sacred religious mumbo-jumbo on it. They had to get rid of the fake line badge and also the goat which had defiled their king and religion.
Oh, give me a break!!!!! There HAS GOT to be something in the water over there. No normal human, nation, race or religion could actually be this weird…without some sort of chemical or biological influence.
Let’s get back to soccer/football/futbol. Some American Indian tribes played soccer with the heads of their enemies. Perhaps the Marines could use a new “playbook”.
Hey, Darth! Would those be … “pork choppers”? Har; har; he; he; snarf. Ok, I’ll go back to bed.
Insanity. I dn’t see how we will ever co-exist with this cult. These mullahs make our wildest evangelical preachers look rational.
Someday the big bombs are going to have to fly.
What can we expect from some raghead in baggy pants squatting over a fresh pile of human fecal material picking through it with his left hand in his search for allah in their mental derangement. They are the bully on the block, either stand up to them or cower in fear, it seems that the only thing the pacifists see is appeasement as a way to solve everything.
It’s a ball you stupid idiot mooslims–it’s a toy.
stop getting all huffy puffy and pretending you’re hurt when you’re not.
You ever think that some of the beliefs you have might be offensive to us? But we’re more mature and don’t let things like that get to us.
Who knows, maybe such a toy could bridge the gap between you and us. Games have always done that. It’s all in good fun.
Darth, as a professional Infidel myself I agree with you. I sure hope we stay the great Satan, I love being in first place.
heh heh
Mark I agree, I wish they had not apologized like they did. Just my opinon but it is how I feel about this PS of giving in to them.
Bob, LMAO what a great story, I love it except for the part of getting rid of the goat.
What fun to do that and get them riled up. heh heh
SSgt Steve, Hahahaha OH yessssss
Tom, I agree there is no way of changing them. No way, not really and certainly not the majority.
Jack I agree, I would love to have had them do just that and stand right up to them.
Lynn your so right, but at this rate even games will not do it unless the equipment is politically allah correct. sheesh.
Thanks Lynn.
Shortly after 9/11 an Indian friend of mine was talking about the ongoing tension between India and the surrounding islamic nations, Pakistan in particular.
My friend said ‘muslims can’t get along with anyone.’
NO SH*T!!!!
Beth ditto to what you said, they sure can’t. They don’t even make an effort to try and get along. grrr