http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/25/41414.aspxBy Richard Engel, Middle East bureau chief Missing a goal in Iraq has always come at a cost. Saddam Hussein's psychopathic son Uday, at one time the national soccer team's overall manager, would order players whipped and beaten if they lost games;en-USCommunityServer 2.0 (Build: 60608.1)http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/25/41414.aspx#41432Thu, 25 Jan 2007 13:56:03 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:41432Chris Eldridge, Harrisburg PARichard, in your opinion, can they divide Iraq like they did so successfully in Bosnia? Instead of light trucks and Hummers wouldn't spcifically designed armord internal security vehicles be much more idea for peace keeping duties? Almost all nations have such vehicles except the US. Britan used them to confront the IRA. The French VAB or the British Saxon come to mind. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/25/41414.aspx#41487Thu, 25 Jan 2007 15:19:18 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:41487marcPerfect example how ridiculous these people are, always an excuse or blaming others. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/25/41414.aspx#41544Thu, 25 Jan 2007 15:56:12 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:41544Alan, Cape Cod, MARichard, I have stopped counting the amount of times that I am amazed when the Red, White and Blue tinted glasses are actually removed from the American Press. I have lived in the US for many years and I love every aspect about it. Even when the naivety seeps out. Your headline "SECTARIAN STRIFE SEEPS TO SOCCER FIELD, TOO" has put yet another smile on my face. With the use of the word "TOO", I chuckle at the fact that you are alluding to a "new" thing that is happening in the World Game of FOOTBALL (a sport played with your feet by the way. Another debate for another time). American Professional sports, with its very passionate fans, are actually fantastically unique in the way that fans interact with each other in an aggressive but semi-non violent way. They are able to wander to any part of the stadium after entry and enjoy their beer and McDonalds from the bars and concessions inside the stadiums. These fans have no clue what happens in other countries. In Europe, you get a police escort to and from the game, you get to sit in your team’s section of the stadium only and alcohol is banned inside the stadium. Tall fences surround the field and each segregated fan area has similar barriers. The segregation of fans and all of the other crowd behavior LAWS are required to stop people from actually killing each other. The reasons behind the difference between the US way and the rest of the world comes down to one thing. SECTARIANISM. It has been around for Hundreds if not Thousands of years. In Glasgow, Scotland, they have two major football teams. Celtic and Rangers. For many years, each team would not sign a player if they did not belong to their Religious Affiliated Beliefs. Celtic only signed Catholics and Rangers only signed Protestants. The clubs were formed in 1888 and 1873 respectively and it was only about 15 years ago that they stopped their sectarian practices. The fans however, still associate themselves to a club based on their religion. This happens in most major cities all over Europe. It may not always be religion, but it is always sectarian in nature. You made me laugh today. Thank you. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/25/41414.aspx#41678Thu, 25 Jan 2007 17:22:59 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:41678Dave MacPherson, Glasgow, ScotlandThere is a third professional soccer side in Glasgow called Partick Thistle who have never indulged in sectarian hatred or a sectarian signing policy. Their supporters are drawn from every community in Glasgow and their supporters do not indulge in sectarian chanting. Please do not tar all Glaswegians with the same brush. Only Rangers and Celtic are institutionally sectarian organizations.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/25/41414.aspx#41786Thu, 25 Jan 2007 18:34:15 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:41786Jay, Los Angeles Ca.It is A GAME!! there is no Political Agenda one team lost and the other won. God people need to stop reading more than what it is..http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/25/41414.aspx#41824Thu, 25 Jan 2007 19:04:29 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:41824Eric, Abu Dhabi, UAEI watch this game live as I live in Abu Dhabi and we are hosting the 18th Arabian Gulf Cup. I don't know what game this announcer was watching but both teams played like rank amatuers that night. The Iraqis however clearly controled the game but made way too many errors, bad passing, poor shot control and sleeping on their feet at times. The Saudi's, well, they just sucked and whined alot, at times I thought the Saudi's brought in their Olympic Diving team. The Iraqi's should have won but could not get themselves under organized control when it counted. Sectarian division in the team? Managers thowing the game? I think not, more like young players who need more international experience and piss poor commentary by biased sectarian media.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/25/41414.aspx#41841Thu, 25 Jan 2007 19:14:38 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:41841Brian, Sacto, CAI'm surprised they didn't blame the United States for their loss, and swear that it is all part of the "War on Islam". Maybe Terrell Owens should go play football (soccer) for Iraq, he's REAL good at pointing fingers and blaming other people for losing, he'd fit right in!http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/25/41414.aspx#42058Thu, 25 Jan 2007 22:34:03 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42058lDear Mr. Engel, Learning of the continued reports of the sectarian violence in Iraq, I wonder if this will lead to an Iraqi version of the Jim Crow laws? Also, please stay safe. All of you are still in my prayers. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/25/41414.aspx#42069Thu, 25 Jan 2007 22:49:20 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42069Sean, Torrington CTThere is nothing funnier than watching two sects of the same cult argue over who is correct. Well, except watching Star Trek fans argue over the various series. Because the Trekkies usually have more clever word-play.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/25/41414.aspx#42076Thu, 25 Jan 2007 22:56:56 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42076Lisa McNeil, Alpharetta, GeorgiaRichard, These people will find any excuse to hate one another. Maybe if they just respected eachothers differences instead of constantly attacking eachother they might have a decent game of soccer.Take a day off from the violence and enjoy a game of soccer. Act like civil human beings for a change and be nice. You might like it. Stay safe Richard!http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/25/41414.aspx#42295Fri, 26 Jan 2007 13:09:04 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42295Aaron JohnsonThe Zionist and American plan has always been to divide Iraq. It was apart of the plan for the New American Century folks. do you not read?http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/25/41414.aspx#42307Fri, 26 Jan 2007 13:48:01 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42307S.K, NY, NYI don't understand why people need to bring religion into a sport that is loved and enjoyed by the whole world. Why can't they just set aside their petty differences for one day to play and enjoy themselves. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/25/41414.aspx#43001Sat, 27 Jan 2007 17:03:46 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43001Laurel Noel, Leonardtown, Maryland, USAOkay, I guess you could make the argument that I am ignorant, but how is it that a nation of mixed religious sects could live together without this extent of violence (even to the point that Shiites and Sunnis married each other) but now are so divided that a soccer match has lost its innocence? Is it because, before, they were united against a common enemy in the form of Saddam Hussein? I just don't get it. In any case, it is a very sad situation.