In a country that desperately needed a win, this was welcome: Iraqis celebrated a rare moment of national unity this week with the country’s first-ever victory in the Asia Cup soccer tournament. The national team, which includes members of all three warring sects — Shiite, Sunni and Kurd — overcame daunting odds to defeat Saudi Arabia in the championship game.
Will a soccer title turn things around? No. But the win at least shows that Iraqis retain a capacity for nationalist pride and unity. What’s missing are leaders capable of tapping into it.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
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