Ingrates!

Mark Clark, the spokesman for the Iraqi Olympic squad in Athens, accused journalists of taking advantage of the players. "They are not very sophisticated politically. Whoever posed these questions knew the answers would be negative. It is possible something was lost in translation. The players are entitled to their opinions but we are disappointed," he said.

"Mark Clark" is the spokesman for the Iraqi Olympic squad? That tells you just 'bout all you need to know. Everything is about Bush administration PR. If only we could better stage manage the occupation.

But in the bigger scheme of things, the reaction of the football players paints a disturbing picture for our hopes for a successful occupation, as Matt Yglesias points out.

More depressing thoughts via Brad DeLong -- an email exchange between a young North African woman and a marketing professor here in the U.S. The freepers burst blood vessels when they hear "otherwise" educated young people in North African countries speak of their hatred for America. Yeah, their TV coverage is easy on their corrupt governments and blame American policy toward Israel for everything from terrorism to premature male baldness. It may be "wrong-headed" to conflate George W. Bush with Saddam Hussein. But the feelings are real. And they indicate many more troubles for us in years to come unless we can begin to deal with these issues with something more than Air Cav.

Speaking of ingrates, that British bastard won't take our Congressional Medal of Honour [sic]!