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US President George W. Bush seems to be exploiting every means to win the presidential election that is just around the corner.
However, he has put himself in a new embarrassing situation by broadcasting a TV commercial that links Iraq's and Afghanistan's participation in the ongoing Athens Olympic Games to his war against terrorism.
In a campaign to promote Bush's re-election, the ad reads: "Freedom is spreading through the world like a sunrise, and at this Olympics there will be two more free nations and two less terrorist regimes."
To express his support to Iraqis who have been "liberated" by himself from a tyrant, Bush is reportedly planning a visit to Athens to watch the possible football final by the Iraqi soccer team on Saturday - provided that the team wins its semi-final match against Paraguay.
Calling the Iraqi team a symbol of freedom, Bush has the obvious intention of trying to portray himself as an icon of democracy and freedom, especially on the eve of the presidential race.
Bush has had the opposite effect at home and abroad.
The ad has provoked protests from the US Olympic Committee (USOC), which said US federal law grants it exclusive rights to such terms "Olympics" and its five interlocking rings.
It has demanded the ad be pulled from TV broadcasts.
Also, Iraq's football team in Athens has had a furious reaction to the commercial.
Seriously dissatisfied that their efforts are being used to benefit Bush's efforts to win a second term, some of the players on the Iraqi Olympic soccer team have complained the ad is being misused for political purposes.
Adnan Hamd, Iraq's soccer coach, spoke out against Bush's efforts to portray Iraq's recent soccer successes in Athens as a symbol of freedom.
He said his country still is plagued by daily violence, occupied by foreign troops and cannot be called free.
"You cannot speak about a team that represents freedom. We do not have freedom in Iraq. We have an occupying force. This is one of our most miserable times," Adnam Hamd said. "Freedom is just a word for the media. We are living in hard times, under occupation."
Members of the Iraqi team have issued more radical responses, saying they would take up weapons to fight the US troops stationed in Iraq to defend their home.
Bush has made every effort to change the Iraq issue, since he is consistently the target of attacks from the opposition Democratic party.
He has made repeated references to the performance of the Iraqi football team in his campaign speeches.
Facing negative responses from the USOC and Iraqis, Bush's campaign group, however, has shown no intention of pulling the ad. The US law gives the USOC exclusive rights to use the Olympic name to sell goods or services and to promote athletics competition.
To heighten his image for re-election, Bush has turned to the good feelings the Olympics bring to voters.
It seems that Bush neglects the fact his use of the name and image represents a farce, given that the Olympics symbolizes peace and friendship.
It should not be used for cynical political purposes.
(China Daily August 25, 2004)
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