Charles at LittleGreenFootballs makes this point:

A revealing report about the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Athens: Games Opening Ceremony Full of Spectacle. (Hat tip: Ghost.)

There was huge applause for Afghanistan on its return to Olympic competition after an eight-year absence and with its first female athletes.

The entrance of the more than 500-member U.S. team - led by basketball guard Dawn Staley - drew cheers. But some people also stood and put their thumbs down in an apparent show of displeasure for the war in Iraq. Moments later, the Iraqis entered to a roaring ovation.

So the Europeans are thrilled that Afghans can return to the Olympics with female athletes, and that Iraqi athletes can compete without fear of being tortured by Uday Hussein if they perform badly—but the country that made all of this possible is scorned.

To be fair, scorned only by some, but a good point nevertheless.