Iraqi says he threw shoes at Bush to restore pride
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43 Comments
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0
likeitis
And its about damned time too.
But, but, but...he said he was not tortured over the phone from inside the prison! Surely his kind kind guards let him speak freely and privately! I just can't imagine that he would have said anything but the truth back then. And a judge who saw him privately said he was fine.
Well, we will never really know now. Two and a half months is plenty of time to heal. And who made the decision to wait? Who stacked that deck?
I would not put it past this guy to lie for sympathy, but the thing is, the authorities could have and should have cut that real short by much quicker public appearances or even releasing him on bail. All they have done is given us ample reason to be completely suspicious of them.
0
SushiSake3
I think much of the rest of the world wished Muntadhar al-Zeidi's shoe had struck the intended target.
0
Sarge
"the humiliation Iraq had suffered at U.S. hands"
How about the deaths of 4000 U.S. servicemembers in order to give the Iraqis a chance at governing themselves, you ungrateful... grrrrrr!
0
SushiSake3
Sarge, you are wrong on so many levels. You still just don't get it. You think Iraqis should somehow be greatful to a country that invaded them without reason?
Heh, no wonder the Republicans got slaughtered in November. :-)
0
tclh
Without Bush ,there will still be Sadam Hussein and no show of "shoes throwing", fair is fair. Anyway it is new chapter now, the new administration shows that the world is not all about ME matters.
0
likeitis
Just how many years of gratitude does that entail Sarge? How many civilian deaths until throwing shoes becomes "ungrateful"?
I think the guy was grateful. But gratitude has its limits.
0
buddha4brains
Duh, no not every US soldier shoots guns either. But to imply that the US presence in Iraq has been ... how does one say ... not meriting protest or a few cuss words is delusional.
0
whitepocky
Pittance really in comparison to the amount of civilians killed in Iraq. Not to mention those who have been displaced. I must say though the words echoed in the preface to the Vietnamese Remnants War Museum stating that American power would never put another nation through what the Vietnamese suffered is somewhat laughable.
Though I don't condone his actions, I can see just why Al-Zeidi did what he did.
0
buddha4brains
Sorry. Sarge set me off with his snide "gratitude" comment - as if there was nothing to protest - and I just included in my outburst.
To clarify what I think, sure most military personal probably try to do there jobs, but I distrust anyone trying to pawn off their military as something akin to boy scouts beit Americans in Iraq, Japanese in China, Canadians in Germany any war anywhere cruel and degrading activities will happen: war is a cruel and degrading business.
For anyone to suggest that the Iraqis have no cause for protest because of somehow soldiers are sanctified from the horrors of war is to demonstrate a deep disrespect towards the Iraqi people. Trying to preserve ones dignity in horrible circumstances deserves a nod of respect - even if it is something as pitiful as throwing ones shoes.
0
adaydream
I understand why he threw his shoes at bush.
I'm sorry he missed, also. < :-)
0
likeitis
It sounds like Bush was saying something just as self-righteous as Sarge before those shoes got thrown. No surprise now that Sarge is getting verbal shoes thrown at him.
0
WayneRooney10
News showed them throwing their shoes at Mrs Clinton, when she visited Indonesia the other day.It's all about pride!
0
poshdrivel
"telling the judges he wanted to hit back at the humiliation Iraq had suffered at U.S. hands."
Yep, having to rely on another country to provide for your freedoms is humiliating !
0
poshdrivel
Sushisake3,
"Sarge, you are wrong on so many levels. You still just don't get it. You think Iraqis should somehow be greatful to a country that invaded them without reason?"
Are these the same Iraqis that couldn't get a noose around Saddam Husseins neck quick enough ?
0
cleo
No, those Iraqis were the ex-pats who floated in after the invasion on Chalabi's coat tails. No more than 150 people in the square, including US Marines and the press corps. A set piece for the cameras.
Moderator: Back on topic please.
0
SushiSake3
Muntadher al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist on trial for throwing his shoes last year at then-President George W. Bush, said the former American leader's "bloodless and soulless smile" and his joking banter provoked him.
"I could only see Bush and feel the blood of the innocents flow under his feet, as he was smiling that smile -- as if he had come to bid farewell to Iraq and with the last support and more than 1 million martyrs," al-Zaidi said. "At that moment, I felt this is the man who killed our nation ... the main murderer and the main person responsible for killing our nation." [Source. CNN]
I doubt even Sarge could disagree with that....
0
sharky1
This guy just wants to run for office one day. Heel be a shoe in...
0
boitoi
very nice Muntadhar al-Zeidi! high five!
0
yabits
Bush and Cheney remind me of the CEOs of companies that are going into a death spiral, and still get in front of people and lie through their teeth about how things are positive. People who can see the truth have the choice to put up with the pretense or respond in a non-violent way.
What is most revealing about this incident is how much other ordinary Iraqis have applauded it. Towards Iraq, Bush acted as the little punk with a big chip on his shoulder, and it is a great tragedy that so many Iraqis, Americans, Brits and others had to suffer and die as a result of his folly.
0
Sarge
"Are these the same Iraqis who couldn't get a noose around Saddam Hussein's neck quick enough?"
No, they're the same Iraqis who couldn't beat the fallen Saddam statue with their shoes.
0
Sarge
Sorry, meant to say, they're the same Iraqis who beat the fallen Saddam statue with their shoes.
0
TexasAggie
What do you think would have happened to this guy if he had thrown both of his shoes at Saddam Hussein?
Can you say, Hello, Mr. woodchipper?
0
adaydream
yabits comment is so true:
He's not disrespecting the ones who died and were wounded, he speaking the truth. george bush sacrificed the American people for his own personal goals.
The Iraqi citizens have a country that has been destroyed by the george bush's ambitions. Their cities and infrastructures were totally destroyed because of george bush and the self-exiled Iraqis who wanted Saddam dead. Their goals were personal also. Take control of Iraq through the United States efforts, not because the Iraqi people wanted Saddam out.
george bush did this and I understand where Muntadhar al-Zeidi’s feelings were when he threw his shoes. < :-)
0
yabits
No matter whether we were supporting Saddam or destroying the country in order to "liberate" it, it is hard to fault the Iraqis for being cynical and for thinking the US is only in it for themselves, especially for those who have profited from the war. The cheering by Iraqis over the shoe-throwing incident is an indicator just how massive the folly of this war was.
Moderator: Readers, Saddam Hussein is not relevant to this discussion.
0
smithinjapan
Bush deserved more than a couple shoes thrown at him: he deservers both shoes from every single person killed since the illegal invasion began. I'm sure that's something at least the world could unite on, regardless of nationality, gender, age, religion, etc. Hell, charge money for it and you could set the American economy straight again -- and it would be bush that did it!
As others have said, it's just at shame that the shoes missed.
0
Taka313
Here's hoping for a full pardon.
For the reporter, that is.
Taka
0
buddha4brains
Of course Bush's term as ... whatever it was ... started on 9/12/01.
Does that mean the GWH Bush was responsible for the first attack on the WTC because it happened within weeks of Clinton's inauguration?
Seems like you think Bush Jr. is a pussy because it isn't strong enough to be held responsible for what happened during his term in office. Clinton on the other hand is a real leader because you feel he is strong enough to carry another leader's blame.
0
TheQuestion
So...instead of protesting or showing his frustration in a conventional manner...the guy throws a shoe, and see's nothing wrong with it.
Man media must really be going down hill if all they've got to run on is a twice heated shoe left over from a few weeks ago.
0
smithinjapan
"So...instead of protesting or showing his frustration in a conventional manner...the guy throws a shoe, and see's nothing wrong with it."
I don't think he saw 'nothing wrong' with what he did, but it certainly didn't warrant the torture and beatings he got in 'freedumized' Iraq (proving it's really no different than it was before).
0
Sarge
"Here's hoping for a full pardon"
What! And let law-breakers go unpunished?
The Iraqis are now governed by rule of law, unlike before the liberation, when they were under the boot of you know who.
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