Iraqi Journalist Throws Shoe At Bush

This would be funny, under different circumstances - an Iraqi man throws his shoes at President George W. Bush during a a news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The shoes missed their target (sadly, I wouldadd) and instead landed against the wall behind the two leaders.

The room erupted in chaos and the Iraqi man was dragged away. Bush later claimed that the room (other Iraqi reporters) were shouting their apologies.

The assailant was later identified as television correspondent Muntadar al-Zeidi.

"This is a farewell kiss, you dog," he yelled in Arabic. "This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq."

Excerpts from an AP report:
"The crowd descended on al-Zeidi, who works for Al-Baghdadia television, an Iraqi-owned station based in Cairo, Egypt. He was wrestled to the ground by security officials and then hauled away, moaning as they departed the room. Later, a trail of fresh blood could be seen on the carpet, although the source was not known. In Iraqi culture, throwing shoes at someone is a sign of contempt."

The mass murderer gets shoes thrown at him. Big deal. Iraqi children, women and men have had to contend with shells, bombs, strip searches, imprisonment, humilliation and contempt as a result of Bush's pugnacious war policies. So kudos to the journalist who had the guts to do what so many of us wish we could. Throwing shoes is the least of what this man deserves.

It is not only the Iraqis such as al-Zeidi who are counting to the days when Bush will no longer be President. The world looks foward to it. Good riddance.

I hope that the Iraqi journalist is not tortured in prison by his fellow Iraqis.