Iraqi journalist throws shoes at Bush...

[ThaBigP]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=081214175033.cnbkqgnx&show_article=1

:lmao:

[theogt]

Apparently all Bush had to say about the incident was that the shoe was a size 10. No, I'm not joking.

[ThaBigP]

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20081214/capt.ad89b25f9836472c833202fc6fc88418.bush_wx108.j pg

[Cajuncowboy]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=081214175033.cnbkqgnx&show_article=1

:lmao:

Oh, that's hilarious. :rolleyes:

I think it's moronic to even find it humorous.

[bbgun]

Christmas comes early for the Left. Ten bucks says that guy gets his own show on MSNBC.

[cowboys#1]

Oh, that's hilarious. :rolleyes:

I think it's moronic to even find it humorous.
i think its totally the opposite of what you think

[Cajuncowboy]

i think its totally the opposite of what you think

I think it's disrespectful.

What do you think it is?

[xWraithx]

OM3Z_Kskl_U&

:laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2:

[canters]

pretty much sums up his 8 yrs with the far left elements of the MSM here in the US.

[theogt]

Even Bush himself found it humorous.

[Cajuncowboy]

Even Bush himself found it humorous.

Self deprecating humor doesn't count.

[Rogah]

Great reflexes, Mr. President..!!
nAGdsoaZUyE

[theogt]

Self deprecating humor doesn't count.Uh...okay.

[jimmy40]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=081214175033.cnbkqgnx&show_article=1

:lmao:Isn't that some kind of degrading thing over there?

[BrAinPaiNt]

:laugh1: Gotta give W some props, he still got some moves.

[bbgun]

:laugh1: Gotta give W some props, he still got some moves.

I bet Bubba's just as agile. You know he's had a thing or two flung at him by the wife.

[ologan]

That really pisses me off!

[BrAinPaiNt]

I bet Bubba's just as agile. You know he's had a thing or two flung at him by the wife.

:laugh1: :laugh1:

[vta]

Yeah, the shoe thing is some kind of insult over there, hence the beating Sadaams, picture took with shoe's, after the fall of Baghdad.

Bush looked like he had a grin on his face after he side stepped that first shoe.
I want to know what that dude was yelling...

[BrAinPaiNt]

Yeah, the shoe thing is some kind of insult over there, hence the beating Sadaams, picture took with shoe's, after the fall of Baghdad.

Bush looked like he had a grin on his face after he side stepped that first shoe.
I want to know what that dude was yelling...

"This is a farewell kiss, you dog!" shouted the protester in Arabic, later identified as Muntadar al-Zeidi, a correspondent for Al-Baghdadia television, an Iraqi-owned station based in Cairo, Egypt.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/bush

[icyhot]

Christmas comes early for the Left. Ten bucks says that guy gets his own show on MSNBC.
I would say he gets his own shoe contract

[adamc91115]

Would have been nice to see Bush chase that guy down himself and kick his a**.

[xWraithx]

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q102/adamsilver000/2uyod3k.gif

[Hoofbite]

Secret service was a little slow there. How the hell are they supposed to take a bullet if they can't make it in time to take a shoe?



jk.

[ZB9]

I must say that I was impressed with Bush's quicks. He looked like a young Patches O'Houlihan.

[ZB9]

"This is a farewell kiss, you dog!" shouted the protester in Arabic, later identified as Muntadar al-Zeidi, a correspondent for Al-Baghdadia television, an Iraqi-owned station based in Cairo, Egypt.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/bush

further Arabic translation from when the shoe thrower was being wrestled to the ground...

"Dont taze me, infidel dog"

[sacase]

Isn't that some kind of degrading thing over there?

Yeah very insulting. I would almost feel sory for the guy if he didn't insult the leader of our country.

He is going to roast for that. I would not be shocked if he was dead in a month.

[hairic]

Secret service was a little slow there. How the hell are they supposed to take a bullet if they can't make it in time to take a shoe?



jk.

Yep. From now on, the president will be the only one priviliged to wear shoes. All other shoes must be greater than 50 yards of the president. It'd be like a restraining order against shoes.

He is going to roast for that. I would not be shocked if he was dead in a month.

Eye for an eye indeed.

[ZB9]

He is going to roast for that. I would not be shocked if he was dead in a month.

he will probably be offered a show on MSNBC

[vta]

"This is a farewell kiss, you dog!" shouted the protester in Arabic, later identified as Muntadar al-Zeidi, a correspondent for Al-Baghdadia television, an Iraqi-owned station based in Cairo, Egypt.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/bush

Thanks.
I understand the implications, but I can't help but laugh a bit. Not much else you can do really, so... hehe. :)

[jimmy40]

Yeah very insulting. I would almost feel sory for the guy if he didn't insult the leader of our country.

He is going to roast for that. I would not be shocked if he was dead in a month.They should crank up the old human grinder and remind him of old times.

[ZB9]

They were nice shoes. They looked like artoli's. He must have been much happier when Sadaam was slaughtering Kurds and he was reaping all of the benefits.

[burmafrd]

Would be interesting to find out more about his background. I am willing to bet there is some interesting links found there.

[ThaBigP]

Oh, that's hilarious. :rolleyes:

I think it's moronic to even find it humorous.

Of course it was a very disrespectful spectacle...

But come on. A guy threw shoes at Bush. Consider lately I've been reading the world's media and getting nothing but "Europe is on fire", and "If you're in Zimbabwe, you're probably already dead" type articles. Between that and forecasts of the US dollar (and other debt-based currencies) soon being practically worthless...I found it a nice (if strange) diversion. Remember also a few years ago sombody tossed a grenade on stage with Bush in Europe, a fact that went undiscovered until after the event. Only by the grace of God did the grenade turn out to be a dud. I'd take shoes any day myself.

I also think Bush handled the situation with dignity...more so than the size-10 tosser...

[Sasquatch]

I can't say that I found it particularly amusing. Sad that people have so little respect for the president of the US.

[theogt]

I can't say that I found it particularly amusing. Sad that people have so little respect for the president of the US.There may be people that are laughing at the president, but I think most, including myself, were laughing at the act of throwing a shoe at a president. It's just silly.

[burmafrd]

Since I am here in Kuwait it is being talked about that that journalist may have ties to Al Sadr. His so called "Kidnapping" some months ago was treated as suspicious by the police-since those that did it seem to have been allied with Al Sadr.

[Aikbach]

I can't say that I found it particularly amusing. Sad that people have so little respect for the president of the US.Indeed, woe to the Arab culture that has scarcely departed from the stone age since many among them find their chief delight in the flinging of a shoe as if honor hung in the balance by the toss of a penny loafer.

[Danny White]

Bush seems unperturbed by the whole thing... more amused actually.

He's got some Neo-like matrix moves there!

http://www.afrojacks.com/images/stories/Bush_dodges_shoes.gif

[theogt]

I think Bush is laughing as it happens.

[Sasquatch]

I think Bush is laughing as it happens.

Most definitely. I love Maliki's half-hearted attempt to swat the second one.

[Bizwah]

I think Bush is laughing as it happens.

He's a baseball guy.

Come on...the guy is throwing shoes at near point-blank range and can't hit him.

What a crappy arm!

The Royals should look at the guy.

[ZeroClub]

Like others have said, Bush showed some quick reflexes there. Good for him.

This event would be more difficult to simply shrug off had the President of the United State been given a black eye and/or some sort of visable injury.

[hairic]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7783608.stm


Iraq rally for Bush shoe attacker


http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45298000/jpg/_45298702_iraq.jpg
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/inline_dashed_line.gif

Bush shoe-ing worst Arab insult (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7783325.stm)

Thousands of Iraqis have demanded the release of a local TV reporter who threw his shoes at US President George W Bush at a Baghdad news conference.
Crowds gathered in Baghdad's Sadr City district, calling for "hero" Muntadar al-Zaidi to be freed from custody.
Officials at the Iraqi-owned TV station, al-Baghdadiya, called for the release of their journalist, saying he was exercising freedom of expression.
Iraqi officials have described the incident as shameful.
A statement released by the government said Mr Zaidi's actions, which also included him shouting insults at President Bush, "harmed the reputation of Iraqi journalists and Iraqi journalism in general".
Correspondents say the protesters are supporters of Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr - a leading critic of the US presence in Iraq. Smaller protests were reported in Basra and Najaf.


Advertisement

President Bush ducks as the shoes are thrown

The Iraqi government has demanded an on-air apology from his employer.
An Iraqi official was quoted by the Associated Press as saying that the journalist was being interrogated to determine whether anybody paid him to throw his shoes at President Bush.
He was also being tested for alcohol and drugs, and his shoes were being held as evidence, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The Cairo-based al-Baghdadiya TV channel said Mr Zaidi should be freed because he had been exercising freedom of expression - something which the Americans had promised to Iraqis on the ousting of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
"Any measures against Muntadar will be considered the acts of a dictatorial regime," the firm said in a statement.
The programming director for al-Baghdadiya, Muzhir al-Khafaji, described the journalist as a "proud Arab and an open-minded man".
He said he was afraid for Mr Zaidi's safety, adding that the reporter had been arrested by US officials twice before.
"We fear that our correspondents in Iraq will be arrested. We have 200 correspondents there," he added.
'Proud Arab'
Mr Zaidi leapt from his chair at Sunday's news conference and hurled first one shoe and then the other at Mr Bush, who was joined at the podium by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/start_quote_rb.gif He [George Bush] deserves to be hit with 100, not just one or two shoes. Who wants him to come here? http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/end_quote_rb.gif


A Baghdad resident

The shoes missed as Mr Bush ducked, and Mr Zaidi was immediately wrestled to the ground by security guards and frogmarched from the room.
"This is a farewell kiss, you dog," he yelled in Arabic as he threw his shoes. "This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq."
Arabic TV stations have been repeatedly showing footage of the incident, which was also front-page news in many papers.
Correspondents say the journalist's tirade was echoed by Arabs across the Middle East who are fed up with US policy in the region.
"He [George Bush] deserves to be hit with 100, not just one or two shoes. Who wants him to come here?" said a man in Baghdad.
But his view was not expressed by everyone.
"I think this incident is unnecessary, to be honest. That was a press conference, not a war. If someone wants to express his opinion he should do so in the proper manner, not this way," said another Baghdad resident.
Courts criticised
Also on Monday, Human Rights Watch accused Iraq's main criminal court of failing to meet basic international standards of justice.
The New York-based group said torture and abuse of prisoners before trial appeared common, and legal representation was often ineffectual.
Human Rights Watch said some of the court's failings showed disturbing similarities to those that existed during the Saddam Hussein era.
The group called on Iraq to take immediate steps to protect detainees from torture, and ensure they had access to proper defence and received a prompt hearing.
That freedom of expression claim is invalid.

[vta]

Most definitely. I love Maliki's half-hearted attempt to swat the second one.

They both look so blasé about it, that's what makes it so laughable.
Bush has half a grin and Maliki looks like he's watching a commercial.

[Sasquatch]

They both look so blasé about it, that's what makes it so laughable.
Bush has half a grin and Maliki looks like he's watching a commercial.

I found the sudden violence of the initial gesture to be somewhat disturbing, not being accustomed to seeing the POTUS so exposed, but you're right that the casual reactions of the two leaders between the first and second shoe almost give it the appearance of being staged.

[Rogah]

I can't say that I found it particularly amusing. Sad that people have so little respect for the president of the US.No matter who the President is, there is always going to be someone who hates him. Fortunately this guy won't exactly be going down in history with the likes of Lee Harbey Oswald or John Wilkes Booth.

1 lunatic Iraqi reporter throws a shoe at Bush and then 15 Iraqi reporters express shame and humiliation, begging the President for forgiveness for their countryman's action. So that tells me that there is no serious problem with respect for the President over there.

[Sasquatch]

So that tells me that there is no serious problem with respect for the President over there.

Iraqi public opinion seems a little more divided than that.

NYTimes (http://baghdadbureau.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/15/iraqis-pick-up-their-shoes-reaction-from-around-the-country/?hp) on the reaction to the incident in Iraq.

[ABQCOWBOY]

President Bush fends off "Iraq Attack"



Page last updated at 14:32 GMT, Monday, 15 December 2008



Bedlam in Bagdad today as President "Crash Davis" Bush and Reporter "Ebby Calvin LaLoosh" al-Zaidi squared off in front of a Gallery of reporters.


al-Zaidi was reported to have said, "I don't hit no man first!"

To which President Bush responded, "All right then, hit me in the chest with this." as the President tossed over a pair of Size 10 Gouchi Loafers.

Reportedly, al-Zaidi responded with, "I'd KILL ya!".

The President calmly replied, "Yeah? From what I hear, you couldn't hit water if you fell out of a boat." The President went on to say, "Come on, right here, right in the chest.".

al-Zaidi shouted back, "NO WAY!"

The President continued to call on al-Zaidi saying, "C'mon, Meat! Throw it! You know you're not gonna hit me, cause you've already started to think about it, eh? Thinkin' about how embarassing it would be to miss in front of all these people, how somebody might laugh? Come on, 'rook, show us that million-dollar arm. 'Cause I got; oh yeah, I got a good idea about that five-cent head of yours"

Reportedly, it was at this point when al-Zaidi reared back and fired the Size 10 Loafer at President Bush as hard as he could. The Shoes sailed passed President Bush, landing harmlessly on the floor behind the President.

The President was heard to utter, "Ball Four."

al-Zaidi immediatly took offense to this and yelled out, "Who the x#*! are you man?"

al-Zaidi then started towards the President when President Bush launches a right cross to the Jaw of al-Zaidi, connecting with al-Zaidi square on the chin. al-Zaidi immediatly went down as security and Secret Service men surronunded him.

al-Zaidi, holding his jaw, said, "Good Punch."

The scene concluded when President Bush leaned over the microphone and said, "I'm Crash Davis; I'm your new catcher, and you just got lesson number one; Don't think. You can only hurt the ball club."



Story filled by CBZ -ABQCOWBOY

[vta]

From above article...

Dhyaa Mahdi Salih, a 56-year-old lawyer, said: “What this brave journalist did is nothing but rejecting the tyrants in our country. And this journalist deserves to have a statue as he was throwing his shoe at the American president.”

Really?
How brave of him, when he had nearly 30 years of opportunity to throw his shoes at a real tyrant, instead he chose to do so at the guy responsible for dumping that tyrant and freeing him up to do such a thing in that country, without being hung for it.

[Phrozen Phil]

I watched this for the first time and was struck by how ironic it was. Had anybody thrown a shoe at Saddam Hussein, the consequences would have been quite dire. Perhaps things have come a ways since then. Bush handled it quite well and made light of it. The idea that the reporter was exercising "freedom of expression" is frankly laughable.

Throwing the shoe was an attempt to assault Bush and should be regarded as such. The incident is frankly, just plain weird. I'm trying to think of an appropriate punishment for the crime, and I keep coming back to something connected with shoes. Something of Biblical proportions and nasty to boot.

The subsequent "rally" strikes me as an empty political gesture. Mr Bush may want to go home soon, though. It may not be quite as safe as he'd hoped.

[bbgun]

Bush seems unperturbed by the whole thing... more amused actually.

He's got some Neo-like matrix moves there!

http://www.afrojacks.com/images/stories/Bush_dodges_shoes.gif

This guy makes McNabb look accurate.

[Danny White]

"You fight like a woman." :laugh2:

5D5oKEVqQJg

[Rogah]

Iraqi public opinion seems a little more divided than that.

NYTimes (http://baghdadbureau.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/15/iraqis-pick-up-their-shoes-reaction-from-around-the-country/?hp) on the reaction to the incident in Iraq.Well I disagree. I don't think it is as divided as you and the NYTimes seem to think. Oh, I don't delude myself into thinking that everyone over there loves Bush. Hell, like ZB9 said, this guy will probably have an evening show on MSNBC now.

But I believe there is a silent majority over there very appreciative and approving of the job the American forces have done in the past 5 years.

[Sasquatch]

Well I disagree. I don't think it is as divided as you and the NYTimes seem to think.

On what are you basing your opinion?

[JiggsCasey]

I wonder what Americans would throw at a foreign invader's leader, as he smugly stood before the podium and spewed one lie after another in the wake of the deaths of 100,000+ of our citizens.

[bbgun]

Would be interesting to find out more about his background. I am willing to bet there is some interesting links found there.

He works for Baghdadiya Television, which, according to Juan Cole, "supports the Sunni Arab insurgents fighting the US and the al-Maliki government".

Shocking, no?

[Viper]

It would have been better if Bush caught it, sat down and tried one on... thrown it over his shoulder and said... nope it don't fit.

[Sasquatch]

He works for Baghdadiya Television, which, according to Juan Cole, "supports the Sunni Arab insurgents fighting the US and the al-Maliki government".

Shocking, no?

Is Juan Cole a reputable source? :)

[bbgun]

Is Juan Cole a reputable source? :)

I find him repulsive, but he's right.

[Maikeru-sama]

What a complete idiot.

I hope the Secret Service stomped the heck out of him.

[Sasquatch]

I find him repulsive, but he's right.

On this particular issue or in general?

[bbgun]

On this particular issue or in general?

The latter.

[DaBoys4Life]

Iraq rally for Bush shoe attacker


http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45298000/jpg/_45298702_iraq.jpg
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/inline_dashed_line.gif

Bush shoe-ing worst Arab insult (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7783325.stm)

Thousands of Iraqis have demanded the release of a local TV reporter who threw his shoes at US President George W Bush at a Baghdad news conference.
Crowds gathered in Baghdad's Sadr City district, calling for "hero" Muntadar al-Zaidi to be freed from custody.
Officials at the Iraqi-owned TV station, al-Baghdadiya, called for the release of their journalist, saying he was exercising freedom of expression.
Iraqi officials have described the incident as shameful.
A statement released by the government said Mr Zaidi's actions, which also included him shouting insults at President Bush, "harmed the reputation of Iraqi journalists and Iraqi journalism in general".
Correspondents say the protesters are supporters of Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr - a leading critic of the US presence in Iraq. Smaller protests were reported in Basra and Najaf.


Advertisement

President Bush ducks as the shoes are thrown

The Iraqi government has demanded an on-air apology from his employer.
An Iraqi official was quoted by the Associated Press as saying that the journalist was being interrogated to determine whether anybody paid him to throw his shoes at President Bush.
He was also being tested for alcohol and drugs, and his shoes were being held as evidence, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The Cairo-based al-Baghdadiya TV channel said Mr Zaidi should be freed because he had been exercising freedom of expression - something which the Americans had promised to Iraqis on the ousting of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
"Any measures against Muntadar will be considered the acts of a dictatorial regime," the firm said in a statement.
The programming director for al-Baghdadiya, Muzhir al-Khafaji, described the journalist as a "proud Arab and an open-minded man".
He said he was afraid for Mr Zaidi's safety, adding that the reporter had been arrested by US officials twice before.
"We fear that our correspondents in Iraq will be arrested. We have 200 correspondents there," he added.
'Proud Arab'
Mr Zaidi leapt from his chair at Sunday's news conference and hurled first one shoe and then the other at Mr Bush, who was joined at the podium by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/start_quote_rb.gif He [George Bush] deserves to be hit with 100, not just one or two shoes. Who wants him to come here? http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/end_quote_rb.gif


A Baghdad resident

The shoes missed as Mr Bush ducked, and Mr Zaidi was immediately wrestled to the ground by security guards and frogmarched from the room.
"This is a farewell kiss, you dog," he yelled in Arabic as he threw his shoes. "This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq."
Arabic TV stations have been repeatedly showing footage of the incident, which was also front-page news in many papers.
Correspondents say the journalist's tirade was echoed by Arabs across the Middle East who are fed up with US policy in the region.
"He [George Bush] deserves to be hit with 100, not just one or two shoes. Who wants him to come here?" said a man in Baghdad.
But his view was not expressed by everyone.
"I think this incident is unnecessary, to be honest. That was a press conference, not a war. If someone wants to express his opinion he should do so in the proper manner, not this way," said another Baghdad resident.
Courts criticised
Also on Monday, Human Rights Watch accused Iraq's main criminal court of failing to meet basic international standards of justice.
The New York-based group said torture and abuse of prisoners before trial appeared common, and legal representation was often ineffectual.
Human Rights Watch said some of the court's failings showed disturbing similarities to those that existed during the Saddam Hussein era.
The group called on Iraq to take immediate steps to protect detainees from torture, and ensure they had access to proper defence and received a prompt hearing.

Ungrateful *******s there's a reason why yall have freedom of expression.....

[Danny White]

The unedited footage:

http://s.buzzfeed.com/raw/bush-shoe-throw/bush-shoe-throw-06.gif

[vta]

The unedited footage:

http://s.buzzfeed.com/raw/bush-shoe-throw/bush-shoe-throw-06.gif

Fantastic...

:laugh2:

[MrMom]

:laugh2:

[Rogah]

On what are you basing your opinion?On my personal thoughts and observations of the situation that have been derived from reading/following multiple news outlets, as well as various internet blogs.

[Rowdy]

The unedited footage:

http://s.buzzfeed.com/raw/bush-shoe-throw/bush-shoe-throw-06.gif

That's a shoe-in for best video of the day.

[Rogah]

That's a shoe-in for best video of the day.Amen!! I've already sent it to everyone I know!! :laugh1:

[ZB9]

http://www.evilinternet.com/images/bushshoe.jpg

http://www.hostthenpost.com/uploads/4f7743ec0ab2af5991aa976a009b87b2.gif

[burmafrd]

Juan Cole is at LEAST as reputable as the NY Times is, Sasqie.

[xWraithx]

That's a shoe-in for best video of the day.

the Secret Service there was not properly trained to take down a shoeter.

[hairic]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7785338.stm

Shoe thrower 'beaten in custody'


http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45301000/jpg/_45301649__45298115_1-1.jpg Muntadar al-Zaidi was wrestled to the ground and dragged away

The brother of the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at US President George W Bush has said that the reporter has been beaten in custody.
Muntadar al-Zaidi has suffered a broken hand, broken ribs and internal bleeding, as well as an eye injury, his older brother, Dargham, told the BBC.
Mr Zaidi threw his shoes at Mr Bush at a news conference, calling him "a dog".
The head of Iraq's journalists' union told the BBC that officials told him Mr Zaidi was being treated well.
The union head, Mouyyad al-Lami, said he hoped to visit his colleague later.
An Iraqi official said Mr Zaidi had been handed over to the judicial authorities, according to the AFP news agency.
Earlier, Dargham al-Zaidi told the BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Baghdad he believed his brother had been taken to a US military hospital in the Iraqi capital.
A second day of rallies in support of Mr Zaidi have been held across Iraq, calling for his release.
Meanwhile, offers to buy the shoes are being made around the Arab world, reports say.
Hero figure
Mr Zaidi told our correspondent that despite offers from many lawyers his brother has not been given access to a legal representative since being arrested by forces under the command of Mowaffaq al-Rubaie, Iraq's national security adviser.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/start_quote_rb.gif We hope the government and judiciary consider his release because he has a family and he is still young http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/end_quote_rb.gif


Mouyyad al-Lami, Iraqi journalists' union

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/inline_dashed_line.gif

Mid East press glee at incident (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7785837.stm)
Bush shoe-ing worst Arab insult (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7783325.stm)
Send us your comments (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7785338.stm#bottom)

The Iraqi authorities have said the 28-year-old will be prosecuted under Iraqi law, although it is not yet clear what the charges might be. Iraqi lawyers have speculated that he could face charges of insulting a foreign leader and the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri Maliki, who was standing next to President Bush during the incident. The offence carries a maximum penalty of two years in jail.
Our correspondent says that the previously little-known journalist from the private Cairo-based al-Baghdadia TV has become a hero to many, not just in Iraq but across the Arab world, for what many saw as a fitting send-off for a deeply unpopular US president.
As he flung the shoes, Mr Zaidi shouted: "This is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog."
Dargham al-Zaidi told the BBC that his brother deliberately bought Iraqi-made shoes, which were dark brown with laces. They were bought from a shop on al-Khyam street, a well-known shopping street in central Baghdad.
However, not everyone in Iraq has been supportive of the journalist's action.
Speaking earlier in Baghdad, Mouyyad al-Lami described Mr Zaidi's action as "strange and unprofessional", but urged Mr Maliki to show compassion.
"Even if he has made a mistake, the government and the judiciary are broad-minded and we hope they consider his release because he has a family and he is still young," he told the Associated Press news agency.
"We hope this case ends before going to court."
Abducted by insurgents
The shoes themselves are said to have attracted bids from around the Arab world.
According to unconfirmed newspaper reports, the former coach of the Iraqi national football team, Adnan Hamad, has offered $100,000 (£65,000) for the shoes, while a Saudi citizen has apparently offered $10m (£6.5m).

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45300000/jpg/_45300796_alzeidi_ap220.jpg Mr Zaidi said his actions were for Iraqi widows and orphans

The daughter of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Aicha, said her charity would honour the reporter with a medal of courage, saying his action was a "victory for human rights". The charity called on the media to support Mr Zaidi and put pressure on the Iraqi government to free him.
Mr Zaidi, who lives in Baghdad, has worked for al-Baghdadia for three years.
Muzhir al-Khafaji, programming director for the channel, described him as a "proud Arab and an open-minded man".
He said that Mr Zaidi was a graduate of communications from Baghdad University.
"He has no ties with the former regime. His family was arrested under Saddam's regime," he said.
Mr Zaidi has previously been abducted by insurgents and held twice for questioning by US forces in Iraq.
In November 2007 he was kidnapped by a gang on his way to work in central Baghdad and released three days later without a ransom.
He said at the time that the kidnappers had beaten him until he lost consciousness, and used his necktie to blindfold him.
Mr Zaidi never learned the identity of his kidnappers, who questioned him about his work before letting him go.

[ABQCOWBOY]

"Mr Zaidi never learned the identity of his kidnappers, who questioned him about his work before letting him go."

According to al-Zaidi, the kidnappers only left a pair of $1500.00 Armani Loafers with instructions on what they were to be used for.

:rolleyes:

[ethiostar]

I gotta say that i was pretty impressed with Bush's quick moves.

This just in.... the Purple Cobras led by White Goodman are currently in heavy negotiation with Bush's agent in an attempt to sign the president after he steps down from his current position.

[ABQCOWBOY]

I gotta say that i was pretty impressed with Bush's quick moves.

This just in.... the Purple Cobras led by White Goodman are currently in heavy negotiation with Bush's agent in an attempt to sign the president after he steps down from his current position.

This just in: Stephen Jones of the Dallas Cowboys has commented on rumors that the Cowboys Organization has put out subtle enquires as to the availablitly of George W. Bush after his commitments the the U.S. Government are up in January. Reportedly, the Cowboys may be interested in Bush as a backup RB. With the injuries sustained to Starter Marion Barber and Rookie phenom Felix Jones, that leaves the team very thing at RB. While Rookie 4th Rd pick, Tashard Choice has proven to be very valuable indeed, the Cowboys do not wish to be caught in a situation where another injury to RB might leave them with nobody left to fill the void. After the very impressive work out, shown by President Bush at his press conference yesterday, the Cowboys may be interested in signing Bush to see what's left in the tank. According to the Cowboys, inquires are very preliminary and the organization has not initiated contact with Bush's agent as yet. However, expect the Cowboys to move quickly, in an attempt to prevent any other teams from signing George Bush, should the teams inquires prove positive.

[JiggsCasey]

that was unfortunate...

[SuspectCorner]

Almost like he did with Vladimir Putin, Dubya looked the Iraqi journalist in his eyes - and he saw his sole.

Then he saw another one flashing by. Then he praised the Lord that Iraqi journalists only have two feet.

[burmafrd]

Comic opera. Well I bet he is regretting tossing the shoes now, unless he likes busted bones and black eyes.

[DFWJC]

"The daughter of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Aicha, said her charity would honour the reporter with a medal of courage, saying his action was a "victory for human rights".

LOL. Human Rights! What? So Saddam was some kind of human rights leader...he was one of the worst in the last 100 years. Post saddam Iraq has FAR more human rights. People need to get some perspective.

[DFWJC]

What a complete idiot.

I hope the Secret Service stomped the heck out of him.

I think the Iraqi security detail will be doing that. It could have just as easily been aimed at their guy.