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Iraqi Reporter Throws Shoes at Bush, Calls Him ‘Dog’

Posted on December 16, 2008
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By Reuters

BAGHDAD – An Iraqi reporter called visiting U.S. President George W. Bush a “dog” in Arabic on Sunday and threw his shoes at him during a news conference in Baghdad.
 
Iraqi security officers and U.S. secret service agents leapt at the man and dragged him struggling and screaming out of the room where Bush was giving a news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
 
The shoes missed their target about 15 feet (4.5 metres) away. One sailed over Bush’s head as he stood next to Maliki and smacked into the wall behind him. Bush smiled uncomfortably and Maliki looked strained.
 
“It doesn’t bother me,” Bush said, urging everyone to calm down as a ruckus broke out in the conference room.
 
When asked about the incident shortly after, Bush made light of it. “I didn’t feel the least threatened by it,” he said.
 
Other Iraqi journalists apologised on behalf of their colleague, a television journalist.
Bush arrived in Baghdad earlier on Sunday on a farewell visit before he leaves office in January. The U.S.-led invasion in 2003 to topple Saddam Hussein triggered years of sectarian bloodshed and insurgency in Iraq, killing tens of thousands

5 thoughts on “Iraqi Reporter Throws Shoes at Bush, Calls Him ‘Dog’”

  1. Andrew Yu-Jen Wang says:
    January 28, 2009 at 12:01 am

    Al-Zaidi is loved by many people.

    Submitted by Andrew Yu-Jen Wang
    B.S., Summa Cum Laude, 1996
    Messiah College, Grantham, PA
    Lower Merion High School, Ardmore, PA, 1993

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  2. Corey Q. says:
    December 23, 2008 at 3:28 am

    President George W. Bush held a press conference with a member of the Iraqi government, and there was a protest made. An Iraqi journalist decided that he was none too happy with Bush’s performance, and set himself on making a statement of protest by throwing his shoes at the President. In America, we’d think a person was nuts for doing this, but in Muslim culture, throwing your shoes at a person is the greatest of insults. The name of the journalist is Muntadhar al-Zeidi, and as he hurled his foot wear he said “This is your farewell kiss, you dog!” The statue of Saddam that was toppled a few years ago had numerous shoes thrown at it, if this could give you an inkling of how serious they take the insult. Bush dodged both loafers, and laughed it off as a “sign of a free society,” like financial options like payday loans are. The man was promptly subdued and jailed. Many people across the Muslim world praised the man for his actions, as President Bush’s image is not a very popular one in the Middle East. The shoes are currently being held as evidence, and the man awaits trial as he could receive up to two years for the offense.

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  3. Francisco says:
    December 23, 2008 at 2:47 am

    From the recent visit of President Bush to Iraq a shoe of an Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zeidi welcomed him. I think for a a person with a high position in the government of a super-power country, it was big insult and en embarrassing experience. In Muslim culture, showing the sole of your shoe is a symbol of extreme disrespect, but throwing your shoes goes deeper than an insult. Beleaguered Iraqi citizens took off their shoes and threw them at the toppling statue of Saddam Hussein during liberation – that will tell you more about what an insult it is. Bush laughed this off and referred to it as a “sign of a free society,” much like payday loans are. If convicted, he is looking at a minimum of two years in prison for insulting a visiting head of state. Protesters burned American flags and threw shoes at a tank in Najaf, apparently because they feel al-Zeidi should be praised for his “courageous” action. Al-Zeidi and his infamous footwear are still in custody. I doubt there’s any way of getting his shoes back. Click to read more on Payday Loans.

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  4. Christian S says:
    December 23, 2008 at 2:47 am

    A shoe thrown by an Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zeidi from a recent visit to Iraq last Sunday has welcomed President Bush. The Iraqi journalist who felt almost disgusted at the U.S. President’s treatment of his country had decisively taken off his shoes and hurled them at President Bush. In Muslim culture, hit footwear fling is an insult of the highest magnitude. Good Muslims remove their shoes before taking sanctuary in a mosque. Besieged Iraqi citizens threw their shoes at the toppling statue of Saddam Hussein during liberation, so that should better explain the depth of this insult. Muntadhar al-Zeidi, is viewed as a hero across the Middle East. A Libyan charity group called Wa Attassimou proclaims that the Iraqi authorities should release al-Zeidi and he should be honored for his deed. Bush, on the other hand, laughed it off and referred to it as a “sign of a free society,” similar to what payday loans are. The mad journalist is still in custody and the infamous footwear is being held for evidence. Click to read more on Payday Loans.

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  5. Ricardo R says:
    December 23, 2008 at 2:46 am

    The farewell kiss of the Iraqi journalist is not sweet. President Bush must be very flexible because he was able to avoid the shoe being thrown on him. Well, everyone was surprised that the President of the super-power country was given that kind of hospitality of the said Iraqi journalist identified as Muntadhar al-Zeidi. Some of us might think that throwing shoes to a president is a crazy idea but for Muslim culture, hit footwear fling is an insult of the highest magnitude. That’s why some people on Iraq appeal that al-Zeidi must be released in prison because what he did was a very courageous act and he is now viewed as a hero across the Middle East. Bush, on the other hand, laughed it off and referred to it as a “sign of a free society,” similar to what payday loans are. The mad journalist is still in custody and the infamous footwear is being held for evidence.

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