BAGHDAD: The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at U.S. President George W. Bush in a supreme insult has suddenly become the talk of Iraq, hailed by marchers as a national hero but blasted by the government as a barbarian. The little-known Shi'ite reporter, said to have harboured anger against Bush for the thousands of Iraqis who died after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, had previously made headlines only once, when he was briefly kidnapped by unknown gunmen in 2007. TV reporter Muntazer al-Zaidi remained in detention on Monday, accused by the Iraqi government of a "barbaric act." He would be sent for trial on charges of insulting the Iraqi state, said the prime minister's media advisor, Yasin Majeed. His employer, independent al-Baghdadiya television, demanded his release and demonstrators rallied for him in Baghdad's Sadr City, in the southern Shi'ite stronghold of Basra and in the holy city of Najaf, where some threw shoes at a U.S. convoy. The journalist flung one shoe at Bush, forcing him to duck, followed by another, which sailed over Bush's head and slammed into the wall behind him. Throwing shoes at someone is the worst possible insult in the Arab world. Zaidi was dragged struggling and screaming from the room by security guards and could be heard shouting outside while the news conference continued after momentary mayhem. The government said Zaidi had carried out "a barbaric and ignominious act" that was not fitting of the media's role and demanded an apology from his television station. Al-Baghdadiya television played endless patriotic music, with Zaidi's face plastered across the screen. A newscaster solemnly read out a statement calling for his release, "in accordance with the democratic era and the freedom of expression that Iraqis were promised by U.S authorities." It said that any harsh measures taken against the reporter would be reminders of the "dictatorial era" that Washington said its forces invaded Iraq to end. source
It just goes to show how far behind Iraqis are if they consider throwing a shoe at someone a deep insult. LOL! You've gotta give Bush credit though - for an older man, he has fantastic reflexes, which made the dumb ass reporter look even more stupid.
Kash - This is your second thread on the silly shoe-throw story, even though there were already TWO others going. Can we look forward to additional breaches of forum regs or have you just about got it out of your system?
Talk of Iraq, he is the talk of the world. I can't seem to open any radio talk without the mention of this incident (even conservative talk radio). Peace,
So is it not a crime to throw stuff at people in Iraq? I think in my neck of the woods I would probably get taken to jail, get bailed out in like an hour, and maybe pay a fine or do some community service since no one actually got hurt. Make that person a foreign leader and I have no idea what would happen to me.