Iraqi journalist throws shoes at President Bush
Posted December 14th, 2008 by RonShimshock
An incredible scene today where President George W. Bush made a surprise visit to Iraq to meet with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. At a press conference with al-Maliki in Baghdad, an Iraqi journalist by the name of Muthathar al Zaidi took off his shoes, stood up, and proceeded to throw his shoes at the head of President Bush:
Throwing a shoe at someone is considered a "grave insult" in the Arab world. The journalist was shouting "this is a farewell kiss, you dog", as he was tackled by fellow journalists and the Secret Service.
Bush was "unfazed by the incident" according to McClatchy Publications, and said, "I didn't feel the least bit threatened by it". The president also stated, "that's what happens in free societies, people try to draw attention to themselves".
According to MSNBC, while Bush did not experience any injuries in the incident, Press Secretary Dana Perino received a black eye in the scuffle to contain al Zaidi.
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Yikes! Guy has an arm on him!
You think maybe we have outstayed our questionable welcome?
I'm thinking yes.
Ax
I thought we were to be "greeted as liberators"? ;-) By the way, Wikipedia has some additional information on "shoe tossing":
This may be an ancient gesture from the Middle East; Psalms 60:8, speaking of some of the traditional enemies of Judah, says that "Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe...." (KJV)
The shoe represents the lowest part of the body (the foot) and displaying or throwing a shoe at someone or something in Arab cultures denotes that the person or thing is "beneath them." Showing the bottom of one's feet or shoes (for example, putting one's feet up on a table or desk) in Arab cultures is considered an extreme insult. Examples include Iraqi citizens smacking torn-down posters of Saddam Hussein with their shoes, and the depiction of President of the United States George H. W. Bush on a tile mosaic of the floor of the Al-Rashid Hotel's lobby, forcing all visitors entering the hotel to walk on Bush's face to enter the hotel.
Also a bit more information about the journalist ... he works for for Al-Baghdadiya TV, an Iraqi-owned station based in Cairo, Egypt. Also it was added that what he said in total was, "this is the farewell kiss you dog… this is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq."