19 Responses to Iraqi Journalist Speaks His Truth to Power: Throws Shoes at Bush

1. Margot December 14th, 2008 at 10:41 am «

   Isn’t this the same thing they did to the pulled-down statue of Hussein?
   Ah yes, here’s the link from 2003.
2. Laura Doty December 14th, 2008 at 10:47 am «

   Good memory, Margot! I’m thinking it would be a nice sign of solidarity if we started sending Bush little farewell gestures: the sole of a shoe.
3. dakine01 December 14th, 2008 at 10:55 am «

   I wonder if the shoes were made by NunnBush?
4. Laura Doty December 14th, 2008 at 11:21 am «

   We can count on McClatchy, of course, to have the best details. Television journalist Muthathar al Zaidi covered the U.S. bombing of Sadr City last spring, and was described as “emotionally influenced” by it. He also was kidnapped and held by Shiite gunmen for three days, in 2007. Bodyguards wrestles al Zaidi to the ground and hustled him out. Two other journalists were briefly detained, one of whom called al Zaidi’s act “courageous.” Too right.
5. btlowery December 14th, 2008 at 11:40 am «

   Interestingly, I think this incident says more about what Iraq has become than what Bush did to Iraq. A place where you can actually insult leaders and live to see another day. Ironically, an act of protest reassures the goals of the person he is protesting.

   See the Dicta.
• macaquerman December 14th, 2008 at 11:43 am «

  Democracy is insulting, as well as messy?
• Teddy Partridge December 14th, 2008 at 11:54 am «

  It remains to be seen whether the shoe-throwing hero will live to see another day.
6. Teddy Partridge December 14th, 2008 at 12:05 pm «

   Video here
• bluebutterfly December 14th, 2008 at 12:12 pm «

  Thank you for the video. Now I understand..too f…king funny!
7. bluebutterfly December 14th, 2008 at 12:10 pm «

   Pulling down Sadaam’s statue was a military propaganda move. Click on the thumbnails and see how few people were really there. A staged psyops.
   http://www.guardian.co.uk/gall/0,,933922,00.html

   I’d like to think that the guy would get a reward. Too bad he missed…what a photo that would have been. Got to wonder why the crowd was allowed close enough for someone to throw a shoe? Nobody gets that close to Bush in the US.
8. Kitt December 14th, 2008 at 2:16 pm «

   That guy has been practicing winging shoes. He danged near got ‘im.
9. GorillasGuides December 14th, 2008 at 2:40 pm «

   Hi Laura,

   We got a heads up/translation request from Siun. I left translation on Teddy’s post

   Here’s what I made out from the not very clear audio:

   First Shoe:

   This is the gift from the Irakis this is the farewell kiss you dog.

   Second Shoe:

   This is from the widows, the orphans and those killed in Irak

   Erdla
• BooRadley December 14th, 2008 at 7:10 pm «

  Thank you very much.
10. Laura Doty December 14th, 2008 at 2:53 pm «

    Thanks so much, Erdla. I saw that at Teddy’s and appreciate you adding it in here, too. al Zaidi seems like a man with a lot of heart. I hope he’s safe.
11. Laura Doty December 14th, 2008 at 4:08 pm «

    Iraqi bloggers react to soleful fling.
12. newtonusr December 14th, 2008 at 4:21 pm «

    I hate to laugh at a time like this, but really, this is funny well beyond irony.
13. Leen December 15th, 2008 at 9:38 am «

    Throw shoes at Bush
    http://www.kroma.no/2008/bushgame/

    Just wrote to Code Pink asking them to start a “SHOE THROWER’S DEFENSE FUND” Please contact them or anyone other group that would have the where with all to get such a fund started. This man needs to know that he has our support, admiration and appreciation

    Please contact Code Pink or anyone else that could pull this off

    http://www.codepink4peace.org/contactus.php
14. HunterSThompson December 15th, 2008 at 1:23 pm «

    Everybody who is in DC now or before January 20, 2009, please go to the White House & show support for Muntadhar al-Zeidi by tossing a pair of shoes over the fence into W’s yard.

    The media will pick up on this. Perhaps the shoes can go to the homeless.

    “This is a farewell kiss, you dog,…”
15. bd2rhoades December 15th, 2008 at 9:43 pm «

    It is great Freedom-of-speech in action! Only time will tell if this new Iraqi freedom will live on. Just remember that in the not long ago past everyone in Iraqi that agreed with him would of been shot and their families killed.

    It is working!