Bush Shoe Thrower: Press Asserts al-Zaidi Had Saddam, Baathist Connections

It seems to be emerging as an accepted fact that Muntather al-Zaidi, the reporter who threw both his shoes at President George W. Bush this weekend, had specific ideological connections to Saddam Hussein and/or the Ba'ath Party, a pleasing conceit that seems intended to isolate al-Zaidi from an Iraqi populace who have, by and large, soured on the U.S. occupation. The most commonly cited source would appear to be this blog post from the New York Times "Baghdad Bureau," which notes that al-Zaidi -- in addition to having a rather commonplace "long-building anger towards the United States military presence in Iraq" -- also had "ties to Saddam Hussein's Baath Party," and was "head of the student union under Saddam Hussein."

Absent from this account is any indication that al-Zaidi pursued either his fealty to Saddam or the Ba'ath Party with any particular zeal. While several people are quoted in the article describing al-Zaidi's politics and positions -- and not always in a positive light -- none attest to any particular love for Saddam Hussein or his ruling party. In a thoughtful piece from the Washington Independent, Spencer Ackerman explains that this is an example of the press jumping to an untenable conclusion:

First of all, Iraqis under Saddam did whatever they had to do to survive given the reality of a totalitarian regime. Baghdad metal band Acrassicauda wrote a song praising Saddam so they could get some funding for equipment. Did al-Zaidi head his student union because he wanted to head a student union or because he believes deeply in the glory of Saddam Hussein? I don't know and you don't either.

And it's completely irrelevant. al-Zaidi has become a symbol in Iraq and the Middle East because the occupation of Iraq is an unwelcome intrusion. Calling al-Zaidi a Baathist is a particularly pathetic way to put one's head in the sand instead of confronting this simple reality. (You know who were also Baathists? Thousands of the so-called Sons of Iraq.)

The Times has abundant evidence that al-Zaidi detested President Bush, took the occupation personally, and had planned to make a symbolic, attention-seeking statement to that effect. But nowhere is it conclusively proven that he was motivated by anything having to do with Saddam Hussein or the Ba'ath Party. Indeed, based upon the extent to which al-Zaidi has been exalted in Iraq, I'd say it's fair to note that al-Zaidi was expressing a very mainstream dissatisfaction.

Comments

[happykiddo]

Only simple minded sheep thinks that the killings in Iraq is directly linked to Bush. Its the price of freedom. Look it up in the history books.

[dogwatch]

You have used only one of those sheep. Is there a message in this singularity?

[pam125]

Ah, don't you just love freedom when it's delivered at the end of a gun and with "shock and awe" bombing - and of course it had nothing to do with Bush. He was just the commander in chief. By the same logic, you could say Saddam was not responsible for any of the things his army did during his time in power. And if you look it up in the history books, I really don't think it's going to say "price of freedom". More likely, foolish adventure, ill-judged arrogant invasion, incompetent, greedy and corrupt mismanagement. The list is endless

[RevMetheus]

Freedom from?

You cant even define your loose idea of freedom, but have already decided that human life is a small price to pay for it (even if its not your life or your freedom to decide.)

Look up what in the history books? Civil war? Occupational forces? How about expansionist corporate colonialization? I dont think they have listings for Wars of Pique.

[NJmikeV]

The shoes from all the amputees in Iraq would make an obscenely large pile.

[TRCimino]

Saying that the U. S. liberated Iraq is like saying Peter Bogdonovitch liberated Dorthy Stratton.

Because of our intervention Iraq is, and will remain a powder keg. The catalyst to their explosion is time.

On 911 we were attacked by Al Qaeda. Our response: To invade the one true enemy of this group, the Nation of Iraq. Soon after, Al Qaeda found refuge in this war torn country; enticed by our invitation. If this "shoe" incident isn't an indicator of a bigger problem, I don't know what is.

[plumnelly]

Yes, Yes , and Yes. Thank you!

[handychuck]

Man!! Possible 15 years for THROWING SHOES. That is insane. I hate to come off as belittling the President however the dude threw shoes. HE THREW HIS SHOES! OMG!!! Around a here a dude just got sentenced to 20 years for shooting and killing 2 missionaries on bicycles in his neighborhood to hide another crime. 15 years for political protest of throwing shoes...co­me on. Thats insane. The dude opted to use non-lethal protest. Isn't non-lethal interaction what is most abundantly needed in Iraq at this time. Had the dude opted to lethal protest, who's father, son, mother, or sister would pay the ultimate price for stubborn politics that prevent non-lethal interactions that could lead to compromising dialogue resulting in some sort of peace. President Bush is an honorable man for his responses. I hope that President Bush steps up to the plate in this guys defense if facing such a lengthy term for throwing a shoe.

[zaz33]

He spoke for the overwhelming majority of Iraquis and billions of people around the world.

He spoke for the millions that have died because of Bush's decisions.

This humiliatin may be the closest to justice that Bush may experience.

The video is an appriate legacy for the Bush administration.

A small step for Justice.

[happykiddo]

so i guess if you were iraqi then you would rather live under saddam's rule? i didn't know there were so many sheep on this site.

[Lemeritus]

You can't seriously still believe that our invasion of a sovereign country was a benevolent act for which we should be proud! How do you justify the deaths -- not just of our troops, but of the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis?

I keep a picture of an Iraqi man that was once on the front page of the Washington Post -- I don't know if he was Sunni or Shia, whether he supported Saddam or greeted us a liberators; I do know that his tunic is stained with the blood of his small son whose lifeless body he holds in his arms as he wails in agony. And I know (more subjectively, I guess, I feel) that we created this moment, this tragedy that can never be made right.

If it's evil you want to fight, there is evil aplenty -- Rwanda, Darfur, Sudan -- worse than Saddam, endless and so vast the mind wearies and turns away before it can fully grasp the horror. Unless we are willing to confront EVIL writ large, Iraq was nothing more than a Bush conceit that has cost the lives of not only 4,000 of our bravest and best but one small, innocent child too many.

[fedupwithpolitics]

Better to live under Saddam's rule than to die under Bush's. And if Saddam is the best you can come up with to compare to the US president, nuff said.

[LongBeachDave]

Sadaam was a murderous tyrant, but you think things are better now? TWO MILLION Iraqis have been displaced, driven from their homes, forced into exile in other countries.­..this is freedom? Bush chose this war because he wanted it. The man deserves more than shoes thrown at him, he deserves the BOOK thrown at him. He, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and the whole sordid crew should be locked up for the remainder of their lives for the war crimes they have committed. Since you are not Iraqi, how do you know what they would rather do? You just assume everyone wants to be like Americans, but believe it or not, that is not the case.

[plumnelly]

AMEN!

[helonias]

They were out of tomatoes

[2178743]

What difference does it make? He attacked the President of the United States. You don't do that, even when your feelings have been hurt. This is taught in Kindergarten.

Useful Opinions

[wmfor]

What about the President of a country other than the United States? Are they fair game, because we is da bestest?

In any case, I doubt al-Zaidi went to the same kindergarten that you did. (I myself don't remember the lesson on not attacking the President in kindergart­en.)

[ipv4]

lololoolol­olololo..h­ahaha.. .that was a joke right?

[NJmikeV]

Feelings hurt?

If you took all the shoes from all the amputees in Iraq, he would be buried under a rather large pile.

[pam125]

Lame duck president who has brought dishonor to the United States and who attacked this man's country. Try to imagine yourself in his shoes - you might have done worse.
I think Bush got off light. If he had guts he'd walk the streets of Baghdad or any other town in the country he "liberated" - wonder how long he'd survive Iraqis' gratitude?

[fedupwithpolitics]

Maybe in US kindergarten--when one is not under foreign occupation, not being bombed by a foreign country, and not living in anarchy without human rights. The "rules of etiquette" are suspended during oppression.

[ptarantino]

Anybody throwing a shoe @ George Bush Jr. is a proud member of the human race.

[nellieh]

Unfortunately, Bush can't comprehend the meaning.

[RoXXanne]

Let him come to the Netherlands, we have wooden shoes... :)

[Lilly06]

lol....

[horsey]

they needed some propaganda as to why this guy was so angry at Bush and they didn't want it to be the war so they came up with the "Saddam follower" story.

Al-Zaidi should be freed.

[sasidechick]

You are exactly right. There must be something "wrong" with him to be mad at Bush. This is what his administration does. According to them, there is nothing wrong with any of them...it'­s always been someone else's fault for everything: bad intelligence, lies from people being tortured, etc.

I can't wait until January 20th. I think the world will breathe a sigh of relief when the worst POTUS is gone.

[LoyalOpposition]

Shoe thrower exalted in Iraq? Heck he's exalted here in the U.S. and everywhere around the world. We admire his courage to speak truth to power. The man did something on behalf of all the people in the world who find the Bush policies repulsive and dangerous.

[Lilly06]

I second admiring his courage. Noone has any love for Bush and after a million plus Iraqis dead, why should the people of Iraq.

[ipv4]

This guy is my heroe.

[plumnelly]

Hear, Hear!

[lalalalalalala]

Its a DUH question. I live in the UK and people didnt exactly want him to get hurt, but its been very amusing for a while. But its no longer amusing that the guy should be prosecuted for it. I think Bush should use some of his weight and ask them to be lenient. That would make me like him more.

[catallaxdeville]

ABSOLUTELY.

prove you are a man, George. push to have him pardoned..­.immediate­ly.

[woodbuck]

hey, doesn't anyone remember the angry americans who threw eggs at the bush limo before the inagural in 2000. i only wish the msm media press core had the balls to do verbally what this guy did physically.

[heartsick]

Bush needs to stop his overseas travel! This has been my position for more than a year. (And Lord knows Cheney needs to stay inside his house!) Bush is just asking for trouble for America when he travels outside our borders. He cannot spin his legacy into something other than what it is. He needs to accept that his legacy is and will be abysmal. He can't change it . He is continuing his assault on consumer protections for Americans by signing laws that favor business over the health of Americans. He can help his legacy if he has the sense to stop his "screw the people" campaign.

[rr52]

Like the guy needed connection to a particular party in order to spawn contempt for Bush.

[AlphaDoc]

Indeed. There are a lot of people right here in America with no connections at all to either Saddam Hussein of the Ba'ath Party who wouldn't hesitate to throw both their shoes and their funky socks at our departing President. Heck, I'd unload my whole laundry hamper at him if given half a chance . . . and add in the contents of the dog poop bucket from my backyard.