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

[PoliticalAmazon]

Oh, for pity's sake. The issue is that Zaidi's anger was against the architect of the illegal invasion, occupation and destruction of Zaidi's country.

This would be like me being a strong supporter of Obama, Mugabe invades and occupies America, I get to cover a press conference where Mugabe is speaking, Mugabe then says his visit is "one last gift to the people of America," which pushes me over the edge, I throw one and then two shoes at him, am arrested-t­ortured-in­terrogated­, and then the Mugabe sycophants try to discredit my righteous anger at the person who destroyed my country by saying, "Well, you KNOW she was a supporter of Obama, did volunteer work for him, and was a member of the Democratic Party."

What the frack difference does it make what Zaidi was before Bush Jr invaded, occupied, and destroyed his country? Zaidi's anger is at Bush Jr and what he's done to his country. It has nothing to do with Sadam Hussein.

[Johnagain]

Well said.

[vagabondstory]

are you effin kidding me?
http://www.vagabondstory.com

[walk0nwalls]

F@#k the deluded sitting president.

[UrbanPork]

Given your use of language, you could be the governor of Illinois

[DFutureIsNow]

From what I have seen reported so far he is a Shiite. I doubt he would be a member of Saddams party which is mainly a Sunni party.

[11907281]

Tell that to McCain!!

[WmC]

Seems to me the sympathy protests occurred in Sadr City which reinforces the notion of Shiite connections.

[Bitsko]

Let the disinformation campaign continue!

[Marlyn]

"had ties to Saddam" ???

So what? (to quote Powell, Cheney, and GW Bush)

[learnsomething]

Marlyn...d­on't distort the truth, please. The only one who said 'so what', is Bush.

[research]

Of Course: there could be no possible other explanation for his aberrant behavior.

Or could there?

[AliMB]

I agree that there is inconclusive evidence to support that Mr. Al-Zaidi was a Saddam loyalist and thus acted out of those convictions. However, to conclude that this man is a hero to the arab world is also a stretch. I am rather confident that he is a hero to the a large amount of Arabs, maybe even the majority. But not all Arabs had positive things to say about his actions, partly because Arabs (particular those with a traditional tribal culture) value hospitality, and insulting an invited guest, however disliked, would be considered an offense. I know for a fact that Marines would meet with Tribal leaders allied to insurgent groups, many of whom had family members killed by them, yet when recieivng Americans they were treated in a courteous manner. As an american, it would be my sincere wish that more posters would take offense to Mr. Al-Zaidi action's because it was insult to the President of the United States (whether you like President Bush or not). Bush may be the worst president ever, but he still should be afforded respect. I'm sure PE Obama would tell you the same.

[11907281]

I forgot to add, I actually have a reference for my accusations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prescott_Bush

[ErnestineBass]

Oh, there's more dirt on the Bush family than you know, dear...muc­h, much more.

http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/cgi-bin/blogs/voices.php/2006/10/05/dynasty_of_death_part_1

[11907281]

Ok, guilt by association again ... lets try putting the "shoe" on the other foot. Prescott Bush was dubbya's grandfather, Prescott Bush was also on the Board of Directors of Union Banking Corp and that company was seized under the "trading with the enemy act" for being a n@zi money front. Therefore, Dubbya supports and is part of the 3rd reich.

[balatro]

It's no surprise that Huffers support Saadam and his followers over President Bush. obama deserves the same kind of support.

[RRG64]

It has nothing to do with supporting Saddam. Bush has brought shame on this country, helped ruin our economy and rape the middle class here in the USA and he expects a "Mission Accomplished" Victory tour in Iraq? Get Real. He deserves quite a bit more than a shoe thrown at him, he deserves jail time along with the rest of his apple dumpling gang.

[electricflag]

You should move to a different country.

[PoliticalAmazon]

It's no surprise that parrots sqwawk whatever they're programmed to squwawk without ever knowing whether its true or not.

[ErnestineBass]

Rush much?

[jerryfromcalifornia]

I'm sure thats true, I also know that he knows where Judge Crater and Jimmy Hoffa is.
I also know for a fact that he killed Cock Robin.

[eva belle]

Delusioner­-In-Chief.

[Omidal]

Regardless, his sentiment is approved by the Arab world. Humiliation for all of us even if we do not agree with Bush or not.

[Purobi]

Speak for yourself.

[Tulka2]

I for one, DEMAND to see the face of this Al-Zaidi. Any self-respecting American journalist who comes face to face with G.W.Bush must ask after Al-Zaidi's health. In a democracy, a person doesn't get beaten within an inch of their life for throwing a shoe... or a pie... or a taunt. So this is the democracy for which we lost over four thousand of our own sons and daughters>

[live]

exactly-ty

[pam125]

You are so right! Even if the shoe had made contact, I don't think it warrants broken arms and ribs and years in jail. Freedom? Democracy? Where's the evidence for that? We should all demand Zaidi's immediate release.