Iraq Shoe Thrower, Muntadhar al-Zeidi, Wants Pardon According To Prime Minister's Spokesman

From AP
A spokesman for Iraq's prime minister says the journalist who threw his shoes at President George W. Bush has asked for a pardon.

Spokesman Yassin Majid says that in a letter sent Thursday to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki the journalist described his behavior as "an ugly act" and asked to be pardoned.

Majid says that Muntadhar al-Zeidi in the letter recalls the kindness the prime minister once showed him during an interview in 2005 and asked for al-Maliki to show him kindness once again.

Al-Zeidi, a correspondent for an Iraqi-owned television station based in Cairo, Egypt, could face two years imprisonment for insulting a foreign leader.

Reuters goes into more detail about the letter that Muntadhar al-Zeidi sent to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki:

"Zaidi said in his letter that his big ugly act cannot be excused," Majeed said...

...One of Zaidi's brothers said he had no information about him but found the idea he sent Maliki an apology unbelievable.

"This information is absolutely not true. This is a lie. Muntazer is my brother and I know him very well. He does not apologize," Udai al-Zaidi said. He added: "But if it happened, I tell you it happened under pressure."

Zaidi was brought before an investigating judge on Tuesday and admitted "aggression against a president," a crime that could incur a 15-year sentence, judicial officials said. He could face trial soon.

Comments

[thegeniusfiles]

Time Magazine has already selected Barack Obama as Man of the Year, which is a good choice. But in my book, al-Zeidi is truly the Man of the Year. Who else in the world has had the raw courage to stand up to W so bluntly, in person, and take his lumps for it to boot? Al-Zeidi: Man of the Year. His courage will be remembered just like Tank Man from the Tienanmen Massacre:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank_Man
Al-Zeidi is Man of the Year!

[SeriousBlack]

I think we can all figure out where this "apology" came from.

It was tortured out of him.

Standard operating procedure 90 miles off our shores. Obviously standard operating procedure with someone who dared diss dubya in Iraq.

[smag]

I can't think of one reason Bush should even comment on this incident. Let every one say what they wish. The "thrower" did what he wished and when you act you accept the conswquences; good or bad. Leave it to the Iraqies. If it had been BO bleeding heart liberals would have wanted him shot.

[LeftLeftLeft]

Aw, c'mon! You wouldn't catch me apologizing! And I wear clunky, size 11 Dansko's !

[smag]

So when those who hate Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Dodd, Schumer, Kennedy, or other left wing Senators or Congress persons start throwing shoes at them you won't consider that disrespectful of them and their Office and while you may disagree them you won't condem them even if you think they have discraced their office as Markos Moulitsas thinks is the case of Reid.? Is that right? WRONG!!!!

[leftLibertarian]

The shoe thrower is a Hero

Bush is a War Criminal

[xstevejx]

I know islamic countries have more harsh penalties in general, but this was only really an ATTEMPTED assault. Up to several weeks in jail doesn't seem too unfair, but I'd rather see him freed if the other alternative is several months to years of imprisonment and/or any bodily harm. Still, if we're to see Iraq stand for itself, it's up to them to decide.

[judi4hope]

Ironic contradiction! You mention "see Iraq stand up for itself", yet gestures are very telling there. I was told by friends that even showing the sole of one's shoe is an insult. Does Joe Iraqi have the freedom to do much to stand up for himself? How about Jane Iraqi; does she have any freedom? I wonder if they will be allowed "to decide"? Living overseas for 11 years showed me many things that most Americans will probably never understand. Our expectations are not the norm over there. Be careful when making cultural comparisons.

[thegeniusfiles]

Up to Iraq to decide? Are you serious? If it was up to Iraq to decide, Bush would have been the one to be pummeled and dragged off to prison. Not al-Zeidi. You have no clue about the Iraqi people.

[alexpaul]

AFTER HIS BALLS WERE REMOVED

[alabaman]

I'd like to know why a Secret Service agent didn't bodily shield the president after the first shoe was thrown. Isn't that the protocol they follow? Yes, it was funny to see the shoe thrown and Bush ducked and wasn't hurt. But what if that had been Obama and what if that journalist had drawn a gun or thrown a grenade instead?

[gwazdos]

The reason the Secret Service did shield the Bobble Head Pres. is that they hate him as much as 76% of the American people. The guy that threw the show has more courage than Pelosi, remember her comment - Impeachment is off the table - she was to busy make herself rich and not standing up for the American people that elected her fat ass in office. This guy that threw the show should get a peace prize for having the courage to speak up even though it was through his shoes, i think they - people like Blackwater may have already cut his toung out for daring to speak what all Americans feel. Americans want justice in the form of War Crimes be brought against Bush, Cheney, Rumsfield, Hadley, Feith, Wolfitz, Rice, Addington, and finally Treason charges be brought against Karl Rove and his brother Robert Novak for their role in the Outing of Valerie Plame. Americans do you have balls? them demand action be take- call your fake representative in Congress, give them you shoe!

[DaveC19]

No this guy shouldn't be pardoned, forgiven, anything. He should be punished.

After all... He MISSED!

[Turtleposer]

Ha ha good one! Who can be faulted for the natural urge to throw a shoe at Bush? Missing on the other hand is a serious offense.

[Chip W]

I hope the Iraqis protesting in the streets are aware that lots of people in the US agree with them.

[dphilip]

I'm sure that the insurgents know how much the democrats support them.

[RickMcd85]

This simplistic black and white thinking on the right is the reason Iraq was such a debacle.

Anyone in Iraq opposed to the US invasion of their country is an "insurgent"? Please. Enough of this childish "with us or against us" lunacy.

[neuron]

Bush is lucky it was only a pair of wingtips..­.

[RickMcd85]

I hope this guy is released.

It's not like he hurt anybody. His act was symbolic and designed to insult George Bush. Can you blame this man for being angry? George Bush is responsible for the destruction of his country and for the deaths of thousands of his fellow citizens. Also, Iraq wasn't a terrorist haven until terrorists had a reason to be there, thanks to George Bush.

[john stevens 26]

If this guy had done this to Saddam, he would be dead by now, no pardon needed..

[peterg76]

Ridiculous. What, are we supposed to believe the shoe was thrown by accident? Al-Zeidi is a hero who stood up to a tyrant. I'll believe he wants a pardon when he freely acknowledges it while outside the power of the occupation.

[bronzy]

Well they certainly had a few days to beat that out of him, I am sure he could barely speak an apology much less write one.

[SeriousBlack]

I'm sure that's why it was a written one. They'll have to give him a few weeks to recover from the beatings before they stand him up in front of reporters (after informing him that snipers are aiming at his head and his entire family is in custody with guns to THEIR heads).

[lungfish]

I applaud Zaidi's actions and appreciate the indelible imprint this will leave on Bush's "legacy". It is quite a legacy... you can smell it for miles....a­nd it will reek for years.

The office of the POTUS is expected to be conducted with dignity and respect...­... and if a sitting President is undignified and disrespectful, then he deserves to be confronted. Zaidi did a very good thing. He did what Americans, our gov and our media won't do.

I am sure the people of Iraq are confused. After decades of tyranny, and 8years of occupation, death and destruction, they probably don't know what to say about it . There is no tradition of dissent in Iraq and I think that there is one now...

Dubya and co need a pie in the face everytime they open their mouths....­. until we can haul them into court...

Frankly I would like the opportunity myself to cuff Dubya in the back of the head and ask him what his malfunction is. For a guy like al Zaidi to see first hand the death and destruction that this POTUS has created and has literally no shame about I am surprised that he didn't throw a grenade instead,

Respect is earned and regardless of the dignity that comes with the office, the actions of the sitting POTUS are hardly worthy of respect. He himself said that the US Constitution is "just a g....d..md piece of paper."

[calipublican]

but you wont do anything but complain as you are a limp wristed liberal and thats all you do.

[lungfish]

is an ad hominum all you can come up with? Geez, hardly enough there to bother with. Take another run at it and this time really try to connect all three brain cells and come up with a coherent argument..­. if you can...

[RickMcd85]

And what exactly do you "do", calipublican to further your own beliefs?

I suppose if somebody was imprisoned in Iraq and you disagreed with it, you'd hop on a flight over there with your shotgun and go bust him out?

Get over yourself.

[SeriousBlack]

A little homophobic there, are ya?

Guess that's all you conservatives are capable of, is name-calling like that. Bet it took real restraint on your part (or just knowing your comment would get censored) to not just use the phrase "liberal fa-----". Am I right?