Bush: Not a Shoe-in in Iraq

I don't like to say "I told you so", President Bush, but three weeks ago I blogged about how thousands of Iraqis gathered in Firdous Square, where Saddam Hussein's statue once stood and pelted your effigy with thousands of shoes, then set it afire. This is what I wrote then:

"The president must have missed the sight of tens of thousands of Iraqis who on Friday gathered in Firdous Square where Saddam Hussein's statue once stood and chanted, "No, no, no to the occupiers!" He must have missed them dragging and pummeling his effigy with their shoes -- a gesture of contempt in the Arab world -- then jumping hysterically on it as they stamped out flames that had erupted after someone set it afire. "

Yet, you had to go and find out for yourself. President Bush, you are not only unpopular in The United States, but in many other countries as well. So how do you expect to be received in Iraq of all places? Like Charles de Gaulle marching down the Champs Elysées after France was liberated by the allies?

But I like to give credit where credit is due. The reporter who lost control of his emotions and tossed a shoe at you would have been shot on the spot had he done that to a guest of
Saddam Hussein. Instead he gets to live to tell his story and be a hero to millions around the Middle East.

Update: I've been watching several Arab satellite channels reporting on the "shoe story" as described by many reporters in the Middle East. According to Al Jazeera more than 100 lawyers have offered to defend the shoe-throwing reporter Muntazir al-Zaydi... pro-bono! One attorney said that since the shoe did not hit Mr. Bush, al-Zaydi was merely exercising his freedom of speech and expression.

Iraqi reaction plus footage of al-Zaydi at work:

Jamal Dajani produces the Mosaic Intelligence Report on Link TV

Follow Jamal Dajani on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jamaldajani

Comments

[leonardox1]

The reporter used flat shoes and he should not be charged with a crime for that...now had it been a female reporter with stilletos it will be an assault with deadly weapon.

[stardust835]

Mr. Dajani: Thanks for the article and the link. My husband walked through the room during the part of the video where the Iraqi man is passing out candy and HE started laughing and smiling!

I've read some responses on other blogs, interesting enough by people saying they thought the shoe tossing wasn't appropriate what with Bush being the president and all, but I admire the reporter, Mr. al-Zeidi (sp?). This will be part of Bush's legacy like part of Kruschev's was banging his shoe on the podium. I also read that Mr. al-Zeidi has been kidnapped by militants and detained by the US military since becoming a journalist.

For all our stiff pride about being a big democratic nation, we have not been able to get our troops out or our president impeached. I have nothing but admiration for the Iraqis who have demanded we leave in the midst of adversity and forced the admin to agree to a timetable for withdrawal. And now, as we try to pick up the pieces of our devastated country and economy, it is yet again, an Iraqi, who fearlessly expresses the feelings so many of us share here and in Iraq toward Mr. Bush. Mr. Bush should be in jail waiting for a trial, not Mr. al-Zeidi. SC, USA I am sorry Ms. Perino got a black eye from a microphone.

[newsjunkie5]

I'm amazed at Bush's quick reflexes...TWICE!

I guess he's used to ducking for cover!

[valkyrie607]

I am so sick of people trying to give Bush credit for being slightly less horrible than Saddam Hussein, i.e., "Saddam would have had the guy executed, and Bush didn't." WTF does that have to do with anything? Bush isn't in control of the situation anyway--the Iraqi government imprisoned the guy.

Bush is responsible for the deaths of somewhere between 100,000 and half a million Iraqi civilians--nobody knows exactly, because our military doesn't care enough to keep count. Saying that he's not quite as brutal or tyrannical as Saddam is faint praise, so can people just please knock it off? Just stop trying to praise him! He doesn't deserve it. At all. The only good thing we can say about him, apparently, is that he's not quite as bad as Saddam Hussein. And yet people--even the author of this article--seem to view this as a legitimate thing to say in Bush's defense. It's enough to turn my stomach.

[Akenanubis]

I think a lot of Americans are getting a vicarious thrill out of al-Zaydi's dramatic act. I'm glad it happened. It's poetic justice and really caps nicely the presence Bush has made for himself in the world. al-Zaydi should be released immediately. If he must go to "court" over this, it should be over and done with quickly as the merest formality. His is a 15 minutes of fame that at least means something. Skip "Joe the Plummer" and get this man some air time. As a journalist, I am sure he has much more of interest and intelligence to say.

[joz22]

I heard somewhere that this journalist will receive some sort of a press award in the Middle East. Is this true?

[kylennblack]

Haven't heard but he probably eventually will and good for him.

Even though there have been pro-bono offers, if there's a legal defense fund being set up I'll be happy to donate.

[jad114]

What is more insulting: calling Mr. Bush a dog or tossing a shoe at him?

[kylennblack]

Throw Hush Puppies at him. Problem solved.

[raffy]

many of us have been praying he get the boot....wasn't quite what i had in mind, but i'll take it until this congress finds is balls and gets mr bush out now...not 1/20...there could be nothing left to our country financialy by then.

[danielmcvicar]

I didn't know about the shoe pummeling in the square. thank you for reporting.

[justice2008]

Something to think about what Dajani said in his last sentence:

"But I like to give credit where credit is due. The reporter who lost control of his emotions and tossed a shoe at you would have been shot on the spot had he done that to a guest of
Saddam Hussein. Instead he gets to live to tell his story and be a hero to millions around the Middle East. "

Bush can walk out with the credit of getting rid of Saddam.

[Goddatunda]

His only credit, and a dubious one, the benefit of which remains to be seen.

The Iraqis are safer from their leaders, but not from each other - under Saddam, they had their government to worry about (in dissent), but their streets were safer (this is assuming the "surge" were lifted and our soldiers left - however, I think they were still safer under Saddam, because both Sunnis and Shiites were afraid to attack each other). Also the streets were not as pulverized.

They had heat, electricity, clean water, and waste removal for longer and in greater quantities as well.

As of April, the cost of restoring these basic infrastructural needs was estimated at $300 billion.

That's assuming you can restore them without getting kidnapped or bombed, or having the work you accomplished during the day torn up at night.

So, while things there CAN be improved, and the jury may still be out as to the benefits of the ONE POSITIVE THING you named that Bush has accomplished, we as a country are still responsible for the quality of life the average Iraqi citizen is enduring RIGHT NOW, and will continue to endure for an undefined period.

Thanks to Bush.

[RPLinNYC]

The shoe-thrower's a hero to this American, too - and I'm sure to many others.

[leonardox1]

I hope this does not replace the pie tossing here in the US. I've got hit with shoes tossed at me by my dad...and it hurts.