Shoe and Awe: From Bush in Iraq to Gaza Fury

It was bound to continue. The shoe has been transformed into a weapon of protest and fury at Israel's onslaught on Gaza, and by extension George W. Bush's unconditional support for the Jewish state.

The December 14 shoe-throwing incident involving an Iraqi journalist venting his anger at the U.S. president during the latter's visit to Baghdad and a news conference there has taken many forms with the explosive situation in Gaza.

The latest manifestations have included a shoe-throwing exercise near the British prime minister's residence at 10 Downing Street in London, where tens of thousands of angry demonstrators marched and hurled footwear across barriers set up to prevent them from proceeding any closer to Mr. Gordon Brown.

London protest (MacGregor - Reuters)

In Egypt, comedy pop star Sha'aban Abdel Rahim (nicknamed Sha'abolla) translated his rage into a song expressing the Egyptian people's solidarity with their Palestinian brethren.

His rhyming couplet ditty in colloquial Arabic translates into: "I'm at a loss what to write. Can't find the words. What's happening in Gaza is a crime. Bombs flying up and down on houses, Gaza is aflame and people are dying. Somebody help, somebody stop it, even with a shoe like the one aimed at Bush."

True to form, Qatar-based Al Jazeera satellite channel has devoted extensive coverage to the Gaza events. Its website had run a cartoon of a poor Palestinian decorating his wall with the picture of a shoe.

Palestinian décor (www.aljazeera.net)

Frustration with U.S. foreign policy has been vented extensively in shoe cartoons in recent weeks, long after Mr. Bush left the Iraqi capital and the initial proverbial dust had settled.

One such illustration shows the 43rd president ducking at a podium inscribed with the words "Shoe and Awe" (after Shock and Awe). The title reads: "Eternal events of December 14."

The shoe-shaped projectiles heading his way have "the mother of all shoes" and "atomic shoe" written on their heels.

Shoe and Awe (www.mahjoob.com)

In another cartoon, Mr. Bush, departing from Iraq on Air Force One, has a shoe strapped to his presidential aircraft.

Air Force One leaves Iraq (Hamed)

The United Arab Emirates' Gulf News cartoonist described the infamous shoe as a "weapon of mass humiliation."

Gulf News cartoon

Kuwait's Al Watan newspaper saw Mr. Bush entering the book of history with a shoe strapped to his back.

Bush enters history books

Even Serge Chapleau of Canada's La Presse weighed in with a cartoon showing a man asking another man in front of a closed door with pairs of shoes covering the floor if that was a new mosque (as Muslim worshippers must shed their shoes before entering to pray). No, answers the man, it's Mr. Bush's press conference.

New mosque? No Bush conference

As they say in sports events: "It's not over until the fat lady sings."

Comments

[tulsey]

Where is "old shoe" from "Wag the dog"?

[GardenerNorCal]

I new way to recycle those cross trainers.

[luziannagirl]

And where was it last wk that a whole 18 wheeler load of thousands of shoes was dumped onto an American interstate highway, closing it down?

[SiberianRat]

These are great--thanks, Magda! Happy New Year to you and the great city of Beirut!

[Asean4Obama]

I love it !

[scooperss]

Just goes to show you, all people have a sense of humor. Think how much more we could have in common if we only could see it.

[janinei]

cool cartoons, Bushie now has some pictures for his library!

[FairTalk]

Thanks! I love those cartoons!

There was something sincere with the shoe toss. It embodied universal truth.

[SiberianRat]

I totally agree.

[urnumbersix]

Fab!