On "The Young Turks" radio show, Newsweek reporter Michael Hirsh said it was "somehow appropriate" that an Iraqi threw a shoe at President Bush during his recent visit to the country. "They have reason to be upset with the author of this," Hirsh elaborated, "and a shoe aimed at Bush's head I think is not such a terrible expression of some of that frustration."
Cenk Uygur: We're talking to Michael Hirsh of Newsweek. Michael, I want to move on to George W. Bush and the...
Michael Hirsh: Shoe throwing!
Cenk Uygur: The shoe throwing. You know, I don't...I've already said my piece on the shoe throwing. Obviously it's not the constructive way to go. But, um...
Michael Hirsh: I think it was somehow appropriate.
Cenk Uygur: You do?
Michael Hirsh: Oh I think the guy, the journalist who did, is now a hero and a good part of the Arab World.
Cenk Uygur: There's no question about that. He's already gotten a courage award in Libya, and there's thousands of people protesting for his release already. But do you think it was an appropriate wake-up call for Bush? And if so...
Michael Hirsh: I think Bush is going to need a lot more than that for a wake-up call. But I think there are a lot of Iraqis, obviously Arabs, particularly Iraqis, who are quite angry with the devastation of their country. I mean, look at this report from Stuart Bowen's office, the Iraq special inspector, late last week was concluded that despite all the money we put in there, all we achieved in doing was basically bring the country approximately back to where it was when Saddam was, you know, in rule. And at the cost, obviously, of thousands and thousands of Iraqi's lives...and limbs...and, you know. They have reason to be upset with the author of this, and a shoe aimed at Bush's head I think is not such a terrible expression of some of that frustration.