Shoes Thrown at Bush as a "Farewell Kiss"

[3113]

President George W. Bush ducked two shoes thrown at him by a man during a press conference in the Iraqi prime minister’s office to mark the signing of a security agreement. Bush wasn’t hit by the shoes, which both sailed over his head after they were thrown one after the other. The president shrugged and said “I’m OK” after the incident in Baghdad today. “All I can report is it is a size 10,” Bush said afterwards.

In Arab culture, throwing shoes is a grave show of disrespect. “This is the farewell kiss, you dog,” the man shouted in Arabic. After U.S. troops pulled down a statue of former dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003, Iraqi bystanders tossed shoes at it, according to news reports at the time. Bush said today’s incident was an example of free speech in a democracy.

The man threw the shoes from about 25 feet away as Bush, standing with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, made formal remarks before the signing of the Iraqi-U.S. agreement. Maliki tried to block the second thrown shoe as it flew toward Bush, according to video of the incident shown on television. The shoe-thrower, who was in a group of journalists, was wrestled to the ground and taken away. “This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq,” shouted the man, later identified by the Associated Press as Muntadar al-Zeidi, a correspondent for Al-Baghdadia television, an Iraqi- owned station based in Cairo, Egypt.

At the signing ceremony, Bush said a free and democratic Iraq will now become “a force for freedom” and a “source of stability in a volatile region.”

Rest of the article here.

And here's it is on video!

Geeze, that guy looked mad, didn't he? Can't think why

 

[Katyusha]

*snort*

 

[TE999]

I bet he wouldn't have tried that shit with Saddam.

Looks like democracy has come to Iraq.

Where the fuck was the Secret Service anyway?

 

[Emperor_Nero]

Where the fuck was the Secret Service anyway?

Probably over in the corner laughing their asses off

I mean, come on, they let the guy get through security with a pair of shoes

 

[Guest]

I'll give him a pair of mine to toss.

 

[midwestyankee]

Probably over in the corner laughing their asses off

I mean, come on, they let the guy get through security with a pair of shoes

Apparently the $9.63 zillion spent to prosecute the "shoe bomber" was a really, really good investment. I'm glad the SS was paying attention.

 

[off2bed]

Wait till they throw shoes at Obama.

 

[michchick98]

I'll give him a pair of mine to toss.

I wear size nine steel toe shoes for my job, maybe we can throw those? Bush was pretty quick to duck though, gotta give him that much.

I heard a story about this on the radio and Bush said one of the the other reporters said, "This in no way reflects how the Iraqi people as a whole feel about the U.S."

Um..yeah, okay, sure.

 

[michchick98]

Where the fuck was the Secret Service anyway?

I kinda wondered that myself. Looks like they kinda dropped the ball on this one.

 

[Dragonlipz]

To all of you twits offering your shoes for ammo:

Like the man or not, he is still the President of the United States of America. The office deserves some measure of respect.
I speak as a combat veteran who has taken more than one life the service of my country and an American:
This American experience remains the most intruiging social experiment in history, despite the flaws, in spite of the scars of inequity that inspire our contempt. No Bush, Nixon, Cheney, or Kissinger can change that. Ever.
We await the inaguration of a new president who represents the hopes and dreams of an entire nation. A man who wants to unite us in the spirit that brought us to this juncture of history: We are the damned best civilization on this planet, don't take my word for it, go out there, see for yourself!
That clown who offered violence to the office of the president should have a .40 caliber hole in his cranium. Maybe two or three if I'd been on duty.

 

[3113]

Like the man or not, he is still the President of the United States of America. The office deserves some measure of respect.
I speak as a combat veteran who has taken more than one life the service of my country and an American

You seem to be coming from the perspective that we should "salute the uniform" and not the man. I'm afraid that I, at least, do not feel that way. He may have been your "Commander in Chief" but to me he was my "employee." "We the people" put him into office--or rather, a quarter of the people did--nevertheless, he was put in office to serve us, not vice versa. He works for us. WE are what you are respecting when you respect the President.

He is not a King who must be respected no matter what kind of monster he is, no matter what kind of damage he does to us and others, because he's been chosen by god to rule.

And WE as the people. have every right to freely express our disappointment, even anger at a man who, IMHO, DISGRACED the presidency, the constitution he swore to protect and, once again, the people he was supposed to serve. The office of president is not a shield to hide behind. It is a position that the man holding it has to respect. And if he does not respect it, then I see no reason why anyone should respect him. WE gave him his title. And it only has meaning and protects him from US, his bosses, if he has done it honor.

 

[sr71plt]

I very seriously doubt the shoe thrower saw the man rather than the United States. I don't think they have the perspective running over here in many quarters (my opinion too) that this is Bush's personal war rather than that it's the United States imposing its will in the region.

As far as a certain respect to the office, it doesn't make any difference in a diplomatic sense whether it's a king or a president or a foreign minister or an ambassador. We should be mortified here, for instance, if Putin got this treatment while on an official visit to the States--and I think less of Putin than I do of Bush the Lesser (and there's not much room down there below my regard for Bush).

I sort of wonder what people think the Secret Service could do about someone taking their shoes off and throwing them twenty-five feet. It's sort of a new one for the books, and the Secret Service is limited who it can muscle around in someone else's country. (Or do we want to be Ugly American selectively?)

 

[3113]

I very seriously doubt the shoe thrower saw the man rather than the United States.

Fair enough. But we are not above doing wrong and deserving the anger and disrespect of other countries. The U.S. has committed plenty of attrocities that have, in the past and in the present, earned it such animosity. Sometimes it isn't deserved, but this time around, I think it was.

So I am happy enough to throw my shoe at us, the U.S., for what we did. We stupidly entered a war and we allowed this commander in chief to shock and awe a lot of people to death. Including women and children who didn't deserve it. We wanted a war, we had a war. We need to take responsibility for that war and how people feel about us for entering into it.

Just because America is an "amazing social experiment" where people living here have amazing rights doesn't mean we deserve carte blanche respect no matter what we do, nor that we should always give ourselves carte blanche respect. Nor does it mean that elected leaders who, in our name, commit atrocities should be excused simply because they are our leaders.

We should be mortified here, for instance, if Putin got this treatment while on an official visit to the States

Apples and oranges. There is a large difference between not liking Putin as a foreign ruler who is doing terrible things, and not liking Putin (or Bush) as a the leader of a foreign country who bombed, invaded, and got himself and his country entangled in your country's politics and culture.

Would you really be so mortified at an American shoe thrower if visiting Putin had done to the U.S. what we did to Iraq? Including if the bombs Putin dropped had killed, oh, say, your wife? Maybe a child of yours? There's a big difference between showing such disrespect to the the leader of a country who, whatever awful things he's done, hasn't affected you personally, and expressing your feeling toward one who has affected you personally. Putin has not interfered with the U.S. Bush has interfered, gravely and with long-lasting repercussions, with Iraq.

If we can't take the shoe-throwing, even empathize with it, then we shouldn't be sticking our noses and military into other people's countries.

 

[john-the-author]

Like the man or not, he is still the President of the United States of America. The office deserves some measure of respect.
I speak as a combat veteran who has taken more than one life the service of my country and an American:
This American experience remains the most intruiging social experiment in history, despite the flaws, in spite of the scars of inequity that inspire our contempt. No Bush, Nixon, Cheney, or Kissinger can change that. Ever.
We await the inaguration of a new president who represents the hopes and dreams of an entire nation. A man who wants to unite us in the spirit that brought us to this juncture of history: We are the damned best civilization on this planet, don't take my word for it, go out there, see for yourself!
That clown who offered violence to the office of the president should have a .40 caliber hole in his cranium. Maybe two or three if I'd been on duty.

Oddly enough, I do agree with you in a way: the office is important and the duty to the office is vital. The oath they take--"...to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States..."--is moving, powerful stuff.

And because I think the office IS that important and the oath of office IS a sacred personal commitment, I'm not in the slightest unhappy that the citizen of a country we invaded and destroyed on a pretext expressed his great unhappiness with the man who was responsible for it. I'm just sorry that Bush didn't get whacked in the nose with one of 'em; it'd be the least people could do for him.

My 401(k) over the last 8 months has gone to a 201(k) and I just opened the latest statement and it's now a 101(k). Bush should be glad that he's just got a pair of shoes being thrown at him. There's a lot more that he deserves if the karma train were ever to pull into his station.

 

[kromen]

Where the fuck was the Secret Service anyway?

On their way to an outpost in Alaska, helping Palin look for Russians. Not one flying leap out of any of them.
Truthfully, I shouldn't be too hard on them. It's not like they were looking for shoes to be used as a WMD.

 

[sr71plt]

So I am happy enough to throw my shoe at us, the U.S., for what we did. We stupidly entered a war and we allowed this commander in chief to shock and awe a lot of people to death. Including women and children who didn't deserve it. We wanted a war, we had a war. We need to take responsibility for that war and how people feel about us for entering into it.

You'll have to speak for yourself on that "we" business. I opposed this Iraq business within the advisory counsels of the government at the time with every breath I took--with the result that my consultancy contract was canceled. So, there isn't any "we" that includes me in this.

And as for the Putin thing, it's not apples and oranges to me. I was trained in diplomacy, so I do see the symbolism in the office and how it should be treated. To help keep civilization civilized if for no other reason.

 

[Le Jacquelope]

Like the man or not, he is still the President of the United States of America. The office deserves some measure of respect.
I speak as a combat veteran who has taken more than one life the service of my country and an American:
This American experience remains the most intruiging social experiment in history, despite the flaws, in spite of the scars of inequity that inspire our contempt. No Bush, Nixon, Cheney, or Kissinger can change that. Ever.
We await the inaguration of a new president who represents the hopes and dreams of an entire nation. A man who wants to unite us in the spirit that brought us to this juncture of history: We are the damned best civilization on this planet, don't take my word for it, go out there, see for yourself!
That clown who offered violence to the office of the president should have a .40 caliber hole in his cranium. Maybe two or three if I'd been on duty.

And how would your .40 caliber bullet have protected you from a retaliatory bomb blowing up in your face?

Bush had a shoe thrown at him in Iraqi territory, not US territory. You'd be on their turf firing that shot. And you might have joined the other >4000 troops that died there.

Here in the US, he deserves impeachment, conviction, and a long, long time in prison. If I were the judge, my sentence would be a hanging.

 

[3113]

You'll have to speak for yourself on that "we" business. I opposed this Iraq business within the advisory counsels of the government at the time with every breath I took--with the result that my consultancy contract was canceled. So, there isn't any "we" that includes me in this.

Fair enough. I retract the we, including myself from it (as I did the same myself), and will happily refer to those who voted for Bush and supported the war as "them" and place all responsibility on their shoulders. But you argued that the man saw Bush as the U.S. Do we, who didn't vote or approve of Bush take offense at the shoe thrower because he's tossing his shoe at us and we don't deserve it, or do we approve because he's tossing his shoe at the part of the U.S. that did approve of Bush and what he did and they DO deserve it?

If you're not going to take responsibility for Bush's war and such, if we're saying, "he's not my president" (as some are saying in regards to Obama) then, I'd argue, that the shoe-thrower is not showing us disrespect. He is only disrespecting the president of "them." Once again, if you can't deal with the shoe-throwers, don't invade other countries. Bush did that, and there were many Americans who wanted him to. Now he, and they have to deal. If you recluse yourself from them, then you don't have to deal. The shoe was not thrown at you or your president. It was thrown at "them."

And as for the Putin thing, it's not apples and oranges to me. I was trained in diplomacy, so I do see the symbolism in the office and how it should be treated. To help keep civilization civilized if for no other reason.

You can't imagine how ironic that sounds given that you're talking about a man who approved and advocated torture. I don't believe two wrongs make a right, but on a scale of who's actions are less "uncivilized," I'll take the shoe thrower.

 

[Carnevil9]

You people are pathetic!

The ragheads hate the US of A. It isn't about GWB, except to YOU communists.

 

[DeeZire]

You people are pathetic!

The ragheads hate the US of A. It isn't about GWB, except to YOU communists.

Communists? There are communists here? Where? Could you point one out?

On the raghead comment, that's a curious statement coming from a person with a ragheaded AV. If you're going to condemn all ragheads, you might consider getting yourself a different hat.

 

[Dragonlipz]

Let's be clear:

The office of the President of the United States is just that: A position, not a person, that demands respect as a civilized society requires. Where it goes and whoever inhabits that office does not enter into the equation. It is what is is no matter who is president or where they are at. The office, not the man, deserves honor and respect. That means no one offers violence to his person - regardless of what he is or has done. Some of you don't really seem to have a grasp of the situation.
So let's be clear:
Bush is and will remain the WORST president this country has ever had, bar none. From the near deliberate bungling of the intelligence prior to 911, the inadequate response to that same situation, the criminal manipulation that led up to the war in Iraq, more criminal manipulation that led to the firing of US attorneys that were not Bushies, the outing of a clandestine intelligence agent, the shameful treatment of our constitution, the list goes on and on. Their crimes truly sicken me and do not inspire pride.
For his hubris alone Bush should be impeached and convicted. Hopefully the regime change will bring about some investigations and indictments against the Bush/Cheney gangstas......

 

[Le Jacquelope]

The office of the President of the United States is just that: A position, not a person, that demands respect as a civilized society requires. Where it goes and whoever inhabits that office does not enter into the equation. It is what is is no matter who is president or where they are at. The office, not the man, deserves honor and respect. That means no one offers violence to his person - regardless of what he is or has done. Some of you don't really seem to have a grasp of the situation.
So let's be clear:
Bush is and will remain the WORST president this country has ever had, bar none. From the near deliberate bungling of the intelligence prior to 911, the inadequate response to that same situation, the criminal manipulation that led up to the war in Iraq, more criminal manipulation that led to the firing of US attorneys that were not Bushies, the outing of a clandestine intelligence agent, the shameful treatment of our constitution, the list goes on and on. Their crimes truly sicken me and do not inspire pride.
For his hubris alone Bush should be impeached and convicted. Hopefully the regime change will bring about some investigations and indictments against the Bush/Cheney gangstas......

The Office of the President of the United States deserves honor and respect in the United States - no other country or their citizens are required to show him respect. He's not their leader.

Bush is our President, he isn't Alexander the Great or Julius Caesar. Other countries and their citizens have a right not to respect him. And we have a right not to respect them or their leaders if we do not wish.

Bush was in another country when this shoe was thrown at him; it is by the grace of that country's leadership and the protection he brought with him that he gets respect.

 

[michchick98]

Like the man or not, he is still the President of the United States of America. The office deserves some measure of respect.
I speak as a combat veteran who has taken more than one life the service of my country and an American:
This American experience remains the most intruiging social experiment in history, despite the flaws, in spite of the scars of inequity that inspire our contempt. No Bush, Nixon, Cheney, or Kissinger can change that. Ever.
We await the inaguration of a new president who represents the hopes and dreams of an entire nation. A man who wants to unite us in the spirit that brought us to this juncture of history: We are the damned best civilization on this planet, don't take my word for it, go out there, see for yourself!
That clown who offered violence to the office of the president should have a .40 caliber hole in his cranium. Maybe two or three if I'd been on duty.

I have the utmost respect for the men and women in the military. It's their Commander-In-Chief whom I have no respect for. You're doing the jobs you're ordered to do by him.

But face it, the reason most of the countries in the middle East and elsewhere don't like the U.S. is because of George W. Bush.

 

[lesbiaphrodite]

LOL. I think it's hilarious that he threw his shoes at Bush. It's just a pity one of them didn't boink him in his little rat face.

As to the matter of respect for him and his office, I have none for either of the two. I will not show respect to people who defraud my country.

 

[oggbashan]

In Iraqi tradition throwing your shoes at someone is the worst possible insult you can offer - far stronger than giving someone the finger or throwing shit at them.

The thrower was probably indicating disgust with US policy and actions in Iraq. Saddam was removed but at a cost in Iraqi lives, significantly civilian non-combatant lives, that far outnumbered any killing Saddam did.

The reconstruction of Iraq has been badly botched because of the policies of the US and its allies. Whatever plans, if any, they had for running Iraq after the removal of Saddam Hussein were useless leading to real suffering for the people of Iraq.

The bright side? That someone can throw shoes at a President without being shot at once. Freedom to protest is one of the freedoms of democracy. Imagine what would have happened to someone who threw shoes at Saddam Hussein when he was in power...

Og