Iraqi journalist throws shoes at Bush

Published December 14, 2008

BAGHDAD It gives fresh meaning to the phrase shooed away.

President George W. Bush ducked a pair of shoes hurled at his head — one shoe after the other — in the middle of a news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, reports AP.

Both shoes narrowly missed their target and thumped loudly against the wall behind the leaders.

`Dont worry about it,` the president said as the room erupted into chaos.

Iraqi reporters started shouting what Bush later explained were apologies for the incident.

`So what if the guy threw a shoe at me?` Bush said, comparing the action to political protests in the United States.

`If you want the facts, it was a size 10,` he joked.

The shoe attack came as Bush and al-Maliki were about to shake hands. The assailant — later identified as television correspondent Muntadar al-Zeidi — leapt from his chair and hurled his footwear at the president, who was about 20 feet away.

`It is the farewell kiss, you dog,` he yelled, according to AFP.

The crowd descended on al-Zeidi, who works for Al-Baghdadiya television, an Iraqi-owned station based in Cairo, Egypt. He was wrestled to the ground by security officials and then hauled away, moaning as they departed the room. Later, a trail of fresh blood could be seen on the carpet, although the source was not known.

The sole of shoes are considered the ultimate insult in Arab culture.

See the video on YouTube here http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RFH7C3vkK4

Opinion

Editorial

Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.
Concerning measures
Updated 03 Nov, 2024

Concerning measures

The govt must seek political input and consensus on the changes it is seeking to make and be open about its intentions.
Short-lived relief?
03 Nov, 2024

Short-lived relief?

POLICYMAKERS must be jumping with joy. At the close of the first quarter of FY25, the budget posted a consolidated...
Brisk spread
03 Nov, 2024

Brisk spread

THE surge in polio cases has reached distressing levels with a tally of 45 last reported, after two cases emerged in...