Blogs and Stories
Saddam and the Shoe Thrower
Al-Zaidi’s brother, Uday, appealed to Iraq’s prominent Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali Sistani to convince the Iraqi government to release his brother. Uday said in a televised message that if his brother made a mistake, “I would be the first to admit it.” But he did not apologize.
The Iraqi government is still investigating this week’s failed coup attempt, in which 35 Iraqis, including four generals, were arrested, the New York Times reported.
Contrary to reports in the American and Arab media, readers’ comments on Elaph.com showed that eight out of 10 Arabs who responded on that site condemned the shoe attack as a shameful and unprofessional act.
The Arab world’s leading political columnist, Hazem Saghia, writing in the London-based Al-Hayat daily newspaper, said Thursday it was “ironic that after living nearly a third of a century under Saddam Hussein’s boots, an Iraqi decides to throw his shoes at the person who removed Saddam from power.”
Saghia said that after all is said and done, “Bush came to Iraq, signed the security agreement he wanted, and left after casually taking note of al-Zaidi’s show size. Thus, we’re even. He got what he wanted, and we’re left with shoes that missed their target. Perhaps we deserve to be ruled by someone like Saddam Hussein.”
Earlier piece on shoe-gate by the author.
Salameh Nematt is the international editor of The Daily Beast. He is the former Washington bureau chief for the international Arab daily Al Hayat, where he reported on US foreign policy, the war in Iraq, and the US drive for democratization in the broader Middle East. He has also written extensively on regional and global energy issues and their political implications.
How Rich People Smoke Pot
Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
Justice Clinton?
As vice chairman of Public Strategies and president of Maverick Media, Mark McKinnon has helped meet strategic challenges for candidates, corporations and causes, including George W. Bush, John McCain, Governor Ann Richards, Charlie Wilson, Lance Armstrong, and Bono. McKinnon is co-chair of Arts & Labs, a collaboration between technology and creative communities that have embraced today's rich Internet environment to deliver innovative and creative digital products to consumers.
Jordan in the Crosshairs
Salameh Nematt is an international writer for The Daily Beast. He is the former Washington bureau chief for the international Arab daily Al Hayat, where he reported on US foreign policy, the war in Iraq, and the US drive for democratization in the broader Middle East. He has also written extensively on regional and global energy issues and their political implications.
A Double Agent for the Taliban?
Salameh Nematt is an international writer for The Daily Beast. He is the former Washington bureau chief for the international Arab daily Al Hayat, where he reported on US foreign policy, the war in Iraq, and the US drive for democratization in the broader Middle East. He has also written extensively on regional and global energy issues and their political implications.
Qaddafi Struts In
Salameh Nematt is an international writer for The Daily Beast. He is the former Washington bureau chief for the international Arab daily Al Hayat, where he reported on US foreign policy, the war in Iraq, and the US drive for democratization in the broader Middle East. He has also written extensively on regional and global energy issues and their political implications.
Servius
So, this isn't some popular hero but a representative of a vicious regime trying to get back in power.
And go figure that having deposed a Sadaam Hussein whose favorites have to contend with those they ruled for influence that they'd hold a grudge.
Genuine representative rule in Iraq is a good thing.
Rick007
The Baath party was started by the Nazis in thw 30's to topple the British rule in Iraq.
OldSarg
and not only that; he's a Journalist!
soufiane
First of all, bush's visit was a surprise so I don't see how could he be planning the attack for a year.
I don't also understand how anybody could be defending Saddam or his party al baath. The guy killed more than a million within and outside iraq. that's why many intellectuals in the arab world see this war as a sick way to achieve a greater good.
However, to say the shoe throwing is weird or inexplicable that's just beyond stupid. More than hundred thousand Iraqi's died and a civil war started. Their schools, hospitals, markets...are destroyed. If you genuinely can't see that as reason for some people to throw shoes at you, I'm afraid you are too self involved.
Rick007
Sunday night on History InternationalThe Nazis and the Baath party
Message
This article is complete innuendo. Bush doesn't seem to get that this man represents the deep rooted frustration felt by Americans and Iraqis regarding his bogus war waged in Iraq and the millions Iraqi and American lives lost as a consequence. I think this shoe throwing act was the only Hand of Courage seen in a long time. I just wish he hadn't missed.
rachelsian
The fact that the man is in jail for throwing a shoe and hurling an insult, shows that the west has failed to even establish freedom of speech in Iraq, much less anything else of note.
robbeast
@rachelsian
What? Did I read that correctly: throwing a shoe at the President is free speech? I guess that any crime is just expression of free speech too.
And I hope Iraq grows strong independently, our job was (or should be) to establish security for a safe political environment not to establish policy in itself. Granted, we (the west) have a lot of modern liberal policies that could help Iraq greatly, it would be a grave mistake for us to impose them on Iraq: that would be imperialism.
Servius
More than hundred thousand Iraqi's died. Not true http://www.iraqbodycount.org/. Although the stats from the hysterical left have dropped some in the face of reality. I remember when they said that we had killed 1,000,000 Iraqis.
We are not responsible for murder committed by someone else. The casualties of the civil war are lower than the casualties from their former ruler.
Iraq, with all of its problems, is better off today than before we came.
beebee
you're a sucker if you believe anything in the iraqi media, especially since it's already been proven that they are basically paid to plant stories by the pentagon. i happen to know for a fact that none of the major news organizations in iraq even bother to translate the news articles in iraqi papers any more, even though they pay attention to opinion pieces. the iraqi press is just a pile of crap, and so is this report by salameh nematt.
opt1muspr1me
He deserves to be in jail. This was attempted assault. he is lucky the shoes missed because if they did hit the President, he would be in much more trouble than he is right now. Throwing a show in an attempt to hit someone is not freedom of speech. Trying throwing your show or anything at the President here in America and see what happens to you.
truthynesslover
I know I sent him 10 bucks.
FYI;
Thursday, December 18, 2008
18 Dead, Dozens Wounded in Baghdad Bombings;
Coup Plot Foiled;
US Fires on Fallujah Shoe-Throwers
Smells lke victory,no?
truthynesslover
All Things Considered, December 15, 2008 · Several thousand people demonstrated in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities to demand the release of the Iraqi TV reporter who hurled his shoes at President Bush. Muntadhar al-Zeidi was arrested after Sunday's incident and charges may be filed against him.
They had pictures of our chimp in chief, hitting it with their shoe.
AH democracy aint it grand?
ARG2008
it's the terrorists again! do you all want some more money and power too?
incognito-ergo-sum
Operative words here, may, maybe, could be and so on. I agree that this was an impromptu meeting, now how could he have known the President was coming, or that he would be allowed in?
The best that can be said is this anti western Saddam supporter, if he is, took advantage of a rare opportunity.
Do not kill the messenger here, because the message was so perfect.
Thank you.
As a first time user, your comment has been submitted for review. It can take anywhere from a few hours to a day or two for your comment to be reviewed, depending on the time of week and the volume of comments we receive.