Dec 14th, 2008: Iraqi journalist throws his shoes at Bush! (+ Bush's take on it)

December 14th:

An Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes and an insult at George W. Bush, without hitting him, as the US president was shaking hands with the Iraqi premier at his Baghdad office on Sunday.

As the two leaders met in Nuri al-Maliki's private office, a journalist sitting in the third row jumped up, shouting: "It is the farewell kiss, you dog," and threw his shoes one after the other towards Bush.

Maliki made a protective gesture towards the US president, who ducked and was not hit.

The journalist, Muntazer al-Zaidi from Al-Baghdadia channel which broadcasts from Cairo, was frogmarched from the room by security staff, an AFP journalist said.

Soles of shoes are considered the ultimate insult in Arab culture. After Saddam Hussein's statue was toppled in Baghdad in April 2003, many onlookers beat the statue's face with their soles.

Some Iraqi journalists stood up to apologise.

The White House said Bush ducked to avoid the first shoe, while the second narrowly missed the president.

Bush said: "Thanks for apologising on behalf of the Iraqi people. It doesn't bother me. If you want the facts, it was a size 10 shoe that he threw".

Playing down the incident, the president later added: "I don't know what the guy's cause is... I didn't feel the least bit threatened by it."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• shoes
• journalist
• reporter
• geroge
• bush
• soles
• throw
• duck
• funny
• obama
• 2008
• iraq
• iraqi

[zeeshan55]

YE FUK U bush... ur gay, hope that shoe hit your fuk'n "tiny eyed face"

[neilzep]

GIVE THAT IRAQI THE MEDAL OF FREEDOM...GREAT MAN OF COURAGE..

TAKE THIS FOR BUTCHERING 100K IRAQIS AND 4K AMERICANS AND TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS LOST. DEMONS IN HUMAN FORM WAS BUSH'S ADMIN.

[TStrince]

@neilzep 1million iraqis*

[TStrince]

ah i remember this

Never forget...

that shoe

rip little buddy...

it died trying to hit him

a true patriot that shoe is

[TechWeKnow]

Ha, I have to admit it woulda been so funny if it hit Bush. Especially since he deserved it.

[pakistan455388]

this guy is a man, the other journalists are wussies for apologizing

[xGothimox]

That mother fucker hit the flag!

[duskyhued476]

I can't believe there was never any attempted assasination with Bush. He was so hated!

[jazzman2320]

Wow! Bush's dodge job was sweet! He's like a ninja! Lol.

[SuperAshfaqkhan]

bush ka muqadaer yehi tha ,,,