He also called the incident a sign of democracy, saying, "That's what people do in a free society, draw attention to themselves," as the man's screaming could be heard outside.
President George W. Bush in Afghanistan, speaking of Iraqi journalist Muntader al-Zaidi, who had just flung his shoe at the President shouting: "This is a gift from the Iraqis; this is the farewell kiss, you dog!" As reported in this morning's New York Times.
After flinging the shoe Mr. Zaidi was dragged outside by Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki's security detail who "kicked him and beat him until 'he was crying like a woman.'"
The paper reports that "hitting someone with a shoe is a considered the supreme insult in Iraq. It means that the target is even lower than the shoe, which is always on the ground and dirty."
Reactions to the show throwing incident »
Update: I just received an invitation to join a Flickr group that's been created to mark the occasion »
Another update: The journalist who flung the shoe has not been seen in public since his arrest. There are concerns that his injuries are extensive and are not being adequately treated »
2 comments:
You'll laugh, but I think this is Bush's finest moment. First iof all he dodged, what I have to say were two very well thrown shoes. Second, he didn't falter, he hung in there and finished the press conference. You know it takes more than a little nerve for an American President to go to a mideastern country, be attacked, but still hang in.
B1-67er
yeah -- I don't disagree. and talk about a game face: there was no fear or bafflement in evidence. he was all: "bring it!"
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