Iraqi hero beaten
Not surprising, the BBC is unfortunately reporting that Muntadar al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at Bush, has been injured in custody:
Muntadar al-Zaidi has allegedly suffered a broken arm, broken ribs and internal bleeding, his older brother, Dargham, told the BBC…The Iraqi authorities have said the 28-year-old will be prosecuted under Iraqi law.
Iraqi lawyers had earlier speculated that the charges could include insulting a foreign leader and the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri Maliki, who was standing next to President Bush during the incident.
I’m sure they beat the living shit out of him as soon as they could get him away from people. It’s the American way. Let’s hope there’s enough of an outcry that the guy walks. There could most certainly be a shitstorm a-brewin’ if he doesn’t. I couldn’t stop thinking about what he did… we are all shoes now.
December 16th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
I think it’s a bit strong to call this guy a hero. I’d call him lucky because he’s lucky he wasn’t shot dead immediately. If I’m G.W. I’m firing the entire Secret Service detail on duty that day. How F’ing slow was the security on that. Seriously, the man got not 1 but 2 loafers away before there was any movement at all.
December 16th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Ok, not a hero in that he saved someone’s life. How about brave? Other than O getting elected this is the best political thing all year. Sure the SS seemed to be slacking, but who knows, maybe they can’t stand W, either. I’m certainly not outraged, shocked, mortified or anything else like that.
December 17th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Well, I wouldn’t necessarily call him a “hero” either, but courageous certainly does come to mind. He took his anger, frustration, and fear, and actually stood-up (albeit symbolically- we know those shoes were never going to change real life conditions directly) to THE power-figure who represents the source of his traumas. And if you’re an Iraqi who’s seen their whole country reduced to ruble, had friends and family members killed by one faction or another, and seen your entire life turned upside down into one unimaginable, horrific mess, there’s probably a good deal of inspiration and enjoyment you’d feel from something like this. Calling Bush a “dog” and throwing shoes at him are high insults in Iraqi culture, and social insults carry a different sort of weight there than here.
The fact his that this guy was beaten by police and security forces, which should be morally repugnant to all of us. This must be more of that inspiring ”democracy” that Bush is so proud to have brought to them.