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Latest update: 30/12/2008
- George W. Bush - Iraq - Iraqi shoe thrower - media - Nuri al-Maliki
Shoes that smell of revenge take flight on the Web
Arab newspapers and websites gathered thousands of responses to the incident of the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at President George W. Bush during a press conference.
Read the article "Bush narrowly escapes shoe attack"
Montazer al Zaidi
Three days after targeting the face of U.S. President George W. Bush with his shoes, Montaza al-Zaidi, a journalist for the Iraqi channel Al-Baghdadia (pictured above), has become the new hero of the Muslim world - at least on the Web.
Arab media outlets have been bombarded with reactions. The Qatari-based news channel Al Jazeera claims to have received more than 3,200 comments in two days, a far greater number than was received after the 9-11 attacks. Saudi channel Al Arabiya says it may no longer be able to regulate the flow of incoming messages on the incident.
Reactions have come from every Arab country, and almost all applaud the journalist who launched his shoes on the president of the United States. They sometimes label him "courageous" and "brave". Comments such as "May God protect you Montaza", "You have raised the dignity of Iraqi and Arab people", "You are our hero, an example to follow" and " You and your shoes have made history," are very common.
The Iraqi channel Al-Baghdadia devoted its website’s homepage to its celebrity journalist, still in detention. Several photos show Montaza in a business suit, wearing traditional Iraqi garments, or reporting in the field, microphone in hand.
Facebook website users have also reacted to the event, posting photos and cartoons on the subject.
A cartoon posted on the website Flickr, depicts President Bush pursued by a shoe-shaped fighter jet.
caricature flickr
On FRANCE 24’s website, Said Medyoun, a Moroccan Internet user, thanked the "Arab woman who gave birth to the hero who lifted the lost prestige of the Arab world." Speaking directly to President Bush, Myriam a web user from Algeria, says: "You arrived as a president with missiles, you're exiting as a dog because of a shoe." Salah Salem of Jerusalem cheers Montaza, writing: "He is a journalist full of selflessness. He deserves a statue built in his honour."
A caricature published in the Arabic newspaper Al-Hayat shows a plane-bombing George W. Bush with kitchen utensils and shoes.
caricature Al-Hayat
While the streets in Iraq and across the Middle East fill with Montaza al-Zaidi supporters, a wealthy Saudi, quoted by the website of Al-Arabya, said he would purchase the shoes of the Iraqi journalist for the modest sum of $20 million.
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Comments (37)
shoe-thrower
My first impression of the newscast showing the shoe-throwing incident was that it was staged. After the first shoe, no wall of Secret Service men materialized in front of President Bush and George actually looked amused rather than threatened.
shoe thrower
I think this man should be released immediatley. He has not killed any one, unlike george bush he has blood on his hands. It is absurd that a person can be subjected to arrest and anything else; just because he threw shoes at a foreign president. Bush is a war monger and he should be in prison for crimes against the people of afghanistan and iraq. why is he still free?:
Montazer al Zaidi is not only a hero but also a reasercher
Last time people were thinking that the world is for them. Even if the wolrd could try to face them no good results could be found because they have powerfull weapons and hence they could never withdwal face to so called weak people but weak people have found the most powerful weapon face which the best of the best has withdrawn. Check the photo above. The world needs to get more and more weapons of this kind. May the world say thanks to Montazer al Zaidi. His is not only the hero but also a reasercher like archimede, pascal,...
bush and shoe
Ordinary citizens get bombed; Our soldiers get shot; Bush gets a shoe.
Even if Bush appreciates that the shoe is meant to be insulting, it's not part of his culture and probably means less to him than if it had been a piece of camel dung.
Shoe thrower
How ironic .. wealthy Saudi paying over the odds for a sad caricature! A message in this for the ever eager USA & Europe, continuosly pumping money into uplifting the poor and down trodden in these areas - WAKE UP and allow the rich there to carry the responsibility to support their own for a change!
Shoe thrower - SHAMEFUL
A caricature published in the Arabic newspaper Al-Hayat shows a plane-bombing George W. Bush with kitchen utensils and shoes - insensitive to say the least!
Outrage would have followed this from the Arab nations if this was aimed at them! I guess anything/anyone could be a hero in an environment where you have very little to celebrate!!
Isn't the Saudi Millionaire an idiot too?
This rich self centered Saudi man should have altered his offer if his interests were directed to offering money for shoes. Offer that money to the widows, the orphans and not make yourself appear as being a self centered idiot.
Only idiots offer money for shoes and offer nothing for the root cause of the event.
Show the world you can assist the widows and the orphans instead of money. Greed is everywhere?
How Bush had not turned a bad event into a better event
When Bush had those shoes thrown at himself, the first thing he should have performed was assurances that the man would be dealt properly.When Montaza Al Zaidi was imprisoned, Bush should have seeked his release from Iraqi security forces. Bush had forgotten to demonstrate compassion by his lack of comprehension of the event in itself.
Simply the actions of how Bush reacts to the event,but showing himself as a unconcerned individual whom has completely removed himself from the event, he has almost completely removed himself from that wonderful opportunity to alter the pages of history.
Now, Bush should get his brain in action, seek release of this journalist, NOW and not later. Insist for this release, NOW not never.
Turn the bad event for himself into a better compassionate event for people to judge his actions afterwards.
Reports of abuse to this journalist has even fallen upon deaf ears among the majority of media outlets.
Does not the media outlets look upon each other as well.
Media outlets, get your heads out of the ground and get this man out of custody, NOW not later.
As for this event being admired by those throughout the middle east, most media outlets need to review their viewers opinions outside of the Middle East.
It is not to be ever considered that the only people whom hold the interests of this journalist to be removed from prison is those residing in the Middle East.
Shoes thrown at WC Bush
I think the man is a hero and deserves all the praise he gets. He has done something that everyone I know thinks is brilliant . I was incredivly surprised that President Gump manage to remain alive at the end of his tenure . I hope to see more of this type of protest in future . For too long we have put up with these Lying , thieving , hypoctrits who are supposed to be Governing their contry on behalf of the electorate rather than being in office purely to channel as much cash (legally or otherwise) into their own personal bank acounts .
Bush and Shoe
It's not just the arab nations that applaud the shoe thrower. George Bush should have been shoeveld out long ago to save many peoples lives by his insatiable quest for war, should have been golf shoes "watch this swing"
Iraqi Shoethrower.
It is a great shame that this man has been treated the way he has been. He didn't kill anyone, Bush is, sadly, still with us until the end of January, all he suffered was a dent in his Ego, yet this poor man has apparently been beaten and he may wind up in prison for at least 7 years. The man cheered me up no end, and I suspect that he has cheered up a lot of people around the world, his government should leave him alone.
Shoe thowing hero?
Montaza al-Zaidi is going to jail because he missed Bush and did not throw anything heavier. If he had hit him, he would be an international hero!
Courage????
I love to see the muslim/arab "street" praise the shoe thrower. Where were all these muslim "heros" when saddam was in charge - raping, killing, torturing? Sad fact my little muslim friends, that the U.S. occupation will be remembered as the golden age of Iraqi democracy. Please don't delete this as "offensive" after printing comments calling our president a dog!!!!! get a life!!!!!
The Shoe thrower
I wonder what his fate would have been had the recipient been Sadaam Hussien. I am not an admirer of G. Bush but Journalists should report news not make it.
Thank-you! Shukran! Merci!
As an American fed up after 7 years of this insanity, I say a big "thank-you" ("shukran", I believe one would say in Arabic) to Montaza al-Zaidi. I wholeheartedly concur. The majority of Americans seem to concur. That is why we are resoundingly giving these idiots "the boot". If Montaza ever comes to my place in this desert, he is invited to dinner (cous-cous and lamb)... I certainly have more in common with him than anyone from the Bush family.
Doesn't say much for the Middle East
If some one who can throw a shoe at a guest is considered a hero, then it doesn't speak well for the Middle East. We have lots of visitors who come here and we don't treat any of them that way. The United States send food, medicines, money, equiptment, technologies, education and supplies around the world. What are your contributions? The "hero" would have never had the opportunity to even "think about it" under Saddam. We are sick of your whining, lemming like mentallity,acting like a mob without a brain. Grow up and Get a life!
Montazer al Zaidi
Montazer al Zaidi is an example what is wrong wich countries like Iraq etc..... his actions have given Bush and other western leaders (who are the real world leaders - not put in place by tyranny !!) a lot of credibility! it is how you react to such a poor showing that make you great!!al Zaidi and similar obviously frustrated with their inability to dis[play such emaotions towards the failures that is represented by their 'leaders'!
Well done to Bush
Shoes are not a statment of Dissent
When a reporter throws his shoes at the President of The United States of America,what we see is just how low Mr. Bush has brought our country in the eyes of the rest of the world. So much has been done to lower the image of America, I seriously doubt whether we will ever recover and regain our former position on the world stage. He (Mr. Bush) has earned the right to be deemed the absolute worst President ever to fail to serve this country. His father's name has been brought low.
Shoe thrower
No matter what one thinks of George W. Bush, he is still a head of state and shouldn't have been attacked. The shoe thrower should not be considered a hero. Although, I must admit, it was funny to see.
Shoe thrower faces legal action where man who started war doesnt
The American politics can only be compared to Nazis' where wars are started and 100s of thousands of people are killed basically for world domination. Remember the nazis? - Germany is the greatest? Unaccountable!? Too many similarities to ignore. And the chap that threw the shoe? Good for him. And not only Islamic countries will treat him as a hero - the rest of the world will to. I am not a muslim but with all my heart sympathise with the people who for decades suffered at the hands of the Americans. God bless you.
IRAK
All these events prove how the middle east countries react in front of politics; they do not take political issues seriously. They are living 20 years behind the western world and all this difference provokes terrorism in their countries and in ours. So! Leave them in peace.
Shoe throwing.
Only a fool would praise Montazer al Zaidi for his stupid actions. Even if you do not agree with the American policy in Iraq, he is still the head of Government of another country, and a guest in Iraq, and should be treated as such. Put up a banner, or shout, but there is no excuse for resorting to a physical attack on the man. It dishonours Iraq.
Bush and the shoes
I suppose I was more impressed with Bush's reflexes than I have been with anything else he has ever done. I am not sure how evil he really is, although evil happens easily to people are idiots and who are unable to actually listen to the world around them. Maybe in that way Bush is evil. He was never ready to be president. While I think throwing a shoe at someone is a little like chasing a dog away, I find it to be a petty way to make a statement, for we are only as big as the actions we choose to take. Since I am not a Muslim woman, I don't think of a shoe as a major offense, although in my travels there I learned you don't show your shoe to anyone, lest it offend them. I think the whole thing is pretty silly, comical, not heroic. Seeing a shoe thrown at my president, is really a metaphor for how so many of us have felt about him through his (count them!) 2 presidential terms! Like I said, this is the first time I have been impressed with anything about him, that is, his quick reflexes. I suppose if I were him, I would be paranoid too!
Bush, Shoe Thrower & the Secret Service
Aside from the emotional gratification or chigrin caused by the recent shoe throwing incident, it is eclipsed by the untold story. The fact that the US Secret Service, charged with protecting the President of the United States has not cleaned up its act to protect Mr. Bush.
Before those who may wish Mr. Bush harm smile an shrug off this observation: they may want to reflect if they want the President Cheny instead.
Even more disturbing is the notion that the Secret Service may not be able to protect the new President from all of America's white racist hate groups. How does President Biden sound?
SHOE THROWER AND GWB, THE WORLDS TERRORIST!
I SUPPORT THE 'SHOE THROWER', I CHEERED AND SCREAMED OUT LOUD IN MY ROOM WHEN I FIRST SAW THIS. GWB, IS PERSONALLY LUCKY, THAT IT WAS 'ONLY A SHOE' FOR MANY IN THE WORLD WANT WORSE FOR THIS MAN! MANY IN THE WORLD WANT DONE TO HIM, WHAT HE HAS DONE TO THE ARAB/MUSLUM PEOPLE OF IRAQ!
I READ THE OTHER COMMENTS, AND FOR ANYONE WHO 'SUPPORTS' THE EVIL AMERICANS AND GWB ARE JUST PLAIN IGNORNANT, UNEDUCATED PEOPLE WHO MORE OFTEN THEN NOT, NEVER SEE OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, AND DONT 'TRAVEL' AND CAN NOT 'THINK' FOR THEMSELVES!
MOST AMERICANS WHO SAY: "IF I WERE PRESIDENT OF USA, THERE WOULD BE NO MIDDLE EAST" WELL, MY 'AMERICAN FRIENDS' MANY IN EUROPE, AND MIDDLE EAST, AND YES, RUSSIA AND CHINA, AND KOREA, WANT THE SAME OUTCOME FOR YOU IN YOUR PATHETIC COUNTRY OF RED, WHITE ET BLUE
I KNOW PERSONALLY, PEOPLE WHO CHEERED WHEN SEPT 11 OCCURRED - BECAUSE, IT IS 'NICE' WHEN AMERICA CAN SUFFER THE 'PAIN' THE SAME KIND THAT IT INFLICTS ON TO OTHERS, AS WHAT EVIL USA HAS DONE TO IRAQ ALL THESE YEARS.
THANK GOD, OBAMA WILL COME TO USA, COME TO THE RESCUE OF THE WORLD, AND IN TURN, 'SAVE AMERICA' NOT FROM SO CALLED 'ENEMIES' BUT RATHER, SAVE IT FROM 'THEMSELVES'; YES, USA IS SUCH A PATHETIC COUNTRY, THAT IT BY MURDERING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ARABS ET MUSLUMS IN IRAQ, IS ONLY BUILDING ITS OWN 'GRAVE' WHEN 'SEPT 11 PART 2' ARRIVES AT THEIR DOOR IN THE YEARS TO COME! WHEN THAT DAY WILL ARRIVE, I WILL CHEER ONCE AGAIN, AND WILL BE THINKING OF THOSE ARABS WHO HAVE BEEN MURDERED BY EVIL USA IN IRAQ , EVEN DURING THE TIME IT TOOK ME TO WRITE THIS COMMENT
USA IS FILLED WITH DOGS, AND FOLLOWERS......
WHERE AS THE WORLD, IS FILLED WITH..............BRAINS AND COMMON SENSE
Shoe Batter than Missile
Oh my God thats is Braveness which show Muntazir Zaidi ,God bless him, Bush is deserve for that, He Most want terrorist of the World which is killed by thousands of Muslims and other religions So this is your farewell gift for BUUUUUUUUUsh on behalf of all humans which wants peace in the World. GOD is great.
Shoe throwing
How shallow people can be? Otherwise why would bring religion into this issue? Bush is not only an enemy or a threat to muslims or the Arab world, he is a threat to the entire human race. Or how else could you describe a man who wages a senseless war that led to over a million people only for him to admit that the intelligence report of WMD in Iraq was faulty ab-initio and that Iraq did not have any link with Al-Qaida. So to you fools blinded by sentiments bringing religion into this, what happens to the million dead iraqis and U.S soldiers? The admittance of mistake wakes them up ehn? It will be a shame on entire human race if this evil man is not brought to justice for his crimes against humanity. Meanwhile, May God continue to bless Zaidi and i aint no muslim!
RE: Shoes throwning democracy
Which democracy talking about, do u know this guy lost his hand, legs and his eye and entiol right now they tortured him in jail..he is a SUPERMAN HERO
Thx ALLAH for sending to us a new hero Like SALADIN.
- ALLAH IS GREAT -
Shoes throwning democracy
Well done guy , the GI did many bad thing in Iraq
But don't forget that Americans bring democracy to Iraq and that reaction is also western democracy behavior
the whole Arabic and Muslim world enjoy themselve by that incident but i challenge Muslim and Arabic people do the same things to their Anti American leaders and i also challenge the Arabic leaders take it so easy like G. Bush.
Why nobody throw their shoes to Saddam Hussein,...because their hand will be cut off
This is a lesson of democracy and gratitude for Arabic and Asian world
What happen if Americans withdraw and Iraq fall back to another dictator...
Hundred thousand will fleed the country and run to the country of the "invader" they just cursed and chased away. Ha Ha
he is a hero
he did what should have been done long time ago. tell the invaders to get the heck out. iraq is 10% resistance and 20% resistance supporters and i understand that. that is how the french responded to the Natzi invation, because people are afraid. if you kill a solider they will kill a family. but i'm not afraid and i support that journalist.