Bush Dodges Thrown Shoes In Iraq
Everyone’s a critic.
Dec. 14 (Bloomberg)—President George W. Bush ducked two shoes thrown at him by an unidentified man during a press conference in the Iraqi prime minister’s office.
Bush wasn’t hit by the shoes, one of which sailed over his head. The president shrugged and said “I’m OK” after the incident in Baghdad today. “All I can report is it is a size 10,” Bush said.
In Arab culture, throwing shoes is a grave show of disrespect. The man shouted an Arabic phrase, which an Iraqi present translated as “this is a farewell kiss, dog.”
President Bush laughed it off, but if this irate Iraqi had pulled the same sort of stunt with Saddam Hussein he’d probably have been introduced to an industrial plastic shredder. Feet first.
Perhaps this Iraqi should, in the midst of his hate for President Bush, take a moment to appreciate the ideal of free speech.
Update: Here’s the video. Not great quality, but you get the point. Update 2: Better quality video.
