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EDHS Contemporary World Affairs -> Discussion Topics, Week D -> Iraqi Shoe thrower: Bushes' " soulless" smile set me off
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Sandy


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Iraqi Shoe thrower: Bushes' " soulless" smile set me off
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http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/02/19/iraq.shoe.thrower/index.html

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Muntadher al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist on trial for throwing his shoes last year at then-President George W. Bush, said the former American leader's "bloodless and soulless smile" and his joking banter provoked him.


Al-Zaidi threw both of his shoes at Bush during a December news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Baghdad. Neither shoe hit the president, and other people in the room quickly knocked al-Zaidi to the ground before security officials arrested him.


He explained his actions in an hour-long appearance on Thursday at the Central Criminal Court of Iraq. Asked if anyone pushed or motivated him to do this, al-Zaidi said he was spurred on by the "violations that are committed against the Iraqi people."


"I could only see Bush and feel the blood of the innocents flow under his feet, as he was smiling that smile -- as if he had come to bid farewell to Iraq and with the last support and more than 1 million martyrs," al-Zaidi said. "At that moment, I felt this is the man who killed our nation ... the main murderer and the main person responsible for killing our nation." VideoWatch more on the trial »


Speaking in his first public appearance since his arrest two months ago, al-Zaidi told the court he "got emotional and threw the shoe at him" and "the second one was involuntary."


"I had no intention to kill the commander of the occupying forces ... even if I had a weapon ... I was expressing my inner feelings and those of all the Iraqi people from east to west and north to south and the feelings of hatred they hold for him," he said.


Al-Zaidi told the judge that he had intended to humiliate Bush in the past. As Bush listed the gains made in Iraq during the mid-December news conference, al-Zaidi said he was thinking about the millions of civilians who had been killed, widowed or displaced. He talked about the sanctity of mosques being violated, the rape of women and daily humiliations.


"I don't know what accomplishments he was talking about. The accomplishments I could see were the more than 1 million martyrs and a sea of blood," al-Zaidi said. "There are more than 5 million Iraqi orphans because of the occupation. ... More than a million widows and more than 3 million displaced because of the occupation."


Al-Zaidi also said he was beaten up in front of the prime minister and the world when he was taken from the room where the press conference was held.


The trial will resume March 12 while the court asks the Cabinet to clarify whether Bush's visit was official or not. Al-Zaidi is charged with "assaulting a foreign head of state on an official visit to Iraq."


In December, al-Zaidi's defense team filed an appeal requesting the charge be changed from "assaulting" to "insulting." According to the Iraqi penal code, anyone who assaults a foreign head of state is punished by "imprisonment for a term of years," with the court deciding the sentence.


Lawyer Dhiyaa al-Saadi told CNN in December that his client could face 15 years in jail if convicted. VideoWatch more on the incident »


On the other hand, insulting a foreign head of state is punishable by a two-year prison sentence and a fine.


Dressed in an olive-green suit and black shoes, al-Zaidi entered the courthouse to loud applause and cheers.


Some family members and supporters, who were waiting outside, draped an Iraqi flag around his neck.


A woman in the crowd shouted, "You hero!" His 6-year-old nephew, Haidar, stood outside the courtroom reciting the poem "Throw the shoe ... at the vampire."


As he left, the crowd pressed forward to get close to al-Zaidi, who waved as he was led away.


Earlier, lawyer al-Saadi told the al-Baghdadia television network that his client's "morale is high." Al-Baghdadia is the journalist's employer and has been calling for his release.


By tradition, throwing a shoe is the most insulting act in the Arab world.


His angry gesture touched a defiant nerve throughout the Arab and Muslim world. He is regarded by many people as a hero, and demonstrators have taken to the streets in the Arab world demanding that he be set free.


 


 


~ What is your opinion about this article? Should he be charged with                   " assualting a foreign head of state" or with " Insulting a foreign head of state"?




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Ayesha


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I agree that he did insult Dubya and should be charged with that. But at the same time, i don't blame Al-Zaidi for being frustrated with him. I don't blame any of the Iraqi people. Even I am frustrated with what's going in Iraq, and I live in the country who's responsible for it. When Dubya talks as if he's done SO much in Iraq, it makes me, and many others, think "Like what???!" because all I see that he's done is make matters much worse.


"I don't know what accomplishments he was talking about. The accomplishments I could see were the more than 1 million martyrs and a sea of blood," al-Zaidi said. "There are more than 5 million Iraqi orphans because of the occupation. ... More than a million widows and more than 3 million displaced because of the occupation."

--- couldn't agree more.

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watashiwa1293


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Al-Zaidi did not exactly hit Bush when he threw his shoes at him. If he should be charged for some sort of assault, the wording should, at least, be changed to "ATTEMPTED assault to a foreign head of state." Since throwing shoes at someone is considered the most insulting act one can do to another person in the Arab world, I think that Al-Zaidi should be charged with "insulting a foreign head of state" rather than "assaulting a foreign head of state".

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MrsCavalluzzi


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I'm not sure about Iraqi law, but under U.S. legal code, "assault" doesn't require an actual contact, merely an aggressive act that causes someone else to feel endangered.  "Battery" is a separate crime for when contact actually occurs. :) Just a clarification!!

but ha ha on the "insulting" a head of state :)

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watashiwa1293


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Oh, I see. Thanks Mrs. Cav!!! :D

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jacobcorbin


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Yes he should. Throwing items at people is not a way to express inner feelings towards people. The fact that Bush had to duck to avoid the shoe, makes me think the guy was trying to hit him. BUt regardless, if people in the U.S. are arrested for touching him, he should be prosecuted for his actions


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KW00D


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If anything he should be charged with 'insulting a foreign head of state.' He's allowed to express his frustration, and the shoe never made contact with George Bush's head.

'His angry gesture touched a defiant nerve throughout the Arab and Muslim world. He is regarded by many people as a hero, and demonstrators have taken to the streets in the Arab world demanding that he be set free.'

Because so many people agree with what he did and support it, I highly doubt that anything too bad will end up happening to him.

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Vanessabug


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When i first watched the video clip of this incident on the news. then i laughed even harder when it was followed by an interview of Bush. He said (and ill never forget this) "I DONT KNOW WHAT HIS BEEF IS..." about Al-Zaidi.

Really??? that was our president? the "leader of the free world"? as Cav puts it.
The man seems so uneducated and classless and i truly never believed that he represented our country very well. It makes sense that Al-Zaidi was enraged by Bush's words and laugh and when I read his quotes I feel his pain. It seems that if we were watching a movie about this coming from the Iraqis point of view, we might as well have seen Bush as the evil commander of occupying forces with a little smile on his face just to cover up all of the hatred.

cheers to a new president! :)

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Ankz


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Lawyer Dhiyaa al-Saadi told CNN in December that his client could face 15 years in jail if convicted.

Thats pretty ridiculious even the two years is a bit extreme. We dont have a right to change the laws over there but we can at least try limiting the sentence, im sure we can understand his frustration as said above.


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Snackycakes


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His intent was to disgrace Bush and humiliate him for what he has done. Since shoe throwing has had a history as being a hefty insult, he shouldnt be charged with assault. And according to what the shoe thrower said it was a spontaneous act so his emotions are what sparked him, he didn't plan ahead to walk in there saying: "Hey Bush, taste my shoe!". So if he is charged with assault, 15 years is way too much and his imprisonment will make him a martyr and possibly promote others to act out.

And no one wants that.



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Jeremy
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somehow I get this feeling he will be charged and going to jail. Iraqi officials are pissed because of the shoe came close to Al-Maliki. I wouldn't doubt it at all as soon as we end our occupation there he'll be home free. Its attempted assault on a foreign head of state. If you let this guy go, you're basically telling all Iraqi journalists your home free to throw "missiles" at people giving press conferences. Doesn't matter who the taget is. I'm stoked for Obama getting plunked by a shoe biggrin and to Jeremy, we don't have a right to influence their sentencing and surely shouldn't be. Thats one of the reason the world hates us, our influence on their policies. you're going to piss off thousands of Iraqis if we are found influencing the jailing sentence.even Bush didn't care about it really.

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Bonemail-(Christophe K)


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It's not if the reason he did it is right but the fact that he did it. He should be charged with both since he did both at the same time. There is a time and a place to express your thoughts this was not one of those times.

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alecralph


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he should probably just be charged with the insulting of a head of state because throwing the shoes was supposed to be a symbolic gesture right?

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moniCA92870


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I also remember watching the video of when President Bush had a shoe thrown at him.  i think Al- Zaidi should be charged for both assault and insult.  He did try to attack him and i remember hearing/reading from somewhere that in the middle east, throwing your shoe at someone doesn't mean anything nice.  however, Bush had it coming to him.   

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Kody Disbrow


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the man very clearly should be charged with attempted assault under US law but the act was not committed in the US. so i think he should punished under Iraqi law whatever that may be.

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