As the two leaders met in Nuri al-Maliki's private office, a journalist sitting in the third row jumped up, shouting: "It is the farewell kiss, you dog," and threw his shoes one after the other towards Bush.
Maliki made a protective gesture towards the US president, who ducked and was not hit. We never get to see this in the States--the President ducking as foreign objects hurtle toward his head. [Ed's note: If you can throw two shoes at the President, surrounded by the best security force in the world, we hope Obama limits his public appearances].
Soles of shoes are considered the ultimate insult in Arab culture. In Moslem countries you do not face your shoe bottoms toward anyone.
The journalist, Muntazer al-Zaidi from the Al-Baghdadia channel in Cairo, was taken from the room by security forces.
The President later said "I don't know what the guy's cause is... I didn't feel the least bit threatened by it."
---o0o---
Pretty good wing on the Iraqi journalist and Shrub offers a deft dodge but the podia and the camera angle were absolutely first rate; like watching a dunk the clown at the school carnival.
ReplyDeleteQuote of the year: "This is a goodbye kiss, you dog".
Quote of the year: "This is a goodbye kiss, you dog".
ReplyDeleteIraqi hurler suspected of doping.
ReplyDeleteGotta give some kudos to "Dubya" but he had some quick reflexes and ducked those shots ( and them suckers were flying), and it looked like he had a smirk on his face for the first one....And I'll also give him wit points for "All I can report is it is a size 10"
ReplyDelete