In this image from APTN video, a man, centre throws a shoe at US President George W. Bush, background left, during a news conference with Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, in Baghdad, Iraq. On an Iraq trip shrouded in secrecy and marred by dissent, President George W. Bush on Sunday hailed progress in the war that defines his presidency and got a size-10 reminder of his unpopularity when a man hurled two shoes at him during a news conference. (AP Photo)
You can search the shoes, but the shoes themselves remain a formidable projectile. More images from the sequence:
Dana Perino got a black eye! Two sparkley hooves way up for the brave shoe hurler!
20 comments:
It's hard to tell in the screen caps, but is the Iraqi Prime Minister... smiling? Well, maybe not smiling exactly, but at the very least smirking.
Do you think this means the Baghdad "grand square" Richard Perle predicted would be named after W the Liberator will be postponed as a result of this unfortunate incident?
Too bad his feet weren't bigger and his aim wasn't better.
It's just perfect that THIS is the takeaway from Bush's last visit to Iraq.
Check out the video!
Bush must be used to pitchers aiming at his head. al-Maliki is sleep-walkin'... but Bush! woah! fast duck!
I just hope the shoe-bomber doesn't get in too much trouble.
Wow. Nouri al-Maliki doesn't even flinch! That's amazing.
Totally agree that the best part of this is that al-Maliki does not flinch in the slightest, and just wears this kind of wearily amused reaction.
Back when Winston Churchill was viceroy of Iraq and it was the Limeys killing Iraqis willy-nilly, Churchill called the region "an ungrateful volcano."
Funny how some things never change.
Bush won't take any criticism seriously until it includes gunshots, a highly unlikely scenario.
Imagine if it were a Ferragamo, worn by Dr. Ferragamo herself!
I am not the slightest bit of a Dubya fan, but when I watched this all I could think was "Where's the Secret Service?!" The guy had time to "reload" by taking off his other shoe and still managed to chuck it at the president before anyone got in his way.
I hope they move a little faster when it's Obama's life they're protecting.
I've never enjoyed 'footage' more, if you know what I mean.
Yes, I hope the Iraqi reporter doesn't get hurt. Hopefully after the guards got him outside they patted him on the back. I worry for that guy because Bush is such a vindictive prick. I'm thinking of sending my ickiest pair of shoes to the White House as a parting gift. Maybe I'll clean up the dog poop first.
Bush is used to ducking because I bet Laura's been hurling blunt objects at his head for decades.
As for Dana's black eye, that's sad. They should have aimed for her mouth.
Watch these assholes demand barefooted reporters at all future press conferences.
What commitment--sacrificing your shoes to presidential projectilism.
Bush's joking response was typically All About Him and mocking the man's protest for the deaths of Iraqis. Klassy.
Al Malicki has probably become desensitized to violence which explains his seemingly cool demeanor.
But, mark my word, this incident will not be without its inevitable repercussions: Jeb Bush will now have to avenge this attempted assassination on his bro when he runs for and wins the Presidency in 2012 or 16.
"Find me a way to get back into Iraq".
Word.
P.S. Why should Muntader al-Zaidi have all the fun ?
Oh the shoe hurler! It's why I dropped by today. I was certain you'd have something to say and you do. Sparkly hooves way way up for the shoe man. Quite an arm he's got. I suggest we all descend upon Washington when the cretin Bush returns so we can all hurl shoes at him.
And, the funniest parts of the story for me are that in the Arab world, Condi is known as "Kundara," arabic word meaning shoe and that the journalists are challenging each other about the chance to throw a shoe at Condi.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7783325.stm
Boys and Girls:
The shoe-party was of course set up as a "parting gift" to "W" from al-Maliki.
Good for him, as much of sleaze-ball as our "President."
At least good ol' Al didn't "shock and awe" Washington through bombs a la Dubya, although I bet he wished he could.
Helen Thomas wouldn't have missed, even with a smaller shoe.
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