Sunday, December 14, 2008

shoe-bomber


Welcome to Baghdad. An Iraqi reporter set off pandemonium Sunday by hurling two shoes at President Bush during a news conference that was the centerpiece of his secret goodbye visit.

There is a reporter in Iraq that I would send a Christmas present if I could. In the middle east it is the highest form of insult to throw your shoes at some one. It is a insult to call someone a dog! I would send this fellow a pair of heavy Arkansas work shoes with steel toes.

The president successfully ducked both throws. Photos show him with his head down near the top of the podium. The embarrassing incident marred a visit meant to show off the improved conditions since the troop "surge" dramatically reduced casualties to U.S. troops.

"This is a gift from the Iraqis. This is the farewell kiss, you dog," the journalist shouted (in Arabic), Steven Lee Myers of The New York Times reported in a pool report to the White House press corps.

Myers reported that the man threw the second shoe and added: "This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq."

3 comments:

Galla Creek said...

I guess he was shoooed away.

Judy said...

Patsy, I love the heading "shoe-bomber". So appropriate! I have seen some of those steel toed shoes. You could knock someone out with one.

Linda said...

Patsy, I loved the idea of your "Arkansas work shoes with steel toes."

Made me think of my father's shoes he wore to work on the railroad, steel toes, and high tops that laced half way up his leg with leather shoe laces. One of those would have knocked Bush out cold.