"Bush: "That's what people do in a free society, draw attention to themselves"

Yesterday, during George Bush's final visit to Afghanistan, an empassioned Iraqi journalist threw both his shoes at Bush in a sign of great disrespect.

Not surprisingly, encouraged by the people's uprising here in America and the subsequent election of Barack Obama- the rest of the world is feeling the wind of freedom in their hair.

(BBC News Article- "Bush shoe-ing worst Arab insult")
Around the Arab world, if you want to escalate a situation, by saying for example "I'm going to thump you", add the words "with a shoe" and you're adding serious insult to the threat of possible injury.

And of course, what is Bush's demented take on the incident...

From TheAge.com article in Australia: "Bush hails shoe attack as win for democracy"
The US President laughed off an incident in Baghdad on Sunday when he was nearly hit by an angry Iraqi reporter's shoes.

The journalist, Muntather al-Zaidi, 28, a correspondent for the Iraqi station al-Baghdadia, shouted in Arabic: "This is a gift from the Iraqis; this is the farewell kiss, you dog!" He then threw a shoe at Mr Bush, who ducked and narrowly avoided it.

Zaidi then threw his other shoe, shouting in Arabic: "This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq!" Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's security agents jumped on Zaidi and hustled him out of the room. He was detained on unspecified charges.

Mr Bush tried to brush off the incident. "All I can report is it is a size 10," he said. He also called the incident a sign of democracy in the country, saying, "that's what people do in a free society, draw attention to themselves", as Zaidi's screaming was heard outside.

*****

It is my opinion that Bush is the anti-thesis of what true democracy means. He had to become president of the US to show the world what true democracy is.

How I would've loved to be a fly on the wall in that room... Here's a clip from MSNBC documenting the incident.




Throughout the Arab world- Bush's picture has long been associated with shoes. A sign of obvious disrespect.

Change is coming. The world will soon know Peace.