Just a few days ago, an Iraqi journalist lost his temper and agressively through both his shoes at George W. Bush. This not only showed us Bush's fast reflexes but the frustration some hold against the President. What do you think of this? Do you support the journalists actions? Do you think they were diginfied or disgusting? What should be done to the journalist? Lastly, do you think this represents the popular opinion in Iraq?

AS SNL and President obama's nobel prize showed us that more than just a few people have a very low opinion of George W. Bush and his father. The journalist's actions were completely in line and more than likely show how the middle east feels about him and the us being there.

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Prescott Bush...The Worst One of All?

His business dealings, which continued until his company's assets were seized in 1942 under the Trading with the Enemy Act, has led more than 60 years later to a civil action for damages being brought in Germany against the Bush family by two former slave labourers at Auschwitz and to a hum of pre-election controversy.

The evidence has also prompted one former US Nazi war crimes prosecutor to argue that the late senator's action should have been grounds for prosecution for giving aid and comfort to the enemy

Muntadhar al-Zaidi will be released from jail tomorrow Tuesday 15 2009. His sentence of 3 years was reduced to 1, and due to good behavior we will be released early. I personally do not believe he should have spent more than a month in prison.

Meagan87 how is it sheer stupidity? The guy wasn't like "ooh I'm mad let me throw my shoe at this bastard." He obviously is making a statement against our country and its policies and its inept leader. Bush is the logical choice to have a shoe thrown at him because he is the one who began the war on that man's country. I'd throw a shoe too after almost six years of pointless war.

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Originally posted by Meagan87:
I thought it was a pretty stupid thing to do.

If I were to throw a shoe at you, and you had reasonable belief that harm could come to you, I would be guilty of assault...regardless of whether or not my shoe ever touched you.

Obviously assault without battery (where harm actually comes to the person) is not often reported, although it is still a crime. This guy chose to commit the crime against the President of the United States...sheer stupidity.

He was angry. And in Iraq that's the ultimate insult, being "stepped on" as it were.

I don't blame him. At least he was smart enough not to take a gun. He just popped after all he'd talked about as a reporter and no-one had heard. It's the disadvantage of being a journalist: if you against the mainstream, you're mute. The power of the press only comes when its in full force by everyone. Example given: Barack Obama.

I honestly dont know much about the incident, but I dont blame the guy! All those people dieing around him, and then having to write about. Just becuase Bush decided to go to war there. He shouldn't be punished severely!!!!!!!!
.:MaX:.

It was an "in the moment" kind of thing. The journalist, Muntadhar Al-Zaidi, was known for being polite and calm. His reaction came out as a result of his experience in Iraq. He had spent the last 2 years living in Baghdad reporting. He was strongly affected about what he had to report, such as stories about widows, orphans, and people who suffered greatly and are still suffering from the war. Muntadhar's brother told the press about how Muntadhar would come home after working and cry for the people he had to report about and cry because of their suffering. One can understand why Muntadhar lost his temper, he himself apologized for his actions once he had a chance to cool down.

In France, there is a thing, i forgot what its called, that the accused can plea in court, or the jury takes into account before making a decision. Loosley translated, its something like "in the moment". Say for example a man comes home and finds his wife cheating on him. The husband beats up the guy and breaks his leg and beats his wife. Normally the husband is very calm and has no record of violence or anything. When he goes to court, the jury will take into account that in the moment, the husband was overwhelmed by his feelings and acted in a way in which he wouldnt under normal circumstances. As a result his sentence would not be as harsh as it would be if he had beat up his wife and the guy for having a cup of coffee together. So this could apply to the journalists case. After 2 years of suffering, he couldnt help but throw a shoe, an insult in Arab culture, at the dude who was mostly behind it.

By the way he did not throw the shoe to harm Bush. He threw it as an insult to Bush.

Still its not the best way to get a message across.

I thought it was a pretty stupid thing to do.

If I were to throw a shoe at you, and you had reasonable belief that harm could come to you, I would be guilty of assault...regardless of whether or not my shoe ever touched you.

Obviously assault without battery (where harm actually comes to the person) is not often reported, although it is still a crime. This guy chose to commit the crime against the President of the United States...sheer stupidity.

That was possibly one of the greatest moments in recent American history.

That man should be given a medal for finally doing what nearly every American has wanted to do for the past 8 years.

I support this mans actions fully, i think that all the fruatration that has been held agaisnt Bush is finally being let out. Maybe he should of found a different way to let it out, because throwing his shoes at someone , espcially a man of that power is not a smart decision. But i agree fully with the symbolizion behind it.

All the power to him!

Well, personally I can't say that I like Bush and part of me says that the journalist did the right thing. But at the same time why couldn't he have found a better wat to get his point across?I don't think that the journalist should be punished though, its not like Bush got hurt. And finally, yes, what he did most likely represents the popular opinion in Iraq.