The Iraqi journalist, who allegedly threw a pair of shoes at US president Bush, has been beaten in custody, according to his brother. The man is now in a US military hospital for treatment. Throwing shoes is a sign of supreme contempt in the Arab world, and George W. Bush is most impopular in the Middle East. The invasion of Iraq in 2003 and American support for Israel (to mention but a few) lie at the bottom of that. The reporter is likely to be prosecuted under Iraqi law, possibly for insulting a foreign leader and/or the country's president. News bulletins yesterday showed a number of demonstrations across Iraq supporting the shoe-thrower.
The invasion of Iraq in 2003 was in my mind unnecessary, however unpalatable Saddam Hussein was. He was already hamstrung, unable to move militarily, and patently not in possession of weapons of mass-destruction. It would have been a matter of time before he was removed from power anyway. The American leadership acted in the usual manner, barging in without thought for the consequences or the broader picture. In my opinion, George W. Bush sought to complete the job that his daddy had left unfinished in 1991 after the first Gulf War. There was no plan for what happens next.
Invading an Arab nation was bound to inflame regional tensions and act as a focal point for terrorist groups like Al Qa'eda. It says much for the Iraqi people that they themselves have now started to rise up against foreign insurgents, leading to a gradual improvement in the security situation in the country.
In James Michner's The Source he mentions the Jewish tradition of giving a shoe to a woman related by marriage when she gets a divorce to signify that, as the husband's relative, the shoe giver has no further interest in the woman. This probably springs from the story of Tamar in the Old Testament, but probably has overtones of the Muslim tradition.
ReplyDeleteo<\\\\;^) Jan the Gryphon
http://gryph-wotd.blogspot.com/
I knew that there was something to do with shoes that showed extreme contempt. I can certainly understand his displeasure and contempt, and while I don't believe in assault of any kind (shoes or otherwise), I don't believe there was reason for this man to have beaten. I'm sorry to hear he has been.
ReplyDeleteI hate to hear the man was beaten, if indeed he was. In Biblical times, giving a shoe to someone was a bond, like a contract for land. Shoes! Who would have thought it?
ReplyDeleteI agree wholeheartedly that GW was wanted to finish the job his father didn't.
ReplyDeleteBeaten? I hate to see that, too. I think a suitable punishment for the man would be to work as one of those "boot cleaners" on the streets. Maybe somewhere there is a lot of dog or camel crap to scrap.
My feeling is if they feel this way about the U.S. (and other free contries) then we should pull out our troops NOW!! And let them fend for themselves. There has been some good done there, but apparently the majority of the people have forgotten that. So let's get out of Iraq & the surrounding countries now & let them eat cake!
ReplyDeleteI have to say I found the shoe throwing amusing even more so Bushs' reaction to the whole thing. I didn't know he had such good reflexes!!
ReplyDeleteOn a serious note, I am sorry to hear the man was beaten, that was most uncalled for.
Atleast it was not a bullet that he threw. President Bush got mad when a reporter mentioned the incident to him, but it is not often a living President gets a shoe hurled at him with that kind of passion! It was a first. I can't say that I think he does not deserve some registering of displeasure. I wish someone could have stopped him at the beginning from ill thought out exhibitions of US power. Gerry
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