Posted on 12/17/2008 7:46:14 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi will be known for a long time as the shoe thrower. He who succeeded in throwing a pair of shoes at U.S. President George Bush last Sunday in Baghdad.
The shoes are now priceless. A Saudi entrepreneur has offered $10 million for one of the pair of shoes.
The shoe throwing incident has been hailed as heroic by many people around the world, especially those who opposed the foreign policies of the outgoing US president. What are the reactions of Southeast Asian bloggers and residents?
Hafriz from Singapore thinks al-Zaidi should become president of the world:
“is anyone still not in the shoe-throwing craze yet? this Muntazer al-Zaidi guy is a worldwide hero. he's a legend. he should be president of the world.”
Katak, also from Singapore, notes that the incident reflects the failure of US foreign policies:
“Being infamous in a foreign country is generally not a good farewell party for someone who is often regarded as the President of the ‘World’.
“The (incident) shows the build up of hatred and violence that the local citizens had to endure due largely to his failure in assessment of foreign policy, in particular, the 2003 invasion of Iraq.”
Another Singaporean blogger, mrbrown.com, wonders why the Secret Service agents were unable to catch the shoes:
“It makes you wonder though, that if the Secret Service could not stop a flying shoe or two, how were they planning to protect President Bush from more lethal weapons?
“Or did they deliberately let that one through? Hmmm…”
Filipino journalist Carlos Conde analyzes the shoe-throwing incident from the perspective of a media person:
“What he did was to show that he is a citizen before anything else; that he, too, feels the pain of his fellow Iraqis.
“Al-Zaidi is a journalist. He knows the story of Iraq perhaps more than anybody else. But more than anything else, he’s an Iraqi citizen. He feels the pain of his people perhaps more than any journalist in Baghdad does. Did we really expect him to just sit there and watch Bush lie through his teeth again and insult the memory of those who suffered in Iraq because of America’s act of aggression?”
Ka-Blog from the Philippines understands the motives of Al-Zaidi:
“Was Al-Zeidi justified in doing it? Let me put it this way—if your country were ravaged by a war justified on totally baseless claims (WMD); if millions of your countrymen were dead because of it; if foreign aggressors are still occupying your country; and if the brains (now, this is a misnomer) behind all these comes to your country still saying he was right, won’t you feel the same degree of rage that this journalist felt?
“I was shocked by what I saw on TV and I was still shocked when I reviewed it on YouTube. I asked myself how a United States President could be treated in such a manner.
“But when I put myself in Al-Zeidi’s shoes (pun intended), I can’t bring myself to denounce him. In fact, my only problem with the Iraqi journalist was his aim.”
Arif from Indonesia writes that US President-elect Barack Obama has to redeem the image of America which was destroyed by his predecessor:
“Hates are left in worlds heart. Thrown shoes was only an expression of world hatred. Think that Barrack Obama has to recover Americas’ image destroyed by George Walker Bush.
“Thrown by shoes was nothing. But, Bush should think that he has created bad image and hatred. Bush also has destroyed ancient heritages in Iraq. He destroyed economic achievement. He lied to us. Iraq has had no weapons of mass destruction.”
Perhaps anticipating a negative reaction from authorities, Salak from Malaysia is fearful that “one day when we have to get a license for our shoes.”
Many Southeast Asian bloggers are amused over the Flash-based games which were created after the shoe throwing incident. Video samples of the games are shown below: (AT LINK)
Fine: Let's withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan ASAP and let them go back to killing each other! Why do we even try to help Muslims?
Looks like the article has quoted only the opinions of the Hussein lovers.
This so-called islamic POS doesn’t need shoes is what he’s telling us. Perhaps he doesn’t need his hands either. Time to remove both.
They prefer to swim in pigs#!t, as long as it’s Muslim, instead of behaving like honorable people.
Judging from the reaction in Iraq alone, I’d say we wasted tons of money and blood on these people.
Flame away, but you know it’s true.
Monkey al-Zaidi has about 11 minutes of fame remaining...
The Arab world is really without substance, isn’t it? They can smell my socks. It is the farewell kiss, you dogs!
Thanks for posting this article.
“Hafriz from Singapore thinks al-Zaidi should become president of the world: “
Too late. Obama done got dat job.
We have utterly defeated our enemies and now they are reduced to throwing shoes at us. That is all what they can do.
Would it be too much to hope re: Saudi burning shoes live broadcast to the muslim world?
Nevermind.
Whenever I come across the Brotherhood’s table again, i’ll make sure I have my five inch Blahniks to use and a big bag of cement (My trunk is roomy).
Can’t wait to see their reaction when something like this happens to their Messiah.
Good point bro.
Is this really it? A thrown shoe is the Mother of All Insults in the Arabic world?
Beats getting flipped off, I suppose . . .
I wouldn't be at all surprised that guy was told to do that from someone or organization from here in the States. I also wouldn't be surprised if the guy wasn't Iraqi at all.
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