What about the spear chucker?
Posted on 12/24/2008 3:00:56 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Mark “Black Hawk Down” Bowden says yes. I think it’s a no-brainer, but for different reasons:
The stunt was rude and no doubt embarrassing to the Iraqi authorities, but it is hardly a high crime. For Americans, the only serious issue raised by the shoe-throwing episode is how Mr. Zaidi was able to throw the second one. With its national pride at stake, the Iraqi government is unlikely to cut the journalist a break. If a gesture is to be made, it has to come from Mr. Bush…
It would also be a small way of acknowledging that Iraqis have borne by far the greatest measure of pain in this war, and that America’s handling of the country since chasing Saddam Hussein from power, while trending in the right direction currently, has not been a singular and shining success. Many Iraqis have come by their anger toward the U.S. honestly…
As the video now plays, and plays, and plays, with just the action sequence of hurled shoes and the ducking president, Mr. Bush appears ridiculous. It will stay that way and is certain to become, with several other unfortunate tableaus (“Mission Accomplished” comes to mind), an iconic moment in the Bush presidency. With a simple gesture of reprieve, he could completely rise above it. Mr. Zaidi would be nothing more than a rude prankster. The president would be the story’s hero.
Good points, although I’d argue it’s because the Iraqis are likely to cut Zaidi a break that Bush should climb aboard. Like I said last week, if Maliki makes an example of the Arabs’ new hero, he’ll be hammered for it before the next elections and lose credibility in the region. Whereas if he pardons him, it’s an insult to Bush, but Bush is on his way out and no one much likes him anymore anyway. What’s a beleaguered prime minister — who’s already taking heat for the beating the IP allegedly laid on Zaidi in jail — to do? By requesting the pardon, Bush would eliminate both the insult and, more importantly, the perception of Iraq as an anti-American state that would arise if Maliki pardoned Zaidi anyway. It’d also help get the Iraqi parliament back on track: Political nonsense over this incident has already led to the resignation of the speaker, a Sunni, who calls Zaidi “brave” and is angry that more MPs don’t feel the same way. I don’t know sectarian politics well enough to guess whether most Sunnis agree, but if so, that’s an even bigger problem for Maliki than his Shiite rivals hassling him during a campaign.
Dubya’s in a pardon-y mood anyway these days, so why not?
Embarrass the he(( out of him.
Nothing serious should happen to the shoe-thrower.
Maybe Bush should have gone “Ha-ha! Ya missed!” on the day, to make everyone lighten up.
If Bush can ask for a “pardon” for the shoe-thrower, he should.
As to the Secret Service, Bush ought to roast them over a slow fire.
Shoe thrower = Arabs’ new hero.
Suleiman the Magnificient is turning in his grave.
If Bush won’t even pardon Ramos and Compean, he has no business pardoning a non American who was hellbent on seriously injuring him physically, and embarassing him politically.
Let the Iraqis do their thing. It’s their country.
Why not pardon him. He’ll never make it in the National or American league as a knuckle ball pitcher.
Let Iraqis mete out the appropriate justice. Bush should stay out of it.
I figured he was going to the first day I saw the story break.
-shrug-
-to clarify, I thought Bush would ask for them to go easy on the guy.
Would have been cool if W had caught them.
Only if he was a Mexican drug smuggler.
Personally I would have greatly enjoyed seeing W kick this guy’s butt on worldwide tv. Nothing fatal, just a good right cross to the jaw and a stiff boot in the gut after he falls down on all four. Unfortunately due to the circumstances, that couldn’t happen.
I suspect what will happen now is that shoe boy will show up on Oprah, the View, and various other shows and make a bunch of money.
Exactly. Additionally, when the President travels overseas, disrespectful treatment is a slap in the face to every American. I don't feel like turning the cheek. It will only encourage further such disrespect.
Let the Iraqis deal with this, They are a democratic country now.
:::snicker:::
to be pardoned suggests that someone has repented first and wants to be absolved of his crime(s) ... if the shoethrower doesn’t recant there can be no pardon
What about the spear chucker?
Not until he pardons Ramos and Compean!
I have an answer to the headline question.
After the shoe thrower begs for forgiveness, and repeatedly kisses George W. Bush’s feet (all this recorded for repeated televised viewing in the Arab world), George should ask Maliki to punish the shoe thrower lightly.
Why not?
He should also pardon those poor sick Americans suffering from BDS and wish them peace and serenity in the future.
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