Agility in Iraq: Bush ducks thrown shoes

NECN.com ^ | December 14, 2008 | staff reporter

[Daffynition]

(NECN) - President George W. Bush addressed the progress made in the Iraq War on Sunday, in a visit to Baghdad just 37 days prior to handing off the war to President-elect Barack Obama. But President Bush got more than he bargained for -- he was able to show off his dodgeball skills. Or, dodge-shoe skills, in this case.

Who throws a shoe, you ask? Al-Baghdadia television correspondent Muntadar al-Zeidi, who peeled off both of his shoes and threw them a the U.S. President, shouting "This is the end!"

Bush dodged both shoes as they whipped past his head.

"All I can report," Bush joked later, "is a size 10."

The trip comes on the heals of a U.S., Iraqi security agreement that allows U.S. troops to stay in Iraq longer than anticipated.

Nearly 150,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq fighting a war that is intensely disliked across the globe. More than 4,209 members of the U.S. military have died in the conflict, which has cost U.S. taxpayers $576 billion since it began five years and nine months ago.

Bush later brushed off the shoe incident, comparing it political protests at home.

"So what if I guy threw his shoe at me?" he said.

[Daffynition]

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

Grace under fire. Doubt Bill Clinton or Obama would take such an insult so well.

Meanwhile: the reporter is an ungrateful, ill-informed twit. Much the same as ours.

[JoeProBono]

[rabidralph]

And he can’t spell “heels.”

[BuckyKat]

Time to put reporters through similar security humiliation that we all suffer at airports - but KEEP their shoes.

[Daffynition]

Many, like this reporter, will never understand. It's a Muslim mindset.

Airforce Chief MS & Iraqi baby girl. Her entire family murdered by Islamic terrorists.

[BenLurkin]

God bless George W.Bush.

Despite his not closing the borders, Americans will miss the quality of him as an individual and as an elected official.

[Jeff Head]

The secret service should have literally jumped on this POS, wresteld him to the ground, and broke a few ribs and apendages in the process of apprehending him .

[Eaker]

Really need to Gitmo the jerk!

[lilylangtree]

God bless Pres. Bush. What a great statesman! If he were able to run again, he’d have my vote again. Now let’s cage all the radical islamists media, and let them dodge pork layered bullets. They’re worse than the lowest slimiest piece of garbage. Pox on all of them.

[Marie2]

“So what if I guy threw his shoe at me?” he said.

I’d vote for President Bush again proudly and in a heartbeat. He is the kind of man I want as president.

[Jeff Head]

A couple of years ago...yes. Now, with the Obamanation coming in, what that is apt to mean is that he would get a trial right here in the USA and end up winning a civil suit for hundreds of thousands of our doallars.

[Humal]

...and the Secret Service did what????

[JoeProBono]

[kbennkc]

In the old days it would be straight to a soccer field beheading and a rape room for his family instead of being escorted to an nearby room for a time out . You're welcome .

[VA_Gentleman]

I’m kind of wondering why the secret service didn’t plant two bullets in the guy after the first shoe was thrown.

[OCC]

We have dealt with show wielding a-holes before.

[mamelukesabre]

Was this guy showing how much he disliked bush, or was there something specific that bush said in his speech that the guy took offense to?

[kbennkc]

I’m kind of wondering why the secret service didn’t plant two bullets in the guy after the first shoe was thrown.

Very good question . Even little old me would have assumed the shoes to be explosive devices and more were yet to be thrown .

[lawley]

That secret service team should be FIRED. They should’ve been all over that guy before the 2nd shoe went airborne. In fact, an effective secret service agent can handily intercept any flying shoe...