Posted on 12/29/2008 12:54:00 PM PST by Sub-Driver
US activists call for release, pardon of Iraq shoe-thrower Dec 29 03:52 PM US/Eastern US activists on Monday urged Baghdad to release the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at US President George W. Bush, insisting that his gesture was meant to insult, not harm the US leader.
"This was a form of insult... If he had wanted to hurt George Bush, he would have chosen a different weapon," Medea Benjamin of the Codepink peace activism group told AFP at a rally of about a dozen people outside the Iraqi consulate in Washington.
Zaidi, 29, threw his shoes at Bush during the US president's surprise visit to Iraq on December 14, an action considered a grave insult in the Arab world.
He is due to appear in court in Baghdad on Wednesday on charges of "aggression against a foreign head of state during an official visit," an offense which could see him go to jail for up to 15 years.
Handing down a stiff sentence to Zaidi would "fan the flames of anti-Americanism," said Benjamin of Codepink, founded by US women in 2002.
"This should be seen as a non-violent act of civil disobedience which, as Bush said, happens in a democratic society. If indeed that is the case, then he should be pardoned."
The protesters tried to hand-deliver a petition for Zaidi's release to the Iraqi ambassador to Washington, but "there was nobody at the embassy to receive us," Benjamin said.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Why doesn’t she just suck a gaspipe?
How beneficient of Media to speak for the Iraqi government in their infanticy.
MMMMkay. If we can pardon an attack on a sittting president, I guess it’ll be okay to throw shoes at that big=eared Housebutler for the Liberal PLantation.
Codepink was my first thought when I read the title...and sure enough.
So she admits he used a WEAPON. No, Medea, if he had NOT intended to hurt President Bush he wouldn't have thrown the shoes in the first f****** place.
Lets all huck some size 10 red wing workboots ad Medeas head in protest. It wont hurt. Honest
Why can’t this country HANG this treasonous witch?
Can we have some sort of FR rule where we call her by her actual name? Susie? I REFUSE to call her Medea, though as has been pointed out, it is a fitting name...a woman who killed her children to spite her husband and a woman who advocates the killing of our children to spite her country...class act (s/off)
It was only nonviolent because Bush showed the agility of a prize fighter. A leather shoe hurled at high velocity could cause severe facial injury.
Her parents must have beaten her when she was a child.
Her brains sure are scrambled.
She’s nuts.
Oh...
So we can all throw things at The One and expect a pardon for our troubles??? Nice new definition of "non-violent"... These people are beyond stupid...
They’ll probably give him full tenure at Columbia School of Journalism.
Quite right.
Civilized people do not throw shoes at heads of state.
Idiotic.
I really wish rancid piles of wormsh*t like Medea would just pack their damn bags and get the hell out of this country.
The mere term that the media loves to use, “activist,” encourages lowlife losers to not only act more brazenly but to seek out more publicity for their illegal and/or sleazy behaviors. It gives the lowlifes the idea that they actually “belong” to a fraternity of some type and gives the lowlifes a feeling of honor.
IF you doubt this, go to SFgate.com, the San Francisco Chronicle, and to their comments section ... online / free. Post something that indicates “activists” are troublemakers..... and watch the responses. The City is loaded with troublemakers and they just love that title the media has given them...”activist.” They then use their own derogatory terms against good people trying to maintain order and safety within our Country and call us “neocon.”
Suggestion to Press: avoid the term “activist” and substitute the proper adjective / descriptor such as vandal, rioter, criminal trespasser, etc.
i.e. The SF Chronicle described a recent mini riot in which dozens of “youths” and “protestors” who ran through a mall while destroying property ... not as criminals, thugs, or troublemaker rioters.... but just... “protestors” and ‘activists.”
All in favor of insulting Medea Benjamin, get your shoes ready...
So we have major offense taken over the song, Barack the Magic Negro but we ought to praise someone who attempted to physically harm our President.
Sick psychos, every last pinko
I was for pardoning the guy originally, but now that Medea Benjamin wants it I’m starting to lean the other way.
“Handing down a stiff sentence to Zaidi would “fan the flames of anti-Americanism,” said Benjamin of Codepink”
Then this communist turd flinger should be all for it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.