"Shoe Thrower Apologizes"

[GreenPartyVoter]

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – An Iraqi journalist who hurled his shoes at U.S. President George W. Bush apologized to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki for embarrassing him before the watching world, the prime minister's office said on Thursday.

TV reporter Muntazer al-Zaidi shot to instant fame when he called Bush a "dog" in Arabic at a joint news conference with Maliki in Baghdad last Sunday and threw both his shoes at Bush in a gesture that is a deep insult in the Arab world.

"Zaidi said in his letter that his big ugly act cannot be excused," said Yasin Majeed, Maliki's media adviser.

Majeed said that Zaidi added: "But I remember in the summer of 2005, I interviewed your Excellency and you told me, 'Come in, this is your house.' And so I appeal to your fatherly feelings to forgive me."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081218/ts_nm/us_iraq_bush_shoes

I wonder if he did so of his own accord? And when does ** apologize for _his_ big ugly acts?

[varkam]

1. Seems he's just apologizing to the Iraqi PM.

And yeah, smart money is on the notion that he was writing that with a gun to his head.

[Soylent Brice]

11. CAN WE SAY "TORTURE"?

dammit. this guy was my hero.

[el_bryanto]

2. Big Ugly Act?

Maybe he wrote it under duress, but let some of his real feelings shine through with that clumsy line.

Bryant

[bdamomma]

3. apologized to not get tortured any longer.

[femmedem]

4. I hope this is enough to save to save his life and win his release. n/t

[merh]

6. GWB has the power to make that happen if it truly didn't bother him

and if he truly believes in free speech.

That bastard GWB is a walking lie.

[lapfog_1]

5. Quite likely one of these devices was in use.

[Ohio Joe]

7. It is the smart move

I think everyone here applauds him for what he did but it does not change that what he did is going to get him in trouble. He has vast public opinion behind him and his smartest move is to apologize. This will keep public opinion behind him, his brave act is still intact and he adds to it by now being the more intelligent man. While Bush was unable to figure out that he was insulted, this man shows he is able to stand up and say something along the lines of "ok, maybe throwing my shoes at a foreign head of state is not the best way to show my disdain for him". I think it is a smart move and expect it gets him off with little to nothing.

[RJ Connors]

8. I wonder if he did so of his own accord?

I seriously doubt it. It's probably more like an attempt on his part to stay alive.

[Mika]

9. Was it written in blood? n/t

[lpbk2713]

10. For the world to halfway believe this they need to show some pics of him.

I'm sure he will have a number of lacerations and hematomas. I have heard that he has a broken arm.

Sounds like he had to be "convinced" into apologizing.

[cboy4]

12. I'm sure he was told to apologize or he would be flown

somewhere that rhymes with Juan Bahnemoe.

[Zywiec]

13. Only apologized to Maliki and not Bush n/t