"Muntadar al-Zaidi Did What We Journalists Should Have Done Long Ago"

[babylonsister]

Muntadar al-Zaidi Did What We Journalists Should Have Done Long Ago

by Dave Lindorff


When Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi heaved his two shoes at the head of President George W. Bush during a press conference in Baghdad, he did something that the White House press corps should have done years ago.

Al-Zaidi listened to Bush blather that the half-decade of war he had initiated with the illegal invasion of Iraq had been "necessary for US security, Iraqi stability (sic) and world peace" and something just snapped. The television correspondent, who had been kidnapped and held for a while last year by Shiite militants, pulled off a shoe and threw it at Bush-a serious insult in Iraqi culture-and shouted "This is a farewell kiss, you dog!" When the first shoe missed its target, he grabbed a second shoe and heaved it too, causing the president to duck a second time as al-Zaidi shouted, "This is from the widows, the orphans, and those who were killed in Iraq!"

I'll admit, listening to Bush lie his way through eight years of press conferences, while pre-selected reporters played along and pretended to get his attention so they could ask questions which had been submitted and vetted in advance, I have felt like throwing my shoes at the television set.

Al-Zaidi, who paid for his courageous act of protest by being brutally beaten by security guards, is a hero of the profession. He stopped taking the president's BS and called him what he is: a murderer and a criminal, with the blood of perhaps upwards of a million Iraqis on his hands. Al-Zaidi used what was supposed to be a staged photo-op for the president as an opportunity to speak up for those whose lives have been ruined by this president-the ones our suck-up journalists routinely ignore.

more...

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/12/15

[malaise]

1. It's that simple

K & R

here's the Rude Pundit's take - priceless.

http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/
<snip>
This morning, the Rude Pundit decided to honor the efforts of Muntader al-Zaidi, the Iraqi shoe-tosser, by taking out a raggedy old pair of sneakers, putting them in a Priority Mail shipping box, helpfully provided by the United States Post Office, and shipping them to President George W. Bush at the White House. He included a note that read, "This is a farewell kiss from the American people, you dog."

Since throwing objects at the president is generally considered a crime, the Rude Pundit figures sending shoes to Bush is a small, good thing, a gesture of contempt that has context. Sweet Christ, at this point, there should be giant sacks of shoes heading to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20500, like letters to Santa.

The Rude Pundit is not going to hide his fucking glee at the incident. He's not going to "respect the office" or some such shit because Bush doesn't respect it, so fuck him - take a fuckin' shoe in the face - it'll probably be the only punishment our criminal president ever faces in his lifetime. All over America right now, millions of people are thinking the same thing: "About. Fucking. Time." Hell, when you watch the video, you see that the Secret Service barely cares. And you also see Bush smirk, as if thinking, "It's better than the plates Laura flings when she finds my whiskey."

And what's sweeter is that it's the only thing anyone's gonna remember about W's smug little "victory" lap he was trying to take in Iraq and Afghanistan, a trip that was like a rapist trying to get the semen stains out of the carpet before the DNA is found. Instead, the whole thing descended (or ascended, depending on your point of view) into farce, like a smug opera singer ripping a fart while hitting a high note. It was gratifying, no less than he deserved.

[Gregorian]

3. Wow. I love a little irreverence.

This is a lovely feeling I will cherish.

By the way, I have wondered why Americans in general are so slow. Like, ahem, that drug war. How did that ever become a part of this society, other than people just tagging along.

More of this sort of thing!

[Hubert Flottz]

4. RP has a fine way with words...

LMAO.

[BrklynLiberal]

8. Excellent.. A reflection of what I am thinking.

[Octafish]

10. Colbert stood up the monkey's face, too.

But, yeah. It's about time Corporate McPravda started to do their job. They've been AWOL since 22 November 1963.

[ACTION BASTARD]

2. He's a hero to the world. He does more than speak to power he's a thrower of justice!

[MarkInCA]

5. I know this would never happen

But can you imagine if Obama tracked Zaidi down and walked with him in the parade January 20 (if he can, may have to stay in limo.)

Either that of have him seated in the gallery and refer to him during his first state of the union speech.

I can dream can't I?

[Laelth]

6. Hear, hear! n/t k&r

The United States is a LIBERAL Country.

:dem:

-Laelth

[ColbertWatcher]

7. Sadly, this is the first time I've seen since the shoe throwing that mentions Zaidi's kidnapping.

I haven't heard a damn thing on the TV today about his kidnapping.

Lindorff is correct when he says American journalists have failed.

[kenny blankenship]

9. Is there a good picture of this al-Zaidi character?

I feel the need for his likeness on my next T shirt.

[StudsT]

12. here is a small one...

StudsT

edit to add larger image

[babylonsister]

13. Here's a pic

from here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4655469&mesg_id=4655469

[StudsT]

11. al-Zaidi shouted, "This is from the widows, the orphans, and those who were killed in Iraq!"

i hadn't heard that quote from the M$M on teeVee - i can't stand the potemkin village these sophists continue to maintain - fortunately we now have the www.

thanks for sharing that link, good read :toast:

StudsT