An Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes and an insult at George W. Bush, without hitting him, as the US president was shaking hands with the Iraqi premier at his Baghdad office on Sunday.


As the two leaders met in Nuri al-Maliki's private office, a journalist sitting in the third row jumped up, shouting: "It is the farewell kiss, you dog," and threw his shoes one after the other towards Bush.


Maliki made a protective gesture towards the US president, who ducked and was not hit.


The journalist, Muntazer al-Zaidi from Al-Baghdadia channel which broadcasts from Cairo, was frogmarched from the room by security staff, an AFP journalist said.


Soles of shoes are considered the ultimate insult in Arab culture. After Saddam Hussein's statue was toppled in Baghdad in April 2003, many onlookers beat the statue's face with their soles.


Some Iraqi journalists stood up to apologise.


The White House said Bush ducked to avoid the first shoe, while the second narrowly missed the president.


Bush said: "Thanks for apologising on behalf of the Iraqi people. It doesn't bother me. If you want the facts, it was a size 10 shoe that he threw".


Playing down the incident, the president later added: "I don't know what the guy's cause is... I didn't feel the least bit threatened by it."

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/0812...diplomacy_shoes

Last edited by UmmiE on Dec-14-2008 at 20:24

quote:

Originally posted by UmmiE

Interesting that they find throwing a shoe as being the biggest insult. That'll be the new fact I learned today!

Also...what does "frog marched" mean?

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quote:

Originally posted by *~LiSa-LoO~* Interesting that they find throwing a shoe as being the biggest insult. That'll be the new fact I learned today! Also...what does "frog marched" mean?

Frog marching refers to the practice of forcibly transporting suspects or prisoners through a public place, up to and including carrying them such that their limbs splay in a frog-like manner.



Yes its big insult if you throw your shoe at someone.

quote:

Originally posted by UmmiE Frog marching refers to the practice of forcibly transporting suspects or prisoners through a public place, up to and including carrying them such that their limbs splay in a frog-like manner. Yes its big insult if you throw your shoe at someone.

Coolio. Thanks.

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WTF! I rofled at that

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quote:

Originally posted by ChemEnhanced any party from 2003 and back I only remember bits and pieces...i've combined those memories into one awesome party

saw this in the CoR too,

I'd be happier if Bush took one

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A friend of mine threw his shoe at me when I was doing a monologue in Drama class one time. We all laughed.

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I'm completely surprized bush didn't duck and crouch in a fetal position, scared shitless.

about time

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quote:

Originally posted by Al saw this in the CoR too, I'd be happier if Bush took both and then everyone in the crowd participated and threw both of their shoes at him too that would have been epic lulz

fixed for epicness.

Even though December's halfway through, I'm predicting animated gif of the year will come from that footage ("footage", gettit?).

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