Video: Iraqi Journalist Throws Shoes at Bush

The BBC reports:

A surprise visit by US President George Bush to Iraq has been overshadowed by an incident in which two shoes were thrown at him during a news conference.

An Iraqi journalist was wrestled to the floor by security guards after he called Mr Bush "a dog" and threw his footwear, just missing the president.

This seems to be the big news this morning, but should we be surprised? After all that has been inflicted on the Iraqi people by this administration in the guise of "liberating" them, it should not come as a shock.


Here is the video:

Also according to the BBC:

In the middle of the news conference with Mr Maliki, Iraqi television journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi stood up and shouted "this is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog," before hurling a shoe at Mr Bush which narrowly missed him.

It has been widely mentioned in the media that in Arab culture throwing shoes and calling someone a dog are terrible insults. Wouldn't they also be terrible insults in the West? I should think it is not only limited to Arabs. However, as mentioned by the BBC:

Correspondents said the attack was symbolic. Iraqis threw shoes and used them to beat Saddam Hussein's statue after his overthrow.

I am sure that there are many people that are very happy to see him leave office next month, but is it fair to place all the blame for the problems in the US and abroad on him? Let's not forget that Vice-President Dick Cheney, a career politician who has pretty much been in the White House since he was the White House Chief of Staff under President Ford (excepting the Clinton years), has been next to him throughout his years in office.