Bush's Farewell Kiss From Iraq

I cannot think of a more fitting parting gift.



The shoe-thrower was identified as Muntadar al-Zeidi, a correspondent for Iraqi-owned Al-Baghdadiya television based in Egypt. There are conflicting reports of what exactly he shouted at the President; one report claims he said, "This the end", while another says it was, "This is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog!"

I prefer the latter sentiment.

(better video and Bush's dismissive response at BBC News)

UPDATE: I've replaced the Fox video with one from MSNBC, just because.

I also wanted to speak to the appallingly flippant and insensitive remarks made by soon-to-be-ex-President Bush regarding this incident. He says he found it amusing. He jokes about knowing the size of the shoes. He dismisses this profound insult as the act of someone "just seeking attention", instead of the eloquent expression of one man's frustration and rage after seven long years of occupation, death and destruction.

Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been killed, most by Americans. Industry, public utilities, even access to food and water have been decimated. A once prosperous and civilized nation, however badly oppressed, has been reduced to utter barbarism and despair, all because George Dubya Bush had a family score to settle and corporate friends to pay off.

He's lucky it was just shoes.

UPDATE 2: The Rev. agrees, and has an excellent idea for a follow-up:

To be honest I'd like to see Bush pelted with shoes everywhere he goes for the next decade. I'd like to see about 4,200 pair of empty combat boots dumped on the White House lawn. I think people from around the world should mail him their oldest, smelliest, most dogshit-encrusted sneakers both en masse and for the rest of his miserable life so that he never, ever forgets.

Now there's a plan I can get behind.