mzeiya
Elder Lister
How it was reported back in 2008...
Bush narrowly escapes shoe attack
Issued on: 14/12/2008 - 20:15Modified: 18/12/2008 - 23:06
An Iraqi journalist shouted insults and hurled shoes at George W. Bush as the US president shook hands with Iraq's premier on a visit to Baghdad. At a later press conference, another man threw two more shoes at Bush. All of the shoes missed.
France 24 Observers: 'Web abuzz with shoe-hurling incident'
AFP - 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."
Najua ulifurahia sana hiyo time @Field Marshal
