Iraq enjoys one day of Freedom of Speech
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — The monument commemorating the journalist who hurled his shoes at President George W. Bush was taken down and destroyed a day after it was erected.
Assisted by kids at the Tikrit Orphanage, sculptor Laith al-Amiri (photo below) erected a huge brown replica of one of the shoes hurled at Bush last month by Iraq’s favorite folk hero, journalist Muntadhir al-Zaidi, during a press conference in Baghdad. The bronze shoe is gone, but his words remain:
“Here is a gift to the dog Bush from all of the orphans and widows he has created in my country!”
“Those orphans who helped the sculptor in building this monument were the victims of Bush’s war,” (orphanage director) al-Naseri said. “The shoe monument is a gift to the next generation to remember the heroic action by the journalist.”
Six years of war/occupation, a million dead, two million (most of the educated middle class) in exile, ten milliion Bush BS Talking Points: “Freedom’s On the March, democracy, liberty, purple thumbs, etc”
…and the first sign of peaceful protest in Iraq is squashed in less than 24 hours by our puppet government.
Shoe monument removed from Iraqi orphanage
FROM OUR ARCHIVE- Shoegate
Related- Calm Iraqi election marred as tens of thousands were denied vote
Many, many Sunnis, Kurds and Christians weren’t on the list…Sound like Florida in 2000? Ohio in 2004?
I have noticed a theme in 2009 New Year toons:
ShoeGate- from our archive, Muntadhar al-Zaidi- wikipedia
Ramazan Baydan, owner of the Istanbul-based Baydan Shoe Company, has been swamped with orders from across the world, after insisting that his company produced the black leather shoes which the Iraqi journalist Muntazar al-Zaidi threw at Bush during a press conference in Baghdad. Baydan has recruited an extra 100 staff to meet orders for 300,000 pairs of Model 271 or the Bye-Bye Bush shoe…more than four times the shoe’s normal annual sale.
Around 120,000 pairs have been ordered from Iraq, while a US company has placed a request for 18,000. A British firm has offered to serve as European distributor for the shoes, which have been on the market since 1999 and sell for £28 in Turkey. Read More Stampede for Bye-Bye Bush shoe creates 100 new jobs
Link to the Bye Bye Bush Shoe Throwing Game
BRING IT ON!
. Bush shoe incident catches Secret Service flatfooted
The Iraqis will give us candy and throw flowers…and shoes at our heads
Iraq reporter Muntader al-Zaidi is now a martyr in the Middle East. Huge crowds demand his release. His brother says that he was badly beaten: broken ribs and arm, cuts to face…Throwing a shoe is a strong insult in Iraq. It means your target is worth less than the pile you stepped in when walking your dog…
But now, Iraqis aim for innocent American kids who signed up to serve our great country:
Update | 12/15 BAGHDAD — An American military patrol in Najaf on Monday was pelted by shoes thrown by supporters of Moktada al-Sadr. NY TIMES. Thanks a lot, Dubya!
.
As this reporter was wrestled to the ground he yelled, “A farewell kiss to you, Dog! This is for all of the widows and orphans America has created!”
Bush was in Iraq weekend to sign a security agreement with our puppet government to allow American Oil Companies and their well paid killers to stay on long after our soldiers are gone.
The vast majority of people in the Middle East (like this reporter) want the American Occupation to end as soon as possible, and have a crazy idea that they should control their own oil!
Published by Greg at 06:23 AM on October 1, 2002