Shoe attack mars Bush’s Iraq visit

 CNN reports that a man identified as an Iraqi journalist threw shoes at — but missed — President Bush during a news conference Sunday evening in Baghdad, where Bush was making a farewell visit.

The shoe-thrower — identified as Muntadhar al-Zaidi, an Iraqi journalist with Egypt-based al-Baghdadia television network — could be heard yelling in Arabic: “This is a farewell … you dog!”

According to Al Jazeera:

An Iraqi reporter called Bush “a dog” and shouted out “this is the end” at Sunday’s news conference in Baghdad, before throwing his shoes at the US leader.

Bush, who had been giving a joint press statement with Nuri Al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, ducked behind a podium as the shoes narrowly missed his head.

He was reported to be unhurt after the attack by Muntadar al-Zeidi, a correspondent for Al-Baghdadiya television, the Associated Press news agency reported.

The outgoing US leader had just told reporters that while the war in Iraq was not over “it is decisively on its way to being won,” when al-Zeidi got to his feet and hurled abuse – and his footwear – at the US president.

Sign of contempt

In Iraqi culture, throwing shoes at someone is a sign of contempt.

The incident will serve as a vivid reminder of the widespread opposition to the US-led invasion of, and subsequent war in, Iraq – the conflict which has come to define Bush’s presidency.

Picture: the shoe-throwing incident happened as Bush discussed falling levels of violence in Iraq. Muntadar al-Zeidi, an Iraqi reporter of Al Baghdadiya television, the shoe thrower seen in this photo [Photos courtesy: AP]

Watch the Video of Shoe Throwing incident

Watch President Bush’s Reaction after the Incident