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Bush Makes Surprise Trip to Iraq, Gets Shoe Surprise
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 14, 2008
Modified Dec 28, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 14, 2008
Modified Dec 28, 2008
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In the twilight of his presidency, President Bush made a surprise trip to Iraq today--and he had to deal with a journalist who threw shoes at him. Seriously. During a press conference of Iraqi Prime Minister Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Al Baghadadia reporter Muntadar al-Zaidi, seated 12 feet away, threw both his shoes--one right after the other--at President Bush while yelling "This is the end!" See the video:
According to the Washington Post, "The incident lent an air of chaos and farce to a trip intended to highlight improving security conditions in the war-torn country." The WaPo also reported Zaidi, who was eventually tackled by a "security agents...and removed" from the room," was kidnapped by Shiite militiamen last year: "Throwing a shoe at someone is considered the worst possible insult in Iraq, and is meant to show extreme disrespect and hatred towards someone."
Bush, who was not injured, seemed to shrug it off, "All I can report is it is a size 10."
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iraq
Iraqi war
president bush
shoe
shoe throwing
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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