Iraqi reporter Muntadar al-Zeidi hurls his shoes into history -

at President Bush - during Bush's last press conference in Iraq

as U.S. president. Al-Zeidi has been lauded as a national hero

by many Iraqis, Dec. 14.

Iraq News Agency, Iraq

Shoe-Throwing Journalist Explains Anti-Bush Anger to Judge

"I observed Bush smiling and talking to the prime minister. His smile was icy - without blood or soul ... In that moment, I felt that this person was the number one killer of my people. And being part of this people, I tried to respond even if only in this small way."

Translated By Nicolas Dagher

February 19, 2009

Iraq - Iraqi News Agency - Original Article (Arabic)

According to Iraqi-Arab journalist Muntadar al-Zeidi, who threw his shoes at former President George W. Bush during his recent visit to Baghdad, he took the action because he holds President Bush responsible for all the crimes that have been committed in Iraq.

Judge Abdul-Amir Hassan al-Rubaie decided to postpone al-Zeidi's trial until March 12th. According to the judge, the court decided to communicate with the Prime Minister's office to determine the nature of Bush's visit - whether it was an official visit or an informal one.

But at the hearing, the judge did permit al-Zeidi to make a statement:

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

"I observed Bush smiling and talking to the prime minister. His smile was icy - without blood or soul, and he began joking with Maliki and saying that he would have dinner with him after the press conference. At that moment I saw only Bush. With his smile and the way he discussed his farewell dinner to Iraq after the fall of over a million martyrs and our country's economic and social devastation - everything went black."

SEE ALSO ON THIS:

Iraqi News Agency: The Journalist Who Lifted Iraq's New Year Spirits

Al-Iraq News, Iraq: Baghdad Bids Bush Farewell ... With a Journalist's Shoes

Al-Iraq News, Iraq: The Hero Who Made Bush's Head a 'Playground for His Shoes'

El Khabar, Algeria: Iraq Invents Weapon for Rulers that Lie … 'The Nuclear Shoe'

The Daily Star, Lebanon: Bush's Record and the Shoes Heard 'Round the World

The Peoples' Daily, China: Behind the Scenes: The 'Attack of the Flying Shoes'

The Times, U.K.: Journalist Who Threw Shoes at Bush, 'Has Broken Arm and Ribs'

Guardian Unlimited, U.K.: How to Insult Bush Anywhere In the World

Financial Times, U.K.: Bush's 'Sole' is Bared

Al-Zeidi went on: "In that moment I felt that this person was the number one killer of my people. And being part of this people, I tried to respond even if only in this small way. I became emotional and threw my shoe at him because he is responsible for all of the crimes that took place in Iraq. I threw one shoe at him and it missed. But the second shoe was just a reflex - I never wanted to hit or embarrass al-Maliki."

Finally, al-Zeidi said, "When I threw the shoe, I was sure there was a good distance between the prime minister and Bush. I didn't intend to kill the leader of the occupying forces. We Arabs take pride in take pride in our hospitality, but Bush and his soldiers have been here for more than six years. Guests should knock on the door. Those who come sneaking in aren’t guests.

CLICK HERE FOR ARABIC VERSION

[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US February 23, 2:52pm]