CAPTION READS:

Those [Arabs] are the ones who have caused me pain.

Those are the ones who hurt me.

Those are the ones who humiliated me.

And now they hit me with over the head with a shoe!

[Iraqi News Agency, Iraq]

The Peoples' Daily, People's Republic of China

Behind the Scenes: The 'Attack of the Flying Shoes'

What were the purposes of President Bush's final visits to Iraq and Afghanistan? According to China's strictly state-controlled Peoples' Daily, the trip was meant to show some results to a skeptical world and quell widespread discontent over the consequences of the wars begun under Bush's tenure. Huang Beizhao, the People’s Daily man in Egypt, writes in part:

First, [the visit] was meant to show results. … Second, it was intended to quell discontent … To exhibit his 'good yields,' Bush and al-Maliki signed the U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement. … But contrary to his wishes, his farewell trip turned into an 'attack of the flying shoes.'

By Huang Beizhao [黄培昭]*

Translated By James Chen

December 17, 2008

People’s Republic of China - The People’s Daily - Original Article (Chinese)

A Lebanese student holds a photo of Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zeidi, detained after he threw his shoes at President Bush, during a demonstration to demand his release from custody in Iraq, during a rally in Beirut, Lebanon, Dec. 17.

BBC NEWS VIDEO: President Bush makes his second and last visit to Afghanistan, Dec. 15, 00:01:34

A few days ago, U.S. President George W. Bush concluded a visit to Iraq and Afghanistan. This was his farewell tour to the two war torn nations. And since the prior political administrations of the two countries were toppled by wars launched by the United States, his visit attracted particularly acute attention.

Bush's Iraq visit was shrouded in secrecy, which shows a continuing lack of confidence in the Iraq situation. Although it was a surprise visit, Bush ran into trouble. During a news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, an Iraqi reporter angrily threw both of his shoes at Bush as a sign of protest against the Iraq War. Although Bush avoided both shoes with great agility and later joked about the incident, in the end it was impossible to conceal the awkwardness of the moment.

Throwing shoes at someone is the greatest sign of contempt in Islamic culture. The event quickly became a media sensation and had strong repercussions in Iraq.

Bush's sudden visit had three major objectives.

First, it was meant to show results. Iraq and Afghanistan have been two "field experiments" that Bush has painstakingly nurtured. Confronting his political legacy, he and his supporters would prefer a good "harvest" from these experiments than a "poor" one. To exhibit his “good yields," Bush and al-Maliki signed, during his visit, the U.S.-Iraq Strategic Framework and Status of Forces Agreement .

Second, the visit was intended to quell discontent. The Iraq War, which was waged without United Nations authorization, shattered the international order and the geopolitical balance of the Middle East. And it gave rise to harmful global side-effects, since it was widely opposed internationally and is regarded by most Americans as the “wrong war." To dispel such sentiments, Bush has visited Iraq three times. But contrary to his wishes, his farewell trip turned into an "attack of the flying shoes."

HUMOR: SHOE-THROWING STORE OPEN IN BAGHDAD

SEE ALSO ON THIS:

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

Kurdish Media, Iraqi Kurdistan: Middle Easterners Must Reject 'Barefoot Journalism!'

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

La Jornada, Mexico: Punishing Bush's Crimes Must Be Focus for Obama

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

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

Third, the president wanted to boost the spirits of his troops. Bush addressed U.S. service people at “Camp Victory" in northern Iraq, and in Afghanistan saw soldiers and Marines at a hangar at Bagram Air Base. He stressed that the wars being waged in both countries are indispensable parts of the great battle against terrorism, and that the United States is "more secure" after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and the Taliban regime. His remarks were intended to boost the morale of front-line officers and troops alike.

During Bush's visit, of greatest concern was Iran, which is why he signed the agreement on the U.S. military presence. The agreement provides for U.S. troops to withdraw in two phases, before pulling out of Iraq completely by 2012. Bush, who long opposed a timetable for withdrawal, agreed to the terms after citing Iraq's "improved" security situation. Another reason he signed was the rush to make final political arrangements before he steps down, to prevent his preferred arrangements from being completely negated by his successor.

CAPTION: 'Baghdad's Goodbye Kiss to Bush'

[Iraqi News Agency, Iraq]

Finally, the deal provides partial guarantees of American interests. When U.S. troops pull out of Iraqi cities and towns in the first half of next year [2009], there will continue to be barracks in these cities and towns for American military advisers and instructors. The agreement also stipulates that the U.S. and Iraq need to set up a joint committee to formulate rules and enforcement mechanisms. All of these pave the way for a long term U.S. military presence.

It has been reported that the United States appropriated as much as $1.6 trillion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The overall trends of development in those nations suggest that for a long time to come, their "liabilities will outweigh their returns." Bush's motive seems to have been to “clear up a bad debt" by declaring an end to the two wars he created. During the trip he said, “The war isn't over yet," but added that “it is decisively on its way to being won."

SHOE Says: 'What am I being punished for?'

[Iraqi News Agency, Iraq]

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

[Editor's Note: It was precisely after President Bush uttered these words that the 'shoe attack' took place. It was exactly 17 minutes and 35 seconds into his press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. This is the White House video of the event, which shows the entire attack. Again - skip through to 00:17:35 to for the shoe-throwing incident ]

President-elect Obama was no doubt listening closely. As a matter of fact, Bush is heaping tremendous political and financial burdens on Obama. For the president-elect, who advocates the rapid withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq and troop increases in Afghanistan, filling the "huge black hole" left behind by President Bush will be a very difficult challenge.

*Huang Beizhao is the People’s Daily resident reporter in Egypt

CLICK HERE FOR CHINESE VERSION

[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US December 19, 2:58am]