President Bush made a surprise visit to Baghdad on Sunday, and an Iraqi TV journalist surprised the world (and the Secret Service) by throwing a shoe at him. Luckily, the nimble President was able to dodge the projectile without harm as others in the press conference jumped on Muntader al-Zaidi. Obviously all anti-American Arabs are hailing al-Zaidi as a hero! Thousands rally in Iraq, Syria, and Libya to support Zaidi and his “courageous” action.
No doubt this was highly embarrassing for the Iraqi government. Not just the fact that one of its accredited journalists wanted to harm a visiting head of state, but the American president. The leader of the country that forced Saddam and his sadistic posse out of power, liberating the oppressed Iraqi people. The American president who made the tough decision to send American young men and women to war, knowing that some of them will die fighting for the freedom of strangers. The American president who steadfastly remained committed to a free, self-governing Iraq, while approval ratings at home tanked to a new low.
Yes, let the world see that flying shoe. Some will gladly see the American president duck for cover. Others will let out a sigh of relief that he’s unharmed, and thank in their hearts for the freedom to throw a shoe at such a man.
