Iraq Connection: Close up to the shoe toss seen round the world
First I saw President Bush duck to avoid a fast-moving black object – a shoe.
Then I realized one of the reporters behind me was shouting and, in a way, reloading, with a second shoe. Off it went, just as fast as the first.
I couldn't believe he had time to get a second one off.
A dog pile emerged on my left with Iraqis in blue suits wrestling with the shoe-hurler, Iraqi journalist Muntathar al Zaidi. Zaidi was moaning and moaning. He kept fighting and moaning while the Iraqis in the suits hauled him out of the room, and even then we could still hear him.
Bush laughed – or tried to laugh it off.
"That's what happens in free societies when people try to draw attention to themselves," Bush said.
Maybe. I'm sure there are some Americans who'd love to toss a shoe at Bush. Of course you wouldn't expect to see that in a closed press conference with professional journalists in the capital.
That's the snapshot. Let me walk you through what brought me there.
I woke up today on another embed, a little dusty and a little sunburned. My interview with a lieutenant colonel kept getting delayed, so far delayed that I couldn't go out with the soldiers again.
But it turns out that was a good thing.
My partner Mohammed al Dulaimy called, saying there was a chance Bush was coming tonight, and there was going to be a press conference at 4 or so.
I hauled out of Camp Victory. By the time we got back to the hotel it was clear that something was up.
U.S. soldiers were on the street closing roads with Hummers and MWRAPs. Hammed saw Americans with dogs walking up and down streets, keeping people from parking anywhere.
I haven't seen an American soldier walking on the streets in my neighborhood since I got here a month ago.
I threw on a shirt and tie – my first tie in four weeks – and raced out the door with Hammed, except we couldn't drive, because all the roads were clogged. So we walked to the International Zone, flanked by the biggest dude on our staff of drivers.
We made our way to the prime minister's house, getting searched as we entered his compound, searched as we walked into a holding room before going into the house and then searched again before going in the gate. We saw American soldiers, but no Secret Service.
The Secret Service showed up and we got searched again.
And then we waited. We waited for about two hours in the conference room. At this point, I was the only American reporter in the room.
Oddly enough, one of the Iraqi government delegates gathered the correspondents and told us not to ask questions. "If you want to embarrass the prime minister, ask a question," he said. Ok, that kind of defeats the purpose of bringing together the entire Iraqi press.
Still, the Iraqis were having a blast, taking pictures of themselves at the table and lecterns where Bush and Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki would speak. The mood was positively jovial. Some joked about smartass comments they'd like to ask the president, like "Is the mission accomplished now?" Sounds offensive to Americans, but I'd chalk up to typical reporter banter.
Prime Minister Maliki and President Bush arrived with a red-carpet photo spray. The White House press corps followed. We swapped information and waited another half hour.
Out comes Maliki and Bush. Maliki praises Bush for sticking with Iraq for all this time. Bush returns the favor, praising Maliki. Then Bush gives an overview of the war, acknowledging the sacrifices made by Americans and Iraqis to bring Iraq to the relative stability it enjoys now.
"Schukran," he says, indicating the close of his prepared speech with the Arabic word for "thank you."
Hands leap, especially among the Iraqi press who have never had a chance to ask a question to the American president who shaped their lives for the past five years.
That's when the shoes started flying.
"This is a kiss of goodbye, you dog," Zaidi shouted.
Bush handled himself well. What can you do but try to laugh and point out that dissent comes with freedom?
Maliki and other Iraqi officials looked like they were fuming, probably in no small part because the spectacle went on and on with Zaidi's moans.
Hammed had Zaidi's name and affiliation before he hit the ground. We watched the press conference with a feeling of anticipation.
As it ended, a couple Iraqi security guards in suits took away two more Iraqi journalists because one of them called Zaidi's protest "courageous." Hammed bravely stood up for the journalists. Talking to a friend just isn't a crime. They were released a few minutes later after some American officials intervened on their behalf.
Some of the security guards started looming over members of the White House press corps who flew in with Bush, at least until a White House communications aide shooed them away.
The press conference was not aired live. Few political events are here.
Many of the broadcast reporters feared the Iraqi government would take their cameras and tapes. They expect that things will be tougher for them next time they cover one of Maliki's events.
"This will have consequences for us," one reporter told us.
That's a shame. All the Iraqi reporters in the front row apologized to Bush. It was a reporter who yanked Zaidi to the ground before Iraqi or American guards could reach him.
Interestingly, the Iraqi press came in by bus but had to walk out in the cold night.
What's going to happen to Zaidi? He's in custody, but I don't think there's a doubt that many Iraqis will view his outburst as courageous, even though it clearly embarrassed the prime minister.
Zaidi's TV station is pushing for his release. "Any action taken against Muntathar will remind us of the actions and behaviors taken by the reign of the dictator and the violence, the random arrests, the mass graves and confiscations of freedom from the people," the board of Baghdadiyah TV said.
- Adam Ashton
- Iraq_Connection's blog
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Wow. Big news, and you're
Wow. Big news, and you're right there for it. I wonder if they'll start confiscating shoes as well as (other) weapons.
Like airports!
Don't give them any ideas. Oh dear. Here are your press conference issued slippers!
Wow, indeed
Adam:
What a crazy thing. Thanks for filling us in!
Dan
good one...
... Adam. I've often wondered how much time our heads of state waste with such staged appearances.
SHOE BOMB'S
I'm just glad those shoe's were not loaded!
The Hummers and the MWRAPs
Sounds like a band, a Lawrence Welk and MC Hammer combo. Add the flying shoes and there ya have it, a Heads of State Press Conference rivaling a concert at the Senior Citizens' center when stuff just gets too out of hand. :)
Wow! The President! Adam, you rock!
Wow, just reporting
I was shocked to see that Adam actually just reported the news and didn't try and create it. Hopefully you can keep up the reporting and not give your opinion on events. Most of the public is weary of the opinions that are offered by reporters rather than just getting the facts.
I was surprised by the lack
I was surprised by the lack of response by the secret service. In watching the clip, no one jumped on Bush to protect him or swept him away....hmmmm.
That Bush laughed it off and made a joke makes me sick. He's forever an idiot.
Cool assignment Adam! Does Dana Perino really have a black eye?
For the rest of your career ...
... you'll be able to tell this story. Fly halfway around the world into a war zone, write about life for U.S. servicemen and women and the residents of Baghad, then one day the president of the United States flies in -- and an Iraqi journalist fires his loafers at him.
I'm happy no one was hurt. But there's no way you're going to top this one, Adam. Fifty years from now, you'll still get a chuckle from your grandkids when you say, "I remember the day ..."
Great back story yet another slice of life..
Thanks Adam.
Wow! What An Incredible Experience A.A.!
AA,
Since you were there, you can corroborate my statement of fact!
I didn't do it. I have both my shoes.
Peace Out!
Bnic
What a story. You captured
What a story. You captured the event well, and a great opportunity. I hope the Modesto Bee gives you a golden shoe to place on your desk when you return. :o) That would be so cool.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn't.
~ Following the Equator, Pudd'nhead Wilson's New Calendar
Missed Dana
I didn't see what happened to Dana Perino. I did see that she had a relatively bad spot, considering what happened. She was at the edge of a row of Iraqi and American leaders, in between them, the White House press and the Secret Service. If anyone was going to get tumbled over, it was going to be the person in that seat.
Response to flying shoes
Peacelover: I, too, was surprised that there wasn't a more vigorous response after the first shoe flew. Think back to the shots fired at Reagan and compare.
Dan
In related news ...
I threw my shoe at JaMarcus Russell on Sunday. Unfortunately he was behind the TV screen.
The reporter should be charged with
illegal use of a shoe...:)
Well
He's still locked up, and no one's sure what he's going to be charged with. A few journalism organization's are sticking up for him, while saying they don't support what he did. He's a hero in Sadr City. People marched to demand his release today. He certainly said something that many Iraqis think.
More distressingly, one of the Arabic TV stations played the clip over and over today, editing it to emphasize Zaidi's moans. The station played military music behind the scene, and mixed it in with images of IED attacks on American vehicles and other scenes of Iraqis telling Americans to go home.
Also looking forward to more about the "imbeds."
And, about the Secret Service underreacting, I did not see the clip but I did fully expect a discription in your article of them taking the President to the ground to cover him. That obviously did not happen. It sounds like the shoe tosser's fellow journalists reacted more efficiently to him than the SS did on behalf of our President. Whether it is a shoe or a bullet I would want our President fully covered. He should have been taken to the ground and covered by the SS before having to dodge a shoe and joke about it.
I know President Bush is not popular these days but I would hate to think that the SS flake because of it. Maybe they were a bit slow to react thinking that all the searching y'all were subjected to rendered the surroundings non threatening? A
As always, thanks for keeping us posted and for your awesome writing. Stay safe and I hope you have a chance to enjoy the Christmas Season.
The last thing we need is Cheney as President
now THAT would be scary. But some would suggest he's been President all along without the title.
To even think that the SS...never mind.
Adam
I saw you in a news clip I was watching last night! How amazing is the serendipity of your assignment? My guess is that you are in for enormous and wonderful career/life changes.
The notion that this incident demonstrates progress in social values and freedom of expression in Iraq rings true for me. Seriously, imagine the consequences if this guy did this 10 years ago....
On another, less positive note, my disappointment in Bush only grows (if that's possible). His reaction to this thing was his usual playground short-man bully behavior. He has been and continues to be an embarrassment. A Dog, if you will.
PS Can I have your autograph?
At first I thought I was
At first I thought I was watching a SNL skit and then realized what just happened-- my first thought 'what took the SS so long to step in and protect our President of the USA?'. Like him or not--just plain Scary!
wow!
That guy taht threw the shoes is an idiot. GO BUSH!!!!!!!!!
To add tto the comment above......
That moron that threw the shoe should be thankful that he can throw a shoe at a president without being killed. Because before President Bush helped Iraq, that guy would'nt have the freedom to do that. He is ungrateful for what Bush has done for the people of Iraq.
Homey
the shoe tosser would have been looking for his dome if he chucked his sandals at Saddam. Only America will fight and die to free a country where many of the people continue to be so unthankful and disrespectful. And to top it off, laugh it off. Just another reason we should repay ourselves with a TRILLION dollars worth of Iraqi crude.
When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want them to bury me upside down, and my critics can kiss my ass!
Bobby Knight
mechanix...
... go ahead, contribute. But drop the commercial wwweblinks. So, you answered a Craigslist ad and get paid for every click from every site you post your hyperlinked comments on. Isn't that how it works?
---
“Prohibition? HA! They tried that in the movies and it didn't work”
~ Homer Simpson
ae's Morning Donut
oh great Desk-That-Talks...
... illusion is another one of those spammers.
---
“Prohibition? HA! They tried that in the movies and it didn't work”
~ Homer Simpson
ae's Morning Donut
what a crock! Spam invasion!
“Prohibition? HA! They tried that in the movies and it didn't work”
~ Homer Simpson
ae's Morning Donut
They Get Paid...
They get paid pennies for building inbound links. Usually they are from Southeast Asia, India, Pakistan and maybe old USSR states. They work for as little as $2.00 an hour, sometimes as low as .50 (cents). The primary exploiters are Americans, usually from the East Coast.
I know it's frustrating but they must eat. This is the best Globalization can offer them. Throughout most of the nations they reside in, they can feed a family and pay for basic necessities on about $7-$10 a day. If their links are appropriate and related to their target site, they might even accrue some disposable income.
I hire them occasionally but I refuse to exploit them. I have had assignment bids come in at 1/30th of my offered payment. It won't be long before the Bee's writers are domiciled in towns like Madras, Chiang Mai and Vientiane.
Peace Out!
Bnic
genry's a SPAMMER..
spam
genry's a SPAMMER..
spam
genry's a SPAMMER..
spam