President George W. Bush Attacked in Iraq

General General Discussion
1

WTF is wrong with the Secret Service. Wake the hell up.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16566.html

Bush ducks two shoes hurled by Iraqi
By MIKE ALLEN | 12/14/08 2:05 PM EST

Welcome to Baghdad. An Iraqi reporter set off pandemonium Sunday by hurling two shoes at President Bush during a news conference that was the centerpiece of his secret goodbye visit.

Bush was cool under fire and prevented an even bigger incident by waving off his lead Secret Service agent, who was prepared to extract him from the room.

Video shows the president’s lead agent rushing to the podium, but the president immediately and subtly motions to him that it’s OK. The agent backs off.

The president successfully ducked both throws. Photos show him with his head down near the top of the podium. The embarrassing incident marred a visit meant to show off the improved conditions since the troop “surge” dramatically reduced casualties to U.S. troops.

“This is a gift from the Iraqis. This is the farewell kiss, you dog,” the journalist shouted (in Arabic), Steven Lee Myers of The New York Times reported in a pool report to the White House press corps.

Myers reported that the man threw the second shoe and added: “This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq.”

Journalists at the scene said the hurler was Muntadar al-Zaidi, a reporter for Al-Baghdadia TV, an independent satellite channel based in Cairo.

A producer for the channel was murdered in Baghdad last year.

Myers wrote in his pool report: “The president’s appearance was interrupted by a man, apparently a journalist, who leapt to his feet and threw his shoe at the president, who ducked and thus narrowly missed being struck. Chaos ensued. The [man] threw a second shoe, which also narrowly missed the president. The man was roughly 12 feet from the lectern in the center of two rows of chairs, about two feet from the pool. A scrum of security agents descended on the man and wrestled him, first to the floor and then out of the ornate room where the press conference was taking place. The president was at no point injured and he brushed off the incident.”

“All I can report is it is a size 10,” Bush quipped

2

what would have happened if somebody’d thrown a shoe at saddam during a press conference? the fact that he’s still alive speaks enough.

edit- that’s an original comment by me- i only just now saw the video. :wink:

3

What if it was a “shoe bomb”?

 I have said it before, I'll say it again. President G.Bush will be proven by history to have been right! Not popular. Not perfect. But he did some righteous things. 

                        a shoe...
  60
4

I got two stickers on my truck… “W '04” and “W '08”

5

I suppose that “reporter” would prefer Uday and Qusay.

6

Uday and Qusay. “The Dead Brothers” Sounds almost sweet, now…:stuck_out_tongue:

                     dog
7

Yep!! And my mother in law has the other version…on her MINI-VAN!!! I flee in terror!
But seriously, I am not so much against who she voted for. Or Mini-vans. Or mom in laws. Or … OK, maybe I am!! lol!!

"W"08! "W"12! :stuck_out_tongue:

               dog
8

Not claiming to know how the Secret Service works, but I assume that they searched and wanded everybody (journalists too) before they’re allowed to enter the area. So they knew no one was armed with a conventional weapon. But it’s sure was slow before I saw anybody from the security details reacted.

9

In addition to physical security, PSD is also there to prevent the principal from being subjected to humiliation or situations which cause them to be seen in a bad light. Though it was only a “shoe” what if he had been hit in the eye or head?

If you did that in the USA you would be getting charged for assaulting the POTUS. I think this douche bag is lucky that he was pummeled at the least.

10

G-dub dodged that shoe like a Pro…I was impressed by the Old Man’s reflexes.

11

I have in my office a picture of one of the things that I wanted to do in my life. I was the lead vehicle in his motorcade when he came to town sometime ago. Was with him from the time his plane landed until he took off. Have an autographed picture of shaking his hand. Was really cool, got to see the car and all. He is pretty quick with the jokes I can say!

I’m glad that opportunity came about with someone I voted for, doubt I would have done it otherwise.

12

F**kin’ A.

Ingratitude is a hideous fault.

George W. should have gone after the punk and punched him in the mush.

13

One thing that I like about GWB is that for as much hell as he catches (I mean the guy can’t take a piss without someone complaining), he never gets worked up or mad and just lets it roll off.

14

It was funny when the thrower squealed like a pig as they took him down.

15

Exactly what I said to myself when I saw the video clip. I also liked what he supposedly said about the incident. He pointed out that the fact that this idiot can do this and not be shot up in the process (along with those around him) is a testament to the Democracy our Troops have established (or something like that).

16

W stays in good shape he runs a 24 min 5k

17

Maybe he’s The One. Call him Neo. :smiley:

18

Who throws a shoe? I mean really . . .

19

The only thing better would be if he caught it and capped th guy with it.

I hope the security guys did a hold on him where they put there shoes on his head.

Those Arabs are odd people.

20

Womenfolk? :smiley: Just kidding!

In the Middle East just showing the sole of your footwear is considered a great insult. I wonder what would have happened if Dubya had caught one of the shoes and pounded the thrower with it?