Outgoing US President George W Bush’s recent flying visit to Iraq was dramatically improved by a brief incident during a press conference.  An Iraqi reporter threw a shoe at him.  Technically, I suppose he threw two shoes at him, but it was the first one that got most people’s attention.  In fact, as he missed with the second one too, he might as well have not bothered throwing it.  It was all a bit embarrassing for him by then, a bit like watching women play Cricket.

I could not help but chuckle at the hilarity of a plimsoll based attack, but as I am not from the Middle East, I was surprised to learn that shoe throwing, and showing the soles of your feet, is just about the most offensive thing you can do in that part of the world.  Yes, shoes.

I must admit that I think us Westerners are having our legs pulled a bit here.  In the land that invented the suicide bomber, they claim the worst thing you can do is throw a shoe at someone?   If it really is the biggest insult of all, then why aren’t Al Qaeda arming themselves with racks upon racks of Flip-Flops and Espadrilles?

I feel a bit sorry for Muntadar al-Zaidi, the shoe thrower, as shoes cost real cash money.  However, a bag of your own excrement, does not.  A bag of shit would have made an even more entertaining clip, as would a bit of throwing practise.  If there were concerns about sneaking in a bag of faeces then he could simply have headed in a bit early, armed with an empty bag.

All in all I praise his efforts, as once again people are taking an active interest in Middle East politics, which can only be a good thing.

george w bush · Iraq · shoe