Word: iraqi
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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When the next history of Iraq is written, the chapter on the stormy years following the U.S. invasion will be bookended by two iconic images: one of elated Iraqis in Firdos Square in 2003 raining their loafers and boots on a fallen statue of Saddam Hussein, and the other of President George W. Bush ducking flying footwear at a 2008 Baghdad press conference during the last official visit of his term. In many Eastern cultures, hurling a shoe at someone is a grave insult. Iraqi TV reporter Muntazer al-Zaidi's decision to fling his size 10s made...
...didn't know what the guy said, but I saw his sole.' GEORGE W. BUSH, alluding to his memorable comment about meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, after an Iraqi journalist hurled a pair of shoes...
...Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, also found that most of the positive work done has simply brought the nation back to preinvasion levels. Poor planning, lack of oversight and a security vacuum--former Secretary of State Colin Powell is quoted as saying that the Defense Department inflated Iraqi security-force numbers--also played major roles...
...Iraqi television journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi hurled a verbal insult at Bush as well as his footwear. "This is a gift from the Iraqis; this is the farewell kiss, you dog," he shouted as he threw the first of his projectiles. Seconds later, he hurled another, saying "this is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq," before being wrestled to the ground by security guards and removed from the room. Little has emerged about the journalist, a correspondent for al-Baghdadiya, a satellite TV channel that broadcasts from Cairo. According to some reports...
...Zaidi was pummeled and kicked by the guards who dragged him out of the conference area. Other Iraqi journalists in the hall were apologetic to the U.S. President and the Americans. Still, Iraqis who despise the U.S. leader for waging war on their country will no doubt applaud al-Zaidi's rapid-fire gesture. On Monday, demonstrators rallied in support of the Shi'ite journalist in Baghdad's Sadr City slum and also in the southern Shi'ite bastions of Basra and Najaf. Already jokes are going around that shoe companies are now offering the assailant a lifetime supply...