POTUS has cat like reflexes

Sdiver · 12-15-2008, 09:54

Anyone "catch" the reporter throwing his shoes at the POTUS yesterday in B-dad?

Here's the clip......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPptq...eature=related

I guess taking a bullet for the POTUS is in line for being a member of his detail, but the line is drawn at "shoes".

Blitzzz (RIP) · 12-15-2008, 10:35

I was a bit astounded that the Secret service guys missed it or took so long to move. that guy should not have gotten the second shoe thrown. What if it had been a knife? Yes, President bushes reactions were very good. So to the Prime Minister's. Blitz

XJWoody · 12-15-2008, 10:36

The first thing I thought after seing that was "You can tell he's married."

Blitzzz had my second thought.

**Team Sergeant** · 12-15-2008, 10:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by XJWoody

The first thing I thought after seing that was "You can tell he's married."

Blitzzz had my second thought.

LOL

The second boot would not have made it had I been there.....there would have been one more dead "middle eastern news reporter" instead.

csquare · 12-15-2008, 10:48

When the Iraqi security detail started beating him. I wonder if he was screaming in Arabic, "Don't taz me bro!", as they dragged him out of the press conference?
I'm sure the beatings have/ will continue and won't stop until further notice.

Dozer523 · 12-15-2008, 10:57

As for the reaction of the Department of the Treasury guys*. I'm pretty sure NOONE thought about shoes as assault weapons. You can be pretty sure that 1) these guys were "blessed" 2) they all went through a metal detector and probably a good wanding. I guess future news conferences will be conducted by barefoot reporters. Sort of like taking off my shoes to go through the airport security -- all it takes is one guy to ruin it for all of us!
*No excuse though, "thinking of everything" is their job.

anythingrandom · 12-15-2008, 11:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dozer523

As for the reaction of the Department of the Treasury guys*. I'm pretty sure NOONE thought about shoes as assault weapons. You can be pretty sure that 1) these guys were "blessed" 2) they all went through a metal detector and probably a good wanding. I guess future news conferences will be conducted by barefoot reporters. Sort of like taking off my shoes to go through the airport security -- all it takes is one guy to ruin it for all of us!
*No excuse though, "thinking of everything" is their job.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D5oKEVqQJg

Who throws a shoe? Honestly? You fight like a woman!

But yes, I was impressed by quick reaction of the POTUS as well.

Ret10Echo · 12-15-2008, 11:15

Iraq rally for Bush shoe attacker
Thousands of Iraqis have demanded the release of a local TV reporter who threw his shoes at US President George W Bush at a Baghdad news conference.

Crowds gathered in Baghdad's Sadr City district, calling for "hero" Muntadar al-Zaidi to be freed from custody.

Officials at the Iraqi-owned TV station, al-Baghdadiya, called for the release of their journalist, saying he was exercising freedom of expression.

Iraqi officials have described the incident as shameful.

A statement released by the government said Mr Zaidi's actions, which also included him shouting insults at President Bush, "harmed the reputation of Iraqi journalists and Iraqi journalism in general".

Correspondents say the protesters are supporters of Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr - a leading critic of the US presence in Iraq. Smaller protests were reported in Basra and Najaf.

The Iraqi government has demanded an on-air apology from his employer.

An Iraqi official was quoted by the Associated Press as saying that the journalist was being interrogated to determine whether anybody paid him to throw his shoes at President Bush.

He was also being tested for alcohol and drugs, and his shoes were being held as evidence, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The Cairo-based al-Baghdadiya TV channel said Mr Zaidi should be freed because he had been exercising freedom of expression - something which the Americans had promised to Iraqis on the ousting of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

"Any measures against Muntadar will be considered the acts of a dictatorial regime," the firm said in a statement.

The programming director for al-Baghdadiya, Muzhir al-Khafaji, described the journalist as a "proud Arab and an open-minded man".

He said he was afraid for Mr Zaidi's safety, adding that the reporter had been arrested by US officials twice before.

"We fear that our correspondents in Iraq will be arrested. We have 200 correspondents there," he added.

'Proud Arab'

Mr Zaidi leapt from his chair at Sunday's news conference and hurled first one shoe and then the other at Mr Bush, who was joined at the podium by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.

The shoes missed as Mr Bush ducked, and Mr Zaidi was immediately wrestled to the ground by security guards and frogmarched from the room.

"This is a farewell kiss, you dog," he yelled in Arabic as he threw his shoes. "This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq."

Arabic TV stations have been repeatedly showing footage of the incident, which was also front-page news in many papers.

Correspondents say the journalist's tirade was echoed by Arabs across the Middle East who are fed up with US policy in the region.

"He [George Bush] deserves to be hit with 100, not just one or two shoes. Who wants him to come here?" said a man in Baghdad.

But his view was not expressed by everyone.

"I think this incident is unnecessary, to be honest. That was a press conference, not a war. If someone wants to express his opinion he should do so in the proper manner, not this way," said another Baghdad resident.

Courts criticised

Also on Monday, Human Rights Watch accused Iraq's main criminal court of failing to meet basic international standards of justice.

The New York-based group said torture and abuse of prisoners before trial appeared common, and legal representation was often ineffectual.

Human Rights Watch said some of the court's failings showed disturbing similarities to those that existed during the Saddam Hussein era.

The group called on Iraq to take immediate steps to protect detainees from torture, and ensure they had access to proper defence and received a prompt hearing.

echoes · 12-15-2008, 13:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by anythingrandom

Who throws a shoe? Honestly? You fight like a woman!

WTH does that mean? If the reporter were fighting like a woman, ass you claim, there would have been stilletto's attached!

And yep, GWB did indeed remind me of a major league player with his duck and cover!

Holly

Scimitar · 12-15-2008, 13:14

Some Iraqi Catholic immigrants I know, who actually really like Bush and what America has done for Iraq loved how agile the POTUS was especially at his age. "Very impressive one said".

S

Dozer523 · 12-15-2008, 13:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by echoes

WTH does that mean? If the reporter were fighting like a woman, ass you claim, there would have been stilletto's attached!

Holly

I was wondering the same thing since the reply quoted me! If you are referring to me when you say "You fight like a woman!"
well . . . "Up with your dukes, come mon putem'up!"

echoes · 12-15-2008, 13:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dozer523

I was wondering the same thing since the reply quoted me! If you are referring to me when you say "You fight like a woman!"
well . . . "Up with your dukes, come mon putem'up!"

LOL Sir! (I hope!)

Holly

<-------- And a small P.S. Sir, Well, when I am wearing fur topped stilleto's, as pictured, I can be a bit randy for my own good. (sigh)

anythingrandom · 12-15-2008, 16:01

Echoes and Dozer,

No offenses intended! Watch the video!

ATR

See2 · 12-15-2008, 16:08

It looks like he waves off the Secret Service at one point in the video - almost like an "it's ok, it's just a shoe" thing... no excuse for the guy getting the second one off, but that might explain the slow reaction.

Dozer523 · 12-15-2008, 16:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by echoes

LOL Sir! (I hope!)

Holly

<-------- And a small P.S. Sir, Well, when I am wearing fur topped stilleto's, as pictured, I can be a bit randy for my own good. (sigh)

I AM laughing. Besides anyone with an avatar like that can probably get away with a lot here. I personally promise to keep keep Christmas in my heart as long as you maintain this avatar! (Yeah, I read the WHOLE sorted discussion on this "avatar thing" yesterday. You guys will give the FOG's a bad rap!) . . . you know who you are!

l So quit lookin' around.