Iraqi journalist who threw shoe at George W. Bush says his only regret was ‘only had two shoes’
Twenty years after the U.S. led the invasion of Iraq, one of the most memorable moments for many in the region was a press conference in Baghdad in 2008 when Iraqi journalists stood up and He threw a shoe at then-President George W. Bush.When the US leader spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a journalist shouted, “This is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, your dog!” forced to bend over
The man says he was immediately attacked by security forces, taken from his room, and then imprisoned and beaten for his actions.
“My only regret is that I only had two shoes,” Muntazar Zaidi, an Iraqi journalist who expressed sentiment among many Iraqis at the time, said on Monday just 20 years after the start of the US campaign. later told CBS News. of “Shock and Awe”.
The Bush administration at the time justified its decision to attack the Iraqi regime led by Saddam Hussein by claiming that the dictator was hiding chemical or biological “weapons of mass destruction.” no such weapon has ever been discovered.
Rather than throwing his shoes in a moment of uncontrollable anger, al-Zaidi has actually been waiting for just such an opportunity since the beginning of the US-led aggression. He said he was looking for a suitable response after suggesting that people would welcome the U.S. military with flowers.
A journalist told CBS News that “Iraqis were looking for an equal response to the contrary saying they would not send flowers to the occupiers.” ”
Sentenced to three years in prison, al-Zaidi, considered a national hero by many Iraqis, served only nine months in prison.
He said he was beaten and tortured for three days after being arrested by Iraqi officers. He said he spent his three months in prison in solitary confinement because he was suffering from health problems.
“There were rumors at the time that I apologized during the three days of torture. I told investigators I hadn’t apologized. If time was rewound, I would do it all over again,” he told CBS. told News.. “I stood up and threw his shoes at him even though I knew what I was going through.”
Al-Zaidi anxiously awaited an anticipated invasion by 20 March 2003, fearing American bombing, stockpiling food and leaving small towns far from Baghdad away from major cities. He said the Iraqi people were in a tense situation by evacuating to Iraq.
“People were walking like they were in another world, like half-dead zombies,” recalls Al-Zaidi. “Then came zero hour. Most, if not all, Iraqis were awakened by the sound of the explosion.”
The journalist said some of Iraq’s infrastructure had not yet been repaired, and he described the invasion as “political and financial corruption”, describing it as “every political party has its own armed faction or militia, which kills.” , to terrorize people, kill dissidents, and assassinate protesters.”
Al-Zaidi returned to Iraq after years of living and working abroad. thousands of people in protest Since 2011, he has opposed the Western-backed government of Iraq.
“We are trying to tell the world that Iraqi people have been killed and deceived,” he said. “We have suffered and will continue to suffer, but Iraq’s future is in our hands and we want to remove this authority that has ruled Iraq for the past 20 years.
Summarize this content to 100 words
Twenty years after the U.S. led the invasion of Iraq, one of the most memorable moments for many in the region was a press conference in Baghdad in 2008 when Iraqi journalists stood up and He threw a shoe at then-President George W. Bush.When the US leader spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a journalist shouted, “This is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, your dog!” forced to bend over The man says he was immediately attacked by security forces, taken from his room, and then imprisoned and beaten for his actions.”My only regret is that I only had two shoes,” Muntazar Zaidi, an Iraqi journalist who expressed sentiment among many Iraqis at the time, said on Monday just 20 years after the start of the US campaign. later told CBS News. of “Shock and Awe”.
In this December 14, 2008 file photo, Iraqi journalist Muntazar Zaidi throws a shoe at President George W. Bush during a press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad, Iraq. there is
Evan Butch/AP
The Bush administration at the time justified its decision to attack the Iraqi regime led by Saddam Hussein by claiming that the dictator was hiding chemical or biological “weapons of mass destruction.” no such weapon has ever been discovered.
Rather than throwing his shoes in a moment of uncontrollable anger, al-Zaidi has actually been waiting for just such an opportunity since the beginning of the US-led aggression. He said he was looking for a suitable response after suggesting that people would welcome the U.S. military with flowers. A journalist told CBS News that “Iraqis were looking for an equal response to the contrary saying they would not send flowers to the occupiers.” ”
Sentenced to three years in prison, al-Zaidi, considered a national hero by many Iraqis, served only nine months in prison.He said he was beaten and tortured for three days after being arrested by Iraqi officers. He said he spent his three months in prison in solitary confinement because he was suffering from health problems. “There were rumors at the time that I apologized during the three days of torture. I told investigators I hadn’t apologized. If time was rewound, I would do it all over again,” he told CBS. told News.. “I stood up and threw his shoes at him even though I knew what I was going through.”
Iraqi journalist Muntazar Zaidi, who famously threw a shoe at former President George W. Marching Towards” Alliance attends a rally in Baghdad. The Communist Party before the House of Representatives election.
Ahmad Al Rubaye/AFP/Getty
Al-Zaidi anxiously awaited an anticipated invasion by 20 March 2003, fearing American bombing, stockpiling food and leaving small towns far from Baghdad away from major cities. He said the Iraqi people were in a tense situation by evacuating to Iraq.
“People were walking like they were in another world, like half-dead zombies,” recalls Al-Zaidi. “Then came zero hour. Most, if not all, Iraqis were awakened by the sound of the explosion.”The journalist said some of Iraq’s infrastructure had not yet been repaired, and he described the invasion as “political and financial corruption”, describing it as “every political party has its own armed faction or militia, which kills.” , to terrorize people, kill dissidents, and assassinate protesters.”Al-Zaidi returned to Iraq after years of living and working abroad. thousands of people in protest Since 2011, he has opposed the Western-backed government of Iraq.”We are trying to tell the world that Iraqi people have been killed and deceived,” he said. “We have suffered and will continue to suffer, but Iraq’s future is in our hands and we want to remove this authority that has ruled Iraq for the past 20 years.
hot news
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iraq-war-journalist-threw-shoes-george-w-bush-muntazer-al-zaidi-on-only-regret/ Iraqi journalist who threw shoe at George W. Bush says his only regret was ‘only had two shoes’