Iraqi shoe-thrower to Maliki: Hey, how about a pardon?
posted at 5:15 pm on December 18, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Via the College Politico, he’s totally learned his lesson and he’d like to go home.
[Maliki spokesman Yassin] Majid confirmed to FOX News that Muntadhar al-Zeidi has asked the Iraqi president [sic] for a pardon, and expressed “regret and sorrow” for his behavior.
“It is too late to now to regret the big and ugly act that I perpetrated,” al-Zeidi wrote, according to Majid…
Majid told FOX News that al-Maliki, who tried to shelter Bush from the incoming shoes with his arm, is inclined to let Iraqi law run its course.
I.e. he’s hoping a judge will let the guy off with a wrist slap so that he doesn’t have to get involved. What happens if Zeidi’s convicted and ends up with, say, a two-year sentence, though? He’s a Shiite and a Sadrist sympathizer, so refusing to pardon him won’t have the sectarian toxicity that it would if he were a Sunni. There’s also less risk now of Maliki being seen as a puppet by siding with Bush thanks to the agreement on withdrawal by 2011. Even so, he’s not going to let the Arabs’ newest folk hero rot in prison with elections next year, especially if the rumors of Iraqi security having beaten the hell out of him in jail are true. Prediction: Sentence commuted to time served, with a conciliatory statement aimed at Sunnis issued asserting that it’s time to forgive Iraqis who may, in their suffering, have occasionally acted “rashly.” (Or is it?)
The left, of course, insists there’s nothing to forgive. Exit quotation from Laura Bush: “As a wife, I saw it as an assault, and that’s what it was. So I didn’t laugh it off.”
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This reporter should be forced to interview Barney Frank & Nancy Pelosi every day for 7 years. He might just beg for the death penalty.
portlandon on December 18, 2008 at 5:19 PM
Like i said before, a little waterboarding never hurt anyone.
Chudi on December 18, 2008 at 5:20 PM
Also, I didn’t this shoe thrower guy just sign an Athletic shoe deal with Nike? Can’t wait for the commercials.
portlandon on December 18, 2008 at 5:20 PM
Also,
Ididn’t this shoe thrower guy just sign an Athletic shoe deal with Nike? Can’t wait for the commercials.portlandon on December 18, 2008 at 5:21 PM
How about a “Shut the fu$k up sandwich” and enjoy the new Iraqi legal system you have…………..?
………… and while you’re at it, there are around 4,000+ families in the United States that won’t be celebrating the holidays with loved ones because they died giving you the freedom that you now enjoy, and you should be on your shoe less knees thanking everyone of them by name on a daily basis!
Sounds like a swishy Chicago politician….. all bravado until facing the consequences of their actions……..
Seven Percent Solution on December 18, 2008 at 5:24 PM
Anyone think that Bush will ask Maliki to show mercy or some other gesture of goodwill?
RedSoxNation on December 18, 2008 at 5:25 PM
You Betcha.
Bush tries to hard.
I see no difference between a shoe being thrown at the President & a bullet. He should rot in a cell for 40 years and just before death, executed.
portlandon on December 18, 2008 at 5:30 PM
He assaulted my President, and not just any President. The President that stood up to the terrorist that tried to enslave the innocent people of Iraq. Welcome to freedom, toss him behind bars.
christene on December 18, 2008 at 5:34 PM
I don’t know that time served is enough for an attempted attack on the President, but two years would be incredibly harsh.
Esthier on December 18, 2008 at 5:37 PM
+1
Well said!
brtex on December 18, 2008 at 5:41 PM
Yup.
After all, this guy just committed a li’l ol’ assault, nothing heinous like shooting a serial drug smuggler while trying to uphold the nation’s laws.
Think of it as Bush pardoning another turkey.
If the clown had pitched footwear at Osama Obama, hordes of The One’s followers would have ripped him to shreds on the spot….
MrScribbler on December 18, 2008 at 5:45 PM
I think there is quite a bit to forgive, but then, I’m a Catholic. Under my religion, part of being forgiven is an act of penance — something good done to counter your bad deeds.
Like earnestly apologizing to the person he attempted to harm — Bush — not to Maliki.
Islam also puts great store in forgiveness by a harmed person, but in Islam, that forgiveness can prevent an eye being gouged out or a life taken, whereas nonforgiveness can cause the trespesser to lose limbs or worse. If the harmed person does not forgive, the sin remains, while if they do forgive, the person may, in essence, walk free.
What this means is that Bush has it in his power to allow Majid to walk by saying that he personally forgives Majid for his acts, and hopes that the Iraqi state will do the same. Of course, this gesture by Bush should only occur after Majid has made the aforementioned earnest gesture of repentance to Bush.
The symbolism of Majid apologizing to Bush will probably destroy Majid’s reputation in the Arab world, but Majid can, after he is released, try to regain that reputation by saying he repented only under duress. But, even then, somethings will have been lost, and America’s reputation won’t be among them.
unclesmrgol on December 18, 2008 at 5:46 PM
christene
+1
that is exactly the point so let Iraqi law take care of him. To anyone who thinks extended jail time doesn’t fit the crime…. just remember how that reporters former leader dealt with people for lesser offenses… like losing a soccer match. I had someone throw a shoe at me in bar quite a few years ago, because I was rooting for a football team that was beating his badly. I proceeded to pound him to the floor. This isn’t funny what this reporter did and intended.
MNDavenotPC on December 18, 2008 at 5:50 PM
I’m not gonna miss W all that much, but I’m sure going to miss Laura Bush. And I cringe at the thought of Michelle Obama (actually, both Obamas) taking up residence in the White House. In four years, the US is going to have one hell of a nasty hangover. Either that, or they’ll be too drunk on bailouts to care about the morning after.
Splashman on December 18, 2008 at 5:54 PM
Don’t forget…to the Muslims, the bottom of one’s shoe is an added insult (remember how they threw their shoes at Saddam’s statue as it came down?)
JetBoy on December 18, 2008 at 5:54 PM
As an American, I saw it as an assault on the President of the United States, and that’s what it was.
While our confused countrymen on the Left might not see it that way now (BDS being what it is) if something similar happens after Jan. 20, I doubt they’ll be laughing then.
Bruno Strozek on December 18, 2008 at 5:55 PM
I thought he had a hot Egyptian chick who can’t wait to be his bride, and a father willing to pay all expenses..oh, wait a minute,…
a capella on December 18, 2008 at 5:56 PM
Maliki:
“You want a what…pardon me but I didn’t quite hear what you said…”
Lefty Hero Shoe Thrower:
“Mr Maliki sir, may I have a pardon…?”
Maliki:
“oh, pardon you…I see, well what would have Saddam said to your request?”
Lefty Hero Shoe Thrower:
“Saddam would have said nothing, I would have never made it to jail, I would have never been given a fair trial, and I would already be dead…”
Maliki:
“Ok, well then I have one more question for you and you will have 2 years to think about your answer, who is the real dog, Bush or Saddam?”
Lefty Hero Shoe Thrower:
“well, er…uh…ummm…”
Liberty or Death on December 18, 2008 at 5:57 PM
He should be shot but unfortunately, those days are long gone.
grdred944 on December 18, 2008 at 6:01 PM
I think he should have to sit down with Bush and man-to-man, with Maliki there, air his grievances to GWB, then have GWB respond. He should have to personally apologize.
Treat him like the tantrum-producing little two year old he is acting like.
Bob's Kid on December 18, 2008 at 6:08 PM
Bush should take a page out of the Pope John Paul II book of personal and spiritual elevation by publicly forgiving the guy. Had he been able to meet personally with shoe hurler, he could’ve turned this foolish episode into a semi-powerful worldwide moment.
GoodSamaritan on December 18, 2008 at 6:08 PM
Throw the book at him!
Shy Guy on December 18, 2008 at 6:09 PM
His shoes have been blown up.
Blake on December 18, 2008 at 6:18 PM
A Great First Lady and she’s exactly right.
Maxx on December 18, 2008 at 6:19 PM
You’ve got to be kidding, a pardon,this clown
could of stuffed a grenade in one of his shoes!
But what this disgruntled Iraqi has done,is shown
a new way,for moonbat lefty activists to be more
creative in their idiotic protests!
And one of these days,some lefty nut is going to
throw her stillettos,
and somebody is going to lose an eye!!
—————————————————–
Good lord,thanks to the likes of El Code Pinko’s,and
other anti-war protesters,
it looks like all forms of footwear will have to be
banned at every news conference,
and another draconian measure will be in place,because
Liberal Lefty sh#t disturbers want to copy-cat the so-
called hero of Iraq!!!!!!!!!!
And,it will be another bit of freedom an American citizen
will lose, thanks to Liberal Democrats and their special
interest groups!!!!!!!
canopfor on December 18, 2008 at 6:24 PM
Crank up the Sodamn Insane People shredder we found there.
44Magnum on December 18, 2008 at 6:28 PM
Maybe it’s asking too much, but why no apologize to the target of the attack rather than the guy who happened to be next to him.
hanzblinx on December 18, 2008 at 6:33 PM
The guy is a total moron, and it was an assault, so let him rot for a few years.
Hog Wild on December 18, 2008 at 6:57 PM
Me neither.
I’m gonna miss having such a classy, loving, First Lady in the White House.
Texas Gal on December 18, 2008 at 7:30 PM
Nice to see that along with raging BDS he inherited from the American press, he also has the same sense of entitlement
How about “No, now piss off” as the proper response to the request?
Defector01 on December 18, 2008 at 7:31 PM
I’m just DYING to hear the explanation as to why this would be the crime of the century (a hate crime to boot) if Obama were the victim, but it’s “justice” when the evil Nazi Bush is the tactic.
Speaking of Hitler, he’d be more than proud of the tactics of the modern-day Left.
Seek, destroy, and demonize the opposition.
Hawkins1701 on December 18, 2008 at 8:19 PM
Size 10’s?
10 months.
Community service.
Clearing mines onfoot.
profitsbeard on December 18, 2008 at 8:40 PM
He wouldn’t be able to throw shoes if he had no feet to wear them into the press conference, now would he? Just sayin’. After all, this is the Arab world, isn’t it? Or is acid-splashing now the default punishment?
On a more serious note…people don’t need to get the idea that it’s OK to throw things at the POTUS, or that it will just be ‘laughed off’ if they do.
James on December 18, 2008 at 8:53 PM
Hahahahahaha!
Good one!
mikeyboss on December 18, 2008 at 9:08 PM
Sweet
Guardian on December 18, 2008 at 9:12 PM
Yeah, if he misses Saddam so much, maybe he’d like a Saddam-type penalty…
ddrintn on December 18, 2008 at 9:51 PM
Let the brat go, then strip his press pass from all Iraqi national gov’t events. Same when any American officials are around.
Enough humiliation, eh?
HotAirJosef on December 18, 2008 at 10:31 PM
This is one of those situations that don’t really fit well into the legal system. I mean, how do you seriously lock someone up who threw a shoe at someone? Granted, he’s the President of the United States..but locking someone up for shoe throwing sounds absurd…but, letting him get off scott free would be a terrible mistake.
The Secret Service, or the Iraqi Police, or both, at different times, should pop up, and beat 7 types of sh*t out of this guy…leave him in the drunk tank for the weekend; pay a couple of prisoners to beat his a**; have someone in his apartment break everything he owns and beat his *ss when he comes home. Basically, make his life a living hell until he emigrates to Sudan or something.
Certain counties in Texas as late as the 80’s, you didn’t ever want to smart a** a cop during a traffic stop. Their idea of ‘communtiy policing’ was to call in another officer to help them beat your a**…or so my old boss once told me. The old ways of polite society were’nt always pretty, but they did work.
austinnelly on December 18, 2008 at 10:38 PM
I think the guy should get a slap on the wrist. The thing is, though, if any president of the US were giving a speech somewhere near where I live, and I showed up and tossed a shoe at him, I dare say I’d be spending some time in the pokey. Maybe quite a bit of time.
ddrintn on December 18, 2008 at 11:00 PM
Strange culture – where insults are seen as so horrible, and this guy now so brave for doing it is that now this so-called hero is groveling in the most unctuous servile manner possible. Yuck.
PattyJ on December 19, 2008 at 12:27 AM
He should (and probably will) lose his license to practice journalism. He has openly and publicly shown himself as biased and partisan and therefore incapable of accurately or honestly reporting news events, not unlike the rest of the MSM.
barton on December 19, 2008 at 11:33 AM
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