Reporter who threw shoe reported from Sadr City & had a colleague who was kidnapped and tortured.

[uppityperson]

Not just a random Iraqi shoe thrower. So many enemies in such a little time.

[Dennis Donovan]

1. A very important back story...

:thumbsup:

[uppityperson]

3. Muntazer al-Zaid. Here is a bit more on him and why...more in post below (HE was kidnapped/tortured)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hIc6JbVJaVwlTwkUiARRCfbyVVdg

The journalist, Muntazer al-Zaidi from Al-Baghdadia channel which broadcasts from Cairo, was frogmarched from the room by security staff, an AFP journalist said.

Soles of shoes are considered the ultimate insult in Arab culture. After Saddam Hussein's statue was toppled in Baghdad in April 2003, many onlookers beat the statue's face with their soles.
(clip) Playing down the incident, the president later added: "I don't know what the guy's cause is... I didn't feel the least bit threatened by it."

OK mrbush, since you don't know what "the guy's cause is", let me look further...

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1229270057647&pagename=Zone-English-News/NWELayout

Friends said Zaidi covered the US bombing of Baghdad's Sadr City area earlier this year and had been "emotionally influenced" by the destruction he'd seen, according to McClatchy Newspapers

Is that clear enough? No? Then how about this...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article5342394.ece
The attack highlighted the contempt felt by many Iraqis for Mr Bush, whose presidency will be defined by his decision to invade Iraq, a move that brought down Saddam Hussein but also destroyed the lives of tens of thousands.

Are you STILL unclear? OK, try this...

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/12/bushs_baghdad_shoeattack_size.html
Bush was on his feet today, for sure: He displayed some quick defensive reflexes when a journalist shouted in Arabic -- "This is a gift from the Iraqis; this is the farewell kiss, you dog" -- and hurled one of his shoes at the American president. Bush narrowly avoided being hit.

Before guards could wrestle the hostile interrogator standing a little more than 10 feet away from the president to the floor, the angry man got off a second shoe and shouted: "This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq." The Iraqi prime minister aided in the defense this time, holding up a hand to shield Bush.

Bush, who was uninjured, laughed off the incident: "All I can report is it is a size 10.''

Yes, ha. ha. ha. Very funny. Good lord.

[Festivito]

2. Possible to get information on that colleague. Still in prison?

Bush misses the shoe bomber then the shoe bomber misses Bush.

[uppityperson]

5. Here is more, HE was kidnapped Nov 07, info on kidnapping, torture, release.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsMaps/idUSRYA67238820071118

An Iraqi television journalist was kidnapped on Friday after leaving his home in Baghdad, Iraq's Journalistic Freedoms Observatory said.

Muntazer al-Zaidi, a correspondent for al-Baghdadiya television station, disappeared after leaving his home in a busy area of central Baghdad, the non-governmental organization said in a statement.

Zaidi's family said they had called his mobile phone in the afternoon, and confirmed he had been abducted, the group said. But his family did not receive any specific demands for his release. Zaidi is 26-years-old, it added.

"The Journalistic Freedoms Observatory asks Zaidi's kidnappers once more for his swift release for humanitarian reasons," the group said in a statement....(more)

DU link to incident: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3068901&mesg_id=3068901

That contains link to his release info:
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L19159708.htm

AGHDAD, Nov 19 (Reuters) - An Iraqi TV journalist who was kidnapped last week in a busy Baghdad neighbourhood said he was released unharmed before dawn on Monday.

Muntazer al-Zaidi, a correspondent for the independent al- Baghdadiya television station, said he spent more than two days blindfolded, barely eating and drinking, after armed men forced him into a car as he walked to work on Friday morning in the bustling Bab al-Sharji area of central Baghdad.

"My release is a miracle. I couldn't believe I was still alive," Zaidi, 28, told Reuters by telephone.

Zaidi said the kidnappers had beaten him until he lost consciousness. They used his necktie to blindfold him and bound his hands with his shoelaces...(more)

[Radical Activist]

7. Who kidnapped him?

"Page missing" is what I got for the second story.

[uppityperson]

8. here is more, he never learned. from the alertnet story, works for me

Zaidi said the kidnappers had beaten him until he lost consciousness. They used his necktie to blindfold him and bound his hands with his shoelaces.

He never learned the identity of the kidnappers, who questioned him closely about his work but did not demand a ransom.

The captors later told Zaidi he would be released, throwing him on to a dark street, still blindfolded, around 3 a.m. (0000 GMT) on Monday. He was then picked up by his brother.

[SpiralHawk]

4. "What, me torture? Smirk." - Commander AWOL (R)

[malaise]

6. Michael Ware's take on it was brilliant

Zeidi is the new Iraqi and Arab hero.

add

[uppityperson]

9. Did you read about his history reporting in Iraq? Kidnapped, beaten?

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L19159708.htm
An Iraqi TV journalist who was kidnapped last week in a busy Baghdad neighbourhood said he was released unharmed before dawn on Monday.

Muntazer al-Zaidi, a correspondent for the independent al- Baghdadiya television station, said he spent more than two days blindfolded, barely eating and drinking, after armed men forced him into a car as he walked to work on Friday morning in the bustling Bab al-Sharji area of central Baghdad.
(clip)

Zaidi said the kidnappers had beaten him until he lost consciousness. They used his necktie to blindfold him and bound his hands with his shoelaces. He never learned the identity of the kidnappers, who questioned him closely about his work but did not demand a ransom.

The captors later told Zaidi he would be released, throwing him on to a dark street, still blindfolded, around 3 a.m. (0000 GMT) on Monday. He was then picked up by his brother.

[onethatcares]

10. so, we invaded Iraq because Saddam kidnapped and tortured

people, disappeared them, kept them in secret prisons. And what do we go and do?

They say the Iraqis have very long memories, that what was done to their forefathers is paid for by their grandchildren. If that's true. We're in for a world of hurt.

Peace.

[uppityperson]

11. Indeed. I admire this guy's restraint, wonder how many will not be so restrained.

I had hopes, 10 yrs ago, that things might settle down in the middle east. Now, how many have been hurt in how many ways and how long will it take to deal with it all. Good lord mrbush and his evil minions have hurt the world.

Heartbreaking.

[BelgianMadCow]

12. Kick - this must be as public as the act itself

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