Why hasn't the shoe thrower been bailed out and interviewed yet in the new "free" Iraq?

[NNN0LHI]

Wouldn't you think the media would naturally be screaming for this mans story? He is a fellow reporter for crying out loud. The media should be busting down this guys door for an exclusive interview. Obviously this man was trying to tell us something. His story should be told whether we like what we are hearing or not.

Anyone else thought about this?

Don

[tekisui]

1. They are going to hold him until his sentence is served.

Al-Zaidi will remain in custody until the judge has completed his investigation, Birqadr said.

The court may send him for trial under a clause in the Iraqi penal code that makes it an offence to try to murder Iraqi or foreign presidents.

The sentence could be up to 15 years jail, Birqadr said.



http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2008/12/2008121618330140949.html

He could be charged with an assassination attempt.

[NNN0LHI]

4. Assassination attempt with a shoe?

Only in America.

Don

[Warpy]

11. My best guess is that he'll be quietly released

as soon as Stupid is out of office.

The Iraqis aren't stupid. They know how popular this man's action was and how he will quickly become a martyr if he is prosecuted.

The whole thing is silly. How a tossed shoe can be construed as a death threat unless it is concealing a bomb is a stretch for any legal system.

[LisaM]

2. He did physically assault a sitting head of state

Like it or not, you can't just go around doing that. I think he was brave (and justified), and that he certainly does not deserve torture in an Iraqi jail, but the fact is, if you threaten to, or harm, a head of state, you're going to go to jail and you probably won't get bail.

[NNN0LHI]

5. He threw a shoe at the guy who turned his country into a scene from a Mad Max movie set

There isn't enough lipstick in the world for this pig.

Don

[LisaM]

6. I agree with you.

But you still can't go around assaulting (or attempting to assault) heads of state.

[NNN0LHI]

7. I think we both agree it is surreal as all get out too

Someone must have told me to have an interesting life at one time or another.

Don

[LisaM]

9. It's very strange, all of it.

I also admit that while I understand on an intellectual level that it's very insulting to throw a shoe, on an emotional level, it reminds me of an episode of The Honeymoooners- "take that, Ralph!"

[blueclown]

17. Why must the Iraqi government recognize *'s "legitimacy" as head of state? n/t

[Laelth]

8. Won't get bail?

Did we suspend habeas corpus all of a sudden? Right to a speedy trial?

They may have done so in Iraq (not like they ever had habeas corpus rights), but we haven't in the US, have we? Oops, I forgot about the Patriot Act. Now the U.S. government can hold you indefinitely without bail and without access to the Courts if the executive branch claims (without any proof) that you are an "enemy combatant" or a "terrorist." I forgot. We did, in fact, suspend habeas corpus in the United States.

Back in the old days, a criminal suspect got to go before a judge to have bail set no matter who was assaulted. The President is just another citizen, after all, not royalty of any kind. My, how things have changed.

Sorry, LisaM, I'm really not venting at you, specifically. Mainly, I am very upset at what the Republicans have done to my country. I am sad that they have you believing that the "head of state" deserves some special right to suspend the Constitution and deny a criminal suspect his Constitutional rights just because the "head of state" is offended or "assaulted."

Peace.

-Laelth

[sinkingfeeling]

14. That kind of bothers me. Why, if in a democracy, all are equal, should there be different rules

for a sitting head of state? Does Iraq have a law that it is assault, punishable with up to 15 years in prison, to throw a shoe at a common citizen?

[Laelth]

3. Very good question. k&r for some kind of answer. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[Laelth]

13. Looks like he did go before a judge today.

Here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4662734

Iraq is already better than the U.S., it would seem. Now that's tragic.

-Laelth

[PearliePoo2]

10. Unfortunetly...he may have given himself a death sentence.

His brother reports he already has broken ribs, a broken arm and head gashes.
Wonder how that happened??? Took a little fall down the stairs? Ooopsie.
SmirkInChief says people in a "free" society can do things like this..no big deal. Just wants to get on TV and get a little publicity, ya know?

Wonder if "Smirk" has the stomach to watch a man get tortured on his behalf?
Answer myself..yeah..he most likely enjoys it.

[malaise]

12. Yes but they only speak out for Western Journalist

Did you hear any outcry for all those murdered journalists in Iraq. Yet when the BBC man went missing it was non-stop coverage. They don't care about brown or black people.

Expect nothing from GEM$NBC - they're getting the electricity contracts in Iraq.

[AmyCamus]

15. “This is a gift from the Iraqis. This is the farewell kiss, you dog," ~ Muntadar al-Zeidi

Muntadar al-Zeidi deserves a Pulitzer Prize for Journalism

[stillcool]

16. Freedom in Iraq is a little different..

from the way we here in the United States think of it.

[Gregorian]

18. I agree.

I've so busy laughing at the ensuing comedy I haven't stopped to think of the seriousness involved. It's a good thing people like you are thinking.

The other side of this story is really frightening and sad.