AFP journalist @ shoe throwing press conf: Secret Service had noticed al-Zeidi acting suspiciously

[sabra]

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/12/iraqi_shoethrower_beaten_seeks.html#more

Not surprisingly, reports are that the journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush's head last weekend in Baghdad was beaten.

The judge who visited Muntadhar al-Zeidi said he bore signs of being beaten.

Olivier Knox, a journalist with Agence Presse France who was at the press conference where the shoe-throwing took place, said on public radio's Diane Rehm Show this morning that he saw blood on the floor at the place where al-Zeidi was pounced on by the Secret Service and Iraqi security. He assumed it was al-Zeidi's.

Knox also said that in talking to people in the White House he learned that the Secret Service had noticed al-Zeidi acting suspiciously beforehand -- not taking notes, fidgeting and repeatedly stealing glances at security officials -- but that Iraqi security vetoed that idea.

[Cronus Protagonist]

1. Iraqi security has veto power over the SS?

Wow. Revelations are coming thick and fast!

[sabra]

2. things that make you go hmmm... remember al-Maliki didn't even flinch

[Cronus Protagonist]

3. True

Maliki clearly saw the attacker had better aim than one might expect. :P

[Javaman]

4. Alpha One: I'm observing a suspect playing with his shoe laces. nt