Welcome awaits Iraq shoe thrower

The Iraqi journalist jailed for hurling his shoes at former US President George W Bush is to be freed on Monday - to an uncertain future.

Muntadar al-Zaidi's release after nine months in prison will be celebrated by many across the Arab world to whom he has become a hero.

He is reported to have been offered money, lucrative jobs, marriages and even a career in politics.

His brother says an official boycott may stop Zaidi's return to journalism.

Zaidi, a reporter for al-Baghdadiya TV, shot to fame on 14 December 2008 when he hurled his footwear at Mr Bush during a televised news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

He called Mr Bush "a dog" and threw his shoes as a "farewell kiss" from Iraqis killed, orphaned or widowed since the US-led invasion.

Zaidi was jailed for three years for assault, but the sentence was reduced on appeal.

Outpouring of support

Although the incident embarrassed the Iraqi government, there was an outpouring of support for Zaidi - and his act of defiance - across many Arab countries.

Footage of the shoe hurling incident

Zaidi's brother, Dargham, says the attention lavished on the reporter has been amazing.

"We have had pledges of money, the Emir of Qatar promised a golden horse, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi (of Libya) said he would award him Libya's highest honour, other people said they would buy him a sports car," he said.

Dargham al-Zaidi said he believed that his brother might quit his work as a journalist "because he is sure that he will be turned away or boycotted by government officials".

"Rather, he told me he is interested in working in a humanitarian organisation or becoming an activist for women's and orphans' rights," he told AP news agency.

He added that Zaidi had declined offers to stand for several independent political parties.

Al-Baghdadiya TV - which has continued to pay Zaidi's salary during his time in jail - believes he will return to work there.

"As far as I know, from what he has told me - and I speak to him weekly - he will come back to work for al-Baghdadiya," said Abdul-Hamid al-Sayah, manager of the Cairo-based station.

"He is very attached to the station."

Mr Sayah said they planned to hold a press conference with Zaidi and a talkshow appearance where he would explain his actions.

Al-Baghdadiya colleague Mohammed Wadeh said some of the Arab world's best-known satellite TV stations had tried to recruit Zaidi as an anchorman, but "he refused them all".

Whatever the outcome, Zaidi's relatives were preparing a party at the family home in Baghdad where special posters of their "hero" were fixed to the walls ready for his release on Monday.

Source

Now there is a true hero of Iraq. He did more in a few seconds to Bush than the rest of us did in years.

Whatever happens to the bloke, I wish him and his family fortune and happiness for life.

Yes, let's reward the guy that attempted to assault a world leader because we don't like the leader in question. It makes perfect sense and isn't a bunch of hypocritical bullcrap at all.

lol, man, they really hate Bush over there.

Yes, let's reward the guy that attempted to assault a world leader because we don't like the leader in question. It makes perfect sense and isn't a bunch of hypocritical bullcrap at all.

Theokhoth

if a man responsible for 20,000 + deaths of your Innocent ppl was by you what would you do. America isnt very good at targeting terrorist and not innocents or there own Allies. I have buddies in the canadian forces who where getting shot at by america troops in Afgan. They had to call the british to call the americans to ask them wtf they were doing.

[QUOTE="Theokhoth"]

Yes, let's reward the guy that attempted to assault a world leader because we don't like the leader in question. It makes perfect sense and isn't a bunch of hypocritical bullcrap at all.

BlackTragedy

if a man responsible for 20,000 + deaths of your Innocent ppl was by you what would you do. America isnt very good at targeting terrorist and not innocents or there own Allies. I have buddies in the canadian forces who where getting shot at by america troops in Afgan. They had to call the british to call the americans to ask them wtf they were doing.

that's war and the arabs brought on it themselves by attacking us maybe it wasn't iraq who attacked but it was defintely the arabs so this is their fault

Yes, let's reward the guy that attempted to assault a world leader because we don't like the leader in question. It makes perfect sense and isn't a bunch of hypocritical bullcrap at all.

Theokhoth

Not to defend the guy or anything, but come on. He threw his shoes at a dude.

[QUOTE="BlackTragedy"]

[QUOTE="Theokhoth"]

Yes, let's reward the guy that attempted to assault a world leader because we don't like the leader in question. It makes perfect sense and isn't a bunch of hypocritical bullcrap at all.

l4dak47

if a man responsible for 20,000 + deaths of your Innocent ppl was by you what would you do. America isnt very good at targeting terrorist and not innocents or there own Allies. I have buddies in the canadian forces who where getting shot at by america troops in Afgan. They had to call the british to call the americans to ask them wtf they were doing.

that's war and the arabs brought on it themselves by attacking us maybe it wasn't iraq who attacked but it was defintely the arabs so this is their fault

[QUOTE="Funky_Llama"]

[QUOTE="BlackTragedy"]

if a man responsible for 20,000 + deaths of your Innocent ppl was by you what would you do.ghoklebutter

Bush doesn't deserve even a mustard seed's-worth of respect.

[QUOTE="BlackTragedy"]

[QUOTE="Theokhoth"]

Yes, let's reward the guy that attempted to assault a world leader because we don't like the leader in question. It makes perfect sense and isn't a bunch of hypocritical bullcrap at all.

l4dak47

if a man responsible for 20,000 + deaths of your Innocent ppl was by you what would you do. America isnt very good at targeting terrorist and not innocents or there own Allies. I have buddies in the canadian forces who where getting shot at by america troops in Afgan. They had to call the british to call the americans to ask them wtf they were doing.

that's war and the arabs brought on it themselves by attacking us maybe it wasn't iraq who attacked but it was defintely the arabs so this is their fault

ROTFLMAO.

Lilyanne46

Why do you keep posting that?:?

[QUOTE="IbnLaAhad"]

[QUOTE="Lilyanne46"]

ROTFLMAO.

Lilyanne46

Why do you keep posting that?:?

Because it's funny. And it's more of a giggle than a laugh. :oops:

Hmm... MANLY!

[QUOTE="markop2003"][QUOTE="l4dak47"]

that's war and the arabs brought on it themselves by attacking us maybe it wasn't iraq who attacked but it was defintely the arabs so this is their fault

l4dak47

not at all but most yes when the twin towers came down the arab communitiy was actually celebrating that so and as soon as we came there and kicked their butt they started crying and begging on their kness for us to let them live.......bunch of cowards

First of all, not all of them celebrated. Second, do you know why they celebrated in the first place? That was their way of getting back at America since America condoned Israel's mass removal of Palestinians from their land. They can't do anything else, really.

[QUOTE="l4dak47"]

[QUOTE="markop2003"] Wait WTF? Just because people live in the same region they're guilty of the same crimes?ghoklebutter

not at all but most yes when the twin towers came down the arab communitiy was actually celebrating that so and as soon as we came there and kicked their butt they started crying and begging on their kness for us to let them live.......bunch of cowards

First of all, not all of them celebrated. Second, do you know why they celebrated in the first place? That was their way of getting back at America since America condoned Israel's mass removal of Palestinians from their land. They can't do anything else, really.

and this is our way of getting back at them for celebrating, see how it works they were stupid and they made the wrong decsion and now they're regretting it

[QUOTE="ghoklebutter"]

[QUOTE="l4dak47"]

not at all but most yes when the twin towers came down the arab communitiy was actually celebrating that so and as soon as we came there and kicked their butt they started crying and begging on their kness for us to let them live.......bunch of cowards

l4dak47

First of all, not all of them celebrated. Second, do you know why they celebrated in the first place? That was their way of getting back at America since America condoned Israel's mass removal of Palestinians from their land. They can't do anything else, really.

and this is our way of getting back at them for celebrating, see how it works they were stupid and they made the wrong decsion and now they're regretting it

[QUOTE="ghoklebutter"]

[QUOTE="l4dak47"]

not at all but most yes when the twin towers came down the arab communitiy was actually celebrating that so and as soon as we came there and kicked their butt they started crying and begging on their kness for us to let them live.......bunch of cowards

l4dak47

First of all, not all of them celebrated. Second, do you know why they celebrated in the first place? That was their way of getting back at America since America condoned Israel's mass removal of Palestinians from their land. They can't do anything else, really.

and this is our way of getting back at them for celebrating, see how it works they were stupid and they made the wrong decsion and now they're regretting it

[QUOTE="ghoklebutter"]

[QUOTE="l4dak47"]

not at all but most yes when the twin towers came down the arab communitiy was actually celebrating that so and as soon as we came there and kicked their butt they started crying and begging on their kness for us to let them live.......bunch of cowards

l4dak47

First of all, not all of them celebrated. Second, do you know why they celebrated in the first place? That was their way of getting back at America since America condoned Israel's mass removal of Palestinians from their land. They can't do anything else, really.

and this is our way of getting back at them for celebrating, see how it works they were stupid and they made the wrong decsion and now they're regretting it

Lol it was only the Palestinians that celebrated. Every other Arab either felt ashamed or angry.

By that logic, it's OK to murder thousands of innocent people because SOME Arabs celebrated over 9/11?

Yes, let's reward the guy that attempted to assault a world leader because we don't like the leader in question. It makes perfect sense and isn't a bunch of hypocritical bullcrap at all.

Theokhoth

[QUOTE="Theokhoth"]

Yes, let's reward the guy that attempted to assault a world leader because we don't like the leader in question. It makes perfect sense and isn't a bunch of hypocritical bullcrap at all.

SpaceMoose

[QUOTE="l4dak47"]

[QUOTE="ghoklebutter"]

First of all, not all of them celebrated. Second, do you know why they celebrated in the first place? That was their way of getting back at America since America condoned Israel's mass removal of Palestinians from their land. They can't do anything else, really.

Funky_Llama

and this is our way of getting back at them for celebrating, see how it works they were stupid and they made the wrong decsion and now they're regretting it

yea isn't it the exact same thing with the arabs not all american are bad and yet they've lumped us all together so thousands of innocent citzens were killled on 9-11 so again we're returning the favor

[QUOTE="Funky_Llama"][QUOTE="l4dak47"]

and this is our way of getting back at them for celebrating, see how it works they were stupid and they made the wrong decsion and now they're regretting it

l4dak47

yea isn't it the exact same thing with the arabs not all american are bad and yet they've lumped us all together so thousands of innocent citzens were killled on 9-11 so again we're returning the favor

And not all Arabs are bad either. Your point?

[QUOTE="Funky_Llama"][QUOTE="l4dak47"]

and this is our way of getting back at them for celebrating, see how it works they were stupid and they made the wrong decsion and now they're regretting it

l4dak47

yea isn't it the exact same thing with the arabs not all american are bad and yet they've lumped us all together so thousands of innocent citzens were killled on 9-11 so again we're returning the favor

[QUOTE="SpaceMoose"][QUOTE="Theokhoth"]

Yes, let's reward the guy that attempted to assault a world leader because we don't like the leader in question. It makes perfect sense and isn't a bunch of hypocritical bullcrap at all.

Funky_Llama

[QUOTE="l4dak47"]

[QUOTE="Funky_Llama"]'they were stupid'? So some of them celebrated and all of them are stupid because of that? Christ.ghoklebutter

yea isn't it the exact same thing with the arabs not all american are bad and yet they've lumped us all together so thousands of innocent citzens were killled on 9-11 so again we're returning the favor

And not all Arabs are bad either. Your point?

i'm saying that we are returning the favor back to them that's it they literally had it coming to them if they didn't want all this uneccssary deaths they would have gave up osama bin laden and everyone else that was responsible for the 9-11 attacks and yet they didn't

He is reported to have been offered money, lucrative jobs, marriages and even a career in politics.

He was offered marriages? Are you kidding me :|

[QUOTE="ghoklebutter"]

[QUOTE="Funky_Llama"]Not throw my shoes at him?

Funky_Llama

Bush doesn't deserve even a mustard seed's-worth of respect.

I wouldn't exactly call getting two shoes thrown at you being assaulted... besides, Bush's dodging those shoes was one of the few things in his presidency that even Democrats thought was awesome. :P

[QUOTE="ghoklebutter"]

[QUOTE="l4dak47"]

yea isn't it the exact same thing with the arabs not all american are bad and yet they've lumped us all together so thousands of innocent citzens were killled on 9-11 so again we're returning the favor

l4dak47

And not all Arabs are bad either. Your point?

i'm saying that we are returning the favor back to them that's it they literally had it coming to them if they didn't want all this uneccssary deaths they would have gave up osama bin laden and everyone else that was responsible for the 9-11 attacks and yet they didn't

Go have your land stolen by power hungry Zionists then talk again.

He is reported to have been offered money, lucrative jobs, marriages and even a career in politics.

He was offered marriages? Are you kidding me :|

limpbizkit818

Different cultures? No wai! :o

[QUOTE="Funky_Llama"][QUOTE="ghoklebutter"]

Bush doesn't deserve even a mustard seed's-worth of respect.

chessmaster1989

I wouldn't exactly call getting two shoes thrown at you being assaulted... besides, Bush's dodging those shoes was one of the few things in his presidency that even Democrats thought was awesome. :P

He is reported to have been offered money, lucrative jobs, marriages and even a career in politics.

He was offered marriages? Are you kidding me :|

limpbizkit818

Yeah, those women must have some is-shoes...

He is reported to have been offered money, lucrative jobs, marriages and even a career in politics.

He was offered marriages? Are you kidding me :|

limpbizkit818

i'm saying that we are returning the favor back to them that's it they literally had it coming to them if they didn't want all this uneccssary deaths they would have gave up osama bin laden and everyone else that was responsible for the 9-11 attacks and yet they didn't

Go have your land stolen by power hungry Zionists then talk again.

and we're back to the war thing yea we did some things wrong and so did they and now we're making them pay for what they did to us they made us pay with 9-11 we're making them pay with 2 wars in afghanstian and iraq

and we're back to the war thing yea we did some things wrong and so did they and now we're making them pay for what they did to us they made us pay with 9-11 we're making them pay with 2 wars in afghanstian and iraq

l4dak47

Look I don't agree with their stance on 9/11 but I can understand why Arabs are like this.

[QUOTE="l4dak47"]

and we're back to the war thing yea we did some things wrong and so did they and now we're making them pay for what they did to us they made us pay with 9-11 we're making them pay with 2 wars in afghanstian and iraq

ghoklebutter

Look I don't agree with their stance on 9/11 but I can understand why Arabs are like this.

well that was a pretty good debate for me how about we just say this we (meaning U.S and Islam communities)both screwed up and we're both paying for it now also we shouldn't generalize races that was my mistake and i apoligze and leave it at that

[QUOTE="ghoklebutter"]

[QUOTE="l4dak47"]

and we're back to the war thing yea we did some things wrong and so did they and now we're making them pay for what they did to us they made us pay with 9-11 we're making them pay with 2 wars in afghanstian and iraq

l4dak47

Look I don't agree with their stance on 9/11 but I can understand why Arabs are like this.

well that was a pretty good debate for me how about we just say this we (meaning U.S and Islam communities)both screwed up and we're both paying for it now also we shouldn't generalize races that was my mistake and i apoligze and leave it at that

Alright then.

[QUOTE="BlackTragedy"]

[QUOTE="Theokhoth"]

Yes, let's reward the guy that attempted to assault a world leader because we don't like the leader in question. It makes perfect sense and isn't a bunch of hypocritical bullcrap at all.

l4dak47

if a man responsible for 20,000 + deaths of your Innocent ppl was by you what would you do. America isnt very good at targeting terrorist and not innocents or there own Allies. I have buddies in the canadian forces who where getting shot at by america troops in Afgan. They had to call the british to call the americans to ask them wtf they were doing.

that's war and the arabs brought on it themselves by attacking us maybe it wasn't iraq who attacked but it was defintely the arabs so this is their fault

Most incorrect and ignorant statement I've read on here in a long time. :|

Most incorrect and ignorant statement I've read on here in a long time. :|

omfg read the rest of the arguments before you say something :roll:

[QUOTE="l4dak47"]

[QUOTE="BlackTragedy"]

if a man responsible for 20,000 + deaths of your Innocent ppl was by you what would you do. America isnt very good at targeting terrorist and not innocents or there own Allies. I have buddies in the canadian forces who where getting shot at by america troops in Afgan. They had to call the british to call the americans to ask them wtf they were doing.

DarkGamer007

that's war and the arabs brought on it themselves by attacking us maybe it wasn't iraq who attacked but it was defintely the arabs so this is their fault

Most incorrect and ignorant statement I've read on here in a long time. :|

Most incorrect and ignorant statement I've read on here in a long time. :|

omfg read the rest of the arguments before you say something :roll:

l4dak47

Most incorrect and ignorant statement I've read on here in a long time. :|

omfg read the rest of the arguments before you say something :roll:

Just because the terroists that attacked the United States were Arabic doesn't mean that all Arabic people supported the attacks, they brought nothing upon themselves. That statement you made is horribly racist, and is the equivelant to saying that all German's during World War II were Nazis. :|