No Appreciation For Bush In Iraq

When Bush lied to America and the world and invaded Iraq, I think he was so misguided that he really had visions of glory. He was sure he would be praised as a liberator, and probably even have streets and schools named after him in Iraq. But last weekend he found out exactly what the Iraqis really think of him -- and it's not good.

During a news conference in Baghdad, where Bush was once again trying to justify the disaster he'd created in Iraq, a journalist stood up and flung his shoes at the lame duck president. As he did it, the journalist yelled, "This is a farewell kiss, you dog. This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq." In the Iraqi culture, the hurling of the shoes at Bush constituted a supreme insult.

The journalist was arrested and jailed, and some say he might be charged with insulting a foreign leader (which could carry a two-year sentence). Bush tried to pass it off as a solitary protest. He is wrong. The journalist was speaking for the majority of the Iraqi people, and I seriously doubt he will be punished -- the Iraqi government has enough problems without further irritating their populace.

On Monday, thousands of Iraqis took to the streets (pictured above) demanding the release of the journalist, Muntadhar al-Zeidi. Overnight, he has become a hero to the Iraqi people for standing up to Bush and publically shaming him. Bush is not viewed in Iraq as a liberator, but as a murderer and a torturer.

Personally, I applaud the actions of the Iraqi journalist. It's time Bush faced the truth.