Iraqi "journalist" throws shoes at Bush

[Texsox]

If an American threw a shoe at Bush, Blagojevich, or Obama, they'd be facing charges, too.

 

Plus it would be stupid because it does not have the same connotation here. How about if they flipped him off? Perhaps they would be tried as a hate crime?

 

I do wonder if that was a Saddam era law that was held over or something we insisted they add to their laws when they wrote their new Constitution? Could you image if they locked up an American in Saddam's Iraq for "insulting" a foreign leader by flipping him off? Perhaps beating and torturing him in the process?

[lostfan]

Nobody cares about the insult though. Hell, I'm certain that Bush gets insulted much worse than that on a daily basis. But throwing an object at someone is assault, plain and simple (I just threw a pen at my gov't boss a few minutes ago though, lol).

[BigSqwert]

You will pay the consequences!

[Texsox]

Nobody cares about the insult though. Hell, I'm certain that Bush gets insulted much worse than that on a daily basis. But throwing an object at someone is assault, plain and simple (I just threw a pen at my gov't boss a few minutes ago though, lol).

 

I believe SS just posted he's being tried for insulting a foreign leader, not assault.

[lostfan]

I believe SS just posted he's being tried for insulting a foreign leader, not assault.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081222/ts_nm/...aq_bush_shoes_2

 

TV journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi is charged with "assaulting a foreign head of state visiting Iraq," said Abdul Satar Birqadr, spokesman for Iraq's High Judicial Council.

 

Not so much. I don't think that's what SS was getting at, though.

[southsider2k5]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081222/ts_nm/...aq_bush_shoes_2

 

 

 

Not so much. I don't think that's what SS was getting at, though.

 

I wonder if there is something being lost in translation, because I swear I have seen both INsulting and ASsulting as the charges.

[southsider2k5]

I wonder if there is something being lost in translation, because I swear I have seen both INsulting and ASsulting as the charges.

 

Yeah, this is from the AP

 

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/articl...SCiqGwD957N8L86

 

Al-Zeidi is expected to face charges of insulting a foreign leader, for which a conviction could bring two years' imprisonment.

[Texsox]

Basically it doesn't seem to rise to the level of assault in my estimation. I can't think of anyone doing hard time for throwing a shoe. From what I read, the charges all stemmed from insulting, and that just seems wrong to give someone two years for what is tantamount to flipping him off.

[ChiSox_Sonix]

Basically it doesn't seem to rise to the level of assault in my estimation. I can't think of anyone doing hard time for throwing a shoe. From what I read, the charges all stemmed from insulting, and that just seems wrong to give someone two years for what is tantamount to flipping him off.

 

Just curious about what you think here. What do you think would happen to an American charged with spitting on the leader of a China/Russia/North Korea/Cuba/Palestine/Canada type country during an official visit of theirs to our country?

Edited December 23, 2008 by ChiSox_Sonix

[lostfan]

Yeah, this is from the AP

 

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/articl...SCiqGwD957N8L86

Regardless, the point you were making earlier remains. If that's what their law is, then that's what their law is.

[Texsox]

Just curious about what you think here. What do you think would happen to an American charged with spitting on the leader of a China/Russia/North Korea/Cuba/Palestine/Canada type country during an official visit of theirs to our country?

 

Disorderly conduct, a fine, 1 year probation. I don't see getting beaten and spending two years at taxpayer's expense, in a federal prison.

 

What would you expect?

[Kyyle23]

Basically it doesn't seem to rise to the level of assault in my estimation. I can't think of anyone doing hard time for throwing a shoe. From what I read, the charges all stemmed from insulting, and that just seems wrong to give someone two years for what is tantamount to flipping him off.

 

Say Bush didnt have those catlike reflexes and took the shoe to the forehead and Bush somehow got stitches, would you be playing your neverending devils advocate game then?

 

"This is no big deal, it was only a shoe. It is tantamount to throwing a shirt at him, whats the big deal?"

 

The fact is that the guy threw a shoe at the president in the middle of a press conference, probably with the intention of hitting him and completely embarrassing him in front of the Iraqi nation. Our laws and consequences dont matter, because he isnt being tried by the US. Insult, Assault, it doesnt matter, he is being tried by his own peers

[ChiSox_Sonix]

Disorderly conduct, a fine, 1 year probation. I don't see getting beaten and spending two years at taxpayer's expense, in a federal prison.

 

What would you expect?

 

If an American spit at the leader of Russia or China I would absolutely expect jail time. The respective countries would probably say it was a humiliating act to their country and was a sign of disrespect. And, despite what may be the feelings of the majority of the population, the government would feel compelled to send a message that such an action is not tolerated and that leaders of other countries must be shown respect and courtesy when on our soil and in the presence of our leaders. I would be shocked if the person did not spend a bit of time on jail.

[NorthSideSox72]

Basically it doesn't seem to rise to the level of assault in my estimation. I can't think of anyone doing hard time for throwing a shoe. From what I read, the charges all stemmed from insulting, and that just seems wrong to give someone two years for what is tantamount to flipping him off.

I can't speak for Iraqi law, but by US and general common law, what he did is textbook definition of assault. He threw a potentially harmful object at another person. That is assault.

 

 

[Balta1701]

If an American spit at the leader of Russia or China I would absolutely expect jail time. The respective countries would probably say it was a humiliating act to their country and was a sign of disrespect. And, despite what may be the feelings of the majority of the population, the government would feel compelled to send a message that such an action is not tolerated and that leaders of other countries must be shown respect and courtesy when on our soil and in the presence of our leaders. I would be shocked if the person did not spend a bit of time on jail.

[StrangeSox]

<!--quoteo(post=1814667:date=Dec 23, 2008 -> 08:41 AM:name=ChiSox_Sonix)-->

<!--quotec-->If an American spit at the leader of Russia or China I would absolutely expect jail time. The respective countries would probably say it was a humiliating act to their country and was a sign of disrespect. And, despite what may be the feelings of the majority of the population, the government would feel compelled to send a message that such an action is not tolerated and that leaders of other countries must be shown respect and courtesy when on our soil and in the presence of our leaders. I would be shocked if the person did not spend a bit of time on jail.

 

That's clearly the same as malicious intent to injure.

[ChiSox_Sonix]

<!--quoteo(post=1814667:date=Dec 23, 2008 -> 08:41 AM:name=ChiSox_Sonix)-->

<!--quotec-->If an American spit at the leader of Russia or China I would absolutely expect jail time. The respective countries would probably say it was a humiliating act to their country and was a sign of disrespect. And, despite what may be the feelings of the majority of the population, the government would feel compelled to send a message that such an action is not tolerated and that leaders of other countries must be shown respect and courtesy when on our soil and in the presence of our leaders. I would be shocked if the person did not spend a bit of time on jail.

 

 

Wow....

[lostfan]

I can't see the video at work.

[NorthSideSox72]

I can't see the video at work.

I see only the still, and I THINK its Bush Sr blowing chunks in the far east.

 

Is it something else, Balta?

 

[Balta1701]

I see only the still, and I THINK its Bush Sr blowing chunks in the far east.

 

Is it something else, Balta?

Yes, that was GHWB vomiting on the lap of the Japanese Prime Minister. I just thought it was an entertaining addendum to a discussion of insulting foreign leaders through odd actions.

[kapkomet]

Yes, that was GHWB vomiting on the lap of the Japanese Prime Minister. I just thought it was an entertaining addendum to a discussion of insulting foreign leaders through odd actions.

Oh how humorous. One's intentional, the other is not.

[lostfan]

I don't know about you guys, but Bush 41 throwing up on the Japanese prime minister was f***ing hilarious.

Edited December 23, 2008 by lostfan
i cant spell

[mr_genius]

I don't know about you guy, but Bush 41 throwing up on the Japanese prime minister was f***ing hilarious.

 

poor guy, was sick and all.

 

or was he.... i think a conspiracy theory is due

[kapkomet]

If this happened now, there would be some sort of conspiracy.

 

[Texsox]

This guy did not invent some new insult. The intent, as is the long standing custom there, was to insult and not to actually hit him. Just like flipping him off is not to actually hit anyone with your finger. This seems to be the point that many people are overlooking.

 

This was a traditional gesture. The man had many other objects available to throw at Bush if the intent was to assault him. He did throw a cell phone, clipboard, lap top, chair, he threw a shoe, because that is the custom. Basically you guys would be saying that flipping someone off should result in jailtime.

 

But yes, if Bush was actually hit and died, or any other silly what if you want to come up with, it would be different. Just as if someone was flipping someone off and accidentally killed them or caused them to need stitches. But instead, just like when you flip someone off, no one is hurt, this guy managed the traditional and long standing custom perfectly, and no one was hurt.