Iraqi Shoe-Gate: al-Maliki Lets Muntazar al-Zaidi Dangle

Public Relations Act of the Day: the release of a letter to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, purportedly from Muntazar al-Zaidi asking for a pardon for his "big and ugly act". Al-Maliki's spokesman was far from subtle in his presentation of the letter, which has not actually been seen by anyone: it seems that Yaseen Majid spoke "exclusively" to almost every major American and British news outlet.



Doing this, the al-Maliki Government has given itself flexibility in its handling of al-Zaidi. It can now claim kindness and compassion by approving a lenient sentence for assault by deadly shoes. On the other hand, as Majid make clear al-Maliki was "leaning toward allowing the Iraqi judicial system to determine [al-Zaidi's] fate", the Government can also watch as the journalist gets a long term in prison.

And there's a bonus. With its dramatic release of the "letter", the Government could get rid of those troubling allegations that al-Zaidi, who has still not been seen by family, friends, or lawyers, was beaten by Iraqi security forces. I could not find any mention this morning of al-Zaidi's isolation and possible injuries.

Breaking News: Letter from Muntazar al-Zaidi Asks for Leniency

See updates --- "Al-Maliki Lets Al-Zaidi Dangle" and "Iraqi Judge Says Muntazar Al-Zaidi Beaten"

CNN reports that Muntazar al-Zaidi has written to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to ask leniency for "the great ugly act I perpetrated" in throwing his shoes at President George Bush. According to the press spokesman for al-Maliki, al-Zaidi asked for the Prime Minister's "fatherly compassion".

According to al-Zaidi's brother, the case will come to trial next week.

*TRAGIC COMIC FOOTNOTE: Living up to its journalistic high standards, Fox News headlines the story, "Shoe-Tosser's Sole-Ful Apology".

Iraqi Ambassador Reassures Muntazar al-Zaidi: "These are the Fruits of Freedom"

The Iraqi Ambassador to the US, Samir Sumaida'ie, encounters CODEPINK activists and their signs ("Free al-Zaidi" and "Al-Zaidi Speaks for Me") during a presentation. He explains to them why the treatment and possible 15-year jail sentence of Al-Zaidi is justified.

It is because Al-Zaidi insulted George Bush. (No word from the Ambassador on whether any Iraqis might have felt "insulted" by George Bush over the last 5 1/2 years.) Thank goodness, the Ambassador added, he didn't do this when Saddam Hussein was around:

Everybody gets the fruits of freedom. Even those who don't know how to handle them.

[youtube]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ElEN4i2V9v8[/youtube]

Iraqi Shoe-Gate: The Tributes Roll in for George Bush

In Washington, Americans rally around the President:

They assembled a pile of clogs, boots, flip-flops, slippers and pumps, and, in celebration of the journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush in a news conference Sunday in Iraq, they tossed the footwear at a man wearing a papier-mâché Bush mask and a prison uniform....

The Bush figure dodged, weaved and taunted: "I can take it! I can take you all on!" But then somebody hit him in the crotch with a sandal, and he fell to his knees.

In Afghanistan, the citizens defend their US liberator:

<!-- @page { margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } -->

The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at President George W. Bush is to be celebrated in an Afghan comedy show.

But in the satirical series, Zang-i-Khatar (Alert Bell), rather than duck the shoes Mr Bush will be hit squarely in the face.

One protester, however, still doesn't understand, preferring to follow the example of Muntazar al-Zaidi:

A transit rider protesting moves to slash service and raise fares was dragged out of a public meeting by police officers who feared he was about to imitate the Iraqi journalist who hurled his shoes at President Bush.

Iraqi Shoe-Gate: US State Department Defends Muntazar Al-Zaidi?

From The Times of London this morning: "The State Department said that it would issue a condemnation if it were true that Mr al-Zaidi had been beaten up."

Let me help you out, guys, since you're obviously in an information black hole:

The guards of the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki were seen beating Mr Zaidi just after the incident and he was seen screaming in pain.

I look forward, as part of the American defense of freedom in Iraq, to that condemnation.