JoeSettler: Shoeless in Iraq, but Alive

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Shoeless in Iraq, but Alive

12/16/2008 06:58:00 AM |

Posted by JoeSettler |

The Arab reaction to Muntadar al-Zeidi, the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at US President George W. Bush during a press conference in Baghdad on Sunday is all over the board.

Some are for, some are against, but all the reactions are strong.

I hope that one thing becomes clear to all these Arabs.

If Al-Zeidi had thrown his shoe at Mubarak, Assad, Abbas, or some Saudi prince he would be dead or expecting to spend the rest of his life in prison.

It may not have been the best use of one's right to freedom of expression, but in a typical Arab dictatorship that would have been the effective end of one's life.

Think about it.

(I do admit, I wonder if any Israeli would dare do this to Barak or Livni, and what the punishment meted out in Israel would be).

Shoeless in Iraq, but Alive

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