Quasi-Balanced Shoe Throw Reporting From….MSNBC?

16 Dec, 2008 by John Hawkins

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After the grandstanding Iraqi reporter tossed his shoes at George Bush, the media’s focus wasn’t on how Bush had made it possible for this moron to throw his footwear at a world leader without being fed, head first, into a paper shredder five minutes later while his family watched, it was on what a great guy this idiot was…for throwing his shoes like a four year old.

However, shockingly, MSNBC, which is mainly known these days for scrimping and bowing at the mention of Barack Obama’s name, put together a quasi-balanced piece that actually noted most Iraqis didn’t approve of the idiot who launched his shoes at Bush,

Many Iraqis were surprised when an Iraqi reporter hurled his shoes at President George W. Bush during a press conference with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Sunday. While some Iraqis were shocked, others said the shoe-throwing was an act of valor.

But in general, many Iraqis believe that the insult directed towards Bush has really reflected badly on them – particularly because of their long history of traditions and customs that focus on respecting the guest – even if that guest is considered an “enemy.”

…It is a reckless act and it will have bad effect on Iraqi journalists,” said Emad Saleem, 40, a reporter for the Saudi Akhabria satellite TV channel. “Our picture as people of the fourth power will be weakened.”

Mais Hassan, a 35-year-old editor for the Iraqi Belad newspaper, agreed. “This is not the good way to express one’s resentment. The correspondent could yell at Bush or curse him to show his objection to his policies in Iraq.”

Aida Mohammed, a 42-year-old housewife, took issue with the act because she believed it reflected badly on all Iraqis. “This is impolite act and it is not like the Iraqis,” said Mohammed. “We are known for welcoming the guest – even if he is an enemy. Arabs say welcoming the guest is a must, even for one’s enemy.”

…While the reactions to the shoe-toss vary, many Iraqis still believe that Bush has done well by them by making them get rid of Saddam Hussein and that he is not to be blamed for the consequences of toppling the dictator.

Let me tell you something, I beat up on Bush fairly regularly these days, but the people in Iraq should worship him. Before Bush came along, they were ruled by one of the worst monsters walking the planet. Hussein starved, raped, murdered, and brutalized his own people, engaged in wars of conquest against his neighbors, and spat in the face of the world.

Now, because of George Bush, along with a lot of blood and treasure, not just from the United States, but from our allies, Saddam is dead, the situation in Iraq is getting better almost by the day, and the Iraqi people are free. Today, the people of Iraq have a future that’s potentially a hundred times brighter than it was before we invaded, back in 2003.

The people of Iraq who believe Bush has “done well by them” are right. Had John Kerry won in 2004 or had Democrats like Barack Obama gotten their way, the Iraqi people would have been abandoned to die in an orgy of violence and genocide. Instead, they’ve gone from living under Saddam Hussein to having a real opportunity to become the freest and most prosperous nation in the Middle-East, outside of Israel, in a little over five years. More than anyone else, George Bush deserves the credit for that.