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Iraqi Who Hurled Shoes At Bush: Time Magazine's Person Of The Year?

By Robert Paul Reyes

"A picture paints a thousand words"

I have written over a hundred essays expressing my disgust and anger at Bush's illegal and unethical invasion of Iraq that has resulted in the meaningless death of thousands of American soldiers, and over a hundred thousand Iraqi civilians. I have debated many friends and family members, defending my position that Bush needs to be impeached for launching his preemptive war on a country that posed no threat to us. I have exchanged many letters with my readers over this controversial subject.

But an Iraqi patriot perfectly captured the anger and contempt that millions of Iraqis and Americans feel for George W. Bush, by hurling his shoes at the disgraced American president on his farewell visit to Iraq. Throwing your shoes at a person is the supreme insult in the Arab world, and Bush was a worthy recipient of this affront.

Those shoes flying over the head of the hapless Bush are a more fitting and eloquent commentary on Bush's disastrous Iraq war than all of my editorials. This Iraqi journalist risked imprisonment and vengeance from the Iraqi puppet government, his courageous action deserves the respect and admiration of peace-loving people throughout the world.

The clip of the reporter throwing his shoes at Bush is a big hit on YouTube, and Arab and Iranian TV stations have replayed the footage hundreds of times.

The hero's war cry "This is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog." has quickly become a catchphrase in the Arab world.

Muntazer al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist, is my recommendation for Time magazine's "Person of the Year." This patriot seized his golden opportunity to send the message to Bush and the entire world that the Iraq war has been a disaster for the Iraqi people.

Such a heroic act should not go unrewarded: Muntazer al-Zaidi (Time Magzine: Person of the Year)

Robert Paul Reyes is a NewsBlaze writer on Politics, Pop Culture and Pointless Pontificating. Contact him by writing to NewsBlaze.

Robert Reyes