Crawford was entirely a media creation.
I don’t think so. All people in the room were probably screened before entering, guaranteed to have no weapons other than their fists and clothing. I don’t think Bush’s life could have been in danger from a couple flying shoes.
Certainly it could, should he decide to visit the National Zoo, a chimp could fling poo at him. That would be lower and smellier.
Chimps might have better aim than Iragi journalists. With any luck.
Throwing shoes or showing someone the soles of your shoes is a huge insult in the Middle East–diplomats are trained not to cross their legs by resting one ankle on the other knee such that a shoe sole might point at someone. Throwing poo might have been a lesser insult, in fact.
ETA: Oooh, the dude called him a dog, too. Can’t get any meaner than this in the Middle East…
What if the shoe was thrown by a monkey?
Where’s the debate?
Anyways, I thought it was hilarious that the caption at the bottom of the video news report was: “All I can report is it is a size 10.”
Bush was lucky that the shoe thrower wasn’t still wearing them!
I guess like many people he was voting with his feet!
Bush’s approval rating is so low he can’t even get arch support.
If the shoes were any heavier, Bush would be getting the boot!
you win the thread 
But, after all fun and smirking about Bush getting what he deserves, may I point out something?
We are laughing about the fact that an Iraqi citizen has the freedom of expression to act rudely and insult a politician.
How many people threw shoes at Saddam Hussein… and lived?
If you threw it hard enough, and aimed well, you could break his nose and jam it into his brain. Right? Or did Orson Scott Card lie to me?
The debate is on whether or not footwear should be left at the door for future Bush meetings in the ME.
p.s. Oh, and will the Dutch give up their clogs?
I hear Bush’s least favourite dessert is cobbler!
That’s just the funniest damn thing. I loved the thread title, too.
Re: the Saddam reference, you might have a point chappachula, but I don’t know that I can get on that bandwagon. Haven’t something like 100,000 Iraqis died since we came in and fixed everything?
What, throwing shoes at someone isn’t an insult in the United States? If it were me, I’d take it as an insult.
Next Bush appearance, nobody will be allowed in with shoes.
When Saddam’s statue was taken down and dragged through the streets, people ran alongside and beat it with their shoes. It was a very striking demonstration of contempt.
What struck me is that a few years ago W probably thougt he’d be going to Iraq to be in a parade and showered with praise as a liberator. Instead he is leaving office in disgrace and having shoes thrown at him.
Not making sure everybody was attending the event barefoot. I mean, would you have thought of that?!
A politician who is massively despised there. Expressing support for Bush would’ve been far more dangerous.
And in a lot of ways, people are LESS free than they were under Saddam. Especially women.
Who’s that? A braless she-spy from the '60s with unmowed pits and bush you hide a howitzer in?
I think they only wear flip-flops! I doubt they’d be considered a danger.
The cultural significance of shoe-throwing in the MENA answers the question that occurred to me: Is the food situation in Iraq that bad, that nobody can find rotten eggs or tomatoes?!
I guess they don’t throw slippers after the newlyweds’ car, either.