I’m sure this will make the rounds soon enough, but to get things rolling, a clip of an Iraqi journalist throwing shoes at George W. Bush during his surprise visit to Iraq. What an interesting way to show your displeasure at the president. I don’t know what was going through his head to inspire actions like that, but I’m sure he had his reasons. Needless to say, let’s hope he doesn’t get sent to Gitmo. Bush, forced to react off the incident, dismissed it as a puzzling action from a desperate journalist. His visit to Iraq was designed to be a last tour declaring a U.S.-led victory in Iraq. It included this quote while addressing the troops over there:
“What you’re doing in Iraq is as important, and courageous, and selfless as what American troops did in places like Normandy and Iwo Jima and Korea. Your generation is every bit as great as any that came before it. And the work you do every day will shape history for generations to come.”
I disagree, Mister Bush. How in the world could you compare the first two battles — Iwo and Normany — with Iraq. Those two battles were against the two dominant forces of evil in the 1940′s. This latest venture into battle was to displace a dictator who was supposed to have nukes. Except he didn’t. Yes, Saddam Hussein was hardly the most endearing leader, but to compare him to Hitler or to the Japanese forces of the 40′s is an insult to those who fought in the Pacific and on the beaches of Normandy. In those situations, they were stuffed into small boats, waiting to land on beaches where thousands of firearms pointed at them. American forces hardly encountered the same opposition when invading Iraq, and no one was claiming that the free world was at stake.
While Mr. Bush’s statement is out of line, that does not mean the troops do not deserve our support. It would be a travesty to place blame on them for where they are and what they are doing. They are following the orders of a man who clearly views the world in a much different way than a lot of other people. And that’s what has hurt us.
From what I understand, feet are incredibly offensive in the Middle East (Arabian culture maybe?). It’s the equivalent of flipping Bush the bird, but way more obnoxious.