Iraqi shoe hurler inspires art in Saddam hometown

[RobJohnson]

BAGHDAD – When an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at George W. Bush last month at a Baghdad press conference, the attack spawned a flood of Web quips, political satire and street rallies across the Arab world.

Now it's inspired a work of art.

A sofa-sized sculpture — a single copper-coated shoe on a stand carved to resemble flowing cloth — was formally unveiled to the public Thursday in the hometown of the late Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein.

Officials and visitors walked around the outdoor sculpture during the brief ceremony, pondering on its eccentricities — such as a tree poking up from the shoe's interior.

Its sculptor called it a fitting tribute to the shoe hurler, Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zeidi, and his folk hero reputation in parts of the Muslim world and beyond.

Shoe

[RobJohnson]

Someone needs to shove that shoe up his 

[BlueStateSaint]

Or, an M1A1 needs to put an 120 mm APFSDS round into it, from about ten meters.

And re-engage . . .

[Sam Adams]

Did you think the Iraqis were going to like us?

[Karin]

Actually, many of them do.  After some successes in Iraq were accomplished, and some relatively reliable eletricity and internet connections were established, several Iraqi blogs popped up.  The most thoughtful is Iraq The Model, affiliated with Pajamas Media.  I followed it religiously.  The 3 brothers who ran it were very pro-American and wished to present good news about Iraq, to counteract the MSM.  Of course, lots of blogs hating us popped up as well.  The thing of it is, all the Iraqi blogs listed all the other ones, regardless of views.  I admire that.  It's almost American. 

P.S. Iraq the Model was thoroughly vetted by the MSM and found to be authentic.  Wish they would do that for all presidential candidates.