Politics

Journalist Who Flung Shoes At George W. Bush Is Running For Office In Iraq

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The Iraqi journalist who famously hurled his shoes at former President George W. Bush during a press conference is running for parliament as an outsider seeking to root out corruption in Baghdad.

Muntazer Zaidi, 39, hopes to win a seat on Iraq’s Council of Representatives, the national legislative body. Though he is not a member of any political party, he belongs to an alliance backed by influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose militia battled U.S. troops after the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Zaidi gained international fame in 2008, when he protested the U.S. occupation of Iraq by throwing not one, but both of his shoes at Bush while the former president was speaking in Baghdad on a farewell tour.

“This is a farewell kiss from the Iraqi people, dog,” he said as hurled the first shoe at Bush.

Before he was swarmed by security personnel, Zaidi managed to get off one more throw, adding, “This is for the widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq.”

Bush adroitly dodged both projectiles, but Zaidi was not so fortunate: He spent nine months in jail, where he was tortured and had his nose, teeth and foot broken, he claims.

After being released from prison, Zaidi lived in Lebanon and Switzerland before returning to Iraq about two months ago, reported NBC News. His platform includes changing Iraq’s judicial system, supporting women’s rights, and going after corrupt lawmakers.

“I will put the thief politicians in jail,” he told NBC News.

As for his views on the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Zaidi says he has contempt for the officials who promoted it, but not for the American people.

“I don’t have any issue with America or Americans,” he told CNN on Wednesday. “My only issue is with the former president George W. Bush. He occupied my country and he killed my people.”

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