Throw Your Shoes in the Air?

What is the world to make of the shoe-throwing incident caused by the Iraqi TV (Al-Baghdadiya) reporter Muntadar al-Zeidi? Are those dissatisfied and disenfranchised by the Bush-Cheney administration really supposed to join this gentleman in protest to the seemingly reckless handling of world and US affairs? Are we all supposed to throw our shoes in the air?

Please note: we cannot in any way suggest the launching of your shoes nor any projectile at any government official, leader and/other personage lest we be charged and arrested with incitement of such an act. The most we can suggest, possibly, is by protesting by throwing your shoes in the air at no particular object nor person at this nor any other time. Will we witness shoe-throwing rallies around the world?

We found it vaguely amusing - and we are sure some of you did to - to see the leader of the free world forced into the indignity of dodging a pair of rogue shoes hurled by an angry TV reporter - no less an Iraqi citizen. Also, it is viewed as a sign of great disrepect in his culture and part of the world to toss one's footwear at the object of one's derision. The man was supposedly protesting the loss of innocent lives in the Iraq War. One could hardly blame him.

Even greater the indignity as the administration must now be awaking to the realization that Mr. al-Zeidi may find himself being defended by Saddam Hussain's attorney - Khalil al-Dulaimi. What an irony is that? Well, Mr. al-Dulaimi could not save Saddam, perhaps he can save Mr. al-Zeidi. Also, the indignity suffered by the administration at the general and popular feeling of outrage experienced not just by Mr. al-Zeidi, but the whole of the Islamic world. See reference: Iraq rally for Bush shoe attacker. Seems like "Throw Your Footwear in the Air!" may become the global rallying call for the end of the Bush Administration and their highly unpopular war in Iraq.

Also, what kind of solipsist nimbus must the outgoing administration be living under? Surely, they could have foreseen some sort of attack on their representative - in the guise of Mr. Bush himself. How could they have not foreseen this even the most minor of violent outrages perpetrated on their person? It is laughable to surely think otherwise. Mr. Bush is indeed fortunate to have suffered only this most minor of attacks. We are indeed relieved that the outrage has only come to this.

Banks hit worldwide by US fraud

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7783236.stm

Ripples of giant Ponzi scheme span globe

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28226910/

Money Sick? What Drives High-Risk Fraud?

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/story?id=6452520&page=1

How did regulators miss Madoff's massive Ponzi scheme?

http://www.yahoo.com/s/1002293

The Crash Of 2008: A Mathematician's View

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081208203915.htm

Answer Desk: The $8 trillion question

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28181663/

In Park: Detroit Waits for a Bailout Deal

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=6462271

Home values seen losing over $2 trillion during 2008

http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre4b84a4-us-usa-economy-housing/

A Second Mortgage Disaster On The Horizon?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/12/60minutes/main4666112.shtml

IMF sees beginning of global recovery late 2009

http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre4be2lx-us-imf-recovery/

Fed to press rates toward zero

http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre4bd1cv-us-usa-fed/

Exec pay limits may prove toothless

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28232631/

Siemens to pay $800M to settle corruption charges

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081215/ap_on_go_ot/siemens_settlement;_ylt=AlgYaV1Y57GJMT7wCHLxFLSs0NUE

Ice-ravaged Northeast battles to restore power

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28193030/

Obama to arrive at inauguration by train

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28235124/

McCain unsure if he'll support Palin for president

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/14/mccain.senate/index.html

DOJ Lawyer Dropped Dime On Bush Wiretaps

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/15/national/main4668337.shtml

Shoes hurled at President Bush

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7782774.stm

Iraq rally for Bush shoe attacker

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7783608.stm

Video: NBC witness on 'surreal' shoe-toss

javascript:vPlayer('28234344','645533ed-460d-406b-9f19-30b23b9367b0')

World Watch : Terrorism Links Point To Pakistan

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/15/world/main4668522.shtml