Call it the shoe heard round the world. Soon after an Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at President
Bush during a news conference in Baghdad, this video was shown practically everywhere. Showing the sole
of your shoe to someone in the Arab world is a sign of extreme disrespect, and throwing your shoes is
even worse. (부시 미 대통령의 말) "I am not insulted. I don't hold it against the government. I don't
think the Iraqi press corps as a whole is terrible. And so, the guy wanted to get on TV and he did. I
didn't know what his beef is."
The shoe thrower has been identified as Muntadhar al-Zeidi. He was kidnapped by militants last year
and was being held by Iraqi security on Monday and interrogated about whether anybody paid him to throw
his shoes. He was also being tested for alcohol and drugs. His shoes were being held as a evidence.
Al-Zeidi's family condemned his treatment. His sister says he was beaten severely after the incident.
His nephew threatened to throw his own shoes at security forces if al-Zeidi is not released. In Baghdad's
Shiite Sadr City, supporters of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called for protests against Bush
and demanded the release of the reporter. An aide to al-Sadr said al-Zeidi did nothing contrary to the
law and called for his release.
But a Kurdish member of the Iraqi parliament condemned al-Zeidi's actions and called it irresponsible
conduct. Photos of the throw have been splashed across the front pages of newspapers in the Arab world.
This resident of Cairo where al-Zeidi's television network is based said his actions were not appropriate.
He added that al-Zeidi could not hide his feelings about what is happening in Iraq. And in the U.S.
"At first I thought it was funny and then I felt a little embarrassed. That means he is our president
still." "I thought it was pretty immature, but sometimes a free press people feel a little too free I
guess" President told reporters that he didn't think al-Zeidi's actions represent a broad movement in
Iraq.
Matt Friedman, The Associated Press
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* practically : 사실상
* sole : 구두창, 신바닥, 발바닥
* beef : 《속어》 불평, 불만; 말다툼, 싸움.
* interrogate : [남]을 심문하다
* condemn : 비난하다
* threaten : ~을 위협하다
* radical : 극단적인
* aide : 보좌관
* cleric : 성직자
* Kurdish : 쿠르드인[어]의, 쿠르드어
* splash : (신문 따위에) 대서특필하다 [across, on, over]
