Bush’s Crowning Success

Perhaps the greatest success of the Bush Administration, of the president himself, relating to Iraq has come in the past week or so when Bush just missed getting “crowned” with a shoe thrown by a protesting reporter. The actions of Muntathar al Zaidi, an Iraqi television reporter, during a press conference in which Bush attempted to extol the successes of his Administration in Iraq symbolized the frustration of Most Iraqis. Al Zaidi shouted his protest on behalf of all the innocent civilians, women and children who have died or been made homeless as a result of Bush’s invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Since that press conference, al Zaidi has been held in prison and not allowed to see his family. His representatives have formally filed a petition to allow his family to visit him and to protest his beating at the hands of security forces following his detention. Bush claims to regard the actions as evidence of the success of his Administration in bringing democracy and freedom of expression to Iraq. But Bush has made no effort to support the release of al Zaidi, an action that would lend some credence to the rhetoric he so readily spouts.

There have been daily protests in the streets of many cities in Iraq demanding that al Zaidi be released from prison. Parliament has taken up the issue and other important business of the country has been sidetracked until this issue is resolved. The actions of the reporter must be dealt with in a fair and just manner. Civil disobedience includes the acceptance of reasonable consequences for such defiance. But the context of the action, and the severity of the damage caused by the action, must also be considered. All that really happened was that the Iraqi authorities were embarrassed because one protester dared to speak out loud what the majority of Iraqis feel and believe. Consider the following quotes:

Munthatar's younger brother, Maythem, 28, said the family would take part in the protests until the court allows them access to him. "I affirm that his was a heroic act, and we as a family are proud of him. He was able to unite all of Iraq, all its Sunnis, Shiites, Arabs, Kurds, Turkomen and Christians."

"Because of Muntathar, I lift my head high. And to be frank, I haven't been proud to be an Iraqi for five long years of humiliation," said Sheikh Mohammed al Inizi, a leader in the Sons of Iraq movement, which brought Sunni tribes together with American forces to fight terrorist cells. "We should call him Muntathar al Iraqi - not Muntathar al Zaidi; all of Iraq is his tribe now," Inizi said.

If George W. Bush were more concerned about his legacy and wished to truly help heal Iraq, he would take the bold and courageous step of publicly asking Maliki to pardon al Zaidi. It would show true character and magnanimity that Bush has to date failed to demonstrate. True, there was a public display of aggression against a foreign head of state. But the potential threat was hardly lethal. If Bush could summon the courage to accept the dissent symbolized by al Zaidi’s actions, he would go a long way toward changing the picture that is likely to remain his legacy, that of ineptitude, arrogance, and lack of character.