DISQUS

grandma · 11 months ago

Op-Ed Columnist
Two Shoes for Democracy

By Roger Cohen
Published: December 22, 2008

For all it reflects of Iraqi life beyond its walls in what is sometimes called the Red Zone, the Green Zone might as well be in Baton Rouge.

This sprawling urban garrison, where U.S. forces moved into Saddam Hussein’s Mesopotamian Fascist Republican Palace right after the 2003 invasion, is a monument to failure. As long it exists in the center of Baghdad, Iraqi democracy will be hollow.

It is openness, accessibility and accountability that distinguish democracies from dictatorships. Or it should be. A country governed from a fortress inaccessible to 99 percent of its citizens may be many things, but is not yet a democracy.

Al-Zaidi’s gesture broke those barriers, penetrated the hermetic sealing, and brought Red-Zone anger to Green-Zone placidity. In this sense, his was a democratic act.

What it said was: “Tear down these walls.” What it summoned was the deaths, exile and arbitrary arrests that U.S. incompetence has inflicted on countless Iraqis — a toll on which al-Zaidi has reported. What it did was thrust Bush, for a moment, out of the comfort zone of his extravagant illusion.....

Bush dodged a shoe; he cannot dodge shame.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/22/opinion/22coh...

SCLiberal · 11 months ago

"after their in jail in countries like Iraq? "

Should be after they're in jail

Kong George · 11 months ago

There was an Iraqi who threw both his shoes.
Bush killed so many children, he didn't know what else to do.
He then went to prison where they gave him laced bread,
Then whipped him all over 'til he wished he was dead.

Older_Wiser · 11 months ago

Well, don't forget, there were reports that al Zaidi was beaten after Iraqi police took him into custody, right there in a room next to the presser. I'm sure the Iraqi police are no better than their trainers in respect to torture and abuse of prisoners.

Indigo · 11 months ago

The event became mythic so quickly that the facts are already lost to inquiry. Speaking of mythic, there's an insurgency in the cradle of democracy with pennants for freedom from tyrany waving from the portico of the Temple of Athena. Gottaluv how Faux News and the commentators are dodging the event. Klaatu was right, we live in a dangerous world.

Mikeb · 11 months ago

I notice that this is so carelessly written that the writer appears not to know the difference between "they're" and "their."

But should this surprise me from a website that addresses Rick Warren's bigotry by continually making fun of his obesity?

Pathetic.

waltsatan · 11 months ago

Agreed. I used to read Americablog alot, but all this oh-he's-fat talk has turned me off.

paulbe · 11 months ago

I don't think a comment on the conspicuously well-fed look of American christians is so out of line. As the great Betty Bowers once noted of Jerry Falwell, he was not so much concerned with helping as he was with second helpings.

EmGD · 11 months ago

I thought it was pretty much confirmed that he really had the shit kicked out of him when he was taken into custody. Not to hard to believe that they decided to escalate it a bit for embarrassing Emperor Bush. I'm so glad we're deeply entangled with this country for eternity.

http://thesebastards.blogspot.com/

red_dwarf · 11 months ago

Somebody needs to tell this guy to write a book. Perhaps about his life in Iraq, and his career.

Anyone with the courage and fortitude to throw shoes at a pig like Bush deserves to spend the rest of his life as a millionaire.

So, write a book, release it, and I guarantee you there will be millions out there that would buy it - even if they don't have time to read it. A man this brave needs to rewarded. No doubt he would do good things with the money. My hat is off to this person - who had the courage to speak out.

Professor_Farnsworth · 11 months ago

that's very sad.

wonder how the commenters are gonna make this obama's fault. shocked you haven't tried, john!