Shoe thrower says he intended to restore Iraq's pride

by Doug Stanglin
USA Today
Feb. 21, 2009

The Iraqi journalist who tossed his shoes at President Bush testified Thursday that he was trying to restore his country's pride and did not intend to harm the American president, the Associated Press reports.

It was Muntadhar al-Zeidi's first public appearance since the Dec. 14 incident, which turned him into something of a cult hero in Iraq and parts of the Arab world.

"What made me do it was the humiliation Iraq has been subjected to due to the U.S. occupation and the murder of innocent people," he told the court. "I wanted to restore the pride of the Iraqis in any way possible, apart from using weapons."

The 30-year-old journalist said he was frustrated by Bush speaking at a Baghdad news conference about his victories and achievements.

"I was seeing a whole country in calamity while Bush was giving a cold and spiritless smile," he told the three-judge panel. "He was saying goodbye after causing the death of many Iraqis and economic destruction."

Al-Zeidi has been charged with assaulting a foreign leader and could face up to 15 years in prison, the AP says.

(Photo of supporters surrounding vehicle taking al-Zeidi from court by Khalid Mohammed, AP)