PRESIDENT Bush’s present tour to Iraq and Afghanistan was probably designed to be a “legacy-establishing” trip, or perhaps even — in the imagination of some of his advisers? — a victory lap. But yesterday’s incident, in which an Iraqi journo threw his shoes at Bush while yelling strong criticisms of him, seems an appropriate “footnote” to the arrogant militarism that dominated most of Bush’s time in office.
Because let’s be quite clear: That reliance on militarism failed to bring about the stabilization of the two countries invaded and their consolidation as strong and reliable US allies, a la post-1945 Germany or Japan. Some months ago President Bush — ably advised, I believe, by Bob Gates — came to the realization that the goal of maintaining a dominant US military presence in the country in perpetuity was no longer realizable. Hence, the administration’s final acceptance last month that it would have to sign an agreement with Iraq whose terms explicitly mandate a complete US withdrawal from the country by the end of 2011.
Maybe Bush hoped that when he went to Iraq yesterday, he would receive at least some recognition for the “graciousness” of the concession he’d made to the Iraqi negotiators? A different form of “Mission Accomplished”, perhaps?
Well, its possible he did receive some kind words from Nuri Al-Maliki.... But few people will ever remember what Al-Maliki said to Bush on this occasion. All that most people inside and outside Iraq will remember is the pair of shoes thrown at him — on video — at the press conference.
McCaltchy correspondent Laith makes clear that the anti-Bush sentiments run very extensively throughout the Iraqi press corps. Though Laith said he disagreed with the particular means of “self-expression” the shoe-thrower had used, he also said, “I can’t blame the journalist for hating the US president because I agree with all the Iraqis (not [the] politicians of course) that Bush’s policy destroyed our country.
