Freedom's Wings

Yes, Bush ably dodged the shoes. Muntathar al-Zaidi, the Iraqi who showed how participatory journalism works, telegraphed his move by yelling at Bush before throwing his footwear. Perhaps al-Zaidi will learn from his error and perfect his technique for when President Obama visits -- that is, if he isn't beaten and tortured into submission first.

Loved Bush's statement about how "freedom" works, echoing Donald Rumsfeld's casual take on the looting and rioting that occurred after the US invasion of Iraq. Of course, if any American tried the same thing, the penalty would be severe, since attacking the imperial manager is a serious felony. Not to worry. American journos, especially those covering the White House, are too well conditioned to ever make an al-Zaidi move. Their job is to kiss and polish the president's shoes, not throw their own.

As the AP headline put it, "Bush's Iraq-Afghan farewell tour marred by dissent." Marred. Yep, that pretty much sums up our domestic media mindset. Meanwhile, American liberals are enjoying a mighty laugh over the shoe toss. Were the same to happen to Obama, libs would be the first to scream foul, angered by the lack of foreign respect for the Leader of The Free World, especially from ungrateful Iraqis, who don't have the decency to finance their own submission, as Obama repeatedly points out.

Depends which shoe is on whose foot.

Elsewhere on the freedom front, we find that the George H.W. Bush/Bill Clinton technique of using pounding, ceaseless music to drive captives mad is commonly employed at Guantanamo Bay, in Iraq and Afghanistan, "to create fear, disorient . . . and prolong capture shock," as Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez explained. The artists whose music is being used to smash prisoners' sanity are so upset with this tactic that at upcoming concerts, they'll observe a moment of silence to show their displeasure.

Exactly what we need -- more silence. And is there any doubt that Muntathar al-Zaidi will soon become intimate with Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made For Walking," a Waco classic? If you can't mix in some obvious pop themes when torturing hajis, then it becomes just another job. You may as well work in a cubicle.

In Afghanistan, where the Good War will soon get a boost courtesy of President Peace (sic), the rape and sexual abuse of boys is apparently taking place right under NATO's nose. A Canadian soldier who was so traumatized by what he witnessed, confessed when he returned home, "I have never been to church since; I stopped believing in God."

Another victory for secularism!