Release Al Zaidi

THIS IS THE FAREWELL KISS, YOU DOG! "This is a gift from the Iraqis. This is the farewell kiss, you dog," the journalist shouted (in Arabic), Steven Lee Myers of The New York Times reported in a pool report to the White House press corps. Myers reported that the man threw the second shoe and added: "This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq." Journalists at the scene said the hurler was Muntadar al-Zaidi, a reporter for Al-Baghdadia TV, an independent satellite channel based in Cairo. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

As Chimpy McChimpersons smirked his way though the press conference in Iraq, we were getting official confirmation of what we already know: yes, indeed, the war has been a giant rip-off scam for Cheney/Bush cronies, an abject military and political failure, and the death of multitudes, and destruction of the infrastructure and economy of an entire country.

Like many, I laughed to see the shoes flying at Bush's head: laughed because finally someone had the courage to speak truth to power. His gesture expressed eloquently the feelings of millions around the world.

But now what? What has happened to this journalist who was himself kidnapped an tortured not too long ago? Baghdadia TV, his employers "fear for his safety" and demand his release. He has been bloodied and beaten as they dragged him from the room by his hair, and is being held in custody as Iraqi citizens and journalism organizations demand his release

Has he been tortured again? will he end up in a prison like Abu Ghraib or Guantanamo?

“Al-Baghdadia television demands that the Iraqi authorities immediately release their stringer Muntazer al-Zaidi, in line with the democracy and freedom of expression that the American authorities promised the Iraqi people,” it said in a statement. “Any measures against Muntazer will be considered the acts of a dictatorial regime."

The journalist's exact whereabouts were unclear, although one Iraqi official said that he was being held for questioning at Mr al-Maliki's residence, his shoes having been kept as evidence.

While people laugh and cheer at the multiple videos of his gesture, will those of us far removed from the conflict think about what he said as he threw those shoes, and the violence that continues to kill, maim and traumatize the people of Iraq? Juan Cole tells us what acts of violence have occurred while this is going on.
Michael Ware on CNN reports: