Shoe Attack Update
By: Alisa Hail
Updated: December 18, 2008
The Iraqi reporter now famous for his bizarre shoe flinging protest against President Bush has been through quite a bit in the days following the incident.
Muntazer al-Zaidi appeared before a judge in Baghdad on Tuesday facing charges of aggression against a president.
The reporter released an apology today, though it was not directed toward President Bush; rather, the apologetic letter was addressed to the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nuri al-Maliki.
In the letter Zaidi pleads with Maliki, quote, "I appeal to your fatherly feelings to forgive me."
Zaidi expressed his remorse for what he considers to be embarrassing the Prime Minister before the world.
While there are many in Iraq who have shown sympathy toward Zaidi, none have expressed their approval in such a poignant way as an Egyptian man who has offered his 20-year-old-daughter as Zaidi's bride.
The woman in question, a student at Minya University in central Egypt, seems fine with the idea, stating, "I would like to live in Baghdad, especially if I were attached to this hero."
While her father called Zaidi's brother to make the proposal, no word has been heard yet concerning Zaidi's response.
Meanwhile, President Bush himself seems unaffected by the attack.
Directly following the footwear fiasco, Bush compared the incident to being jeered at a political rally and believes Zaidi was simply trying to draw attention to himself.
The President has urged the Iraqi government not to "overreact" to the situation.
White House Press Secretary Dana Perino, who acquired a black eye while diving after the reporter during the attack, referred to the incident as, "no big deal."
Zaidi has become somewhat of a hero to many citizens in Iraqi who blame Bush for the many deaths in the country following the initial 2003 invasion of Iraq by U.S. Troops.
Zaidi remains imprisoned in Iraq as he awaits sentencing.






