Munthater Zeidi in the mills land

The Iranian media have been overjoyed by the news of the shoes flung at George Bush in Baghdad. They have used it as a pretext to express anti-American sentiments and also their opposition to the security deal with the US. But there are rumors pointing to connections of Zeidi and his family to the Ba’athis. The moment that the news of Zeidi’s shoes being flung at Bush was broadcast worldwide, many people called it one of the most amazing scenes in politics. No one was searching for the real origins of the Iraqi journalist. Anyhow, anyone who could benefit from the event, set foot in the field. Those angry at the approval of the security deal with the US felt happiness and satisfaction; and like the financial crisis, they attributed it to God’s willingness to make Bush disgraced. The Iranian TV and news programs were suddenly filled with repetitions of broadcasting the shoes flung at Bush; and then it was the time for anti-security deal interpretations. The Sadrists’ demonstration in Iraq and the support of Zeidi’s family filled the media. It resembled like the laughter of US opponents around the world. Overseas, Hugo Chavez was also laughing at Bush’s plight. Bush would leave office after such a shame; and this is making the situation of White House unique on the outset of Obama’s presidency. But if by chance, Osama Bin Laden would also support Zeidi’s action, what was left to say? After contemplating on Bush’s interview with Fox news in the aftermath of the shoes scene, a friend of mine said if Vladimir Putin was the target of the flung shoes, he would act just as he did recently in a zoo. Bush was pretending to be calm; and he wanted to acquit the Iraqi government and journalists of the event. He even called it a minority reaction. The honesty or pretense of Bush in reaction to the event is not known to us. But what he said and what we saw in pictures pointed to the fact that one journalist attacked; and the other journalists-puzzled though- tried to restrain him. Anyhow, the formal interpretations of the event are still continuing. The event did not change Iraqi government’s position towards the US; but it became a powerful tool in US opponents’ hands. The IRIB, news agencies and newspapers close to the Iranian government wrote articles and even issued statements to support the Iraqi journalist. They presented him as the injured soul of Iraqi nation and they even called the event "shoe intifada". According to what they said and wrote, the action of Zeidi has filled the media and has healed the hearts of those waiting for such revenge. Remember the story in which a child breaks the windows of an unpopular neighbor? Remember the ones who called him brave? Supporting Zeidi’s action is something of the same sort. Making an idol of Munthater Zeidi is ignoring the facts on his origins. The truth is that the news agency he was working for-Albaqdadia- only recruits journalists who exactly think the same as the managers and the current supporting them; and these are the Ba’athis. Zeidi’s family has said: "Iran and the US are the two sides of the same coin. We hate Iran’s mental occupation of Iraq just as we hate the physical occupation of Iraq by the US." Such positions should make us contemplate on what we have said in the media. According to a report on Turkish Melliat daily and quoted by Parsine, Zeidi’s brother has said that the shoe scenario was not pre-planned and Zeidi has reacted just in the moment. Now we should contemplate on the advantages and disadvantages of our positions; and see who his supporters are. Undoubtedly, the US occupation of Iraq is not in our interest and reactions like Zeidi’s point to the hatred and protests of people to US policies. But the point which should not remain unknown is the identity and intentions of a current which seemingly has supporters in Latin America but the truth and aims of its policies are not fully known yet.