Looks like aL Zaidi is getting a first hand view of the colors of American democracy, ensconced in the flag's colors of red, white and blue.
The color red is the color of the blood being beaten out of Zaidi by his tormentors.
The color white is the color his skin has blanched to from all of that blood loss.
And the color blue is the color his skin is turning from being beaten by the CIA/Iraqi secret police thugs.
If he survives his torture, he'll probably be maimed for life.
Democracy, American style, that the Iraqi people have been subjected to since the first "Operation Desert Slaughter" back in 1991 that continues to this day.
From an article in Wikipedia:
Muntadhar al-Zaidi (Arabic: ????? ?????? Munta?ar al-Zayid?) is an Iraqi broadcast journalist who works as a correspondent for Cairo-based, Iraqi-owned Al-Baghdadia TV. Al-Zaidi's reports often highlighted the plight of widows, orphans, and children in the Iraq War.
Zaidi is 29 years old and is unmarried.[1] He graduated with a degree in Communication from Baghdad University.[2] He is a Shi'a-Muslim[3] Iraqi television journalist, working as a correspondent for Al-Baghdadia TV since 2005. He first became internationally known for having been detained by "gangs" in Baghdad[4] in 2007 and was also arrested twice by United States armed forces.[5] He lives within central Baghdad[6] in a furnished two room apartment.[7] The home is decorated with a poster of Che Guevara, who according to The Associated Press "is widely lionized in the Middle East."[8]
"One of his best reports was on Zahra, a young Iraqi school girl killed by the occupation forces while en route to school," said Ahmed Alaa, a close friend and colleague of Zaidi's at al-Baghdadia television. Alaa said al-Zaidi documented the tragedy in his reportage, complete with interviews with her family, neighbors and friends. "This report earned him the respect of many Iraqis and won him many hearts in Iraq," he said. Zaidi once also turned down an offer to work for what he termed "a pro-occupation channel".[9]
2007 kidnapping
Al-Zaidi first drew international attention on November 16, 2007 when he was kidnapped on his way to work in central Baghdad. He was released three days later, on November 19 2007 without ransom.[4][10] The editor of Al-Baghdadia TV said on the occasion "This is the act of gangs, because all of Muntadhar's reports are moderate and unbiased."[11] Al-Zaidi has also been arrested twice by the United States armed forces in Iraq.[5]
During a press conference at the Prime Minister's Palace in Baghdad, Iraq, al-Zaidi threw his shoes at President George W. Bush. Throwing shoes is an act of extreme disrespect in both the Arab and Islamic cultures.[12] "This is a farewell kiss from the Iraqi people, you are a dog," yelled al-Zaidi in Arabic as he threw his first shoe towards the U.S. president.[13] "This is for the widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq," he shouted as he threw his second shoe.[13] President Bush ducked twice, avoiding being hit by the shoes. Al-Zaidi was then pulled to the floor[14] by another journalist,[15] before being grabbed by Prime Minister Maliki's guards, kicked, and rushed out of the room. White House spokeswoman Dana Perino was hit in the face by a microphone boom sent flying by a presidential bodyguard resulting in a clearly visible black eye.[16]
Detainment
According to witnesses, al-Zaidi was "severely beaten" by security officers after he had been dragged out of the room following the shoe-throwing incident.[21] As the man's screaming could be heard outside, Bush said "That’s what people do in a free society, draw attention to themselves."[12] A "large blood trail" could be seen on the carpet where al-Zaidi had been dragged by security agents.[22][23] One of his brothers said that a police officer, who picked up al-Zaidi's cellphone, had threatened the family.[21] The United States Secret Service and the Iraqi Police helped take custody of al-Zaidi.[24] Al-Zaidi was tested for alcohol and drugs, and his shoes were confiscated as evidence.[25] Al-Zaidi was interrogated by Iraqi and U.S. agents to ascertain whether anyone paid him to throw his shoes at Bush.[26] In an interview to the BBC, his brother, Durgham al-Zaidi, reported Muntadhar al-Zaidi as having suffered a broken hand, broken ribs and internal bleeding, as well as an eye injury.[7] Durgham al-Zaidi said to al Jazeera that his brother was tortured.[27] Al-Baghdadia TV said that al-Zaidi was "seriously injured" during his detention.[27] However, a different brother, Maitham al-Zaidi, spoke with Muntadhar on the phone and was told: "Thank God I am in good health."[28]
Al-Zaidi was initially held by the prime minister's guards, and was later turned over to the Iraqi army's Baghdad command. The command handed him over to the Iraqi judiciary. Hundreds took to the street to demand his release.[29] Al-Zaidi could face charges of insulting a foreign leader and the Iraqi prime minister, who was standing next to Bush. A conviction of these charges would carry a sentence of up to two years in prison or a small fine — although it's unlikely he would face the maximum penalty given his newfound "cult status" in the Arab world, according to a Middle-East observer.[30] An Iraqi lawyer has stated that al Zaidi is likely to get at least two years in prison if he is prosecuted for insulting a visiting head of state.[5] Al-Zaidi will go before a judge on December 17, 2008. Al-Zaidi declined to be represented by Khalil al-Dulaimi, who defended the late Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein before his execution, and also said that he wanted to be represented by an Iraqi lawyer.[31] "I will introduce myself as his lawyer and demand the case be closed and Muntader be released because he did not commit a crime," said Dheyaa Saadi, al-Zaidi's lawyer and head of the Union of Lawyers in Iraq. "He only freely expressed himself to the occupier, and he has such a right according to international law."[32]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muntadhar_al_Zaidi
And here's the story from Al Jazeera. The news show that American MSM has been fighting tooth and nail to keep off our cable and satellite news channels. Why?
I have been able to watch portions of Al Jazeera English news broadcast and I must say, they present a polished, professional news cast with no segments on a Tom Cruise or a Britney, just news and cold hard facts from the American imperialistic adventures in the ME.
And graphic pictures of what America and Israel are really up to in Palestine... Iraq... and Lebanon.
That's why Al Jazeera news will never be allowed to broadcast in the US, it would be too unsetting to the natives, safely hidden behind their bags of potato chips and diet soda--gotta watch that weight--and so oblivious to reality.
Bush shoe-thrower 'tortured'
An Iraqi journalist arrested after throwing his shoes at the US president has been tortured during his detention, his brother has said.
Muntazer al-Zaidi, who called George Bush "a dog" during his attack, was beaten by security guards after his arrest, Durgham al-Zaidi told Al Jazeera on Tuesday.
"We know that [Muntazer] has been tortured and his hand was broken. I asked them to go and check on him in the Green Zone [in Baghdad]," he said.
Al-Baghdadia television, Muntazer's employer, reported that al-Zeidi had been "seriously injured" while in custody.
The channel has urged the Iraqi government to allow lawyers and the Iraqi Red Crescent to visit him.
The Iraqi military has denied that al-Zaidi has been mistreated while in detention.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2008/12/2008121618330140949...