Secret Service Director Assesses the Shoe-Throwing Incident in Baghdad

[sabra]

Source: CBS News

Did the U.S. Secret Service react quickly enough when that Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at Pres. Bush last month in Baghdad?

“In looking at our reaction, in looking at where our agents were staged, looking at that event – I am satisfied that our people did everything that they could do,” says Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan.

In his first public comments on the incident, Sullivan said it transpired in just 2½ seconds – and there were limits to what his agents could have done.

“Quite frankly – the only way an agent could have been there to intercept that – would have been if he were right on the shoulder of the president during a major press conference – which we all know we don’t do,” said Sullivan.

“If the reaction of our agents had been to draw their weapons, to evacuate the President – potentially we would have been accused of an overreaction. We depend on our people to use common sense out there. I believe the agent that was in charge of that detail did the appropriate thing.”


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/01/15/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4723474.shtml

[onehandle]

1. Ok... Say, let's keep Obama locked up in the White House for the next four to eight years.

I know I'd feel better.

[Ian David]

3. Put Obama in a Popemobile? n/t

[Ian David]

2. Maybe the agent was too busy laughing? n/t

[Rebellious Republican]

4. Great minds think alike!

That was my take on it.

:fistbump:

[Kolesar]

5. Still waiting for them to throw flowers.

Ingrates that they are.

[razors edge]

6. None of the agents

were willing to take a shoe for bush, no matter how well heeled their response they did lack the soul to step up.

Even though they toed the line, I bet someone got a boot up their ass over this string of events.

[No Elephants]

7. Bravo! LOL

[razors edge]

10. It was the least I could shoe.

[Cabcere]

9. Oooh. Well played.

:applause: So well played, in fact, that I can't even think of an appropriately witty way to congratulate you. ;) Nice.

[razors edge]

11. Thanks, I'm pumped.

[Aviation Pro]

14. Although protecting an obvious heel....

...is part of their duties, although it must grate them to defend someone who didn't even lace them up during "his" war, I bet that they may get a tongue lashing at the very least if not strung up by their Buster Browns.

[razors edge]

15. Excellently put,

And I'm sure the Secret Service is looking to find a New Balance to Converse this mucked up situation.

Obama's Easy Spirit reminds me of the British Knights of old, he could Airwalk above this and Stride-Rite on in Classic fashion.

[Jefferson23]

8. Yea but the guy was able to throw 2 shoes, not one, lol.

[Poll_Blind]

12. Ya, I agree. Not that I didn't enjoy watching His Jackassness ducking a second time, lol.

PB

[bitchkitty]

13. How moronic.

I'm just sad that Bunnypants has those rabbit reflexes.

[struggle4progress]

16. Family and Lawyer Fear for Reporter Who Threw Shoes at Bush

... The journalist, Muntader al-Zaidi, 29, who was immediately arrested, has been allowed only two visitors — and none since Dec. 21, according to those close to Mr. Zaidi. His family and his lawyer say that they do not know where he is being held and that they are gravely concerned about his well-being because they have not been allowed to speak with him by telephone.

On Thursday, Dhiyaa al-Saadi, Mr. Zaidi’s lawyer, said he had recently seen medical records that were part of Mr. Zaidi’s court file, which he said added credence to the journalist’s claim that he had been beaten and tortured after his arrest by the security detail of the Iraqi prime minister, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, on Dec. 14.

Mr. Saadi said two medical reports conducted by government physicians within a week of Mr. Zaidi’s arrest described bruising that covered the reporter’s face and body, but was especially severe on his legs and arms; a missing tooth; a gash on the bridge of his nose; and what appeared to be a burn mark on his ear.

Mr. Saadi said he had not been permitted to remove the records from the office of the judge investigating the case, so the existence of the documents could not be verified independently. But the account of Mr. Zaidi’s wounds matches injuries described by one of Mr. Zaidi’s brothers after his prison visit last month ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/16/world/middleeast/16iraq.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

[my2sense]

18. He's paying a heavy price

for throwing shoes at *. I hope he will be okay.

[sandrakae]

17. I think they did fine. It was just Bush.

[damntexdem]

19. And if it had been a shoe bomber?

Or even a Maxwell Smart shoe?

[underpants]

20. I'm not buying it. *I* could see that they didn't react quickly & I guarantee this is now curriculum

for the agency.

They review and improve continually. The Director is just trying to ease public fears which is understandable. Frankly I am surprised that they brought it back up.