If The Shoe Fits, Keep It On

From the Times:

He may be a hero to millions of Iraqis but the “shoe man” has had to spend a second night in detention, during which he nursed a broken arm and ribs as well as cuts to his face, according to his brother.

Muntazer al-Zaidi rose to fame on Sunday when he threw his shoes at President George Bush during a Baghdad press conference, missing narrowly, in apparent protest at the actions of US troops over the past few years.

His brother, Durgham al-Zaidi, said he was told that Mr al-Zaidi is held by Iraqi forces in the heavily fortified Green Zone compound in central Baghdad, where the US embassy and most government offices are housed.

“He has got a broken arm and ribs, and cuts to his eye and arm,” he said. “He is being held by forces under the command of Muwafaq al-Rubaie [Iraq’s national security adviser]." Television pictures from the press conference show Mr al-Zaidi being carried away by prime ministerial guards but no sign of excess violence.

Apparently Mr. al-Zaidi's session of "Whack-A-Bush" has not been well received in some parts of Iraqi society.

I assume that the authorities employed necessary and sufficient physical force against Mr. al-Zaidi who:

1) Resisted arrest, attacking his guards by slamming his chest against their boots,
2) Attempted to break out of his temporary holding cell by repeatedly bashing his face into the walls and bars,
3) Initiated an international incident by breaking Kosher dietary laws by storing meats with diary products,
4) Unlawfully impersonated a taller person by wearing size twelve EEEs when he is only an eight and a half.

Al-Zaida was later charged with "Aggravated Unauthorized Flinging of Footwear" as his Oder Eaters™ were still inside the shoes when hurled...