Iraqi shot after throwing slipper

[The Straight Story]

Iraqi shot after throwing slipper



Friday, September 18, 2009

FALLUJAH, Iraq (AP) -- American Marines shot and wounded an Iraqi man in the former flash point city of Fallujah believing he was throwing a grenade at them, the U.S. military said Thursday -- but local police and witnesses said the object was only the man's slipper.

During a joint patrol of U.S. Marines and Iraqi security forces in Fallujah, 40 miles west of Baghdad, the man "threw an object, believed to be a grenade" at the passing troops on Wednesday afternoon, according to a U.S. military statement. "U.S. forces fired in self-defense, wounding the attacker," the military said. "The convoy stopped, secured the area and began to render medical aid."

The man, Ahmed al-Jumaili, was rushed to a local hospital and was in stable condition there Thursday after being treated for a chest wound and two bullet grazes.

Although the incident came just a day after the Iraqi reporter who threw his shoes at former President George W. Bush was released from prison, al-Jumaili said he took off his leather slipper and threw it in a knee-jerk reaction to seeing the patrol.

http://www.azdailysun.com/articles/2009/09/18/news/world/20090918_world_203933.txt

[virgogal]

1. A split second decision in an act of self preservation. A most

misleading headline.

[11 Bravo]

2. He's lucky he didn't take one right in the 10 ring.

[aquart]

3. Glad he's alive. Hope he acquires more sense.

[Hannah Bell]

4. yes, it's stupid to defy one's occupiers. one should roll over & be pissed on.

[11 Bravo]

5. Oh, for shit's sake. Yeah, throwing a fucking slipper is stupid.

Trust me, the risks far outweigh any possible reward. If he wants to join an armed insurrection, I say go for it. But throwing ANYTHING, let alone a fucking slipper, at a combat patrol which is, to a man, cocked, locked, and ready to rock, is suicidal.

[votingupstart]

6. roll over and get pissed on?

i don't see how throwing a shoe (or any other object) at an armed combat patrol (in an ACTIVE WAR ZONE) is some how an acceptable political statement that you are upset at your government and its current state.

If you throw an object at the police here in the states you are probably going to jail and if they mistake it for something else you face a real possibility of being shot also.

- it sounds more like an stupid act that could have ended his life, stupidity is (and should be) painful and sometimes unfortunately deadly - if you don't like the government then vote, once you cross the line into physical violence be it shoes or horseshoes or hand grenades - you lose either the moral high ground, your freedom by arrest or in this case possibly your life.

[aquart]

7. I lost my great uncles defying their occupier.

I know exactly what it means and what the cost is. Of course, they weren't going to be allowed to live, anyway. And this idiot will.

[armyowalgreens]

8. I would probably shoot the person as well.

It's probably hard to tell exactly what is being thrown at you. And if you aere in a zone known for having violent hostility, if someone comes flying at you, you will probably be looking to neutralize the threat.