UK Gaurdian: Shoe thrower tortured

"The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at George Bush was tortured into writing a letter of apology. The torture left him with a missing tooth and cigarette burns to his ears."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/22/iraq-georgebush

Bush can be the devil, but that journalist committed a crime and should suffer the consequences.

Ifhe had limited himself to screams and yells, it would be a different story. Freedom of speech does not give anyone the right to assault another human being.

I will be the first to admit that the punishment does not fit the crime. However, that's for the
Iraqis to decide.

Yeah but the punishment should fit the crime...I'd say this response was
a crime too.

Mike

I hope you meant that as a tremendous understatement.

- Steve

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You are now talking about fairness, not freedom. Why don't we buy cars for everyone that needs one, and let's feed everyone while we are at it too.

Glenn,

  Surely you're not implying that you see throwing a shoe at someone as more of a crime than torturing someone? I don't think it matters that the assault was aimed at a head of state. They don't deserve better legal protection than ordinary people in your view, do they? Justifying higher penalties for assaulting them based on their greater risk of being assaulted, would suggest that there should also be enhanced penalties for assaulting certain other categories of individuals at high risk, such as gang members, streetwalkers, and people who've been arrested.

Love & Liberty,
        ((( starchild )))

So you're admitting the whole idea of bringing freedom to the Iraqi people was a farce and that it's absurd to expect things to be any different than they were under Saddam Hussein?

Indeed I did...:>)