US AND IRAQ

That this House notes with understanding the protest made by Mr Muntader al-Zaidi, a reporter with the Al-Baghdadiya TV channel, in hurling his shoes at United States President George W. Bush during the President's valedictory visit to Baghdad's high security green zone on 14 December; notes that in Arabic culture throwing shoes is regarded as a serious insult against the person at whom they are thrown; strongly believes there was every justification for the anger shown by the journalist who complained his country had been destroyed by the invasion, led by Mr Bush and backed by the present British Labour Government along with the majority of the Conservative opposition, which has directly resulted in over 500,000 deaths of entirely innocent civilian Iraqis; further notes with disgust that President Bush thought it fit to make a joke of the sincere protest; and looks forward to President Obama's commitment, from a politician who was wise enough, along with hundreds of millions of protesting marchers across the globe, to oppose the illegal invasion, to right the wrongs done to Iraq and its benighted people.