A Damn Twisted Photograph

[YDogg]

The Iraq boy who was disfigured when his cow tripped a US cluster bomb salutes the guy who made all this possible.

The boy has been in the US for surgery to (hopefully) lessen the effects of the scarring on his face caused when *'s shrapnel hit him.

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"They had lunch at the Pentagon with Robert Reilly, a Defense Department adviser who helped smooth the way for the visit. Ayad saluted a picture of the president, saying in English, 'Bush, very, very good.'

Meanwhile, his father was boiling inside. During an interview with an Arab television network, he went into a tirade about being promised money and gifts.

'I demand to face George W. Bush, and I have some things to say straight to him,' he said.

On Wednesday afternoon, the two were more somber. They were scheduled to leave New York on an 11 p.m. flight for the Middle East and the sight of their suitcases stuffed with new clothes, cameras and Herbal Essence shampoo depressed them.

'I thought the Americans could do everything,' Ayad's father said.

Ayad stared at the carpet and whispered, 'I hope we come back.'"

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Edit to add NYT link (registration required):
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/28/national/28boy.html?hp

[Vinca]

1. I don't get it. I just don't get it.

They must've put the kid up to it.

[kliljedahl]

2. Catapult the Propaganda

Keith’s Barbeque Central

[Tesla]

3. Is that a gun in your pocket?

Or are you just happy to see me???


Man, I got a chill up my arm when I saw that picture.

[boston bean]

4. That doesn't look like a salute to me.

His hand is upside down, the guy next to him looks like he is embarassingly smiling.

Maybe the boy is is throwing his hand at bush telling him to fuck off.

At least that is how I see it.

His hand is by the side of his head as well, not at his forehead.

[Hissyspit]

12. Me neither. His hand is BEHIND his head... and he's just a kid!

I don't know what he's doing, but he's just a kid, as cynatnite points out. He's not necessarily aware of the facts of which we are aware.

[Gruenemann]

13. Kinda looks like

Hitler's 'sieg heil' salute

[Mairead]

14. It looks like the kid's idea of a (British) salute

The British salute palm forward, not palm down. Most Semitic Region uniformed organisations were trained by the British, and therefore follow their saluting style.

[ET Awful]

5. Hell, even if the kid wasn't in the picture it would be nauseating

WTF kind of bullshit shrine to the shrub is that?

[gademocrat7]

6. How very tragic

the grandstanding this regime does is disgusting. Using a child to prop up his sinking numbers.

[Algorem]

7. they brainwash them while they have the chance

[cynatnite]

8. He's a kid for crying out loud...he's not going to see it the same

Adults and kids have a tendency to see things through different eyes. Right now, the kid has been injured and is getting help here in the US. Sure, he'll be grateful no matter how misplaced it might be.

Think how thankful the kid will be once someone tells him how that crap wound up in his country.

He'll be saluting shrub in a completely different way...if he's not strapping explosives to his chest.

[against all enemies]

9. Iraqi kids with no arms don't salute. Bush has destroyed them.

[LisaL]

10. This boy was injured on his face.

Notice his back is to the camera. As for him saluting Bush, what does he know? He is a child.

[livinginphotographs]

11. THX-1138?

That's what that pic reminds me of.