But we can’t just blame the Americans for everything. The majority of the Iraqi officials participated in one way or another in destroying this country, either by not fighting the administration\s corruption or by neglecting their national duties. The last example was lawmakers who went to hajj (pilgrimage) while the discussion about the SOFA was at the top of the agenda. We can’t blame the Americans for wasting and stealing our money in what is called the reconstruction projects.

And there it’s not really appropriate for an outsider to comment on an internal Iraqi debate that will surely take many years and much agony to settle. But if al-Zaidi’s actions get Iraqis to address this issue, then throwing a shoe can hardly be considered a meaningless and futile gesture.

What’s not funny is that back in Baghdad al-Zaidi is being interrogated, which probably means he’s being tortured. Iraqis are demanding his release, and for good reason: he’s not been charged with anything. Citing official sources, the AP reports that he’s being “tested for alcohol and drugs,” and I’d guess that the Maliki government is floating such un-Islamic behavior on al-Zaidi’s part as a way of preventing Iraqis from venerating him into a national hero while the government puts the screws to him.

The New York Times elegantly captured Bush’s repulsive response to the incident:

He also called the incident a sign of democracy, saying, “That’s what people do in a free society, draw attention to themselves,” as the man’s screaming could be heard outside.

Remarks like that make it easy to understand why al-Zaidi is getting reactions in the Middle East like this one:

“Al-Zeidi is the man,” said 42-year-old Jordanian businessman Samer Tabalat. “He did what Arab leaders failed to do.”

Money for many of the local construction projects still under way is divided up by a spoils system controlled by neighborhood politicians and tribal chiefs. “Our district council chairman has become the Tony Soprano of Rasheed, in terms of controlling resources,” said an American Embassy official working in a dangerous Baghdad neighborhood. ” ‘You will use my contractor or the work will not get done.’”

If you wanted to be uncharitable, you would call this a wealth redistribution scheme, with money moving from the U.S. taxpayer and the Iraqi victim of the war into the pockets of well-connected contractors. What I hope the commission looks at is how many of these contractors hire or have hired outgoing Bush administration officials from the agencies that helped them win these kickback-filled contracts.