‘Bush Shoe’ flies off the shelves
One week later, Zaidi-mania shows no sign of slowing down. The Turkish company that makes the shoe Muntadar al-Zaidi threw at President Bush has seen demand for the thick-soled model explode: Baydan has received orders for 300,000 pairs of the shoessince the attack, more than four times the number his companysold each year since the ...
One week later, Zaidi-mania shows no sign of slowing down. The Turkish company that makes the shoe Muntadar al-Zaidi threw at President Bush has seen demand for the thick-soled model explode:
One week later, Zaidi-mania shows no sign of slowing down. The Turkish company that makes the shoe Muntadar al-Zaidi threw at President Bush has seen demand for the thick-soled model explode:
Baydan has received orders for 300,000 pairs of the shoessince the attack, more than four times the number his companysold each year since the model was introduced in 1999. Thecompany plans to employ 100 more staff to meet demand, he said.
“Model 271” is exported to markets including Iraq, Iran,Syria and Egypt. Customers in Iraq ordered 120,000 pairs thisweek and some Iraqis offered to set up distribution companiesfor the shoe, Baydan said.
They also claim to be in talks with a U.S. distributor.
Ilker Akgungor/Getty Images
Joshua Keating is a former associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating
More from Foreign Policy

America Is a Heartbeat Away From a War It Could Lose
Global war is neither a theoretical contingency nor the fever dream of hawks and militarists.

The West’s Incoherent Critique of Israel’s Gaza Strategy
The reality of fighting Hamas in Gaza makes this war terrible one way or another.

Biden Owns the Israel-Palestine Conflict Now
In tying Washington to Israel’s war in Gaza, the U.S. president now shares responsibility for the broader conflict’s fate.

Taiwan’s Room to Maneuver Shrinks as Biden and Xi Meet
As the latest crisis in the straits wraps up, Taipei is on the back foot.