Shoe-thrower is Iraqs latest heartthrob

Al-Zaidis conviction and sentencing for three years on March 12,only burnished his image as a Robin Hood character,someone who lives out the dream of the common man and in doing so becomes gallant and desirable.

Zainab Mahdi,a 19-year old student,swung on a swing set in a riverside park on Friday as she spoke admiringly of al-Zaidi. Every Iraqi wanted to beat Bush, she said. Muntader made our wishes come true.

Her sister,Hanan,22,said: Muntadher make us proud of ourselves as Iraqis.

Al-Zaidi captured nearly everyones imagination here when he threw his shoes at President Bush during a December 14 news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Kamal al-Maliki. While Iraqi men have been divided over al-Zaidis gesture,it was hard to find a woman who disapproved of him.

In conversations with 20 women over the last several days,most expressed strikingly positive sentiments about him and much anger about the three years he must serve behind bars.

Zaidi restored Iraqi womens dignity,which was stolen since the 2003 American invasion,said Um Baneen,31. She said it was Bush,not al-Zaidi,who deserved three years in prison.

Atiyaf Mahmoud,19,a student in her first year of medical school said,I love Zaidi. I saw him in my dreams twice,the last one was after the trial,he was released and I went to congratulate him and shake my hand with him.

I was so excited in that sweet dream, she said. I wish to have that dream again.