President George W. Bush paid a surprise visit to Iraq on December 14, 2008. In a press conference, Bush himself got quite the surprise when an Iraqi journalist threw not one shoe but both of his shoes at him. The incredible moment is captured on video and in photos as Bush ducks and both shoes miss as he stands at the podium beside Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.

The shoe throwing journalist was Muntather Zaidi, who is a correspondent for Baghdadiya, a satellite TV channel that broadcasts from Cairo.

Colleagues said Zaidi has done extensive reporting from Baghdad’s Sadr City district, the stronghold of anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada Sadr, and was rescued by Sadr’s Mahdi Army militia after being abducted by an unidentified group in November 2007.

Zaidi was one of several Iraqi journalists attending the Sunday evening news conference in Baghdad’s heavily secured Green Zone. His outburst came without warning as Bush and Maliki prepared to answer questions. The first shoe flew over the heads of other journalists and might have hit Bush square in the face had he not ducked.

“This is a gift from the Iraqis. This is the farewell kiss, you dog,” the man said, according to a pool translation.

Seconds later, the journalist hurled his other shoe with similar precision as another Iraqi journalist reached over in an attempt to stop him. “This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq,” he said.

Source: Bush ducks shoes thrown at him in Iraq

Bush took it in stride, so to speak, and reportedly joked about the shoe throwing incident saying, “It didn’t bother me, and if you want the facts it was a size 10 shoe he threw at me.” Later in the press conference, he said, according to CNN.

“So what if the guy threw his shoe at me?” Bush told a reporter in response to a question about the incident.

“Let me talk about the guy throwing his shoe. It’s one way to gain attention. It’s like going to a political rally and having people yell at you. It’s like driving down the street and having people not gesturing with all five fingers. …

“These journalists here were very apologetic. They … said this doesn’t represent the Iraqi people, but that’s what happens in free societies where people try to draw attention to themselves.”

Source: Iraqi journalist throws shoes at Bush in Baghdad

President Bush’s last visit to Iraq in the last weeks of his presidency will no doubt be remembered for the bizarre and, yes, entertaining shoe throwing. Needless to say, the Bush shoe video has already gone viral.

Photo source: Iraqi Throws Shoes At Bush During Press Conference (VIDEO)(SLIDESHOW)

See also: Think Progress: Iraqi Journalist Throws His Shoes At Bush During Press Conference In Baghdad (Updated)

Here is MSNBC’s report on the Bush shoe throwing in Iraq



Here is 30 seconds of raw video: Bush shoes video

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Bush Shoe Video, Photos: Iraqi Journalist Throws Both Shoes at President Bush pics pictures