The Shoe Thrown Round the World

George W. Bush made his final visit to Iraq yesterday, contending that the US occupation has benefited that country. But at his news conference with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, an Iraqi TV reporter threw his shoes, one after the other, at the world's most powerful leader, yelling in Arabic, "This is a farewell kiss, you dog. This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq." The President ducked and Maliki thrust out his arm to deflect the second. Other journalists pushed the man who threw them to the ground and security officers took him away. Tina Susman is Baghdad Bureau Chief for the Los Angeles Times.