“Who throws a shoe? Honestly!” says Austin Powers in his eponymous 1997 film after he’s struck in the head by some flying footwear. About a decade later, he got an answer: Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi threw his shoes at outgoing U.S. president George W. Bush during his valedictory 2008 trip to Baghdad. On Dec. 14, Bush was giving a press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki when without warning, al-Zaidi stood up, removed his shoes, and hurled them at the U.S. president. “This is a gift from the Iraqis; this is the farewell kiss, you dog!” al-Zaidi shouted. Bush, showing some pretty good reflexes, dodged the first shoe; al-Maliki helpfully deflected the second. Al-Zaidi was forced out of the conference by Iraqi authorities and later served nine months in prison.
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