President Bush Iraq Shoes

- Size 10 shoesCNN: Angry Iraqi throws shoes at Bush in Baghdad (December 14, 2008)
- Bush ducked to avoid the first shoe, but the second shoe almost hit himCNN: Angry Iraqi throws shoes at Bush in Baghdad (December 14, 2008)
- Happened during a press conference with Iraqi President Nouri al-Maliki in Maliki's officeCNN: Angry Iraqi throws shoes at Bush in Baghdad (December 14, 2008)
- Nouri al-Maliki attempted to shield Bush from the shoesCNN: Angry Iraqi throws shoes at Bush in Baghdad (December 14, 2008)
- Shoe was thrown by Muntazer al-Zaidi, a journalist based out of Cairo, EgyptAFP: Iraqi journalist hurls shoes at 'dog' Bush (December 14, 2008)
- Al-Zaidi worked for the Al-Baghdadia channelAFP: Iraqi journalist hurls shoes at 'dog' Bush (December 14, 2008)
- Al-Zaidi was forcibly removed from the office after the incidentAFP: Iraqi journalist hurls shoes at 'dog' Bush (December 14, 2008)
- Happened during Bush's fourth trip to IraqCNN: Angry Iraqi throws shoes at Bush in Baghdad (December 14, 2008)
- Bush was discussing Iraq security pactAFP: Iraqi journalist hurls shoes at 'dog' Bush (December 14, 2008)
- Incident has inspired several animated gif mashups
- Al-Zaidi's brothers claimed that he had been beaten by jailersJackson Sun: Iraqi parliament in turmoil over shoe tosser (December 17, 2008) International Herald Tribune: Shoe-thrower blames throat-slitter (December 22, 2008)
- A judge confirmed that al-Zaidi had been injured, but it was unclear whether the injuries occurred during his arrest or while he was in police custodyBBC News: Iraqi shoe-thrower 'was beaten' (December 19, 2008)
- Tumult erupted in the Iraqi parliament after several lawmakers demanded the release of Al-ZaidiJackson Sun: Iraqi parliament in turmoil over shoe tosser (December 17, 2008)
- The turmoil caused the parliament speaker to threaten to resignJackson Sun: Iraqi parliament in turmoil over shoe tosser (December 17, 2008)
- Shoe Model: Ducati Model 271The New York Times: ‘Bush Shoe’ Gives Firm a Footing in the Market (December 20, 2008)

Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi threw his shoes at President George W. Bush during a news conference in Iraq on December 14, 2008. The shoes missed President Bush and he was not injured in the attack.CNN: Angry Iraqi throws shoes at Bush in Baghdad (December 14, 2008)
Inspired in part by the Iraq shoe throwing incident, Jamilla El-Shafei led a protest at the White House on January 19, 2009. Over 200 protesters were involved, tossing shoes at the fence to say good-bye to President Bush. Organizers had collected shoes from locations throughout Maine for the event.MaineToday.com: Mainer leads shoe-throwing protest... (January 19, 2009)

Since President Bush was nearly struck with a pair of shoes thrown by a journalist in Iraq, several animated Gif mashups have sprung up on the internet. The mashups feature Bush dodging objects in comedic settings. For instance, one mashup in particular portrays Bush in black-and-white, and he ducks to avoid a pie thrown by Moe of The Three Stooges.
Several of the mashups can be can viewed here on this page.
Economic Impact

The week after the shoe-throwing incident, Ramazan Baydan, the Turkish shoemaker who manufactures the shoes thrown at Bush, reported that orders for his Model 271 brogues had skyrocketed. To fill the approximately 300,000 orders received from people around the world, Baydan hired an extra 100 staff.CNN: Bush assailant kick-starts sales for shoemaker (December 22, 2008)
Apology Letter

Representatives for Iraqi President Nouri al-Maliki stated that al-Zaidi had written the president an apology letter, asking for a pardon and expressing regret for what he called "the big and ugly act that I perpetrated." The letter allegedly also stated that the shoe-throwing plot had been hatched by a well-known Iraqi militant. However, al-Zaidi's brothers, who had visited him in prison, reported that their brother had shown no regret for his actions and said he would do it again if given the chance.International Herald Tribune: Shoe-thrower blames throat-slitter (December 22, 2008)
Gif Mashups
Reaction

The reaction to the incident has been varied across the Middle East region. Among online pundits and other Iraqi journalists, there was concern that the incident would cast a black mark on the country as it struggles through it's rebirth. On the other side, many have hailed the shoe-throwing journalist as a hero, symbolizing the anti-Bush sentiment felt by some across Iraq.Los Angeles Times: Iraqi shoe thrower elicits mixed reaction (December 15, 2008) On December 19, 2008, approximately 40 members of the group Media Workers Against The War gathered outside the U.S. embassy in London to demand the release of Muntazer al-Zaidi.AFP: Shoe demo targets US embassy in London (December 19, 2008)
Thrown Shoes

Although throwing a shoe is rude in any culture, thrown shoes hold a particular significance in some Arab cultures. Shoes are generally taken off before entering a home and are considered very dirty. So to hit someone with a sole of a shoe is to insult and debase another person by equating them with the dirt and filth on the bottom of a shoe.Tikkabik: Shoes/Head insult explanation sought... (April 14, 2003)
During the fall of Baghdad in 2003, those who tore down the statue of Saddam Hussein slapped the statue's face with their shoes.AFP: Iraqi journalist hurls shoes at 'dog' Bush (December 14, 2008)
Quotes
"Thanks for apologizing on behalf of the Iraqi people. It doesn't bother me. If you want the facts, it was a size 10 shoe that he threw." — President George W. BushAFP: Iraqi journalist hurls shoes at 'dog' Bush (December 14, 2008)
"It is the farewell kiss, you dog." — Shoe-thrower Muntazer al-ZaidiAFP: Iraqi journalist hurls shoes at 'dog' Bush (December 14, 2008)