I can't say I blame the man

In the middle of the news conference with Mr Maliki, Iraqi television journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi stood up and shouted "this is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog," before hurling a shoe at Mr Bush which narrowly missed him.

Showing the soles of shoes to someone is a sign of contempt in Arab culture.

With his second shoe, which the president also managed to dodge, Mr Zaidi said: "This is for the widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq."

Mr Zaidi, a correspondent for Cairo-based al-Baghdadiya TV, was then wrestled to the ground by security personnel and hauled away.

I'm not saying I think that violence ever solves anything, but one of the reasons I didn't go see the guy when he came by my worksite was fear I wouldn't be able to resist doing something similar.

I can be ashamed, as an American, that this man has been my president for the last eight years. But for Iraqis, whose nation he and his incompetent cronies have done their best to destroy... Well, an honest man would have stood there and let the shoe hit him in the face. It's the least he deserves.