FORTUNATELY ARABS ARE SOCCER PLAYERS:

Bush ducks flying shoes during Iraq visit (Jon Ward, 12/14/08, Washington Times)

President Bush's surprise trip to Iraq on Sunday was thrown off track when a man rose during a press conference in Baghdad and threw his shoes at the president, causing Mr. Bush to duck to avoid being hit.

"This is a farewell kiss, dog," the man reportedly shouted in Arabic at Mr. Bush.

The man was about 12 feet away from Mr. Bush's podium, according to a pool report filed from the scene.

Mr. Bush was not hit or injured. He ducked to avoid the first shoe, and ducked again when the man threw his second. The man quickly was tackled by security guards.

After the man had been hustled out, Mr. Bush cracked, "All I can report is it is a size 10."