Yeetle Box - W Gets a Twofer

In Iraq, the two strongest insults are to throw your shoes at someone and to call them a dog. George W. Bush, in a recent visit to Baghdad, got a twofer. An Iraqi reporter called U.S. President George W. Bush a "dog" and threw his shoes at him, sullying a farewell visit to Baghdad meant to mark greater security in Iraq after years of bloodshed.

I suppose it is possible to argue that the level of violence has declined in Iraq.

Bush sought to underline improved security by landing in daylight and venturing out beyond the city's heavily fortified international Green Zone where he declared the war was not over.

Then, during a news conference with Prime Minister Maliki, an Iraqi journalist shouted in Arabic "this is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog," and hurled his shoes at Bush. One of the shoes sailed over the president's head and slammed into the wall behind him. He had to duck to miss the other one, demonstrating remarkable agility for a man his age - as if he had done this before.



Bush remarked, "I don't know what the guy's cause was. I didn't feel the least bit threatened by it."

Maliki, who had a strained look on his face after the shoe-throwing, praised Bush: "You have stood by Iraq in your size ten loafers for a very long time, starting with bombing the hell out of us, the rebuilding the destruction you caused while neglecting your own country and causing it to plummet into a deep recession. For this, Iraq, Iran, Syria, and the entire region will be forever grateful."

Though Iraq has slipped down the list of Americans' concerns as the recession-hit U.S. economy has taken center stage, polls show most people think the war was a mistake - and have thrown down their shoes in repeatedly - metaphorically speaking.

Of note, Bush, dressed casually and wearing a black baseball cap and Groucho Marx mustache after his night-time getaway from the White House, made a rare appearance in the press cabin just before takeoff.

"Nobody knew who I was," he joked when an aide complimented him on his disguise.

Correction, George: Nobody wanted to know.

The YeetleMaster