Video of Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zeidi hurtling his shoes at President Bush during a Dec. 14 press conference has already been replayed countless times on the web and cable television. Bush's stellar reflexes saved him from being hit by the projectiles, but the footage nonetheless transformed Al-Zeidi into a celebrity in Iraq. Many touted the act of defiance as a symbol for the common man standing up an American bully, as the act of throwing one's shoes is considered a harsh insult by Iraqi cultural standards. News reports later said Al-Zaidi had been kidnapped by militants and detained by U.S. forces in recent years, which led to a particular disdain for the American-led coalition in Iraq.