Iraq Shoe Thrower Out in 2010

Could this possibly be the shortest prison sentence ever for attacking a head of state? Muntadhar al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at George W. Bush and called him a dog, has had his prison sentence reduced to one year from three on appeal. His crime also was downgraded, from assault to insulting a foreign leader, the BBC reports. The Iraqi court cited its decision as proof of its “independence and integrity,” adding that Zaidi had no previous criminal record. When Zaidi emerges from prison in September, he will likely enjoy a reception befitting a celebrity: A new poll finds that 62 percent of Iraqis consider him a hero.