Shoe Thrower Update

Munthadar al-Zaidi's trial was delayed in Baghdad today, as an appeal was raised asking whether throwing a shoe at a foreign leader really counted as assault. I don't know about that, but 15 years in prison for it seems excessive.

Now that the Arab street is roiled by Gaza, maybe the al-Zaidi uprising will subside. But I'd be willing to bet that al-Zaidi walks on appeal. Maliki's actions have been fairly political lately, and with a threat to internal security possible from a conviction, and provincial elections coming up, I wouldn't be at all shocked with a January surprise.