Bush was nearly hit on the head, but ducked out of the way as the man tossed one of the shoes, then another, while the president stood beside Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

The security breach came as Bush made a farewell visit to Iraq, a place that defines his presidency for better or worse, just 37 days before he hands the war off to a successor who has pledged to end it.

Bush planned a rapid-fire series of meetings with top Iraqi leaders, including al-Maliki. The two were marking the recent U.S.-Iraq security agreement, which sets a deadline of Dec. 31, 2011, for the withdrawal of all American troops.

In Arab culture, throwing shoes at someone is a sign of contempt. Iraqis whacked a statue of Saddam with their shoes after U.S. marines toppled it to the ground following the 2003 invasion.