An Iraqi journalist, Muntadhar al-Zeidi, who threw his shoes at President Bush and has been hailed as a hero across the Middle East, faces up to 15 years in prison.

Update: 12/17 8 am:

The journalist appeared before a judge on Wednesday, but his brother says the judge visited the shoe-thrower in his jail rather than in court because the journalist had been beaten, the AP reports. Iraqi officials deny this, according to various reports.

BAGHDAD (AP)...