It was a close call for former Australian prime minister John Howard. While appearing on a live TV show, an audience member threw a shoe at the former head of state... fueled by anger over Australia's military involvement in Iraq.<br /><br />Australia's former prime minister, John Howard, was already getting a grilling on this live TV show over the nation's involvement in the war in Iraq.<br /><br />Audience member Peter Gray had asked him to defend his decision for Australia to join the conflict.<br /><br />Gray appears to have been less than satisfied with the response.<br /><br />The scene is reminiscent of the infamous news conference where then-U.S. President George Bush was the target.<br /><br />In this latest example of the genre Gray hurled both his shoes at his intended victim, neither of which found their mark.<br /><br />Gray is ushered from the studio by staff.<br /><br />Howard appears to be shrugging off the incident during ABC's Q & A show.<br /><br />But Australia's AAP news agency said later Gray was under fire from critics over his half-hearted shoe-throwing technique.<br /><br />He's quoted as saying he didn't want to harm the former prime minister but simply make his point.
