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As I was laying in bed last night, I was struck by the strange fact that when people refer to Saddam Hussein, in general they always call him Saddam. I couldn't think of another example where a notorious figure is called only by his first name.

Adolf Hitler wasn't. Joseph Stalin wasn't (Uncle Joe doesn't count). Nobody called Pol Pot, Pol.

Maybe it was that big bushy moustache that made him so approachable name-wise.

Its about how unique the first/last name is.


On a similar note, Genghis Khan is more often referred to as Genghis than as Khan simply because Genghis is much more uncommon

As you talking about Saddam, have u ever tought that all people can be a Saddam or Hitler themsleves? I can gather people like sheikh Eisa, or others that I hate together, pour oil on them and burn them!
Just out of curisity, Others feel the same way or something is wrong with me?!

There was a campaign to personalise the attack on Iraq. It helps to paint a person as the problem - and they couldn't call him 'Hussein' because that would the run the risk of confusing Joe public in the US when they hear that Bush was meeting with 'King Hussein' or other Hussains.

'Saddam' wasn't referred to as such when he was killing his own people and attacking Iran - then he was the west's 'strong man' in the region. We all know the fact that Rumsfeld visited him twice -but he was also made an honoury citizen of Detroit in 1980 - so he was a 'close friend'!

So, I'd say the reason he's been referred to as 'Saddam' is because of his second name!

Cheers,
Shafique

Dr Strangeglove wrote:As I was laying in bed last night, I was struck by the strange fact that when people refer to Saddam Hussein, in general they always call him Saddam. I couldn't think of another example where a notorious figure is called only by his first name.

Adolf Hitler wasn't. Joseph Stalin wasn't (Uncle Joe doesn't count). Nobody called Pol Pot, Pol.

Maybe it was that big bushy moustache that made him so approachable name-wise.

How about Tito (not the one from the Jackson Five)? Actually it may have been his last name.

Dr Strangeglove wrote:As I was laying in bed last night, I was struck by the strange fact that when people refer to Saddam Hussein, in general they always call him Saddam. I couldn't think of another example where a notorious figure is called only by his first name.

Adolf Hitler wasn't. Joseph Stalin wasn't (Uncle Joe doesn't count). Nobody called Pol Pot, Pol.

Maybe it was that big bushy moustache that made him so approachable name-wise.

Maybe the only one that comes close is "Dubya" (ironically).

Does 'Maggie' count?

There's also Mao.

Cheers,
Shafique

Saddam - by its nature play on subconscious
Sad - Dam - negative words
sad dam - mad man

He was our mate for ages as he was a chilled out (secular) muslim, kinda bizarre now as womens groups now saying they have less rights than under saddam.

I think brits were going to or helped him with a back problem back in the day.

Yeah Mao will be another. Although most people called him #$#%@ behind his back.

melika969 wrote:As you talking about Saddam, have u ever tought that all people can be a Saddam or Hitler themsleves? I can gather people like sheikh Eisa, or others that I hate together, pour oil on them and burn them!
Just out of curisity, Others feel the same way or something is wrong with me?!

No no, when you are finished with pouring the oil, I'll drop some extra gasoline on top and fire it up...

Together we'll enjoy the limelight and a picknick hon

...another glass of wine madame?

^^^ Ha ha! goooood

Dr Strangeglove wrote:As I was laying in bed last night, I was struck by the strange fact that when people refer to Saddam Hussein, in general they always call him Saddam. I couldn't think of another example where a notorious figure is called only by his first name.

Adolf Hitler wasn't. Joseph Stalin wasn't (Uncle Joe doesn't count). Nobody called Pol Pot, Pol.

Maybe it was that big bushy moustache that made him so approachable name-wise.

The strange thing is that he was a good guy once upon a time, similar to Mugabe from Zimbabwe. And now we have the good guy from North Africa MG, who was very much a bad guy a few years ago.

Mugabe up until he got 'villa fever' had done some good in Zimbabwe, with literacy rates better than South Africa.