President Hussein

cujimmy

Why does the media, news, Americans, politicians etc refer to President Hussein OF Iraq as Sadam.? This must be most disrespectful both to President Hussein and the people of Iraq, for above all he is president and should be treated with the same courtesy as other world leaders. Mr Blair is refereed to as prime minister or Mr. President Bush is seldom called anything-other then president. Now I know and recognise that president Hussein achieved power in rather dubious ways and his record on human rights is less then glowing but then President Mugabes record is not much better and I have yet to hear him being refereed to as Robert. Is this a lack of respect or to try and convince the world that the UK/USA are not going to war with the leader of another country and therefore its people but rather just a man.

Victor

Originally posted by cujimmy
Why does the media, news, Americans, politicians etc refer to President Hussein OF Iraq as Sadam.?

Because Saddam is his family name and Hussein is his given name.

And referring to just "Saddam" is no different to "Bush" or "Blair", it's media sound-biting. Then again there are quite a few references to "Bertie" or "Tony".

Lennoxschips

I'm anything but a Sadam Hussein supporter, but I have to say that the media constantly referring to him as "Sadam" annoys me too. I've noticed it as well and I think it's rather childish.

Next thing the media will start calling our own leader "Bertie"... oh, wait

Éomer of Rohan

Depends on what media you listen to / read really. For example in certain circles, Bush gets called Mr Bush rather than 'President' and in left wing media circles, neither Bush nor Blair nor Mugabe nor Saddam get their correct titles but are called as I have just typed them. Is it really important however? Does it matter that Neville Chamberlain called old Adolf 'Mr. Hitler' ? He is first and foremost a general in the Iraqi Army so technically it should be 'General' Hussein anyway.

What need have the UK and US to portray Saddam as a villain just by not respecting him in terms of how they address him to third parties? Especially when the Sun is printing pictures of Al Halabja or Mr Chirac turning into Saddam in '7 easy steps' and such utter unintelligent rubbish.

davelerave

stop the lights!

Koopa

isnt one of his sons called "uday hussein" ?

referring to him as "saddam" is like referring to "bertie" i guess - its ok for the irish tv channels, but the UK ones would probably not call him "bertie"

TomF

I have a vague recollection of it being important how the name "Saddam" is pronounced. One way it means the Iraqi stong man, soon to be not very strong, and the other it means something like "camel driver".

Éomer of Rohan

Arghhhh!! You're all hurting my head with this Brainstorming LOL.

Von

I read somewhere that it's 'disrespectful' to call him Saddam.

According to this, Uday is one bad muthafukka. But so what. Might is right apparently.

Name: Uday Hussein

Parents: Saddam and Sadija Hussein

Siblings: Qusay, Rana (widow of Saddam Kamel, who was allegedly murdered by Uday) and Raghad (widow of Hussein Kamel, who was allegedly murdered by Uday). Unconfirmed reports of illegitimate half-brother.

Wife: Reportedly separated from his wife, who is the daughter of his uncle, Barzan al Takriti. Al Takriti is Saddam's half-brother.

Father's Reign: 1979 — Present

Major Charges: Allegedly killed his brothers-in-law Hussein and Saddam Kamel. Allegedly killed his uncle Watban Ibrahim, in an apparent attempt to seize power. Allegedly killed Kamal Hanna Jajjou, Saddam's official food-taster who had allegedly arranged for Saddam to leave his wife for another woman. Widespread allegations of rape, especially of Shia minority women. Allegations of torture and killing of husbands of raped women. Widespread allegations of torture.

Minor Sins: Fast cars, violent video games, womanizing.

Past and Present Business Interests: Believed to be one of Iraq's richest men. Oil smuggling, oil barge operations, cigarette smuggling. Owns and controls Iraq's main newspaper Babel and Iraq's Youth Television and Youth Radio station.

---

Violent video games? Which ones I wonder.

Éomer of Rohan

Violent video games? Which ones I wonder

Command and Conquer Red Alert II is generall my favourite when I feel like levelling Washington DC or New York and destroying allied armies with the sheer might of Soviet Russia.

Alas that Soviet Russia was Stalinist and that they did not smash the US.

daveirl

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Éomer of Rohan

Jeez, Éomer I'm surprised you play the game, it's made by and American company. If you got you're way and Bin Laden wiped them all out you'd be killing talented people like the one's who make that game.

I am aware that it is made by EA games but sure deprived of American influences in game construction, Europe would soon be forced into developing her own industry.

Bin Laden wiping them all out is not 'my way' but the Americans frequently give me the impression that there is other way since they usually do not appear to follow logic or rationality, two pillars of negotiation.

Alas that Soviet Russia was Stalinist and that they did not smash the US.

Oh yes, I forgot, being in the Socialist party you'll refuse to condem the crimes against humanity committed by Stalin and Mao se tung, and regret that the Soviets didn't get to install totalatarian regimes worldwide

At least if you are going to attack me or my views or the Socialist Party do it for something that you understand? I said 'alas' that the USSR was stalinist - meaning I wish that it hadn't been. I utterly condemn both Mao and Uncle Joe and the atrocities they engaged in. I always wonder what the USSR would have been like had Stalin not been allowed to corrupt it as Lenin had wished. The Socialist Party and her adherents are anti-Stalinist, including myself.

daveirl

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Éomer of Rohan

Well that certainly isn't the view of the party in Cork South Central

It is the argument of the Socialist Party across Ireland. It is the argument of CWI across the world. There is no equivocation on this. You are wrong.

Socialist Party and The SWP.

This is almost an insult to mention the SWP and the SP in the same sentence. The SWP are outdated republicans who campaigned for Sinn Feinm throughout the 1980's - they are fools who do not even intervene in the socialist movement anymore except to try and steal credit from where it is due.

My most recent conversation with a member gave up the gem that disillusioned (correct spelling), the party still believes that the only way to get power is through "militant" worker action to topple the democratic govt.

Which is precisely why the policies of the SP are decided by the democratically elected council that meets once a year in Dublin for the pan Ireland party and twice a year for the Northern and Southern Executive Councils.

Thorbar

Originally posted by Éomer of Rohan
Europe would soon be forced into developing her own industry.

There are serveral development houses in Europe and there's a thriving industry over here.

swiss

Back on topic.

Éomer of Rohan and daveirl, take your arguments about the SWP and/or the Socialist party to another thread, or even better, to PM.

I usually pay little heed to how a person is referred, as long as it isn't intentionally disparaging and I know who exactly the person is to which the speaker is referring. You can call him Saddam, Mr Hussein, President Hussein or "that head bloke in Iraq" and it would make little difference to me.

Officially it might be termed disrespectful to call a person by their first name, but I believe that the last of Saddam's worries right now is western governments not addressing him by his correct title.

aine

referring to him as "saddam" is like referring to "bertie" i guess - its ok for the irish tv channels, but the UK ones would probably not call him "bertie" [/B]

difference is that other leaders would hardly refer to him as 'Bertie' on the other hand that incredibly enlightened man that is leader of the free world continuously refers to him as 'Saddam' I agree that it is in some way an attempt to make it seem as though war against this guy is ok....its just Saddam

bug

Have you noticed that Colin Powell's pronounciation of Saddam is Sodom? Sodom and Gemorrah, perhaps? According to the Bible God rained down fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah, and destroyed them.

In any case I dont really think that calling him Saddam is a insult to him, considering he's been called a murderer etc etc

I think that the Bush administration is up to alot more media whoreing than that, and this is where our focus should be to see through the propaganda in order to discover the truth

daveirl

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