Saddam Hussein's full name is Saddam Hussein Al-Tikriti. The last part means he's from Tikrit, and is sometimes spelled Al-Takriti. Eight or ten years ago I had a student whose last name was Altakriti. I won't give his first name here, but it was something that sounded Arabic (like Ahmed) without being distinctly Muslim (like Mohammed). Even back then, I was just a bit relieved when he happened to mention having gone to a Jesuit high school in New Orleans. He was also quite a good Latin student and earned an A or A- (I don't recall which). Call me paranoid, but I'd been idly wondering what happens to teachers who flunk Saddam's nephews and cousins.
Posted by Dr. Weevil at February 15, 2003 11:42 PMApparently, "Al-Tikriti" is barely considered a name, which is why he doesn't use it. It would be less important to him than our middle names are to most people here. It's just a sort of stuck-on-the-end thing that a lot of people in the region rarely bother with.
This also explains why he's known as Saddam, by the way, since Hussein was just his father's name. You wouldn't call him Mr. Hussein, any more than you'd call me Mr. Dean--except maybe in jest.
Posted by: Dean Esmay on February 16, 2003 09:10 AMIt's true that "al-Tikriti" (pronounced at-Tikriti, by the way) isn't actually part of his name, but that's not why he doesn't use it. He's actually forbidden its use (if my information is correct), not only for himself but for his entire Tikriti gang, precisely because most of his ruling circle is Tikriti and there's enough grumbling about the fact without rubbing it in people's faces. "Hi! I'm your Supreme Ruler, Saddam al-Tikriti, and this is my War Minister, Ahmed al-Tikriti, and my Interior Minister, Hasan al-Tikriti..." You get the idea.
Posted by: language hat on February 19, 2003 04:51 PMOK! Listen up yes his last name was Altakriti but it doesnt mean everyone that has that name is his cousin or something you dik suckers! wtf! you have saddam! u shood b happy if there wasnt an america in the world ther wood b no fighting america is a fag as country bush is a jacka$$ he goes into a country he doesnt belong in he shood worri bout his pot-smoking daughters! they go out n party like there aint a tommorrow! He lets them loose! God they get drunk then they sleep with everyone! go worri bout ur country first America is in shit! there is going to be another great depression!
Posted by: LaNgBaBe91 on January 8, 2004 05:12 PMIf you had actually read my post, LaNgBaBe91, you would realize that my Altakriti was not in fact related to Saddam Hussein. So you can suck my dick, moron: it's obvious that you only trash Americans because of your own pathetic sexual inadequacy.
Posted by: Dr. Weevil on January 8, 2004 07:28 PM