Iraq's Saddams queueing up to get rid of 'rubbish' name

[T_i_B]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/01/27/wsad27.xml&sSheet=/portal/2004/01/27/ixportal.html&secureRefresh=true&_requestid=85521

No one messed with Saddam Hussein Karim. Being named after the Iraqi president meant respect and power, but that was before the dictator was overthrown and pulled out of a spider hole.

Now the nation's thousands of Saddams are queuing up to change their once illustrious moniker to something more in tune with the times.

More than 300 are in the process of changing their names, and each day several forlorn-looking Saddams visit Baghdad's directorate of citizenship, where deed polls are granted. Many more are too scared to own up in public and have quietly adopted a new identity. "It's the most depressing thing in the world to be called Saddam Hussein," said Saddam Hussein Karim as he completed the final paperwork for his name change.

Parents used to be given $200 if they used the name for their sons, now it brings discrimination and humiliation and fear of arrest or attack.

[Newsjock]

1. Now they get $200 for changing their name to George or Dick

Note the source, the Telegraph, which apparently has nothing more important to report from Iraq.

Edit: I had the ownership of the Telegraph wrong. I should be in bed now. Thanks for the correction.

[T_i_B]

3. The Telegraph is not Murdoch

Murdoch owns the Times. The Daily Telegraph was owned by Conrad Black, but he is selling his stake in the Hollinger group to the Barclay brothers who own the Scotsman.

It's better than the Times, but it is still a right-wing rag.

[RapidCreek]

2. Will we see a crop of George Bush Karims?

Maybe Dick Haliburton Karim...

RC

[SoCalDem]

4. I heard about this MONTHS ago.. I guess Rupert "recycles"

:(