A question of spelling. (Vanity)

www.dougwall.com | 5/8/11 | Doug Wall

[SouthWall]

No article, just a question.

When did Osama's first name change to Usama (UBL)? On FOX, the spelling change is done. Why?

Not to confuse with our president?

Just asking

[WKUHilltopper]

As far as I remember, FOX has always spelled it this way—even back in ‘01. Don’t know why tho...maybe just being obstinate.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

Foreign languages can be transliterated in different ways if there’s no exact equivalent for a sound in English.

[LibLieSlayer]

According to Beck Friday... ailes ordered fox to use the “u” because the CIA and Military use that spelling currently. I think it is because most Americans interchange obama with osama too easily... since they use the “u” now... I think it only fair we now spell obama, ubama.

LLS

[deport]

Osama or Usama

[cripplecreek]

The media has done it for years.

Just ask Kadhaffi, Qadafi, Qadaffi.....

[stockpirate]

The name changed when Obama was running for president, all of the networks did their magic at the same time.

[ClearCase_guy]

I googled "Usama bin laden" and 2001 -- less than half a million hits.
2002? Less than half a million hits.
2003? Less than half a million hits.
2004? Less than half a million hits.

2005? Over 25 million hits.

Obama gave his first big speech in 2004. They changed Usama's name right after that.

[digger48]

without his teleprompter, it’s Uh-bama

[kbennkc]

[hometoroost]

Sometimes translated as Um-bama. Not be confused with I-bama, or Me-bama.

[edpc]

Yes, I bet bin Laden was getting a bad case of name variation envy.

[Freddd]

Yeah yeah and the war on terror is ‘overseas contingencies’, and illegal Obama wars are ‘kinetic military action’....

It’s still Osama no matter if they want to ‘change’ his name ,now.

[Havisham]

Ubama has been the CIA spelling since the time of 9-11attacks. That’s when Fox News started using that spelling.

[Perdogg]

The only difference between Obama and Osama is the b.s.

[mojitojoe]

I wondered the same thing. I even bought into it and started calling him Usama but I’m not anymore because I think you are exactly right, it’s because of Odumba$$ in the WH.

[al baby]

Usama is the terrorist Ubangey is the president

[Baynative]

potato

[mojitojoe]

I wonder why that is? Probably some sort of politically correct fantasy. I did a googlethespys search and have found the name Usama linked to many other names but not to bin laden. In fact googlethespys automatically changes the search to Osama.

[mojitojoe]

Exactly!