After reading this article concerning the former Iraqi dictator, I wondered why such news reports usually refer to him as “Saddam” and not by his last name. I mean, can you imagine a similar story referring to the U.S president as “George”? Maybe it is a cultural thing.
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Balaam's Ass 
It’s like a physician (but not the nurse) calling you by your first name; it establishes a social ranking or pecking order.
And the media clymers are so far down the latter in social status, they only get away with using first names for cub reporters, young Hollywood starlettes, and deposed murdering dictators.
That’s “ladder”
Thanks for the thought. We will keep our eyes open in order to see who gets the first name treatment.