Saddam Hussein had a nickname?

Posted By Blake Hounshell Thursday, March 27, 2008 - 4:28 PM Share

Saddam's nickname while in U.S. custody was apparently "Vic." U.S. Marine Maj. Gen. Doug Stone explains in an interview with CNN's Kyra Phillips:

Ah, a little-known secret," Stone said. "When he came here there was a debate. Do you call him Mr. President? No, that doesn't sound very good. What do you call him?"

Hussein also had a prisoner number, but that wasn't going to work as a name either.

"One day he looked across at us and said why do you have initials by my name?" Stone said. "And we said, well, that stands for 'Very Important Criminal'" ... and he said, 'OK, that's what I want to be called.'"

EXPLORE:MIDDLE EAST, IRAQ

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DEPARTUREGATE

10:55 AM ET

March 28, 2008

I'm really confused as to

I'm really confused as to why they couldn't just call him Mr. Hussein...am I missing something?

SQWODAY

1:38 AM ET

March 31, 2008

The people of Iraq should

The people of Iraq should write-in George W. Bush ballots.

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