Reader: Is Osama bin Laden dead? Or Usama bin Laden? OBL? UBL?

In our post about how Osama bin Laden's death was experienced by the Facebook generation, we noted that Fox News continues to spell his first name "Usama" and abbreviate his moniker as "UBL," while the rest of the major American media prefers "Osama" and "OBL." The situation prompted a response...
By Michael Roberts
Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

In our post about how Osama bin Laden’s death was experienced by the Facebook generation, we noted that Fox News continues to spell his first name “Usama” and abbreviate his moniker as “UBL,” while the rest of the major American media prefers “Osama” and “OBL.” The situation prompted a response from one reader that was letter-perfect.

Dallas Heltzell writes:

OMG! Is it OBL or UBL? NBC, CBS and ABC say OBL, Faux News says UBL. WTF? (At least that’s my initial reaction.)

For more memorable takes, visit our Comment of the Day archive.

Keep Westword Free

We’re $2,500 away from our spring campaign goal!
We’re aiming to raise $20,000. Your support ensures Westword can continue watching out for you and our community. No paywall. Always accessible. Daily online and weekly in print.

SUPPORT US TODAY
$20,000
Notice of Collection | Terms | Privacy

Keep Westword Free

No paywall. Always accessible. We’re always watching out for you and our community — but we need your help to keep us going strong. Help keep Westword free and in print every week.

Select how much you'd like to contribute

/month
Support Us Today

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword‘s news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor’s degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master’s degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

michaelrobertscolo@gmail.com

Loading latest posts...