Al-Qaida? Al-Qaeda?

[MsKandice01]

You know, it would be really nice if the media would find one way to spell Al-Qaida (or Al-Qaeda) and stick to it. I'm pretty meticulous when it comes to writing and it bugs me having to choose between two spellings.

[JeffR]

1. Easier to spell it B-U-S-H-C-O

and probably more accurate.;-)

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

2. Usama? Osama?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

3. Al-Cheney is easier

[pitohui]

4. arabic has a different alphabet

apparently it is not standardized how the names are spelled out, i'm sure there is a standard spelling for such things as qaeda and osama in arabic but we wouldn't be able to read it

[uppityperson]

5. Khadafi Ghadafi Gadhaphi Gaddafi Khaddafi Qadhafi ?

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_264b.html

Sorry if I unjustly accused you on the Qadhdhafi business, but you know how dealing with this guy can cloud the mind. For the record, here's the official Library of Congress rundown on how to spell ol' whatsisname: (1) Muammar Qaddafi, (2) Mo'ammar Gadhafi, (3) Muammar Kaddafi, (4) Muammar Qadhafi, (5) Moammar El Kadhafi, (6) Muammar Gadafi, (7) Mu'ammar al-Qadafi, (8) Moamer El Kazzafi, (9) Moamar al-Gaddafi, (10) Mu'ammar Al Qathafi, (11) Muammar Al Qathafi, (12) Mo'ammar el-Gadhafi, (13) Moamar El Kadhafi, (14) Muammar al-Qadhafi, (15) Mu'ammar al-Qadhdhafi, (16) Mu'ammar Qadafi, (17) Moamar Gaddafi, (18) Mu'ammar Qadhdhafi, (19) Muammar Khaddafi, (20) Muammar al-Khaddafi, (21) Mu'amar al-Kadafi, (22) Muammar Ghaddafy, (23) Muammar Ghadafi, (24) Muammar Ghaddafi, (25) Muamar Kaddafi, (26) Muammar Quathafi, (27) Muammar Gheddafi, (28) Muamar Al-Kaddafi, (29) Moammar Khadafy, (30) Moammar Qudhafi, (31) Mu'ammar al-Qaddafi, (32) Mulazim Awwal Mu'ammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Qadhafi.

Here is the correct spelling: معمر القذافي

[The_Casual_Observer]

6. You say Al-Qaida, I say Al-Qaeda

Usama? Osama?

Let's call the whole thing off.