New Poll Says... (and OIF Alphabet Part II)

...9 out of 10 soldiers in Iraq prefer a full-body massage to a sharp stick in the eye.

I hate polls because they are so skewed. I just read a new ABC/WaPo poll that says lots of people in the US think a "civil war" in Iraq is "inevitable". My question is: what the hell does "Joe 6-pack" know about the political situation in Iraq? No, really? Did those poll respondents decide a civil war was inevitable because they studied the situation, or because they heard it on the news? Give me a break. And if you ask a soldier if he would rather be in Iraq or at home drinking beer and getting lovin', what do you think the answer would be? It ain't rocket science Mr. Zogby?

I have some questions for the 1000 participants in the ABC poll.

1. Can you tell me the name of two major Kurdish political parties in Iraq?

2. Can you tell me why question #1 is significant? Specifically, how does their relationship affects Kurdish politics? Iraqi politics?

3. What are the four major ethnic groups in Iraq? What religions/sects/tribes do those ethnic groups belong to?

4. Of the four groups you listed from above, which groups are supported by other countries by reason of ethnicity/religion/tribal affiliation?

5. Briefly explain what actions the countries you listed in question #4 have taken previously in Iraq. Why is that significant to Iraqi stability?

6. Briefly explain the significance of the following cities in Iraq, and why they pose a potential problem for Iraqi stability: Mosul and Kirkuk

7. What is the "Hawzah"? Why is it significant? How does it affect Iraqi stability?

If the poll respondents can't answer the above questions in depth, they might as well have used the "Magic 8-Ball" to answer the ABC poll. Without knowledge of Iraqi history, their answers will not be anywhere close to predictive. The poll is worthless.

Now on to the good stuff.

OIF Alphabet Part II







Enjoy!!