[phist_mcgee]

I understand your sentiment, but your arguments are presented as facts and not as reasoned arguments. You might be right in the general sense, but the assertion that 'most couldn't tell you the difference between Sunni and Shia or point out Afghanistan on a map.' is probably not true.

This is a long running debate inside and outside America, and while your opinion is useful, presenting it as fact is not.

[nickik]

Are you talking about politicians or normal people? Avg people have no idea what Sunni and Shia mean. And we have many examples of high level politicians and bureaucrats who don't know what it means.

And that is before getting into any even remotely complex questions about Iraq and the Middle East.