Asking the Right Questions The blizzard of opinion polls is reaching category five proportions before the midterm election, and I expect it to get even more confusing.

That's too bad. We need to reach a consensus about a few issues -- like supporting the war in Iraq, and the storm clouds gathering over Iran.

Gary Gagliani, the SunTsu expert over at WarriorClassBlog, has his usual brilliant analysis of public opinion:

Communication is critical both to hold your supporters and to clarify your position to rivals. 2,500 hundred years ago, Sun Tzu pointed out that communication can be used as a delaying tactic, but more often communication is used to solidify positions...

Polling is largely about asking the right questions. Instead of the president making continual speeches telling the American people his opinion of the war (must win in Iraq, no civil war in Iraq, etc.), the administration would be much better off leading the American people to the form the right opinion by asking the right questions is a series of very public polls. However, the focus of those polls should not be on Iraq, which is no longer an enemy in this war, but Iran, which is the real enemy.

How would America respond if they were asked:

1. Do you believe the current leaders of Iran want to build nuclear weapons?

2. Do the Iranian leaders, Amadinejad and Khamenei, seriously believe in the need for an apocalyptic battle between East and West to secure the supremacy of Islam?

3. Is Iranian president Amadinajad serious about being willing to sacrifice half of Iran to destroy Israel?

4. Should America continue negotiating with Iran instead of taking action while Iran continues to develop nuclear weapons?

5. Is Iran the chief financial backer of the terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbullah?

6. Is Iran the chief financial backer of forces destabilizing the new democractic government in Iraq?

6. Does Iran use these terrorist groups as weapon to create instability in the Middle East to distract the West while Iran develops nuclear weapons?

7. What will happen to gas prices and the world economy in general when Iran develops nuclear weapons?

I'd prefer to think about the above questions now, than figure them out retrospectively as events unfold down the road.  ¶ 7:55 AM