Jackson Jambalaya

The New York Times recently published a scary column written by Jeff Stein, the National Security Editor for Congressional Quarterly. Scary in that many of our leaders in Congress and Counterterrorism/law enforcement don't know basic facts about our enemies. Mr. Stein merely asked them what was the difference between a Sunni and a Shiite, important as one is the driving theology for Al Qaida and Wahaabism and the other is the theolody for Iran. Mr. Stein wrote:
if knowing your enemy is the most basic rule of war, I don’t think it’s out of bounds. And as I quickly explain to my subjects, I’m not looking for theological explanations, just the basics: Who’s on what side today, and what does each want? ....
But so far, most American officials I’ve interviewed don’t have a clue. That includes not just intelligence and law enforcement officials, but also members of Congress who have important roles overseeing our spy agencies. How can they do their jobs without knowing the basics?....
It’s not all so grimly humorous. Some agency officials and members of Congress have easily handled my “gotcha” question. But as I keep asking it around Capitol Hill and the agencies, I get more and more blank stares. Too many officials in charge of the war on terrorism just don’t care to learn much, if anything, about the enemy we’re fighting. And that’s enough to keep anybody up at night....
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/17/opinion/17stein.html?pagewanted=2&_r=4

We go to the polls in Mississippi this week and there are going to be opportunities in the next 48 hours to ask candidates questions as they appear radio talk shows begging for your votes. While they are on the air bragging about their support for the troops and fighting terrorism, ask them if they know the difference between a Sunni and a Shiite? If they can't even tell you that, they don't deserve your vote. One expects someone asking for the power to vote on sending your children in harm's way or making decisions regardings our safety to at least take the time to learn basic facts about the enemy. If any of them show such little respect for you, why should you should them any respect?