[Smogger]

Centcom is confirming now..

Also CNN reports that the US is dropping millions of leaflets telling Iraqis to stay home and off the roads and highways.

I wonder what percentage of the Iraqi population can read those pamphlets?

[El Gato]

I wonder what percentage of the Iraqi population can read those pamphlets?

According to the CIA (world factbook)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58%
male: 70.7%
female: 45% (1995 est.)

Chances are a higher percentage can read a little, but not write. Besides the pamplets are basically cartoons with minimal text. Probably written at the 3rd or 4th grade equivalent level.

[johnb838]

The Iraqi SS is telling the people that the leaflets are laced with deadly poison and not to touch. For added verisimilitude they have guys in chem-bio suits going around picking them up.

(heard on the news the other day)

[Frapster]

Probably quite a few. For all of Saddam's faults he did institute an educational program that makes Iraq have a higher literacy rate than most other countries in that region.