This Again? On the Relative Safety of NYC and Anbar

Via Steve Benen’s Blog Report, this piece purports to show that “NY City is quite violent when compared to Anbar.”

Whatever one thinks of the war in Iraq and recent progress that may or may not be occurring there, I don’t understand what is gained by writing something like this. Consider a simple thought experiment….

1. What percentage of Iraqis not from Anbar would agree to spend two weeks in Anbar, with the proviso that they have to spend at least an hour or two a day walking around populated areas unescorted and unarmed, if offered the equivalent of one year’s median income for an Iraqi in exchange?
2. What percentage of Iraqis would agree to spend two weeks in NYC, with the proviso that they have to spend at least an hour or two a day walking around populated areas unescorted and unarmed, if offered the equivalent of one year’s median income for an Iraqi in exchange?
3. What percentage of Americans would agree to spend two weeks in Anbar, with the proviso that they have to spend at least an hour or two a day walking around populated areas unescorted and unarmed, if offered the equivalent of one year’s median income for an American in exchange?
4. What percentage of Americans not from NY would agree to spend two weeks in NYC, with the proviso that they have to spend at least an hour or two a day walking around populated areas unescorted and unarmed, if offered the equivalent of one year’s median income for an American in exchange?
5. What percentage of people not from Iraq or the US would agree to spend two weeks in Anbar, with the proviso that they have to spend at least an hour or two a day walking around populated areas unescorted and unarmed, if offered the equivalent of one year’s median income for someone from their country in exchange?
6. What percentage of people not from Iraq or the US would agree to spend two weeks in NYC, with the proviso that they have to spend at least an hour or two a day walking around populated areas unescorted and unarmed, if offered the equivalent of one year’s median income for someone from their country in exchange?
7. How much would it take to get the author of this piece to spend two weeks in Anbar, with the proviso he has to spend at least an hour or two a day walking around populated areas unescorted and unarmed?
8. How much would it take to get the author of this piece to spend two weeks in NYC, with the proviso he has to spend at least an hour or two a day walking around populated areas unescorted and unarmed?

I imagine the answers to the even number questions are significantly different from the answers to the odd number questions.