WASHINGTON, June 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. military has a host of sophisticated equipment in Iraq but also uses a low-tech method to get a feel for public opinion in the war zone.

"One of the things we do as part of our foot patrols among the population centers is monitoring graffiti to gauge public sentiments," Army Lt. Gen Ray Odierno told Pentagon reporters by videolink from Iraq on Friday.

Odierno, the top U.S. commander in Iraq for day-to-day operations, said two pieces of graffiti in Baghdad's volatile Rasheed district suggested support for a security crackdown by the U.S. military and an end to sectarian strife.

"The first said 'Yes, yes to the new security plan' and the second said 'No difference between Shia and Sunni.' Obviously, this is only one anecdote but a small step in the right direction," he said.

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