Did You Know?

Recently received an email from a conservative friend of mine. Thought you might enjoy its contents:

Did you know that 47 countries have re-established their embassies in Iraq?

Did you know that the Iraqi government currently employs 1.2 million Iraqi people?

Did you know that 3100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are under rehabilitation, 263 new schools are now under construction and 38 new schools have been completed in Iraq?

Did you know that Iraq 's higher educational structure consists of 20 Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers, all currently operating?

Did you know that 25 Iraq students departed for the United States in January 2005 for the re-established Fulbright program?

Did you know that the Iraqi Navy is operational?
They have 5 -100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment.

Did you know that Iraq 's Air Force consists of three operational squadrons, which includes 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft (under Iraqi operational control) which operate day and night, and will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 Bell Jet Rangers?

Did you know that Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a Commando Battalion?

Did you know that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers?

Did you know that there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq that produce over 3500 new officers every 8 weeks?

Did you know there are more than 1100 building projects going on in Iraq?
They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations, 22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities and 69 electrical facilities.

Did you know that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have received the first 2 series of polio vaccinations?

Did you know that 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school by mid-October?

Did you know that there are 1,192,000 cell phone subscribers in Iraq and phone use has gone up 158%?

Did you know that Iraq has an independent media that consists of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations?

Did you know that the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June of 2004?

Did you know that 2 candidates in the Iraqi presidential election had a televised debate recently?

OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW!

WHY DIDN"T WE KNOW?

OUR MEDIA WOULDN'T TELL US!


Instead of reflecting our love for our country, we get photos of flag burning incidents at Abu Ghraib and people throwing snowballs at the presidential motorcades.

Tragically, the lack of accentuating the positive in Iraq serves two purposes:
It is intended to undermine the world's perception of the United States thus minimizing consequent support, and it is intended to discourage American
citizens.


Above facts are verifiable on the Department of Defense web site.

http://www.defense.gov/
http://www.pentagon.mil/
http://www.defenselink.mil/
http://www.defendamerica.mil/iraq.html
http://www.jcs.mil

(Thank you to whoever created this email!)

Death Numbers Down

An article by the Associated Press released on October 30th, 2007 states that the 37 deaths of U.S. troops in October has been the lowest number of deaths in any month in nearly two years. The second lowest was in March 2006. The article also states, "That would be the second consecutive drop in monthly figures, after 65 Americans died in September and 84 in August."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21541364/

The "troop surge" strategy developed by military leaders in Iraq seems to be working as the number of troop casualties is lowering and the troops are winning more control over the region to stop attacks. The Iraq War could be turning a corner for the better. Fewer troops are dying and Iraq is becoming more stable. The time may be coming for troops to begin to withdraw from the region. We all want our troops to come home, but we also want victory in Iraq, so that Iraq becomes a stable nation that will be an ally of the U.S. Maybe when other hostile Middle Eastern countries see the success in Iraq that was possible through democracy, liberty, and freedom, the citizens of those countries will demand change.