I ran across this article on Iraq in the "Street Talk& More" magazine (a local paper with a slight religious slant) and thought I would share it. Mainly because we hear so many negative things.

Did you know that 47 countries have re-established their embassies in Iraq?
Did you know that the Iraqi government employs 1.2 million Iraqi people?
Did you know that 3100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are under rehabilitation, 263 schools are now under construction and 38 new schools have been built in Iraq?
Did you know that Iraq's higher educational structure consists of 20 Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers?
Did you know that 25 Iraq students departed for the United States in January 2004 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 AirForce consists of three operation squadrons, 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft 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 equiped and trained police officers?
Did you know there are more than 1100 building projects going on in Iraq? They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, and 83 railroad stations.
OF COURSE WE DID'NT KNOW? OUR MEDIA WOULD'T TELL US!
Instead of shouting these accomplishments from every rooftop, they would rather show photo's of what a few perverted malcontent soldiers have done in prisons in many cases never disclosing the circumstances surrounding the events.
Instead of showing our love for our country, we get photos of flag burning incidents at Abu Ghraib and people throwing snowballs at presidential motorcades.
The lack of accentuating the positive in Iraq serves only one purpose. It undermines the World's perception of the United States and our soldiers.
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!

good post dan, prepare to get flamed though

The reason the media won't tell us about all the wonderfull building going on in Irag is becasuse the Ameirican taxpayer is paying for it and the shrub doesn't want us to know that we are paying for Iraqi schools and hospitals while our own schools are going bankrupt and falling apart. Conservative media.

If you really anted to support out troops you would stop supporting a president that sends them off to fight wars of choice, uses a back door draft to keep them there and cuts their veterens benefits.

Originally posted by Echo2
The reason the media won't tell us about all the wonderfull building going on in Irag is becasuse the Ameirican taxpayer is paying for it and the shrub doesn't want us to know that we are paying for Iraqi schools and hospitals while our own schools are going bankrupt and falling apart. Conservative media.

If you really anted to support out troops you would stop supporting a president that sends them off to fight wars of choice, uses a back door draft to keep them there and cuts their veterens benefits.
--------------------------------------------

We do have many things in our own country that need changing.
I do support our troops.

The only thing I wrote in the original post is the article. Nothing was added by me. The support our troops statement was included at the end of the article.

Oh wow that great REconstruction...

Its nice that they try to say that since we are rebuilding the shit we blew up initially we are doing a good thing. Seems to me that we shouldnt have tageted all of their infrastructure in the first place we wouldn't have to be rebuilding it.

BTW I havent heard how the rebuilding of the 75,000+ dead Iraqis is going yet?

We dont know how many Iraqi security forces have been trained and equipped because BushCo doesnt want us to know

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

US officials fudging Iraq army numbers
http://www.smh.com.au/news/After-Saddam/US-officials-fudging-Iraq-army-numbers/2005/03/15/1110649202833.html

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
And those Police that have been trained have learned their lessons from the Americans quite well...
++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Abuse, Torture by Iraqi Police Called Routine

WASHINGTON - Despite the millions of dollars spent by the U.S. and other nations to improve their performance, Iraqi police still routinely abuse and often torture detainees, according to a report released Tuesday by Human Rights Watch (HRW)..

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0125-09.htm

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS WHEN THEY FRAG THEIR OFFICERS!

Originally posted by Dan Fussell
I ran across this article on Iraq in the "Street Talk& More" magazine (a local paper with a slight religious slant) and thought I would share it. Mainly because we hear so many negative things.

Did you know that 47 countries have re-established their embassies in Iraq?
Did you know that the Iraqi government employs 1.2 million Iraqi people?
Did you know that 3100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are under rehabilitation, 263 schools are now under construction and 38 new schools have been built in Iraq?
Did you know that Iraq's higher educational structure consists of 20 Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers?
Did you know that 25 Iraq students departed for the United States in January 2004 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 AirForce consists of three operation squadrons, 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft 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 equiped and trained police officers?
Did you know there are more than 1100 building projects going on in Iraq? They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, and 83 railroad stations.
OF COURSE WE DID'NT KNOW? OUR MEDIA WOULD'T TELL US!
Instead of shouting these accomplishments from every rooftop, they would rather show photo's of what a few perverted malcontent soldiers have done in prisons in many cases never disclosing the circumstances surrounding the events.
Instead of showing our love for our country, we get photos of flag burning incidents at Abu Ghraib and people throwing snowballs at presidential motorcades.
The lack of accentuating the positive in Iraq serves only one purpose. It undermines the World's perception of the United States and our soldiers.
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!
I just see words...that have no proof to prove that they are "facts"

hey, if you wait long enough, a flood will have a benefit

ya, how dare we believe there is ANYTHING good going on in Iraq. We eitehr believe its a genocidal slaughter or nothing.

Yep. Still no proof.

Good post Dan.

Originally posted by Overdose
Yep. Still no proof.
-------------------------------------------

History will be the proof.
If attempting to help establish Democracy, personal freedoms, and order to a volitile area to help create a safer world is wrong time will tell.
The seeds of Democracy have been planted. We will have to wait and see what the crop will yield.
We know the direction the situation was headed in by the attack on the US on 9/11.
Sure, we could have done nothing.
We could have awaited the flow of attacks on the US and hoped we survived as individuals.
We have lost soldiers, we have no way of knowing how many civilians we would have eventually lost had we merely awaited the future attacks. We lost too many in the twin towers and the aircraft used in the attacks.

I feel that the blame for the world situation that led up to the 9/11 incident falls on a line of previous politicians that made years of improper decisions. Not only American politicians but those of other countries as well.

I do believe one thing, that in these times of an unsafe world, that all Americans must stand together-strong and confident.
We must look those that would destroy us in the eye and let them know that we will not quietly and meekly accept defeat.

I know that the constitution of some individuals only allows them to hide from responsibility that would put them at physical harm. I also believe that they are out numbered sufficiently by those of us that would gladly put ourselves in harms way for that which we believe would help our loved ones live in a safer future world.

I accept a man that attempts and makes mistakes over a man that does nothing and quietly accepts defeat.

I just see words...that have no proof to prove that they are "facts"
Should all scientific proof now be made in Microsoft Paint? Those pesky words... They can't be trusted, they might... you know, move around forming strange things... like asswipe cheesecracker!

Originally posted by Dan Fussell
-------------------------------------------

History will be the proof.
If attempting to help establish Democracy, personal freedoms, and order to a volitile area to help create a safer world is wrong time will tell.
The seeds of Democracy have been planted. We will have to wait and see what the crop will yield.
We know the direction the situation was headed in by the attack on the US on 9/11.
Sure, we could have done nothing.
We could have awaited the flow of attacks on the US and hoped we survived as individuals.
We have lost soldiers, we have no way of knowing how many civilians we would have eventually lost had we merely awaited the future attacks. We lost too many in the twin towers and the aircraft used in the attacks.

I feel that the blame for the world situation that led up to the 9/11 incident falls on a line of previous politicians that made years of improper decisions. Not only American politicians but those of other countries as well.

I do believe one thing, that in these times of an unsafe world, that all Americans must stand together-strong and confident.
We must look those that would destroy us in the eye and let them know that we will not quietly and meekly accept defeat.

I know that the constitution of some individuals only allows them to hide from responsibility that would put them at physical harm. I also believe that they are out numbered sufficiently by those of us that would gladly put ourselves in harms way for that which we believe would help our loved ones live in a safer future world.

I accept a man that attempts and makes mistakes over a man that does nothing and quietly accepts defeat.
Err, thanks for the rant but I see no proof.

There is absolutely no proof that any of this is going on other than what we are told by FOX and hate radio both of which are payed by the white house as we've already witnessed on several occassions.

When they let me personally to to Iraq, witness things for my self, talk to the people ... then I will believe.

Dop

I heard an interview on the radio this morning of an Iraqi citizen that left just before the war broke out...his family is still there.

He said that middle and upper class people (his family is middle class) have to hire body guards for their houses and they NEVER go out of their house unless they have to. They are lucky enough to have the money to hire people to run errands and such. He said that bridges are down, telephones don't work, clean water is in short supply, groceries are hard to come by, about half of the retail stores are closed, electricity is non existant in about 60% of the country and only about a third of the schools are open. Most parents are keeping their children home from school for fear of being shot by americans or insurgents. The streets are not safe. He said that most Iraqi were glad that Sadam was out of power but very unhappy about the damage done to their country and the numbers of innocent people killed. They are also unhappy about the American occupation. They do not trust Americans and there are Americans with guns on just about every street corner.

He said that before the invasion the country was thriving, jobs were easy to come by, they all had electricity and running water and schools and now they have none of that stuff pluss the daily insecurity of not knowing if they will be shot and killed or their house will be taken over.

He said it has been a trade off that most people who were not political are inhappy with, those that were political opponants of Sadam are happy with and those that were part of Sadams regime are unhappy with.

Just like here in America, people have different views and ideas about what is happening.

well.... if you wont beleive that...then dont beleive the crap you see on your liberal support groups and just dont have an opinion..... its obvious that no matter what we say you will dispell as lies, while anything anti-bush is gold.

leave it to echo to take a single persons account that she agrees with and bash us over the head with it like its the real truth

Originally posted by Travh20
leave it to echo to take a single persons account that she agrees with and bash us over the head with it like its the real truth

Well...you believe what you want to believe from the media and disregard the rest...I think everyone does.

I feel that the blame for the world situation that led up to the 9/11 incident falls on a line of previous politicians that made years of improper decisions. Not only American politicians but those of other countries as well. Yet somehow you dont see that blame as a result of trying to 'take control' of other countries the way we see fit as oppossed to letting them have self-determination? Yes to removing Saddam (since we put him there in the first place) but No to blowing the shit out of the country in the process.

The School of the Americas is still in operation. Americas own terrorist training camp. You wanna get the world to stop hating us so much maybe we should stop creating and funding terrorists.

Echo - Ive heard a number of interviews with Iraqis and the general statement has been "at least under Saddam we had security" They had tyranny and security before, now they just have tyranny.

Originally posted by Vilepagan
Well...you believe what you want to believe from the media and disregard the rest...I think everyone does.


I happen to know many people who have been there or are there now and correspond with them quite a bit. Of course if I were to post their opinions about it here I would be laughed out of town for being a biased liar. When she does it she expects us to all just accept it without question,a nd you of course defend her.

Originally posted by 500lbguerilla
Yet somehow you dont see that blame as a result of trying to 'take control' of other countries the way we see fit as oppossed to letting them have self-determination? Yes to removing Saddam (since we put him there in the first place) but No to blowing the shit out of the country in the process.

The School of the Americas is still in operation. Americas own terrorist training camp. You wanna get the world to stop hating us so much maybe we should stop creating and funding terrorists.

Echo - Ive heard a number of interviews with Iraqis and the general statement has been "at least under Saddam we had security" They had tyranny and security before, now they just have tyranny.

where are all the "bring saddam back!" rallies then? Let me guess, the totalitarian american puppet regime wont let them right? you are one ignorant jackass. There is an old saying , "the grass is always greener on the other side", sometimes I think your whole life revolves around that principle.

Trav...online conversations would be so much easier with you if you just learned how to read.

I don't think it is that he doesn't know how to read, I think he filters everything he reads through his koolaide addled, religiously washed brain and when it has been twisted enough to sound hatefull he spews it out like projectile vomit.

Originally posted by Echo2
I don't think it is that he doesn't know how to read, I think he filters everything he reads through his koolaide addled, religiously washed brain and when it has been twisted enough to sound hatefull he spews it out like projectile vomit.

That is exactly why i can't ever take you seriously LOL

Originally posted by Travh20
When she does it she expects us to all just accept it without question,and you of course defend her.

Trav, I read and accept what I think makes sense regardless of what the writer "expects" me to accept, and just because I don't attack what someone says doesn't mean I agree with it.

BTW, what makes you think I was defending Echo...I was merely pointing out that you were attacking her for behavior that everyone does.

Guerilla,

See me in ten years and we can discuss what the Iraqis think of America's action in taking out Saddam.

It's going to be a long hard slog for the Iraqis, but they just might bring freedom for themselves.