The Good News From Iraq

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

This is a letter from Ray Reynolds, a medic in the Iowa Army National Guard, serving in Iraq:

As I head off to Baghdad for the final weeks of my stay in Iraq, I wanted to say thanks to all of you who did not believe the media. They have done a very poor job of covering everything that has happened. I am sorry that I have not been able to visit all of you during my two week leave back home. And just so you can rest at night knowing something is happening in Iraq that is noteworthy, I thought I would pass this on to you. This is the list of things that has happened in Iraq recently: (Please share it with your friends and compare it to the version that your paper is producing.)

* Over 400,000 kids have up-to-date immunizations.

* School attendance is up 80% from levels before the war.

* Over 1,500 schools have been renovated and rid of the weapons stored there so education can occur.

* The port of Uhm Qasar was renovated so grain can be off-loaded from ships faster.

* The country had its first 2 billion barrel export of oil in August.

* Over 4.5 million people have clean drinking water for the first time ever in Iraq.

* The country now receives 2 times the electrical power it did before the war.

* 100% of the hospitals are open and fully staffed, compared to 35% before the war.

* Elections are taking place in every major city, and city councils are in place.

* Sewer and water lines are installed in every major city.

* Over 60,000 police are patrolling the streets.

* Over 100,000 Iraqi civil defense police are securing the country.

* Over 80,000 Iraqi soldiers are patrolling the streets side by side with US soldiers.

* Over 400,000 people have telephones for the first time ever.

* Students are taught field sanitation and hand washing techniques to prevent the spread of germs.

* An interim constitution has been signed.

* Girls are allowed to attend school.

* Textbooks that don't mention Saddam are in the schools for the first time in 30 years.

Don't believe for one second that these people do not want us there. I have met many, many people from Iraq that want us there, and in a bad way. They say they will never see the freedoms we talk about but they hope their children will. We are doing a good job in Iraq and I challenge anyone, anywhere to dispute me on these facts. So If you happen to run into John Kerry, be sure to give him my email address and send him to Denison, Iowa. This soldier will set him straight. If you are like me and very disgusted with how this period of rebuilding has been portrayed, email this to a friend and let them know there are good things happening.

Ray Reynolds, SFC

Iowa Army National Guard

234th Signal Battalion

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

[ScottinSacto]

Great post!!!! Hopefully this will get out and counter the plane crash-esque (i.e. we don't hear about the 3,000 flights that land safely, only the one that crashes) coverage of our brave soldiers efforts.

[Steve Van Doorn]

Great stuff. But how does he know these numbers are accurate?

[Sender]

Thank you for posting this. You'll never hear about any of these things on CNN. Only quagmire.

[Ahban]

Sounds like he has been stationed in Kurdistan. Wonder if a few weeks in Sadr City will change his perspective?

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks for an excellent post!

This is the real Iraq, not the Iraq the media is desparately trying to sell to the American public.

[Alex Wysocki]

This proves that a picture is worth a thousand liberal words. My thoughts on a genuine American hero--Pat Tillman is in communion with Nathan Hale.

[Doctor Raoul]

Thanks.

[annyokie]

[AgentEcho]

In high school I had a homeroom teacher that was a Marine in Viet Nam. He He threatened the bunch of us that were planning on enlisting telling us we all needed to join the Air Force. His reasoning was that the Air Force sends it officers into combat and had never lost a ship.

Wonder what he'd say to this?

Æ

[DrDeb]

THANKS for the post and pixes!!!!

[tuvals]

Here is some further information to digest. Also, (IMHO) I do not believe this gallant soldier would intentionally make up these numbers. Furthermore, even if you cut the numbers in 1/2 or 3/4 it reflects progress being made and a nation of people now free. Getting rid of Saddam was a blessing and now our work toward a democratic Iraq must be completed. Also, terrorism must be fought tooth and nail. the only good terrorist is one 6 feet under the earth pushing up daisies. Even if the numbers posted are skewed a little bit I believe the United States and it's coalition are doing a great job in Iraq. The Kerry-ites have nothing to offer and are betting all their assets on our country's failure. What a sad and sorry political party the Democratic party has become. They can't lead, can't follow and are too dumb to get the hell out of the way. Enough said!!

[LADY J]

"I wanted to say thanks to all of you who did not believe the media. They have done a very poor job of covering everything that has happened."

What bothers me more than the media is the fact that muslims in America could do so much for Iraq and they are silent and offering no help at all.

They could educate the people there about what it's like to live in a free country. I'm beginning to wonder if they are on the side of those who want to see our country 'taken over'.

It's a shame that our soldiers are sacrificing their lives and showing love to those in Iraq and there is nothing but silence from those who could show their gratitude with some help.

Instead - they are too busy - as in New Jersey - trying to push their beliefs and customs on America.

[tuvals]

I should have included this in an earlier post.

http://usinfo.state.gov/mena/middle_east_north_africa/new_iraq.html

[Exton1]

ping

[LoudRepublicangirl]

Wonder if a few weeks in Sadr City will change his perspective?

That's a crappy thing to say.

[jwalsh07]

Soldier on. Best friend, worst enemy. The American fighting man.

And woman.:-}

[LoudRepublicangirl]

Those pictures are so sweet. Especially with the kids. I just hope that these children have had enough exposure to our troops before the Islamonazi's poison their brains. They can see first hand that we Americans are good people.

[Sacajaweau]

Great Post. Thanks!

[Lady In Blue]

Thanks so much Hillary's Lovely Legs because,honestly I was feeling a bit down this evening. I caught a pealk at John Kasichs(sp?)show this evening and I don't know if it's me or him but he sounded more negative than usual! He sounded very upset with the Iraqis(ungratefulness on their part implied)> I wish I had his email I'd send this email to him.I think I'll try and avoid watching him in the future.