Friday, January 28, 2005
Accentuating The Negative
The rhetoric from the Left has ramped up as we move closer to the Iraqi Elections. The mantra of "Illegal and Unjust War" has risen a few decibels. Our soldiers have been accused of inciting the violence of the insurgents. Worst of all was the Bush-bashing disguised as genuine vetting of the nominee for secretary of state.
Almost everything that we read or hear from the mainstream media about the war in Iraq is focused on the negative. The mainstream media has completely disregarded the positives that are abundant in Iraq.
Robin Mullins Boyd: While doing some research online, I wandered over to the Department of Defense website. I came across an article titled "Iraq Year in Review - 2004 Fact Sheet". What I read in that article took my breath away. I was stunned - almost speechless.
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 currently under rehabilitation, 263 new schools are under construction and 38 new schools have been built?
Did you know that the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Iraq consists of 20 Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges within the Community College system, two Commissions and two 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? The Navy has five 100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment.
Did you know that Iraq's Air Force consists of three operation squadrons? The Iraqi Air Force has nine reconnaissance aircraft and three US C-130 transport aircraft. The reconnaissance aircraft operate day and night. Later this month, the Air Force will receive 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 Iraq's two Military Academies have been reopened and graduated 91 students in January 2005?
Did you know that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers?
Did you know that there are five Police Academies in Iraq that produce over 3500 new police officers every 8 weeks?
Did you know that Iraq's National Police Emergency Response Unit has been tested and is now operational?
Did you know that there are more than 1100 active reconstruction projects in Iraq? Current projects include the construction of 364 schools, 67 public health 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 five have received the first two 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 subscriptions to telephone service have risen 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 of June 24,2004?
Did you know that two of the candidates in the Iraqi presidential election held the first ever election debate, which was broadcast province-wide on Iraqi television?
Instead of shouting the positive accomplishments from the rooftops, we are subjected to Democrats blaming our soldiers for the insurgency, calling our President and his administration liars and generally denigrating the United States.
Instead of showing our love for our country, we get photos of flag burning, isolated incidents at Abu Ghraib and people throwing snowballs at the presidential motorcade.
When did wishing the worst for our country and failure for our soldiers become the norm in America? I am ashamed of my fellow countrymen who would rather see a terrorist succeed than a Republican President.
The rhetoric from the Left has ramped up as we move closer to the Iraqi Elections. The mantra of "Illegal and Unjust War" has risen a few decibels. Our soldiers have been accused of inciting the violence of the insurgents. Worst of all was the Bush-bashing disguised as genuine vetting of the nominee for secretary of state.
Almost everything that we read or hear from the mainstream media about the war in Iraq is focused on the negative. The mainstream media has completely disregarded the positives that are abundant in Iraq.
Robin Mullins Boyd: While doing some research online, I wandered over to the Department of Defense website. I came across an article titled "Iraq Year in Review - 2004 Fact Sheet". What I read in that article took my breath away. I was stunned - almost speechless.
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 currently under rehabilitation, 263 new schools are under construction and 38 new schools have been built?
Did you know that the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Iraq consists of 20 Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges within the Community College system, two Commissions and two 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? The Navy has five 100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment.
Did you know that Iraq's Air Force consists of three operation squadrons? The Iraqi Air Force has nine reconnaissance aircraft and three US C-130 transport aircraft. The reconnaissance aircraft operate day and night. Later this month, the Air Force will receive 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 Iraq's two Military Academies have been reopened and graduated 91 students in January 2005?
Did you know that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers?
Did you know that there are five Police Academies in Iraq that produce over 3500 new police officers every 8 weeks?
Did you know that Iraq's National Police Emergency Response Unit has been tested and is now operational?
Did you know that there are more than 1100 active reconstruction projects in Iraq? Current projects include the construction of 364 schools, 67 public health 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 five have received the first two 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 subscriptions to telephone service have risen 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 of June 24,2004?
Did you know that two of the candidates in the Iraqi presidential election held the first ever election debate, which was broadcast province-wide on Iraqi television?
Instead of shouting the positive accomplishments from the rooftops, we are subjected to Democrats blaming our soldiers for the insurgency, calling our President and his administration liars and generally denigrating the United States.
Instead of showing our love for our country, we get photos of flag burning, isolated incidents at Abu Ghraib and people throwing snowballs at the presidential motorcade.
When did wishing the worst for our country and failure for our soldiers become the norm in America? I am ashamed of my fellow countrymen who would rather see a terrorist succeed than a Republican President.
