Back In The Saddle
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
If found this post on The Cincinnati Enquirer's Politics Extra blog thanks to a member of the Democratic Underground. I've sort of lost my way lately and it felt good to blast another right wing nut job who really needed it.
Here's the original post:
Subject: : Unreported
* Did you know that 25 Iraq students departed for the United States in January 2005 for the reestablished Fulbright program?
* Did you know that the Iraqi Navy is operational?! They have five 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 each 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 47 countries have reestablished 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 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, all currently operating?
* 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 YOU DIDN'T KNOW . .
AND I 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.
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 consequential support, and it is intended to discourage American citizens.
And Here's My Response:
Dear wakeupamerica,
Are you really a simpleton or do you just play one in the blogosphere?
Guess what genius, it's hard for the media to tell us about the schools that have opened when they refuse media coverage because it will make them a bombing target?
Phone use is up? Who gives a crap? Well at least its one way that families can keep in touch since they can't go outside for fear of being kidnapped or shot.
25 Iraqis came to America on Fulbright scholarships. Kudos! Between 38,000 and 42,000 Iraqis have died as either a direct result of military action or from circumstances created by the war.
The Iraq navy! Are you serious? Less than forty vessels none bigger than 100 feet. Ivy league crew teams have more seapower! And, by the way, WHO CARES? No one is being kidnapped, bombed or shot on the high seas. We're not dealing with pirates you imbecile. We're dealing with terrorists, who by the way weren't in Iraq before we invaded.
The Iraqi police has 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers. That would be great except for the fact that most of them are Shiite militiamen who are busy killing Sunnis instead of maintaining order.
There are 1100 building projects in Iraq because we obliterated ther infrastructure. Most Iraqis still have no running water in their homes, their electricity is rationed and there is sewage backing up in both the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. These rivers, in case you are unfamiliar with world history or geography (and being a Republican apologist I'm sure you are), gave rise to the first civilizations in the entire world. By the way, how many of those 1100 projects are being run or staffed by Iraqis whose unemployment rate is close to 46% in case you care, which I know you don't.
Oh boy, the Baghdad Stock Exchange is open. Well hallelujah, Praise the Lord and Pass the Doctored Account books. In a country with 46% unemployment, who in God's name is going to be buying stock. Especially when they are to busy trying to buy ice and clean drinking water.
Listen you Pollyanna, you can blow sunshine up my hind end all you want but don't expect me to thank you for the breeze. Shut your piehole and get some real facts before you try and claim that things are going swimmingly in Iraq, when we all know it is an A1 Cluster. . .
As far as accentuating the positive, let me ask you a question? Should my cousin be singing "Always look on the Bright Side of Life" while his Chinook is being shot at in Iraq. There is no need for the media to undermine our standing in the world and minimize public support for the war because unlike you we can see what's going on and we don't like it and we haven't liked it for a long time. So, why don't you climb back under your rock and leave the important stuff to the rest of us. So long then. Bye, Bye now.
