Since May 1

By Charles Mitchell

The next time you hear a network news story, or read a newspaper, keep these facts in mind and ask, why isn't this being reported? Below is the list that NEVER makes the Media Moguls' "news" headlines. They just keep printing the explosions, shootings, deaths and failures. Have faith!

"Since May 1..."

Since May 1...the first battalion of the new Iraqi Army has graduated and is on active duty*

Since May 1... over 60,000 Iraqis now provide security to their fellow citizens.

Since May 1...nearly all of Iraq's 400 courts are functioning.

Since May 1... the Iraqi judiciary is fully independent.

Since May 1...on Monday, October 6 power generation hit 4,518 megawatts-exceeding the pre-war average.

Since May 1...all 22 universities and 43 technical institutes and colleges are open, as are nearly all primary and secondary schools.

Since May 1... as of October 1, Coalition forces had rehabbed over 1,500 schools - 500 more than their target.

Since May 1... teachers earn from 12 to 25 times their former salaries.

Since May 1...all 240 hospitals and more than 1200 clinics are open.

Since May 1...doctors' salaries are at least eight times what they were under Saddam.

Since May 1...pharmaceutical distribution has gone from essentially nothing to 700 tons in May to a current total of 12,000 tons.

Since May 1...the Coalition has helped administer over 22 million vaccinations doses to Iraq's children.

Since May 1...a Coalition program has cleared over 14,000 kilometers of Iraq's 27,000 kilometers of weed-choked canals. They now irrigate tens of thousands of farms. This project has created jobs for more than 100,000 Iraqi men and women.

Since May 1...we have restored over three-quarters of pre-war telephone services and over two-thirds of the potable water production.

Since May 1... there are 4,900 full-service connections. We expect 50,000 by January first.

Since May 1...the wheels of commerce are turning. From bicycles to satellite dishes to cars and trucks, businesses are coming to life in all major cities and towns.

Since May 1...95 percent of all pre-war bank customers have service and first-time customers are opening accounts daily.

Since May 1... Iraqi banks are making loans to finance businesses.

Since May 1...the central bank is fully independent.

Since May 1... Iraq has some of the world's most growth-oriented investment and banking laws.

Since May 1... Iraq (has) a single, unified currency for the first time in 15 years.

Okay, most of this is true. It's all taken from a news conference in October of 2003....TWO YEARS AGO. The "since May 1st" part refers to May, 2003.

How about posting another one that lists the events that have happened since this was written two years ago. You could list the 1500 more Soldiers that have died, or the fact that the insugency and agression have escalated.

Good post though.

Actually, the naysayers do not want to admit that things are working in Iraq.....not gonna argue with anyone on this, but Iraq will be a democracy showplace for the Middle East and this is why the insurgents are trying their best to be more and more disruptive!

Charlie

"...Iraq will be a democracy showplace..." --Charlie

I think you are going a bit far Charlie, but I like your positive attitude.

# two man in Al Quida's Iraqi Insurgency went up in smoke a few days ago..

Saddams Nephue was captured and is/was one of those funding the Terrorist organizations in Iraq lately.. (NOT NO MORE)

Uday and Qusay are Dead Ay!

Saddam looks good in his folsom prison Blues!

There's a recent election coming up again in Iraq...second one since the fall of Saddam's regime..

We don't have any type of Insurgency's taking place like in New Orleans, Florida or Texas... not even north or south of the boarders of the United States.. matter fact we haven't even had one Terrorist act inside the United States since we took the war to their front door's?? now lets get back to burning some body's!

It's been 3 1/2 yrs since the Terrorist attacks and these dumb ass Jehadists don't even have a flag or country they are fighting for? Pappa was a Rolling Stone.. at least Pappa new where to lay his head!

We'll be occupying some bases in Iraq for many years to come (nothing different then the occupation of bases in Germany and Japan after WWII? or Korea after the Korean War?)

I don't think we need to pull more troops out.. I think we need to build up more soon and give both Syria and Iran the one Ultimatum (seal off your boarders or we'll seal them for you!) Oh and BTW Iran.. we're coming in to have a looksee at your Nuclear program ourselves, it's not that we don't trust you on your word.. IT's JUST THAT WE'RE TIRED OF DICKING THE DOG HERE AND HAVING YOU BLOW SMOKE UP EVERYONE'S ASS!

boy I'm a b!tch with foreign policy now arn't I?

Hog

The biggest problem I see with pulling out of Iraq at this point is that the fledgling government would fall before being adequately capable of fending off an insurgency funded by outside concerns (you think the KINGDOM of Saudi Arabia is anxious to see a true democracy work in the region? How about the Theocracy in Iran? The Dictatorship in Syria?) If we can support them until they can become a regional force to be reckoned with (as they were before, but this time under a democratically elected government, not a megolomaniac dictator) Then they can model what any nation in the region can be, and not the morass that many are. Anything less would be to do EXACTLY the same thing the USSR did when they set up a weak government in Kabul, Afghanistan, and totally withdrew in the lae eighties. We know what THAT led to!

How many number 2 men in al-qaeda can we catch or kill? Seems like a pr spin.

In recent polls the iraqi population is more optimistic about the outcome there then the American people are. Maybe they don't get the same media spin.

Or maybe they can't understand Rick and co.'s posts.

How many number 2 men in al-qaeda can we catch or kill? Seems like a pr spin.

I guess we can catch or kill as many as there are members in Al Queda, less one. when UBL runs out of minions to step up to the no.2 spot, he'll be al alone, but we'll probably have him long before that. Then we can get the next no. 1, or do you think that that would be pr spin too? Let me understand, if we don't catch anybody at all, we're not doing anything, but when we DO catch someody important, it's just pr spin. People like you burn me up. you will never be pleased by anything. You only see the world through the lens of your own agenda, and you never want a problem to be SOLVED because then you wont have the ISSUE to beat everyone you don't agree with up over!

That about some's it up nicely CW.. you put a stamp on his forehead that Matches him to a "T"

Hog

Cw, nicely said, agian.

As my 5 year old son says, you rock, dude!

Tey isn't the only one that thinks that way....

I saw and editorial cartoon in the the Asian Wall Street Journal the other day. It showed a sticky pad wall map (similar to police mafia maps) of the bad guys. Bin Laden was at the top labeled "#1" and there were about 500 "#2's" below him. GWB was standing there saying to a crowd, "well, we seem to have caught number two." I thought it was funny.

Oh, and by the way, I'd love to thank Rumsfield for making an ass of himself in front of a thousand Chinese college students by pointing his finger at them and telling them that "they are wrong, their county is wrong, and that they should learn to be more American." Way to spread that goodwill and diplomacy Rummy. Can we NOT send him to foreign countrys anymore?