I was preparing to post on another topic entirely. But last night I had the misfortune to watch a major US news network with their panel of ‘experts’ who felt the need to pick apart the liberation of Iraq yet again, talking about the prisoner abuse scandal, the vast amounts of money spent on the liberation effort, troop fatalities, etc.; all the time blaming the United States for the current state of Iraq.
The state of Iraq? Lets have a look at it, shall we? 47 countries have re-established their embassies in Iraq. The Iraqi government employs 1.2 million Iraqi people. 3100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are under rehabilitation, 263 schools are now under construction and 38 new schools have been built. Iraq’s higher educational structure consists of 20 universities, 46 institutes or colleges and 4 research centers. 25 Iraq students departed for the United States in January 2004 for the re-established Fulbright program.
The Iraq navy have 5 100′ patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment. Their air force consists of 3 operation squadrons, 9 reconnaissance and 3 transport aircraft which operate day and night, and will soon add 16 helicopters and 4 bell jet rangers. Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a Commando Battallion. The Iraq police service has over 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers, and are now adding 3500 new officers each 8 weeks from the ranks of its 5 police academies.
There are currently over 1100 new building projects going on in Iraq including 364 schools, 67 clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations, 22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities and 69 electrical facilities. 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have now received the first 2 series of polio vaccinations. 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school by mid October. There are now 1,192,000 cellphone subscribers in Iraq and phone use has increased by 158%. Iraq has an independent media that consists of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations. The Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June 2004. 2 candidates in the Iraqi presidential election had a televised debate.
The state of Iraq?
Almost makes you wish Saddam was back in charge.
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John Wright
johnwright@softhome.net
