I received this in an email today from a loony conservative friend. Now, none of this is "sourced" but I would LOVE to be able to answer her with pictures, and facts from real sources. Here's a few, all below the fold:
Did you know that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trained
>and equipped police officers?
>Did you know that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have received
>the first 2 series of polio vaccinations?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
>Did you know that 47 countries have re-established their embassies in Iraq?
>
>Did you know that the Iraqi current government 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 25 Iraq students departed for the United States in
>January 2005 for the re-established Fulbright program?
>
>
>Did you know that the Iraqi Navy is operational?! They have 5-
>100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a navel 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 consist of 75 radio
>stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations?
>
>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 WE 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
>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 consequent support, and it is intended to discourage American
>citizens.
>
>All of the above facts are verifiable on the Department of Defense website.
>Pass it on!
Seriously, any other information anybody has, with actual cites, would be really helpful. I think this is a lost cause, but she forwarded this to some 100 people, and I would love to be able to turn around and debunk it all- or some- or something!
Thanks!