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Ramz
Joined: Mar 22, 2004
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Letter from an American Soldier
May 6, 2004 - 07:04 AM
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As I head off to Baghdad for the final weeks of my stay in Iraq, I wanted to say thanks to all of you who did not believe the media.
They have done a very poor job of covering everything that has happened. I am sorry that I have not been able to visit all of you during my two week leave back home. And just so you can rest at night knowing something is happening in Iraq that is noteworthy, I thought I would pass this on to you.
This is the list of things that has happened in Iraq recently: (Please share it with your friends and compare it to the version that your paper is producing)
-Over 4.5 million people have clean drinking water for the first time ever in Iraq.
-Over 400,000 kids have up to date immunizations.
-Over 1500 schools have been renovated and ridded of the weapons that were stored there so education can occur.
-The port of Uhm Qasar was renovated so grain can be off loaded from ships faster.
-School attendance is up 80% from levels before the war.
-The country had it's first 2 billion barrel export of oil in August.
-The country now receives 2 times the electrical power it did before the war.
-100% of the hospitals are open and fully staffed compared to 35% before the war.
-Elections are taking place in every major city and city councils are in place.
-Sewer and water lines are installed in every major city.
-Over 60,000 police are patrolling the streets.
-Over 100,000 Iraqi civil defense police are securing the country.
-Over 80,000 Iraqi soldiers are patrolling the streets side by side with US soldiers.
-Over 400,000 people have telephones for the first time ever.
-Students are taught field sanitation and hand washing techniques to prevent the spread of germs.
-An interim constitution has been signed.
-Girls are allowed to attend school for the first time ever in Iraq.
-Text books that don't mention Saddam are in the schools for the first time in 30 years.
Don't believe for one second that these people do not want us there. I have met many many people from Iraq who do want us there and in a bad way. They say they will never see the freedoms we talk about but they hope their children will.
We are doing a good job in Iraq and I challenge anyone, anywhere to dispute me on these facts. So If you happen to run into John Kerry, be sure to give him my address and send him to Denison, Iowa.
Ray Reynolds, SFC Iowa Army National Guard 234th Signal Battalion
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Mike Cartier
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Good Job!
May 11, 2004 - 02:02 AM
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Good Job Ray!
I hope your final few weeks on the front go well. Thank you for helping people to understand what is really happening in Iraq. All of you are doing a wonderful job over there! Good luck to you soldier!
Michael Cartier
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Michael Cartier
Joined: Mar 13, 2003
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depends on point of view
June 7, 2004 - 05:46 AM
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Ramzzz86 wrote recently:
-The port of Uhm Qasar was renovated so grain can be off loaded from ships faster.
...... Hmm, if I remember correctly the British use Uhm Qasar as one of their main resupply routes. So I don't think the renovations were wholly altruistic.
-The country now receives 2 times the electrical power it did before the war.
...... Well I guess, they weren't able to upgrade their generating facilities due to the UN embargo following the 2nd gulf war ...
-An interim constitution has been signed.
...... Don't even get me started on that issue.
-Girls are allowed to attend school for the first time ever in Iraq.
...... Ahm, we are talking about Irak and not Afghanistan. Irak was a more or less secular state. Girls were allowed to attend school (it probably was even mandatory).
-Text books that don't mention Saddam are in the schools for the first time in 30 years.
...... Yep, there is no better way of dealing with the past, as eradicating it from the school curriculum. It reminds me a bit of the Palestinian schoolbooks that somehow manage to neglect the existence of Israel.
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Mariana Gonzalez Rodriguez
Joined: Mar 18, 2003
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The good, the bad, and the really bad
June 7, 2004 - 06:51 AM
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It is true that the American Army has done a somewhat great job in Irak, I don't deny that, for I believe in soldiers that are there, because they believe that's the best way to help those people. My cousin is one of them, and I admire him, and everyone else that is in Irak for a good cause.
I personally do not believe in war as the best solution, but you ahve to look at the "semi" positive side of it, and that is that in fact the people of Irak are being a new beginning. Call me naive, but there is something such as believeing in the good intentions of people.
In war, there are dreadful things, but sometimes durinf armed conflict, we can get to see the best in the willingness of people to help each other. And we learn, that wars are not the way.
Anyway congratulations to all those good and honest American, British, and Spanish soldiers that are in Irak to help people.
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dj
Joined: Aug 25, 2003
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Re: Letter from an American Soldier
June 7, 2004 - 07:41 AM
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ramzz
you were right in every way that your government and your army has provided so many priviledges to Iraq?
but what about the innocent peoples who are dead? they were also human beings. what about the soldiers who are no more?
all these are not free of cost. it is because you have survived in the war thats why you dare write such article.
ad all of us know that " EVERY WAR THAT IS BEING FAUGHT IS FOR PEACE ONLY" WHY DO PEOPLE HAVE TO MAKE WAR FOR THE PEACE?
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hammodi
Joined: Apr 17, 2004
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Thank you very much
June 13, 2004 - 02:10 AM
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Ray, I want you to know that a lot of Iraqis know and appreciate what you are doing for us and thank you very much. You are our saviours.
America has created so many friends in Iraq by kicking saddam away. I will never forget what America has done for the Iraqi people.
I wish you all return home safely. I too get frustrated with how the media show Iraq now.
I completely agree with what you said but I have a small remark, girls were attending schools in saddam’s times in Baghdad, I think you mean the number of girls attending schools has increased.
I may add to your words that now we are FREE. Previously we had to watch our words not to say something that could take us to jail, torture and death. Moreover, Shia mosques are being built everywhere now while under saddam’s it was forbidden to build a Shia mosque. I have more religious freedom now than before. Salaries have risen to more than 20 times the old ones. Before only baathists got the important jobs now people who really deserve it are being employed.
Thank you again American Soldier.
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farhana siddique
Joined: Sep 24, 2003
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Re: Letter from an American Soldier
June 13, 2004 - 09:00 AM
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Originally posted by DHAMS007
but what about the innocent peoples who are dead? they were also human beings. what about the soldiers who are no more?
My point exactly lies here in the above quote of DHAMS007.........Furthermore, once I expressed in one of my discussion posts that just to give up all kind of brutalities against humanity either in the name of religion, peace or anyother so-called justification, should be the top priority of the world today. To me this is the only way; awfully needed to be adopted for our planet's progress and prosperity, otherwise it would cease to exist. As humanity needs:
Peace; not war
Love; not hate
O' Lord! Bless us with such a fate
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Oke Rotimi
Joined: Jul 24, 2003
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Re: Letter from an American Soldier
June 26, 2004 - 12:48 PM
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Hello,
While some soldiers are worthy ambassadors in Iraq, some are even worse than terrorists themselves.
All i know is that which everway , the will of the people will surely prevail no matter how long. We need to commend those who are representing the yarnings of the people passionately and to those who are only carrying out thier on selfish devilish acts in Iraq, i say to them that there is a supreme being that knows BEST. HE WILL JUDGE ALL WHEN THE TIME COMES.
Just my opinion
Rotimi omo iya shade
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