The following email is circulating between war-supporters in an apparent attempt to refute the claims that the Iraqi occupation has become a quagmire. I thought that I would respond to each point made. My responses are the non-italic text.<\/p>\n
Subject: Iraq a Success<\/p>\n
This is for those who are discouraged at the constant bombardment of negative news about Iraq from the liberal, anti-Bush media, and also for those who just want to be critical for other reasons.<\/p>\n
SINCE PRESIDENT BUSH DECLARED AN END TO MAJOR COMBAT ON MAY 1:<\/i> [319 US troops have died<\/a>]<\/p>\n – the first battalion of the new Iraqi Army has graduated and is on active duty.<\/i><\/p>\n The Daily Telegraph reports<\/a>: – over 60,000 Iraqis now provide security to their fellow citizens.<\/i><\/p>\n Um, what security<\/a>?<\/p>\n – nearly all of Iraq’s 400 courts are functioning.<\/i><\/p>\n Functioning as well as….? I assume this is a US gov’t “fact.”<\/p>\n –the Iraqi judiciary is fully independent.<\/i><\/p>\n Ahhh, as independent as the American appointed<\/i> Iraqi Council?<\/p>\n –on Monday, October 6 power generation hit 4,518 megawatts-exceeding I thought we went to Iraq to “rid the world of Saddam and his WMD” not “bring power back to prewar levels.” Moreover, is this really an accomplishment<\/i> when we remember that it was American bombs that created the lower power output? But I digress.<\/p>\n –all 22 universities and 43 technical institutes and colleges are open, as are nearly all primary and secondary schools.<\/i><\/p>\n See above point. Simply, this is the way is was supposed<\/i> to be, it is not an accomplishment per se. It is kind of like saying: “My local fire department put out a fire.” Yeah, so what?<\/p>\n – by October 1, Coalition forces had rehabbed over 1,500 schools – 500 more than their target.<\/i><\/p>\n Hmmm, why did they need rehab? Also, since when was US taxpayer money supposed to be used for foreign<\/i> schools? I recommend you visit your nearest local inner city school to understand where gov’t money is truly needed.<\/p>\n – teachers earn from 12 to 25 times their former salaries.<\/i><\/p>\n So what? It is probably inflation<\/a>. <\/p>\n –all 240 hospitals and more than 1200 clinics are open.<\/i><\/p>\n They better be<\/a>. <\/p>\n –doctor’s salaries are at least eight times what they were under High demand<\/a> = high wage. Basic economics. <\/p>\n –95 percent of all pre-war bank customers have service and first-time customers are opening accounts daily.<\/i><\/p>\n Wait, the US military is spending my tax-money gathering these type of statistics? Just for that, I think I will disregard this point. And here’s some real<\/i> economic freedom<\/a>.<\/p>\n –pharmaceutical distribution has gone from essentially nothing to 700
\n” About 300 of the 700 members in the first new Iraqi army battalion set up by the US-led coalition have resigned, a coalition official said today. ”<\/p>\n
\nthe pre-war average.<\/i><\/p>\n
\nSaddam.<\/i><\/p>\n
\ntons in May to a current total of 12,000 tons.<\/i><\/p>\n