Subject: Letter from a soldier



> This is a letter from Ray Reynolds, a medic in the Iowa Army National
Guard, serving in Iraq:
> 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/TV is putting
out.)
> * Over 400,000 kids have up-to-date immunizations.
> * School attendance is up 80% from levels before the war.
> * Over 1,500 schools have been renovated and rid of the weapons stored
there so education can occur.
> * The port of Uhm Qasar was renovated so grain can be off-loaded from
ships faster.
> * The country had its first 2 billion barrel export of oil in August.
> * Over 4.5 million people have clean drinking water for the first time
ever in Iraq.
> * 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.
> * Textbooks 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 that 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 email address and send him to Denison, Iowa.
This soldier will set him straight. If you are like me and very disgusted
with how this period of rebuilding has been portrayed, email this to a
friend and let them know there are good things happening.
> Ray Reynolds, SFC
> Iowa Army National Guard
> 234th Signal Battalion

__________________
Irish---Better to be dead & cool,then alive & uncool!
(Harley Davidson & the Marlboro Man)

I just had this e-mailed to me,from my wife at work.With all of the prisoner abuse,in the news,I thought that someone might want to
see things from another side! Irish

__________________
Irish---Better to be dead & cool,then alive & uncool!
(Harley Davidson & the Marlboro Man)

I agree irish! Why the hell don't they talk about the good we are doing over there?

__________________
I am here for only a short time on this earth. My goal is to make everyone I see smile if only for a moment.

Thank you Irish.

Unfortunately, letters like this one never make headlines because it doens't fit the political agenda of the media.

__________________
Dreams are only realities you haven't "Let" come true !

__________________

The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there.~ Betty Grable

If I wanted your opinion, I'd remove the duct tape and ask you for it.~ Me
<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>
One man's dream is another man's nightmare~~~~> §¤ Lilith ¤§
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Yep..and I'm damn proud to say that my cousin is one of the Navy Seabees over there helping to put in those water lines, and rebuild those schools and hospitals!!!

Thanks Irish! Every single, solitary one of those men and women over there deserve a huge pat on the back as well as a constant place in our thoughts and prayers.

Just remember, my fellow Pixies posters, that freedom isn't free. Actually, it's probably the most valuable commodity on this planet.

__________________
If the cops didn't see it, I didn't do it!

Old age and treachery WILL overcome youth and enthusiasm.