rhino 0 #1 June 2, 2004 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 is producing.) * 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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #2 June 2, 2004 Seen it before, but last time round it wasn't a medic home on leave. Not to say that the content isn't accurate of course... PS. apparently Sgt. Reynolds is not a medic. He does communications work in the 234th Signal Battalion. He's a police officer in the civ world. edit: see this page for a discussion on it: http://www.orwelliantimes.com/2004/04/26.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,989 #3 June 2, 2004 >We are doing a good job in Iraq and I challenge anyone, anywhere > to dispute me on these facts. Maybe you should drop him a line and mention to him your solution ("glass f**** parking lot" if I recall correctly.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhino 0 #4 June 2, 2004 He wrote the letter Bill.. I forwarded it.. HE IS ACTUALLY in Iraq.. Unlike most people.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #5 June 2, 2004 why in the world would they want textbooks that don't mention saddam?? He's part of their country's history, and a history book would be incomplete without mentioning it. Pretending like it never happened isn't the right approach. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,439 #6 June 2, 2004 He did write it (see Snopes for confirmation). He actually does communications work in the military, and is a firefighter as a civilian. But the way the letter is written is slanted, according to Snopes; they refer to Orwellian Times. The site has a slant also, but they do address the letter point-by-point. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #7 June 2, 2004 I find it interesting when you find information that is aganist your stance on things you change the topic... Can you even admit that some good things are happening in Iraq? I doubt it."No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #8 June 2, 2004 QuoteHe wrote the letter Bill.. I forwarded it.. HE IS ACTUALLY in Iraq.. Unlike most people.. Where are you? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #9 June 2, 2004 Quotewhy in the world would they want textbooks that don't mention saddam?? He's part of their country's history, and a history book would be incomplete without mentioning it. Pretending like it never happened isn't the right approach. I think it the texts don't show SH as a God like they used to...SH basicly wrote the history books...They were filled with him doing things he never did."No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #10 June 2, 2004 strange... the letter specifically says the texts "don't mention Saddam" rather than showing Saddam in a different light. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #11 June 2, 2004 Quotestrange... the letter specifically says the texts "don't mention Saddam" rather than showing Saddam in a different light. You believe everything you read thats posted on the internet?"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhino 0 #12 June 2, 2004 QuoteWhere are you? What is your point? I'm not being an arm chair quarterback? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #13 June 2, 2004 QuoteQuoteWhere are you? What is your point? I'm not being an arm chair quarterback? Actually, you are, you're just taking a different side of things. But don't say that other people don't have a right to express thier views because they aren't there, when you aren't either. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #14 June 2, 2004 No. But, other, independent sources have confirmed that this letter was written by a US soldier over in Iraq. Either the letter is wrong about the textbooks, or you are. I'm not sure which, and can't find other sources to confirm or deny either point of view. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #15 June 2, 2004 QuoteEither the letter is wrong about the textbooks, or you are. I think it's merely poor wording that has led to this argument. "remove references to SH" could mean merely that references to him as a great physicist that discovered atomic power have been removed for example, as opposed to all references to him in any book esp modern history. I think with the bland imprecise wording in the letter, there is room for both statements to be correct. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #16 June 2, 2004 the letter stated that the books "don't mention Saddam". Seems specific enough to me. Either the guy's in the book or he isn't. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #17 June 2, 2004 QuoteTextbooks that don't mention Saddam are in the schools for the first time in 30 years. Which textbooks? All textbooks? Modern History textbooks? Just phisics textbooks? Remember the word "textbooks" means some text books, not nessaserily all text books. The litteral meaning of the above sentance could be anything from a school with 1000 text books, 2 of which do not mention SH (well they are about butterflys anyway) right the way through to a school with 5 text books about modern history and who governed the country for the past 25 years, none of which mention SH. That to me seems pretty vague. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
christelsabine 1 #18 June 2, 2004 Quote * 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. How many times will this be repeated? with various names? QuoteDon't believe for one second that these people do not want us there. How cynical. dudeist skydiver # 3105 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crozby 0 #19 June 2, 2004 Can't you differentiate propaganda from reality? I bet you fell for the tale of the heroic exploits of Private Lynch and her dramatic rescue too? Here's an alternative version of events: QuoteBaghdad's streets are strewn with rubbish; geysers of sewage erupt in the wealthiest parts of town and, at times, you can find yourself driving in a three-inch pool of raw sewage. There are few enough signs of reconstruction, despite the $18bn (nearly £10bn) President George Bush has pledged. Unemployment is rampant; there is a chronic lack of medicine; and the electricity shortages in Baghdad are as bad now as they were a year ago. http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=527299 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,989 #20 June 2, 2004 >I find it interesting when you find information that is aganist >your stance on things you change the topic... How is that against my stance? >Can you even admit that some good things are happening in Iraq? Of course good things are happening in Iraq. I am able to admit that; are you able to admit that good things were happening before we invaded as well? Or does your ideology require you to believe only the horror stories before we invaded? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
damion75 0 #21 June 2, 2004 QuoteCan't you differentiate propaganda from reality? I bet you fell for the tale of the heroic exploits of Private Lynch and her dramatic rescue too? Here's an alternative version of events: QuoteBaghdad's streets are strewn with rubbish; geysers of sewage erupt in the wealthiest parts of town and, at times, you can find yourself driving in a three-inch pool of raw sewage. There are few enough signs of reconstruction, despite the $18bn (nearly £10bn) President George Bush has pledged. Unemployment is rampant; there is a chronic lack of medicine; and the electricity shortages in Baghdad are as bad now as they were a year ago. I am not going to make any comments about the quality of life here in Iraq (which is no better or worse than a hundred other 3rd world cities I have seen and lived in - apart from the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) which I really don't think that the coalition is responsible for! What I will say is PLEASE don't believe about 80% of what you read / see in the media. I was recently on leave in the UK, and watching the news I thought that the country must have fallen apart in my absence! Turned out when I got back that nothing had really changed - looks like the media were always reporting that 'ratings increasing' shit. Good stories, bad stories, none of them tell the whole truth either way. Cynical? Yep - but this is the second time I have seen it REALLY close at hand and I know for a fact that the media only tells you what they want you to know... sorry.*************** Not one shred of evidence supports the theory that life is serious - look at the platypus. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Zoter 0 #22 June 2, 2004 Things may be better Its probably just a little more difficult to cross the street at the moment carrying a long loaf...or equivalent...with the US there. Bang ........shoot first.....question whether it was bread or a gun later.....( then eat the bread...probably)......unlawful killing on rye anyone?? loaded...of course Edited in the light of recent video evidence to change 'Bang' to 'Bang ...bang ...bang'.....the US chaps I have seen on video take about three shots to get the job done Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites christelsabine 1 #23 June 2, 2004 QuoteI have seen on video take about three shots to get the job done Exactly this. dudeist skydiver # 3105 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Zoter 0 #24 June 2, 2004 But true.... www.indymedia.org.uk/media/2004/02/286154.wmv (warning...content is of a man being shot in the back) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Ron 10 #25 June 2, 2004 QuoteBut true.... http://www.indymedia.org.uk/media/2004/02/286154.wmv (warning...content is of a man being shot in the back) Lest not forget: http://encoderx.co.uk/nickberg/ (warning shows a man that has been captured getting his head sawed off)"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 1 2 3 Next Page 1 of 3 Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
Zoter 0 #22 June 2, 2004 Things may be better Its probably just a little more difficult to cross the street at the moment carrying a long loaf...or equivalent...with the US there. Bang ........shoot first.....question whether it was bread or a gun later.....( then eat the bread...probably)......unlawful killing on rye anyone?? loaded...of course Edited in the light of recent video evidence to change 'Bang' to 'Bang ...bang ...bang'.....the US chaps I have seen on video take about three shots to get the job done Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
christelsabine 1 #23 June 2, 2004 QuoteI have seen on video take about three shots to get the job done Exactly this. dudeist skydiver # 3105 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zoter 0 #24 June 2, 2004 But true.... www.indymedia.org.uk/media/2004/02/286154.wmv (warning...content is of a man being shot in the back) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #25 June 2, 2004 QuoteBut true.... http://www.indymedia.org.uk/media/2004/02/286154.wmv (warning...content is of a man being shot in the back) Lest not forget: http://encoderx.co.uk/nickberg/ (warning shows a man that has been captured getting his head sawed off)"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
