Ithaca 37
New member
Subject: E-mail from a soldier in Iraq - Must Read
> >
> > Thanks for the email. The roadside bombs are probably the biggest worry
> > we
> > have. The terrorists want us to give up and give in. I think it will
> > get
> > better in time. The good side is the Iraqi people are scared to death
> > of
> > Marines. Somewhere along the first war, it was widely spread that you
> > had to
> > eat one of your parents to become a Marine. This bit of psychological
> > warfare proved valuable today because the Iraqi people still believe it
> > is
> > true.
> >
> >
> >
> > 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 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
> >
> > Thanks for the email. The roadside bombs are probably the biggest worry
> > we
> > have. The terrorists want us to give up and give in. I think it will
> > get
> > better in time. The good side is the Iraqi people are scared to death
> > of
> > Marines. Somewhere along the first war, it was widely spread that you
> > had to
> > eat one of your parents to become a Marine. This bit of psychological
> > warfare proved valuable today because the Iraqi people still believe it
> > is
> > true.
> >
> >
> >
> > 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 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
