Now you all know I try to keep politics out of this blog (although there are certain days when it's harder than others), but this was too good to pass up. Whether or not you're "for" the war in Iraq, you can't deny that the following list is full of Good Things. Yes, there are also casualties and people dying. It's a war. Every war has a price. But when I'm writing to our adopted soldier Josh, I keep in mind that he's there because he believes that we're all worth it...the price is worth it (and he's not the only soldier that believes that). We can all support our troops in lots of ways (and I'm not talking about the yellow ribbon on your car): write supportive and encouraging letters, send cards, send blank cards for them to send back to their loved ones here, send candy, snacks, socks, send something. Most of all, send them your prayers, tell them that you're behind them and give them a chance to respond and tell you more of the good things your hard-earned money is doing over there. You and I both know that the media doesn't spend enough time on the positive...so let's give our soldiers a chance to be that voice. They can't talk to you if they don't know you're listening.
If you want to know how to find a soldier to write to, shoot me an email and I'll hook ya up. We have a responsibility to these men and women, to not let them down, and our support means more to them than any of us will ever know.
DID YOU KNOW THIS?
Did you know that 47 countries have re-established their embassies in Iraq?
Did you know that the Iraqi government employs 1.2 million Iraqi people?
Did you know that 3100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are under rehabilitation, 263 schools are now under construction and 38 new schools have been built in Iraq?
Did you know that Iraq's higher educational structure consists of 20 Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers?
Did you know that 25 Iraq students departed for the United States in January 2004 for the re-established Fulbright program?
Did you know that the Iraqi Navy is operational? They have 5- 100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment.
Did you know that Iraq's Air Force consists of three operational squadrons, 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft which operate day and night, and will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 bell jet rangers?
Did you know that Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a Commando Battalion?
Did you know that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers?
Did you know that there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq that produce over 3500 new officers each 8 weeks?
Did you know there are more than 1100 building projects going on in Iraq? They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations, 22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities and 69 electrical facilities?.
Did you know that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have received the first 2 series of polio vaccinations?
Did you know that 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school by mid October?
Did you know that there are 1,192,000 cell phone subscribers in Iraq and phone use has gone up 158%?
Did you know that Iraq has an independent media that consist of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations?
Did you know that the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June of 2004?
Did you know that 2 candidates in the Iraqi presidential election had a recent televised debate recently?
(all information is verifiable on the DoD website...)
Posted by tomiandc at April 26, 2007 10:46 AM