Iraq, by the latest numbers

To the editor: There are very encouraging statistics coming from Iraq. Statistics we should all be pleased about. They indicate that America and our allies have been successfully liberating Iraq and advancing to control terrorists in that country. The following facts were taken from the Department of Defense web site: • 47 countries have reestablished their embassies in Iraq. • The Iraqi government currently employs 1.2 million Iraqi people. • 3,100 schools have been renovated and 364 schools are currently under renovation. • 38 new schools have been built in Iraq and 263 are now under construction. • Iraq’s higher educational structure consists of 20 universities, 46 institutes and four research centers, all currently operating. • 25 Iraqi students departed for the United States in January 2005 for the reestablished Fulbright Program. • The Iraqi Navy has five 100 foot patrol crafts, 34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment. • The Iraqi Air Force consists of three operational squadrons which includes nine reconnaissance and three US C-130 transport aircraft (under Iraqi operational control) which operate day and night and will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and four Bell Jet Rangers. • Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a Commando Battalion. • The Iraqi Police Service has more than 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers. • There are five Police Academies in Iraq that produce more than 3,500 new officers each eight weeks. • There are more than 1,100 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. • 96 percent of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have received the first two series of Polio vaccinations. • 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school by October 2005. • There are 1.2 million cell phone subscribers in Iraq and phone use has gone up 158 percent. • Iraq has an independent media that consists of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers, and 10 television stations. • The Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June 2004. • Two candidates in the presidential election recently had a televised debate. Most of us would not know these facts because they are not being told to us. It is a wonderful thing to be part of the freedom these people now experience. Let’s support Iraq, the Iraqi people and our troops. Bob Fletcher Robert Ritzer On behalf of the officers and members Nicholas P. Lesando Jr. American Legion Post 214 Warwick