Iraq War is a huge, overall success to be proud of
This Sunday, Iraqis celebrated Iraqi Freedom Day, marking the third anniversary of multinational forces liberating Iraq and toppling the maniacal, murderous regime of Saddam Hussein. 25 million Iraqis have been liberated, Saddam’s torture chambers are closed, the ethnic cleansing has ceased and now, democracy is flourishing in Iraq as American and Iraqi forces work together to quell the senseless murder and mayhem that still exist in a very small portion of the country.
Iraqis and Americans are working together to build a better future and a legacy of liberty, peace and prosperity for future generations. The forces of retreat, defeat, moral relativism and so-called humanitarianism rally in the United States, doing their best to undermine all that has been accomplished in the last three years. It’s about time we take a look at the balance sheet to remind us of all that’s been accomplished and just what brave young Americans are fighting for. Good is prevailing in Iraq. Keep in mind that the same critics who currently endeavor to see U.S. defeat in Iraq predicted catastrophe when the war began. Saddam Hussein’s regime collapsed after just a few weeks. There was no intense urban fighting in achieving victory. The Iraqi oil fields were not destroyed. No environmental disaster occurred. U.S. forces did not suffer heavy losses. Civil war did not break out and there was no refugee crisis. None of these brash, overzealous predictions came to pass, much to the disappointment of those eager for failure.
So much has been achieved in Iraq. Two national elections, numerous provincial elections and a constitutional referendum have been held in Iraq since January 2005. More than 70 percent of registered voters participated in the December 2005 election. Many critics point to the Iraqis inability to form a new governing coalition as a sign of failure but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Democracies aren’t created overnight. It took the U.S. years to adopt our Constitution. European nations are faced with the prospect of building new governing coalitions after each election.
Iraq’s economy is making great strides. The International Monetary Fund estimates that the Iraqi economy grew by 2.6 percent in 2005 and will grow by 10.4 percent in 2006. A new central bank has been established and the currency remains stable. Inflation, though still high, is under control. Over 80 percent of foreign debt from Saddam’s era has been forgiven. Nearly 90 companies trade publicly on a stock market established just two years ago. There are now nearly 5 million cell phones subscribers, 2000 Internet cafes, and thousands more satellite dishes. In a Dec. 12, 2005 ABC News poll, 70 percent of Iraqis rated their economic situation as positive.
Oil production has increased over pre-war levels to 2.8 million barrels per day. Iraq oil production capacities are being modernized and increased. Nineteen water treatment plants have been refurbished, providing over 2 million Iraqis with clean, safe drinking water. Electricity supply has passed pre-war levels and is more evenly distributed than before Iraq was liberated, with reconstruction efforts adding nearly 1500 mega watts of capacity.
Fantastic advances have been made in education. Nearly 3,000 schools have been renovated since 2003. 20 million new textbooks have been distributed and thousands of teachers have been certified. Primary school enrollment is up 19 percent from pre-war levels. From the economy, to education, to public health, Iraqis and multinational forces are making real, verifiable progress. To get a more complete picture of the successes in Iraq visit USAID’s website at http://www.usaid.gov/iraq/.
On the military side of the mission, American forces are making great strides in training the Iraqi armed forces and defeating Islamic fascists. More than 250,000 Iraqi soldiers and policeman have been trained. Currently, coalition officials hope to have trained 75,000 more by December. Iraqi security forces are now leading 30 percent of missions. Attacks on coalition forces have been greatly reduced in the last several months. Twelve of Iraq’s 18 provinces are almost free of violence. Terrorists are choosing not to clash with Iraqi and American forces as they are soundly defeated in every engagement.
While the media and the left obsess over bumper sticker slogans like “Impeach Bush,” “No War for Oil,” and “Bush is the World’s Biggest Terrorist,” freedom is on the march in Iraq. These people refuse to acknowledge successes and compulsively harp on mistakes. They aim to turn public opinion against our noble effort in Iraq, and if they are successful in compelling the withdrawal of American troops, tyranny and genocide like that witnessed in Cambodia after the last great success of the humanitarian left will overspread Iraq. Americans cannot permit another tragedy of that degree, in the process handing the forces of evil another triumph.
Having failed militarily as well as in their efforts to stop elections, Islamic fascists are making a last ditch effort, turning their ire on the Iraqi civilian population, indiscriminately murdering innocent men, women and children. Just ask the soldiers that are coming home. While the media is busy praising so-called freedom fighters slaughtering Iraqi children or fawning over mentally deranged Cindy Sheehan, they ignore that the vast majority of military personnel and military families staunchly support the mission, because they know it is worthwhile. The Iraqis, Americans and our coalition partners are forging an enduring bond of friendship while winning decisively.
Students for Academic Freedom is sponsoring Support Our Troops and Their Mission Day at Virginia Tech today. The goal is to raise awareness of the courage and sacrifice of the U.S. service members around the world in past and present missions. Find a booth at either the Drillfield, McBryde Hall, Major Williams Hall or Squires 232, between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. and write a letter of support to a soldier, make a donation, drop off a care package item or collect a free support ribbon.
Also, please attend the Honoring Military Service candle light vigil on the Drillfield at 7:30 p.m. Show the troops that we remember and support them and their mission.
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