What, why we don't know about Iraq

Did you know that 47 countries have re-established their embassies in Iraq ?

Did you know the Iraqi government currently employs 1.2 million Iraqi people?

Did you know that 3,100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are under rehabilitation, 263 schools are under construction and 38 new schools have been completed in Iraq?

Did you know that Iraq 's higher educational structure consists of 20 universities, 46 institutes or colleges and four research centers, all currently operating?

Did you know that 25 Iraqi students departed for the United States in January 2005 for the re-established Fulbright program?

Did you know that the Iraqi Navy is operational? It has five 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, which includes nine reconnaissance and three C-130 transport aircraft and will soon include 16 UH-1 helicopters and four Bell Jet Rangers? Did you know 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 five police academies in Iraq that produce more than 3,500 new officers every eight weeks?

Did you know 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.

Did you know 96 percent of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have received the first two series of polio vaccinations?

Did you know that 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school at mid-October?

Did you know that there are 1,192,000 cell phone subscribers in Iraq and phone use has gone up 158 percent?

Did you know that Iraq has an independent media that consists of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations?

Did you know the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June 2004?

Did you know that two candidates in the Iraqi presidential election had a televised debate recently?

Of course we didn't know!

Why didn't we know?

Our media wouldn't tell us!

Instead of reflecting our love for our country, we get photos of flag burning incidents at Abu Ghraib and people throwing snowballs at the presidential motorcades.

Tragically, the lack of accentuating the positive in Iraq serves two purposes: 1) It undermines the world's perception of the United States thus minimizing consequent support, and it discourages American citizens.

The above facts are verifiable on the Department of Defense Web site: http://www.defense.gov/

When are you "journalists" going to wake up and put out the real facts to your readers?

Fen Lind

Huntley