Since Bush declared an end to major combat

I recently received a forwarded email containing a list of things that have gone right "Since President Bush declared an end to major combat on May 1". I understand the need to look at the bright side when things are going badly. I also believe there is perhaps a greater need to look at the situation as it really exists.

To that end, I would like to offer the balancing side to that email. The information I offer is, of course, not a complete list of rebuttals or confirmations by any means. It is only a point-by-point view of another side of the propaganda coin, where I have found such information. I have offered at least one link to a reference source for each comment. There are others. I can't say where the data come from in the original email, because there are no such references. In searching for some other information, in fact, I coincidentally came across what appears to be the original version of this email. It is titled: The Facts on Post War Iraq, Posted by svenrox on 12/10/2003 @ 10:48PM in Politix, which is a posting on a blog by a person named Sven Rafferty. No references for the data presented are offered in the post.

(I've also included a few comments from Bob at Bob's Links & Rants - those are indicated by "Bob says:" )

I've checked them all at this time, but if any of the links I have provided don't work in the future, write to Nell - sidebar, and I'll get you a good link.

Original email claims are in blue print.

So, with that introduction...


Since President Bush declared an end to major combat on May 1...

... the first battalion of the new Iraqi Army has graduated and is on active duty.

Out of that recently trained battalion of 700, over one-third quit. Which means that 250 Iraqis, most of whom were former soldiers in Saddam's regime, are now out there well trained in and have knowledge of American military occupation and counter-insurgency tactics.

In a related aside, Saddam's agents infiltrated the U.S. command.

... over 60,000 Iraqis now provide security to their fellow citizens.

Iraqi police are constantly under attack. Iraq's police chiefs say that since major combat was declared over they've lost more men than the Americans, with one police general saying 260 officers have now been killed.   source

A Defense Department report entitled, "Draft Working Papers: Iraq Status" and dated December 15, 2003, finds that "the CPA is fully 50 percent short of its current goal of training and staffing the critical Iraqi Border Police Service. Some 12,600 - out of a goal of 27,500 - trained officers are on line, with only 100 in training."

... nearly all of Iraq's 400 courts are functioning.

Paul Bremer says in an August 8 report to the Iraqi people that 300 of 400 courts are open. I haven't a lot of information on this subject. However, I will note that, until an election can be held and total control of the governmental affairs of Iraq turned over to the Iraqi people, nothing is truly independent of American control. It is interesting to note that a moratorium on the death penalty - something we don't have here in the U.S - was established by the Coalition Provisional Authority. And also, there is the assertion that, since Saddam's rule has been overrun, the courts are functioning with Islamic religious justice.

... the Iraqi judiciary is fully independent.

See previous item.

... on Monday, October 6 power generation hit 4,518 megawatts-exceeding the prewar average.

Information from a Baghdad resident indicates that people in that city get electricty a couple hours here and there each day.

The previously mentioned December 15 DoD report states that "National electricity production stands at less than 3500 megawatts, far short of the CPA goal of 5,000 megawatts."

Another report from Baghdad says that the electricity is off for an average of 16 hours a day, and repeats a new version of an old joke: How many US soldiers does it take to change a light bulb? About 130,000 so far, but don't hold your breath.

...For it's part, the US says the Iraqis are expecting too much too soon. "The bottleneck is sheer time," explained Ted Morse, the CPA's coordinator for the Baghdad region. "Wherever you have had a true conflict situation, there is an impatience in that people think it can be done immediately. It cannot."

But Iraqis themselves have showed that it can. In 1991, after the first Gulf War and despite the United Nations-imposed sanctions, it took Iraq's bureaucrats and engineers only three months to restore electricity back to pre-war capacity, boasted Janan Behman, manager of Baghdad's Daura power station. Now after almost nine months and despite the involvement of US giant Bechtel, builders of the Hoover Dam and some of the world's biggest engineering works, Iraq's power sector is still only producing less than 20 percent or 3,600 MW out of the 20,000 MW required. A daily power interruption of two to three hours would be acceptable after nine months, but 16 hours?

One thing that is never mentioned in these reports of how much better Iraq is now than it was pre-war, is that this bypasses the very important fact that the U.S. waged a blistering war on Iraq under Bush Sr., and had severe sanctions placed on the country since that time. What might be more meaningful is the measure of the change between now and the time before the first Gulf War.

In fact, this entire list of accomplishments and kudos is tainted in that it never concedes that much of the condition of Iraq prior to this war is directly attributable to the sanctions placed upon the country at the behest of the United States for over a decade.

... all 22 universities and 43 technical institutes and colleges are open, as are nearly all primary and secondary schools.

28,000 teachers were fired because they were Ba'athists, which was probably the only way to secure their positions in the first place.

Iraqi people are afraid to send their children to school because of the violence in the streets and the possibility of being targeted.

School children are being frisked and arrested. A recent riot by school children may foreshadow events to come.

... by October 1, Coalition forces had rehab-ed over 1,500 schools - 500 more than scheduled.

Bechtel has the contract for repairing schools. Evidence is that they have pocketed profits on shoddy and unacceptable work, and are being required to go back and do the jobs right. If they have managed to complete more than scheduled, perhaps that is why.

... teachers earn from 12 to 25 times their former salaries.

Bob says: "Hyperinflation will do that."

Again, there is no documentation to check this figure. For the sake of argument, I will accept it. Now, see the note above on the 28,000 teachers that were fired. Those 28,000 now earn no salary.

... all 240 hospitals and more than 1200 clinics are open.

Again - no documentation, but...they are not safe from violence - even from coalition shooting.

The international health charity Medact has a recent report out (Continuing Collateral Damage: The health and environmental costs of war on Iraq 2003) comparing information to a similar report it made in November 2002, which finds that "Limited access to clean water and sanitation, as well as poverty, malnutrition, and disruption of public services including health services continue to have a negative impact on the health of the Iraqi people."

... doctors salaries are at least eight times what they were under Saddam.

As Bob might say, hyperinflation will do that. I don't know about the inflationary status. So I will say that, here again, we have to take into account that under Saddam for over a decade, Iraqis in all facets of the society have been under the hardship of sanctions. The economy was depressed. If salaries have risen suddenly, you have to ask yourself why. It is not likely to be simply because Saddam was ousted.

Also, consider this: neither the United States' CPA or the United States' chosen IGC has rescinded Saddam's anti-union laws. In fact, union organizers have been arrested.

... pharmaceutical distribution has gone from essentially nothing to 700 tons in May to a current total of 12,000 tons.

Again, no documentation. However, it is known that pharmaceuticals distribution was severely disrupted due to sanctions, and since the war's inception, humanitarian groups distributing both medical supplies and food have been forced to withdraw from Iraq.

... the Coalition has helped administer over 22 million vaccination doses to Iraq's children.

Again, there is no mention that the sanctions placed on Iraq by the coalition prevented Iraqi children from receiving necessary medical treatments. Here is a report from Relief Web created in January of 2003: The impact of a new war on Iraqi children. Please note this finding: "16 million Iraqi civilians - half of them children - are 100 percent dependent on government-distributed food rations. If war breaks out, this distribution system will be disrupted, leading to food shortages, malnutrition and possibly starvation." And then, please take note of this decision: Paul Bremer has decided that the food distribution system should be dismantled in January, as it is a "dangerous socialist anachronism".

... a Coalition program has cleared over 14,000 kilometers of Iraq's 27,000 kilometers of weed-choked canals which now irrigate tens of thousands of farms. This project has created jobs for more than 100,000 Iraqi men and women.

Again, no documentation, but, again, I will take it at face value.

Iraqi farmers' orchards were bulldozed by U.S. troops, as well.

... we have restored over three-quarters of prewar telephone services and over two-thirds of the potable water production.

I have no information on telephone services other than projections, and the comment in the LA Times report cited in the next point.

Nor any on water production, but I do have information that water treatment facilities were specifically targeted in the first Gulf War waged by Bush Sr, while sanctions were simultaneously placed on medical supplies to treat water-borne diseases and chlorine, which could have been used for anti-bacterial purposes.

... there are 4,900 full-service telephone connections. We expect 50,000 by year-end.

The LA Times recently reported: "Nearly nine months after much of Iraq's infrastructure and industry was wrecked during the U.S.-led invasion and the rioting that ensued, there is still no way to make a simple telephone call...The lack of service is slowing the recovery of every public and private enterprise and further alienating Iraqis, who are already skeptical of Washington's vision for democracy in their nation."

... the wheels of commerce are turning. From bicycles to satellite dishes to cars and trucks, businesses are coming to life in all major cities and towns.

In October, the unemployment count in Iraq was reported to be 12 million people - 70%. Seventy percent! (And we fired 28,000 teachers!) Unemployment has been a serious and ongoing problem.

Much of the business in Iraq is now conducted by foreign companies (so far mainly American such as Bechtel, Halliburton, World Com, and Kellogg, Brown & Root - a subsidiary of Halliburton) who have received reconstruction contracts from the U.S. What's more, they have been hiring in cheap labor from outside Iraq, while the unemployment rate in Iraq remains very high (70% - see notes above). They say it's because Iraqis are seen as a security threat. I might suggest they'll be more of a threat when they can't earn an income.

Also, Iraqi businesses are unable to compete for local contracting jobs for a number of reasons, and are told essentially, if you can't cut the mustard, tough luck.

... 95 percent of all prewar bank customers have service and first-time customers are opening accounts daily.

... the central bank is fully independent.

... Iraq has one of the worlds most growth-oriented investment and banking laws.

... Iraq has a single, unified currency for the first time in 15 years.

... Iraqi banks are making loans to finance businesses.

Bob says: Which can't get contracts because they've all gone to American carpetbaggers.

Again, I have no information on bank customers. It is hard to imagine that these figures are very meaningful, however, in a country with 70% unemployment. And, as Bob points out (and as noted above), Iraqi businesses are not getting much in the way of contracts. The new bank customers may well be foreigners, and in light of the other information, I would think that's probably a pretty good bet.

... satellite TV dishes are legal.

That's good.

... foreign journalists aren't on 10-day visas paying mandatory and extortionate fees to the Ministry of Information for minders and other government spies.

This is a very interesting comment, in light of the fact that here in the U.S., post 9/11, foreign journalists in our country are being detained and deported.

... there is no Ministry of Information.

Bob says: Ha ha ha. There is a CPA serving that role.

Bush has proposed setting up a government controlled news feed station to send info back to the states. A "ministry of information" to make sure we hear what the administration wants us to hear. The idea hasn't been received particularly well, yet.

... there are more than 170 newspapers.

I can't really offer anything there. I don't know how many newspapers there were pre-war, and I don't know what is considered a newspaper for the purposes of that claim. And again, there is no supporting reference, so I can't check on it.

However, I do have information that, after Saddam was ousted, media outlets and newspaper were taken over by the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority, and that they raided an Arab TV network and shut it down.

... you can buy satellite dishes on what seems like every street corner.

Well, that's interesting. I'm not sure how that is a big plus, but it's the third time satellite dishes have been mentioned in the list of great things. At any rate, you'll have a hard time watching much TV in Iraq with electricity available only a few hours a day. You might be more interested in being able to purchase gasoline so you can get to work and earn enough money to buy that satellite dish.

... foreign journalists (and everyone else) are free to come and go.

This is simply not true. Entire towns are being encased in barbed wire, and Iraqis are required to carry U.S.-controlled identification cards printed only in English.

Also, check here to find a list of foreign journalists who have been killed in Iraq - by coalition forces.

... a nation that had not one single element - legislative, judicial or executive - of a representative government, now does.

... in Baghdad alone residents have selected 88 advisory councils. Baghdad's first democratic transfer of power in 35 years happened when the city council elected its new chairman.

And in a country of 60% females, who are both educated and motivated to take part in their country's government, they are virtually excluded from participation by extremely low representation at all levels.

Most Iraqis and other governments view the governing bodies in Iraq as mere arms of the United States' government. The Governing Council has been accused of being made up of people who actually have primary residences outside the country.

... today in Iraq chambers of commerce, business, school and professional organizations are electing their leaders all over the country.

As noted previously, labor unions are still against the law - a Saddam policy that has yet to be lifted.

In fact, union organizers were arrested on December 6.

... 25 ministers, selected by the most representative governing body in Iraq's history, run the day-to-day business of government.

The ministers were selected by the Governing Council, which was appointed by the U.S. That's not quite the same as being elected, which would truly be representative. Again, see the point above about the complaints lodged against the governing council. Even Paul Bremer has complained about the council - but for other reasons.

... the Iraqi government regularly participates in international events. Since July the Iraqi government has been represented in over two dozen international meetings, including those of the UN General Assembly, the Arab League, the World Bank and IMF and, today, the Islamic Conference Summit. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today announced that it is reopening over 30 Iraqi embassies around the world.

Again, the Iraqi government is an American appointed coucil. Elections have not yet been held.

... Shia religious festivals that were all but banned, aren't.

I'm not sure what that actually says. "All but banned." It sounds like they weren't banned.

... for the first time in 35 years, in Karbala thousands of Shiites celebrate the pilgrimage of the 12th Imam.

... the Coalition has completed over 13,000 reconstruction projects, large and small, as part of a strategic plan for the reconstruction of Iraq.

This is vague enough that I can't respond to it. But, if the reconstructions projects counted include the schools, I have already visited that issue with Bechtel's shoddy and unacceptable work. And as a reminder, there is no mention that reconstruction efforts are largely necessary due to the destruction efforts of the American forces in Iraq. Wholesale bombing and destruction of buildings continues.

Coalition forces are responsible for destroying much of what they are "restructuring" by the twelve years of sanctions and then a systematic bombing and blasting of the infrastructure.

... Uday and Queasy are dead - and no longer feeding innocent Iraqis to the zoo lions, raping the young daughters of local leaders to force cooperation, torturing Iraq's soccer players for losing games, or murdering critics.

... children aren't imprisoned or murdered when their parents disagree with the government.

The wife and daughter of Izzat al-Douri were arrested, and children are arrested at school for protesting against U.S. forces. Hopefully they won't be murdered.

... political opponents aren't imprisoned, tortured, executed, maimed, or are forced to watch their families die for disagreeing with Saddam.

While it is okay to have pro-American demonstrations, people are arrested for anti-American protests. Protestors have been given "fair warning" that they will be fired upon. Men and women in Iraq are rounded up routinely on suspicion of being a part of the insurgency and taken away to be detained without representation (an October figure was an estimated 5,500). American forces are ransacking homes and shooting people and terrorizing Iraqi families as they sweep through areas they believe are home to supporters of Saddam, such as Samarra. And there are claims of torture.

... millions of longsuffering Iraqis no longer live in perpetual terror.

And perhas millions do. Again, people can be detained or arrested without legal recourse and out of the sight of family and human rights organizations on mere suspicion, which includes essentially anyone, apparently.

... Saudis will hold municipal elections.

This claim about the Saudis is stretching the effects of the Bush Administration policy and tactics in Iraq to encompass more than I would be comfortable in claiming as a result, unless some source were referenced here to show the connection.

... Qatar is reforming education to give more choices to parents.

Again, I don't have any direct evidence that this has anything to do with the war in Iraq.

... Jordan is accelerating market economic reforms.

Still - this is not the work of the Bush Administration.

... the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded for the first time to an Iranian -- a Muslim woman who speaks out with courage for human rights, for democracy and for peace.

Same point - this is not the work of the Bush Administration.

... Saddam is gone.

... Iraq is free.

No, Iraq is under an occupation and the direction of the United States of America (and a background "coalition"). Please see some of the comments above about demonstrations and union organization, as well as the barbed wire fencing of major cities, all of which point to something much less than freedom.

... President Bush has not faltered or failed.

I suppose that depends upon your point of view.

... Yet, little or none of this information has been published by the Press corps that prides itself on bring you all the news that's important.

That Saddam is gone has been repeated many times in the Press since his alleged "capture". President Bush's claims are printed in many papers on a near daily basis. There are many stories that don't get covered in major media press that are not flattering to the Bush administration, however, but there are some good internet sources that try to keep track of those. A partial list is at the end of this message.*

Iraq under US lead control has come further in six months than Germany did in seven years or Japan did in nine years following WWII. Military deaths from fanatic Nazi's, and Japanese numbered in the thousands and continued for over three years after WWII victory was declared.

There isn't really something factual to respond to in this claim. What is the measurement for the phrase "come further"? In what ways has Iraq come further? By reading the entire claim, it appears that military deaths are somehow tied to the claim of progress. Surely that is not what's meant. If so, wait a while - we are not through there and Iraqis are still dying. If not, then what parameters are we talking about having occured in seven years for Germany and nine years for Japan?

It took the US over four months to clear away the twin tower debris, let alone attempt to build something else in its place.

I'm not sure I understand the point here. Is it that it will take more than four months to raze an entire country (Iraq) and clear away the debris? That we are going to build something else in its place? Will that be Iraq? Or will it be Middle East America?

Now, take into account that almost every Democrat leader in the House and Senate has fought President Bush on every aspect of his handling of this country's war and the post-war reconstruction; and that they continue to claim on a daily basis on national TV that this conflict has been a failure.

To me, this is not a Democrat vs. Republican issue. The parties may be attempting to make it so, and expect it to become more of an issue as we get closer to the election in 2004. But you don't have to be a Democrat to see, by the points listed above, that there is a very serious problem with the handling of the occupation of Iraq.

Taking everything into consideration, even the unfortunate loss of our sons and daughters in this conflict, do you think anyone else in the world could have accomplished as much as the United States and the Bush administration in so short a period of time?

I suppose that question could be answered no, and still not be a good thing, as the accomplishments don't look so good when inspected too closely.



*Sites to visit for more information (a few selections):

Reports from Iraq
Juan Cole - Informed Comment
Al Jazeera
Information Clearinghouse
The Memory Hole