You would think the news media would want to boost American Pride...
Researching a few places and looking at more reports than I care to here are a few interesting FACTS to come out of Iraq for your reading pleasure.
At the end of 2004, despite years of neglect by the Saddam regime, an insurgency intent on intimidating teachers and students, and the damage caused by war, 3,100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are currently under rehabilitation, 263 new schools are under construction and 38 new schools have been built.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MHESR) consists of 20 Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges within the Community College systems, two
Commissions and two Research Centers.
There are two Ministries of Education in the Kurdish region comprised of three Universities and nine Institutes. They receive no budgetary support from the MHESR. There are a small number of private colleges in Iraq that are not managed by the MHESR.
During the same timeframe and under the same difficult circumstances, the MHESR Central Admissions process was executed, and students were assigned to colleges, and the Ministry of Higher accepted a freshman class 50% larger than the year before.
In 2004, Iraqi forces fought alongside Coalition forces in Najaf, Samarra, Fallujah, Baghdad, North Babil, Mosul, and a host of other locations. In Fallujah alone, Iraqi forces lost eight of their members and had more than 40 wounded. Well over a thousand others have also lost their lives serving their country. Although Iraqi forces have endured casualties in many of their operations, have been attacked multiple times each day, and have suffered losses through brutal intimidation attacks, there remains no shortage of volunteers; in fact, basic training courses are ongoing for more than 4,400 former soldiers to bring under strength Iraqi Regular Army and Intervention units additional forces.
In less than a year, Iraqi Regular Army and Intervention Forces grew from one operational battalion to 21 battalions, with six more scheduled to become operational over the next month. And with the incorporation of the Iraqi National Guard into the Army on Army Day, 6 January, the total number of battalions conducting operations is 68.
Iraq’s Muthanna Brigade, originally organized and trained by the Iraqis to provide local security, now has three battalions in operations, including one each in Baghdad, Fallujah, and North Babil, and one more in training.
Iraq’s Navy is now operational, with five 100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels, and a naval infantry regiment that recently completed training.
Iraq’s Air Force has three operational squadrons equipped with nine reconnaissance aircraft that operate both day and night, and three US C-130 transport aircraft. One more squadron, comprised of two UH-1 helicopters (to be followed by 14 more and by 4 Bell Jet Rangers from the UAE), will stand up later this month.
Iraq’s Special Operations Forces now include a superb Counter-terrorist Force and a Commando Battalion, each of which has conducted dozens of successful operations.
Iraq’s first mechanized battalion became operational in mid-January, along with a tank company and a transportation battalion; the remaining elements of a mechanized brigade will be trained and equipped by the summer.
Iraq’s two Military Academies reopened in mid-October and each graduated a pilot course of new lieutenants, 91 total, in early January 2005. The new year-long military academy course has already begun. And the Iraqi Staff College will begin its pilot course in several months.
The Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 trained and equipped police officers, up from 26,000 six months ago. Of the nearly 29,000 police officers who have been trained in the last six months, over 13,000 were former police who underwent three-week transition course training and over 15,000 were new recruits who underwent eight-week basic training. More than 38,000 additional police are on duty and scheduled for training.
Five basic police academies are now operational; together, they produce over 3,500 new police officers from the 8-week course each month, a course recently modified to better prepare the new police officers for the challenging environment in which some may serve. Several other regional academies are under construction.
Iraq’s Mechanized Police Brigade recently completed training and will begin operations in mid-January, using fifty BTR-94 wheeled, armored vehicles.
Seven Police Commando battalions are now operational, with one more in training and additional battalions planned.
Six Public Order Battalions are operational, with six more planned.
Iraq’s National Police Emergency Response Unit is now operational, and its elements have conducted operations in Baghdad, Fallujah, and Mosul.
Iraq’s First Special Border Force Battalion is operating on the Syrian border in western Anbar Province; the Second Battalion begins training in early February.
Five provincial SWAT teams have been trained and fifteen more are scheduled for training over the next six months.
More than 1,100 reconstruction projects underway in Iraq. Current projects include the construction of 364 schools, 67 public health clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations, 22 oil, 93 water and sewage facilities and 69 electrical facilities
Water
• Baghdad- Expansion of a major water treatment plant serving Baghdad and surrounding areas is approximately 75% complete. This project will produce about 250
million gallons of potable drinking water per day for Baghdad residents.
• Basrah-All 14 water treatment plants are nearly complete and undergoing inspection.
• Diyala/Salah ad Din Provinces- USAID’s new rural water initiative is underway. Since construction began in September 2004 until late November, 11 wells were drilled.
Electricity
• Added 1813 Megawatts to the national power grid.
• Installed 8600 kilometers of 400-kV cables to move power between regions.
• More than 1500 400-kV electrical towers installed.
• More than 13 133-kV substations installed.
And many many more facts if you would like them.