It’s not all bad in Iraq, consider this: 47 countries have re-established their embassies in Iraq? The Iraqi current government employs 1.2 million Iraqi people? More than 3,000 schools have been renovated; 364 schools are under rehabilitation; 263 schools are now under construction; and 38 new schools have been built in Iraq? Iraq’s higher educational structure consists of 20 universities, 46 institutes or colleges and four research centers, all currently operating?

Did you know that 43 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school by mid-October?

The media doesn’t tell you this.

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

Did you know that Iraq’s Air Force consists of three operational squadrons, which includes nine reconnaissance and three U.S. 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?

Did you know that Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a commando battalion?

The Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers? There are five police academies in Iraq that produce over 3,500 new officers each eight weeks?

There are more than 1,100 building projects going on in Iraq that include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations, 22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities and 69 electrical facilities.

Ninety-six percent of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have received the first two series of polio vaccinations?

There are 1.2 million cell phone subscribers in Iraq and phone use has gone up 158 percent?

Now Iraq has an independent media that consist of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations?

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 because the hate America 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 presidential motorcades.

The lack of accentuating the positive in Iraq serves two purposes. It is intended to undermine the world’s perception of the United States, thus minimizing consequent support, and it is intended to discourage American citizens.

All of the above facts are verifiable on the Department of Defense Web site. This would be a hell of a time for the United States to cut and run.

Robert Pocklington lives in Suffolk and is a regular News-Herald columnist. He can be reached at robert.pocklington@suffolknewsherald.com.