Coleman says 190,000 Iraqi security forces are trained and equipped

[katinmn]

Norm Coleperson recounts other successes in Iraq, such as: "Health care funding has increased 30-fold since Iraq was freed."

There should be a law against U.S. senators lying to their constituents. He is supposed to be representing the people, not misleading them.

Dear katinmn:

Thank you for taking the time to contact me concerning Operation Iraqi Freedom.

I am inspired by our soldiers' efforts to advance the cause of freedom. We must stay committed to defeating the insurgents to bring peace and democracy to the Iraqi people.

The road to democracy in Iraq will be a long one, but important milestones have already been reached. On January 30, 2005, millions of Iraqis participated in their first free election, defying the threats of insurgents who sought to deny them their opportunity for democracy. A constitution was drafted and a constitutional referendum was held on October 15, 2005. High voter turnout was reported, especially in Sunni majority provinces. It is important to continue the momentum as Iraq 's political process moves forward.

The elections have given Iraqis hope for the future. According to an International Republican Institute (IRI) poll, over 70 percent of Iraqis approve of the performance of the National Assembly and over 80 percent support protecting women's rights. The draft Iraqi Constitution gives women the right to fully participate in public affairs and enjoy equal rights to voting, election and nomination for office. It also gives individuals the right to freedom of faith, worship, and religious beliefs.

I traveled to Iraq in January where I visited with American and Iraqi officials about Iraq 's political transition, the corruption of the U.N. Oil for Food program, U.S. service member needs, and progress in training Iraqi troops. Over 190,000 Iraqi security forces have been trained and equipped. Iraqi forces are also leading greater amounts of patrols and military operations. The training of the Iraqi Army, National Guard and police forces to assume a greater role in maintaining the security of Iraq will hasten the day American troops can come home.

Day-by-day, Iraqi forces are making progress in toppling the insurgency. Three top level associates of Al Qaeda terrorist Abu Musab Al- Zarqawi have been captured by Iraqi forces. Abu Azzam , a top Zarqawi lieutenant, was also killed by Coalition forces. Azzam directed and controlled all terrorist activities and operations in Baghdad . President Talabani has vowed to defeat the insurgency and has supported the presence of Coalition forces until Iraq 's security forces are strong enough to defend Iraq from insurgent attacks.

Under the President's leadership, the United States has contributed substantially to Iraq 's reconstruction. Iraqi reconstruction funds are managed by the Iraq Project and Contracting Office and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Many projects have already improved the quality of life for the Iraqi people. Food and electricity are being distributed throughout the country. USAID is providing support to the Ministry of Trade to deliver more than 480,000 tons of food each month. Over 2,700 schools have been renovated and over 36,000 secondary school teachers have been trained. Health care funding has increased 30-fold since Iraq was freed. More than 30 million doses of children's vaccinations have been distributed. Over 1,200 primary health clinics and 240 Iraqi hospitals are in operation.

I am proud to support America 's troops and I look forward to their return home when their mission is complete. America and every nation that stands for freedom and democracy will be forever in their debt.

Thank you once again for taking the time to contact me. I value your advice. If I may be of further assistance to you in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me again.

Sincerely,
Norm Coleman
United States Senate

[Loonman]

1. So how does health care in Iraq help me?

Is that what 2100 young people died for?

[liberal N proud]

3. My thoughts also + why is it so important to these fucks that

Iraqi's get health care when so many Americans can not?
:grr:

[catnhatnh]

4. Well for one thing....

the NEED for (ahem) healthcare in Iraq has skyrocketed since we arrived.....

[SoCalDem]

5. ~Comforting thought to a bereaved parent/wife/child...

Your soldier died so an Iraqi can get his teeth cleaned or get medicine...never mind that Grannie has to jump through flaming hoops to get her heart meds here in the USofA.:puke:

[Wetzelbill]

2. and he's always right

:eyes:

[Roland99]

6. Plenty of fodder for an opponent to run with.

1) With 190,000 Iraqi security forces trained, why are there still 160,000 American forces?

2) Why is healthcare funding increasing by 30-fold and schools being renovated and teachers being trained when our own healthcare system is failing and cuts are being made to our education system?

[enigma000]

9. 'cause the letter overlooks some points

There may be 190,000 Iraqi security forces trained, but they are unable to operate without American troops embedded in these units. And I imagine the Iraqi officers are still far from being able to operate at the strategic level.

Putting raw recruits through boot camp is easy. How long does it take to train a NCO or a staff officer (Lt. Colonel?) Years I guess. Didn't NATO open up an officer training centre in Baghdad last month?

As for the 30-fold increase in health funding, that's not much to brag about. Saddam probably spent, month by month, less on health care for all of Iraq than I spend on my cell phone bill.

[Loonman]

7. I mean nothin' for nothin' but

To answer the New and Improved war rationale, I say: if the Iraqi people wanted freedom so bad, they should have gotten it for themselves.

No "revolution" fought solely by outside forces has ever been succesful.

[Lannes]

8. Horseshit

its less than a 1000.Thats what pisses me off.They are training the troops at a leisurely pace while Americans and Iraqis continue to die.A true multi-national effort to speed up the quantity and quality of troops trained could get us out alot sooner and leave behind a more stable Iraq.But they are only using a handful of soldiers to train entire battalions from what Ive read.War on the cheap as usual.

They dont want to do it partly because this hasnt been achieved yet..

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16397576&method=full&siteid=66633&headline=western-oil-firms-plan-iraq--rip-off--name_page.html

"BRITISH and American firms are planning to "plunder" up to £100billion of Iraq's oil wealth.

With the war-torn country relying on oil revenues to rebuild, a report published today says foreign multinationals are planning a corporate oil grab.

Crude Designs: The Rip-Off of Iraq's Oil Wealth says companies are already negotiating long-term contracts that will guarantee massive profits."

The report was prepared by UK and US environmental and social think-tanks, along with British charity War on Want.

The charity's chief executive Louise Richards said: "People have increasingly come to realise the Iraq war was about oil, profits and plunder."

The report says at least 64 per cent of Iraq's oil reserves will be allocated to overseas firms.



I was for keeping the troops in Iraq if the U.S. fastracked the training of quality replacements of American troops.If they are going to drag the process on for years and years at this pace Id rather see an immediate withdrawal.No point in staying.

[MN ChimpH8R]

10. Coleman is a lying sack of

shit. Norm's acquaintance with anything even remotely resembling the truth is, shall we say, extremely limited. He is a disgrace to my state.

[katinmn]

11. Some day I will throw all these lies back in his face

Sending these kinds of letters out to constituents is highly unethical.

There are 300 million Americans and just 100 senators, many of them dishonest party hacks like this.

Representative government. snort. Democracy. riiight.

[LondonReign2]

12. Then I assume he believes we can leave now, right?

:sarcasm: