Last Saturday, on the anniversary of W's declaration of the "end to major combat operations in Iraq," W described his version of the present state of the nation of Iraq. The core of the good news was that "daily life is improving. Electricity is now more widely available than before the war. Iraq has a stable currency and banks are thriving. Schools and clinics have been renovated and reopened, and power plants, hospitals, water and sanitation facilities, and bridges are being rehabilitated. Iraq's oil infrastructure is being rebuilt, with the Iraqi oil industry already producing about 2.5 million barrels per day." It is interesting that what is in process, he suggests is done. It's like a contractor, after having knocked down my old house has poured a rough concrete pad, and framed up a wall and then declaring that the house is quite livable and comfortable. I should be happy that so much as been done. He may even crow about the future possibility of even more framing sometime soon. Perhaps, if I behave myself, I may even get some say on wha the final structure may be some years down the road. Take a look at the text itself:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/05/print/20040501.html

The Democrats traditionally respond to the President's weekly radio address. Paul Rieckhoff, a soldier who has recently returned from 10 months in Iraq paints a very different perspective. Not only have the Iraqi people suffered due to lack of infrastructure and commodities for everyday life, so has our military. Things are not great in Babylon but rather a crisis that is only getting worse. Take a look at
Rieckhoff's response:
http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,118735,00.html