Biden presides at naturalization of troops

Published: July 4, 2009 at 11:34 AM

BAGHDAD, July 4 (UPI) -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden celebrated the Fourth of July with American troops in Iraq where he presided at the naturalization of 237 U.S. troops.

Twelve of those troops were Iraqis, the Wall Street Journal reported.

"As corny as it sounds: Damn I'm proud to be an American," Biden told service members assembled at U.S. Camp Victory military headquarters at Aw Faw Palace, one of the seats former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's power, which sports a giant crystal chandelier hanging from an ornate ceiling.

"There's always room for more Americans, always room for more Americans," Biden said. "It's the lifeblood of our country … you know over 50 countries are represented here today, men and women, black and Asian, Hispanics."

Also present at the ceremony was Gen. Raymond Odierno, U.S. commander in Iraq, who recalled the inscription on the Statue of Liberty, "give me your tired, your poor," adding, "If had to write an inscription, I would say, 'Give me your best your brightest and your bravest. Give me your warriors, your heroes who will enhance our great nation and strive to keep her free.'"

© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
Your Daily Horoscope
The almanac
NHL: San Jose 5, Pittsburgh 0
NHL: Anaheim 4, Phoenix 3
NHL: Calgary 3, New York 1
NBA: L.A. Clippers 113, Memphis 110
NBA: Dallas 129, Toronto 101
fark
Just 1 of 248 reasons why you never take your wife with you to a strip club
Photoshop two movie posters into one
The best reproductions of famous art masterpieces using coffee instead of paint you'll see, well......
Identical twins will celebrate their 100th birthday on 12/24. Pic bonus: The one on the left dyes...
Prized mushroom collection returns to China. Wait, is that wall moving?
Can a boy wear a skirt to school?