Army rewards volunteers with US citizenship

US Vice President Joe Biden is in Iraq for some special independence day events, notably the taking the oath of allegiance for over 200 members of the armed forces at a Naturalisation ceremony.

The newly-minted Americans were mostly Mexican, Phillipino, and Iraqi, although 59 nations in all were represented.

“You know as corny as it sounds, damn I’m proud to be an American. It’s a wonderful thing. Thanks for choosing us. You are the reason why America is strong. We’re all immigrants,” said Biden.

The ceremony took place in one of Saddam Hussein’s grandest former palaces, the Aw Faw, which is now part of Camp Victory in Baghdad, and later Biden was able to have lunch with his son Beau’s Tactical Signal brigade.