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November 22, 2008 12:21:23 PM CST

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US Soldiers Become Citizens

Posted Jul 5, 07 5:42 CDT in US,  Politics 

(Newser) – Some 325 servicemen were sworn in as US citizens in Independence Day ceremonies yesterday in Iraq—half of them at a former Saddam Hussein palace, the Los Angeles Times reports. Gen. David Petraeus thanked the new citizens serving in Iraq for enduring sacrifice “to preserve the freedom of a land that was not yet fully yours.”

Since the beginning of the war, 1,186 service members have have become citizens; the immigration bill scuttled in the Senate last week would have offered a path to citizenship for undocumented aliens willing to serve two years in the military. Senator John McCain, whose last trip to Iraq was a political disaster, was on hand for the ceremony.

Source Los Angeles Times

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US soldiers stand at attention during a ceremony at Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, July 4, 2007, at which soldiers reenlisted and some were naturalized as United States citizens. Around 160 troops...   (Associated Press)
Newly naturalized US soldiers raise their hands during a ceremony at Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, July 4, 2007, at which soldiers reenlisted and some were naturalized as United States citizens....   (Associated Press)
Newly naturalized US soldiers raise their hands during a ceremony at Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, July 4, 2007, at which soldiers reenlisted and some were naturalized as United States citizens....   (Associated Press)
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Iraq • Iraq war • US military • David Petraeus • war • immigrant • citizenship


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