147 Foreign-born US soldiers take citizenship oath in Iraq (in Saddam Hussein’s former palace)

AFP via Yahoo! ^ | 7/25/05

[ArmyTeach]

This picture is going up on my "Wall of "Honor," my personal tribute to our soldiers who have been and are deploying to the Middle East. I know these young people, coming from so far away. They them come through my office daily.
To all of you new citizens, you were already 'one of us.' You have earned your American citizenship in more ways than one and you are a credit to your new nation.

[DoughtyOne]

Good for them. Good for us.

[DoughtyOne]

Sound very neat. Congrats by the way.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

..........................................

[wardaddy]

Are they Hessians?

[Salem]

How down right American!

[Texas_Conservative2]

wow, does the US milatary really have 1.5 million soldiers?

I was under the impression with only 150K or so in Iraq, that we were almost out of soldiers...

Oh, and to the other guy, I said "IF" they were muslims.

[Just A Nobody]

Congrats and thanks to our new citizens.

I was under the impression with only 150K or so in Iraq, that we were almost out of soldiers...

Me thinks you watch to much tv - and believe the lying basturds. BTW, 132,000 in Iraq since the pull down after their election.

[deathb4dishoner]

shades of roman empire mercenaries

[When do we get liberated?]

Hey wait a minute, I think I saw this on CNN.....(Do I need a sarc tag?)

[AnnaZ]

Thank you, my sweet! (If I haven't replied to you on the other thread yet, it's because I'm overwhelmed here. LOVE YOU!)

[ohioWfan]

Does anyone know if this is the same palace?

Son took these pictures when he got to Camp Victory in April of 2003.

If it's the same place, they've fixed it up nicely! :)

[STARWISE]

With the two stories are in the 3rd pic .. it could very well be. I'll bet he'll let you know when you email him, and then you'll have to tell us. Isn't that so incredible .. brand new, brave new Americans. God bless our newest citizens!

[ohioWfan]

The ceremony, in the giant indoor rotunda of the Al-Faw palace, in Baghdad's Camp Victory military base, was led by Lieutenant General John Vines, the commander of the Multinational Corps in Iraq.

Hmmmm........I just caught this. It's not the same palace (I think the pics are of the North Palace). I believe there were multiple palaces in the area. Poor old Saddam.......he had a rough life. Wonder how his jail cell feels. ;)

btw, I agree. This is just FANTASTIC, all these new citizens! GREAT news!

[ohioWfan]

That little hole in the fourth pic caused ALL that mess in the second pic. You gotta love it!

[Allegra]

If it's the same place, they've fixed it up nicely! :)

Yep, that's Victory Palace and they certainly have fixed it up. They've even repaired the bombed out bridge on that property.

I arrived at Camp Victory in January '04, and every time I go over there now, I'm amazed at how much it's changed. There's even a swimming pool at the palace now!

[Allegra]

Three blasts in rapid secession from the west of the Green Zone a few minutes ago.

That can't be good.

[ohioWfan]

THIS bridge??

And let me show you the "swimming pool" my son's Unit created at Camp Victory for those 140 degree days back in the summer of '03.....

And the plush accomodations they all enjoyed......

Note the "air conditioning"......

And I'll bet the theatre has improved too, hasn't it? :)

Let's hear it for the U.S. military! I love to hear about the progress.

I understand Camp Anaconda is now described as "like a resort" compared to the early days.

[ohioWfan]

Praying for your safety, Allegra, and for the safety of our troops and the Iraqi people.

Be careful now, OK??

[Allegra]

It's great seeing those pictures of Victory in '03. WOW! Yes, things have improved over there drastically. At Anaconda as well, but I've only been over there once for a few hours.

I got to Victory in January of '04 when it was still pretty "bare bones."

One of my fondest memories is attending Easter Mass '04 in Victory Palace. I got a chill realizing that I was worshiping the Lord in one of Saddam Hussein's palaces.

And yes, that's the bombed out bridge in the picture. It was like that when I arrived. They fixed it several months later.

I love their makeshift swimming pool in your son's pictures, by the way. Good old American ingenuity. ;-)