U.S. Celebrates Independence Day

American spirit strong even in tough times

Soldiers with the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment Old Guard Continental Color Guard line up near the National Archives building in Washington, D.C., before the start of the Independence Day festivities Sunday, July 4, 2010. (Photo credit: Jacquelyn Martin / AP via The Washington Times)

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Mortars Hit Baghdad’s Green Zone During Biden Visit

July 4, 2010

Baghdad, Iraq — Three mortar rounds struck harmlessly inside Baghdad’s Green Zone on Sunday night during a weekend visit by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, U.S. and Iraqi officials said.

No damage or injuries were reported from the bombardment, which occurred about 10:30 p.m. Sunday (2:30 p.m. CT).

The district, formally known as the International Zone, houses Iraqi government offices and the U.S. Embassy. …

The district was a frequent target of rocket and mortar attacks during the worst of the war that followed the U.S. invasion in 2003. A similar attack struck during a Biden visit in September [link added; scroll down].

Biden landed in Iraq on Saturday to celebrate the U.S. Independence Day holiday with American troops, the White House said. …

Full story

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FROM THE ARCHIVES: One Year Ago — July 4, 2009

Independence Day 2009

Video: North Korea launches seven missiles

One-year retrospective: One year ago today, I reported on North Korea’s possible motives in launching seven ballistic missiles on America’s Independence Day and provided a link to a summary of my North Korean threat assessment and psychological profile of Kim Jong-Il, prepared for the Department of Defense.