Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki visited America’s Arlington National Cemetery yesterday and paid tribute to U.S. troops who “liberated” Iraq by placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Photo Credit: AFP

Arlington National Cemetery is the nation’s most regarded military burial site. The cemetery was first established as a burial for Union troops during the 1860s Civil War.

Since then, sadly, tens of thousands of American troops from the first World War to the Afghanistan and Iraq wars have been buried there.

Arlington is also home President Kennedy’s memorial site and that of his brother Robert F. Kennedy.

American astronauts from the Apollo missions are also buried at Arlington.

Maliki is visiting the United States in an effort to strengthen relations and increase U.S. investments in the country.

Maliki last visited the United States in the summer of 2006. Then his country was still be rocked by daily bombings and civil strife. Although Iraq is still not yet entirely clam, the situation of the country has greatly improved since 2008.

Because of that Maliki visits the United States as a strengthened man.