AFGHANISTAN: U.S COMEDIAN ROBIN WILLIAMS ARRIVES TO ENTERTAIN U.S TROOPS STATIONED IN BAGRAM

Record ID: 388113

  • Title: AFGHANISTAN: U.S COMEDIAN ROBIN WILLIAMS ARRIVES TO ENTERTAIN U.S TROOPS STATIONED IN BAGRAM
  • Date: 17th October 2002
  • Summary: SLV SOLDIERS WATCHING ROBIN WILLIAMS WIDE OF ROBIN WILLIAMS ENTERTAINING AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN BAGRAM VARIOUS OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS LINING UP FOR AUTOGRAPHS (2 SHOTS) SMV ROBIN WILLIAMS GIVING AUTOGRAPHS AND POSING FOR PHOTOS SMV AMERICAN SOLDIERS LINING UP FOR AUTOGRAPHS SLV ROBIN WILLIAMS GIVING AUTOGRAPHS AND POSING FOR PHOTOS SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) CAPTAIN BEVERLY GRANDISON, COMPANY COMMANDER, DELTA COMMAND, 327TH SIGNAL BATTALION, 18TH AIRBORNE CORPS, FROM FORT BRAGG, NEW CAROLINA, SAYING: "Oh, Robin. He was awesome, he is great, he is a really good comedian. In all the years I have enjoyed every thing he has done. I appreciate him coming out here for sure." CLOSE OF AUTOGRAPHED PHOTO OF ROBIN WILLIAMS ON POSTCARD OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM SMV ROBIN WILLIAMS POSING FOR PHOTOS AND SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS TOPSHOT OF SOLDIERS WAITING IN LINE FOR AUTOGRAPHS SMV AMERICAN AND AUSTRALIAN FLAGS OUTSIDE BAGRAM AIRBASE WIDE OF XTERIOR OF HANGAR
  • Embargoed: 1st November 2002 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BAGRAM, AFGHANISTAN
  • Country: Afghanistan
  • Topics: Entertainment,Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA9BOKQ9M4L5H82APZNEMHACZJK
  • Story Text: Good Morning Bagram! Oscar-winning actor Robin Williams has paid a visit to U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan.
    Hollywood actor Robin Williams visited Bagram airbase on Saturday (October 19) to entertain United States troops serving in coalition operations against Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters.
    The legendary comedian cracked jokes at an impromptu stand-up with several hundred troops in one of the huge aircraft hangers on the base.
    Flocks of soldiers came to meet Williams, lining up for a chance to pose for a photo with the star and get an autograph.
    Famed for comic roles in "Good Morning, Vietnam," "Mrs.
    Doubtfire," and his Oscar-winning performance in "Good Will Hunting," Williams kept troops entertained with crude jokes about army rations and the airforce.
    Williams talked to infantry, special forces and air force pilots before flying to Kandahar base in southern Afghanistan and onto Iran.
    Williams has just starred in a new film "Insomnia", playing a killer chased by a detective portrayed by Al Pacino.
    The role is more sinister than his fans have come to expect of him, but Williams said he had a "dark side and uses comedy to fight it.
    Bagram Air Base is home to around 7,000 U.S. and multinational armed services working together in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
    Troops complain that there is little entertainment in the dust-filled base where alcohol is banned and only one recreational area showing shows films.
    The U.S. commanding general in Afghanistan has said there are still hundreds of al Qaeda fighters scattered around the country and that he did not know when U.S. troops would be able to withdraw.
    He said coalition forces would remain until Afghanistan the country had an army trained and equipped to provide national security and prevent a resurgence of terrorist organisations.
    --
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