IRAQ: American troops celebrate what they hope will be their last Christmas in Iraq

Record ID: 791302

  • Title: IRAQ: American troops celebrate what they hope will be their last Christmas in Iraq
  • Date: 25th December 2010
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARMY CHAPLAIN COLONEL LANCE KITTLESON FROM ST ANSGAR, IOWA SAYING "Well we really hurt for the brothers and sisters who can not openly celebrate the birth of Christ. Unfortunately it's not up to us to change the situation now, so that they can. A lot of Christians throughout the world are persecuted and in struggle for one reason or another, and we are...it makes us more grateful for our freedom as westerners, that we don't have to worry about..someone shooting me because I go to church. But we really....there are brothers and sisters, even if we don't know them..it's tragic but it's not unusual, unfortunately, in the world."
  • Embargoed: 9th January 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Iraq, Iraq
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA4N4A2UEI1QTRB9OZL9KCCZJ81
  • Story Text: U.S. troops serving in Iraq attended Christmas mass at a military base in northern Baghdad on Friday (December 24), praying for peace and hoping to celebrate next Christmas at home.
    Under the security pact between Baghdad and Washington, all U.S. troops are scheduled to leave by the end of next year (2011).
    Washington reduced the number of troops to 50,000 in Iraq to support and train the Iraqi forces, which now comprise around 440,000 police and 220,000 soldiers. But Iraq has only a bare-bones air force and navy, and U.S. officials concede that strengthening its ability to defend its borders is a work in progress.
    Violence has fallen sharply since the height of sectarian violence in 2006-07 but Iraq still sees an average of 15 militant attacks a day, according to U.S. figures. American soldiers are to train and support the Iraqis, provide air support and logistics help.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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