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Christmas Brought To Iraq By Force
BAGHDAD, IRAQ—On almost every corner in Iraq's capital city, carolers are singing, trees are being trimmed, and shoppers are rushing home with their packages—all under the watchful eye of U.S. troops dedicated to bringing the magic of Christmas to Iraq by force.
"It's important that life in liberated Iraq get back to normal as soon as possible," said Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz at a press conference Monday. "That's why we're making sure that Iraqis have the best Christmas ever—something they certainly wouldn't have had under Saddam Hussein's regime."
To that end, 25,000 troops from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and 82nd Airborne Division have been deployed. Their missions include the distribution of cookies and eggnog at major Iraqi city centers, the conscription of bell-ringers from among the Iraqi citizenry, and the enforcement of a new policy in which every man, woman, and child in Baghdad pays at least one visit to 'Twas The Night... On Ice.
Immediately following the press conference, high-altitude bombers began to string Christmas lights throughout the greater-Baghdad area, and Wild Weasel electronic-warfare fighter jets initiated 24-hour air patrols to broadcast Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" over the nation. Armored columns struck out from all major allied firebases to erect a Christmas tree in the town square of every city, while foot soldiers placed fully lit, heavily guarded nativity scenes in front of every Iraqi mosque.
"Thus far, Operation Desert Santa has gone off without a hitch," said Gen. Stanley Kimmet, commander of U.S. armed reconnaissance-and-mistletoe operations in the volatile Tikrit region of central Iraq. "There has been sporadic house-to-house fighting during our door-to-door caroling, but that's to be expected in a Christmas season of this magnitude."
According to Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the top American military commander in Iraq, every precaution is being taken to ensure the peaceful enforcement of the Christmas season in occupied Iraq.
"All American military personnel have been instructed that the observation of Christmas should be carried out efficiently and tastefully, with minimal emphasis on the season's commercial aspects," said Sanchez, who addressed reporters while a decorations division strung wreaths and garlands outside his headquarters. "We must keep in mind that the reason for the season-oriented campaign is for Iraq to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
An aide for Sanchez later explained that, in order to ensure a meaningful holiday season for all Iraqis, provisions were made for those Iraqis who elected to observe Hanukkah.
Like many U.S. operations in Iraq, Operation Desert Santa has met with some resistance. A convoy transporting fruitcake and gingerbread came under rocket attack Sunday night just outside Checkpoint Noël in Basra, and unidentified bands of Iraqis exchanged gunfire with Marines operating an armored Humvee simulated sleigh ride in a Baghdad suburb. In spite of these troubles, regional commanders report progress, with only eight U.S. casualties resulting from the operation.
Still, Iraqis report that they are unable to get into the Christmas spirit.
"Why am I supposed to feel joy for the world?" said 34-year-old Baghdad mechanic Hassan al-Ajili as he stood in line for his mandatory visit with Santa. "My country is still at war. I need an American identification card to get anywhere in my own city. Now, for some reason, men with machine guns have placed two rows of jingling antlered pigs on the roof of our house. This is insane."
Bush, speaking from his Crawford ranch, praised the brave men and women of Operation Desert Santa and asked for the understanding of all Americans.
"We must be patient with the Iraqis," said Bush, seated before a Christmas tree dotted with Scottish terrier ornaments. "The holidays can be a very stressful time, especially for people not yet used to the customs. I'm sure Iraq will enjoy the happiest of holiday seasons if we show resolve and commit to making sure that they do."
President Bush then called for 30,000 new troops to be deployed in the next week to ensure an effective and precise enforcement of Christmas throughout the region. Salvation and Eighth Army detachments will be stationed on every corner by Christmas Eve to make sure that every last Iraqi citizen spends the holiday at home, with family.
Sanchez said he is confident that he can meet that deadline.
"A merry Christmas in Iraq means peace in the Middle East has finally been achieved," Sanchez said. "God bless us, every one."
http://www.theonion.com/3949/top_story.html
To that end, 25,000 troops from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and 82nd Airborne Division have been deployed. Their missions include the distribution of cookies and eggnog at major Iraqi city centers, the conscription of bell-ringers from among the Iraqi citizenry, and the enforcement of a new policy in which every man, woman, and child in Baghdad pays at least one visit to 'Twas The Night... On Ice.
Immediately following the press conference, high-altitude bombers began to string Christmas lights throughout the greater-Baghdad area, and Wild Weasel electronic-warfare fighter jets initiated 24-hour air patrols to broadcast Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" over the nation. Armored columns struck out from all major allied firebases to erect a Christmas tree in the town square of every city, while foot soldiers placed fully lit, heavily guarded nativity scenes in front of every Iraqi mosque.
"Thus far, Operation Desert Santa has gone off without a hitch," said Gen. Stanley Kimmet, commander of U.S. armed reconnaissance-and-mistletoe operations in the volatile Tikrit region of central Iraq. "There has been sporadic house-to-house fighting during our door-to-door caroling, but that's to be expected in a Christmas season of this magnitude."
According to Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the top American military commander in Iraq, every precaution is being taken to ensure the peaceful enforcement of the Christmas season in occupied Iraq.
"All American military personnel have been instructed that the observation of Christmas should be carried out efficiently and tastefully, with minimal emphasis on the season's commercial aspects," said Sanchez, who addressed reporters while a decorations division strung wreaths and garlands outside his headquarters. "We must keep in mind that the reason for the season-oriented campaign is for Iraq to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
An aide for Sanchez later explained that, in order to ensure a meaningful holiday season for all Iraqis, provisions were made for those Iraqis who elected to observe Hanukkah.
Like many U.S. operations in Iraq, Operation Desert Santa has met with some resistance. A convoy transporting fruitcake and gingerbread came under rocket attack Sunday night just outside Checkpoint Noël in Basra, and unidentified bands of Iraqis exchanged gunfire with Marines operating an armored Humvee simulated sleigh ride in a Baghdad suburb. In spite of these troubles, regional commanders report progress, with only eight U.S. casualties resulting from the operation.
Still, Iraqis report that they are unable to get into the Christmas spirit.
"Why am I supposed to feel joy for the world?" said 34-year-old Baghdad mechanic Hassan al-Ajili as he stood in line for his mandatory visit with Santa. "My country is still at war. I need an American identification card to get anywhere in my own city. Now, for some reason, men with machine guns have placed two rows of jingling antlered pigs on the roof of our house. This is insane."
Bush, speaking from his Crawford ranch, praised the brave men and women of Operation Desert Santa and asked for the understanding of all Americans.
"We must be patient with the Iraqis," said Bush, seated before a Christmas tree dotted with Scottish terrier ornaments. "The holidays can be a very stressful time, especially for people not yet used to the customs. I'm sure Iraq will enjoy the happiest of holiday seasons if we show resolve and commit to making sure that they do."
President Bush then called for 30,000 new troops to be deployed in the next week to ensure an effective and precise enforcement of Christmas throughout the region. Salvation and Eighth Army detachments will be stationed on every corner by Christmas Eve to make sure that every last Iraqi citizen spends the holiday at home, with family.
Sanchez said he is confident that he can meet that deadline.
"A merry Christmas in Iraq means peace in the Middle East has finally been achieved," Sanchez said. "God bless us, every one."
http://www.theonion.com/3949/top_story.html
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IMC Network
Tue December 23, 2003 10:33 AM ET
By Robin Pomeroy
TIKRIT, Iraq (Reuters) - In a town where the night air is usually punctuated by some kind of explosion or gunfire, singing for a "Silent Night" might be wishful thinking.
But in the large tent which serves as a canteen for some 30,000 U.S. soldiers stationed in Tikrit, that was the song Captain Tonya Estell sang, unaccompanied, to her comrades on Tuesday as troops got ready for Christmas a long way from home.
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=4037307
Merry Christmas Saddam
23/12/2003 21:33 - (SA)
Iraq - "Saddam Claus wishes you a Merry Christmas."
The poster caption at a US military base in Tikrit accompanied a mocking image of Saddam Hussein dressed as Santa Claus. A top American commander said the December 13 capture of the former Iraqi dictator was an early Christmas gift for his troops.
On Tuesday, hundreds of soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division patiently waited for Christmas breakfast in the chow line, while a tuba brass band in the corner played carols.
There were muffins and peanut butter, scrambled eggs and pancakes, sausages and fresh fruit in a huge mess hall decorated with American flags, green-and-white banners of the division and Christmas trees.
After breakfast, soldiers seated at long tables bowed their heads in prayer for comrades slain or wounded by insurgents. A total of 317 US soldiers have been killed as a result of hostile action since the invasion in March.
"Don't ask 'why me, why here, why us,' because God has plans, we are here for good reason," military chaplain Gilo Richardson told soldiers.
Despite dozens of casualties over the last several months, soldiers were jubilant. They tracked down and arrested Saddam earlier this month.
Saddam's capture was "an early Christmas gift," said General Raymond Odierno, commander of the division.
"Capturing him... will help us to continue to eliminate the insurgency but also to go back to the business of rebuilding Iraq and moving forward and turning the country back to the Iraqi people," Odierno said.
Asked who received the best Christmas present, Sgt Gilbert Nail from Fort Hood, Texas chuckled: "Of course, Saddam. He received free food and boarding for the rest of his life."
"I received only greeting cards," Nail said.
Beyond the walls surrounding the American camp, based in a huge complex of Saddam's palaces, lies Tikrit, a city of 120 000 where many people bitterly resent the troops and see them as invaders. The nights are frequently punctuated by gunfire and occasional blasts of mortar rounds.
Major Josslyn Aberle said soldiers will remain vigilant despite Christmas. "People who are loyal to Saddam could try to make one last effort and try to attack," she said.
http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,6119,2-10-1462_1462907,00.html
http://www.foranewliberty.com/blog/
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec2003/n12232003_200312233.html
By Sgt. Christopher Stanis
BAGHDAD, Iraq (Army News Service, Dec. 22, 2003) – Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus right down … Baghdad Lane?
After a suggestion from Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Ferrand, a medic with 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, to the 1-325 chaplain, Capt. Darren Chester, the two, with a handful of other 1-325 paratroopers conducted “Operation Ho, Ho, Ho” Dec. 20. The unit is part of task Force 1st Armored Division.
“It’s not a big Walt Disney story to tell,” said Ferrand. But it is a story from the heart.
The group brought stockings stuffed with toys and candy to two orphanages in Baghdad – the Al Awiya orphanage and the St. Hanna orphanage.
“I remembered working with the orphanages, and the kids,” Ferrand said. “I asked the chaplain what he had planned, and he didn’t have anything, so I offered up the idea.”
With toys sent to Ferrand by family and friends and donations from 1-325 soldiers, “Santa’s little helpers” stuffed more than 80 stockings full of goodies for the children.
A tight squeeze and a couple of turns down alleyway streets led to a gated, well-kept yard with a small two-story house. Inside, a Christmas tree stood in the corner of the living room. At the base of the tree sat a nativity scene. Around a coffee table in the room sat three aged, warm-hearted women.
These are the sisters of the St. Hanna orphanage, a Catholic orphanage that currently houses about a dozen girls.
The well-mannered girls filed down the stairs to receive their gifts.
After a short visit, the soldiers moved on to the next orphanage.
This time, more than 60 rambunctious children filled the room of the barracks-like building where Ferrand’s group passed out the presents.
Some of the orphan children lost their parents during major ground operations of this war; some lost their parents in past wars. Others were simply not wanted, or the parents couldn’t afford to take care of them, Ferrand said.
Ferrand had an earlier relationship with the orphanages. He helped conduct physicals and provided needed medical care to the children early after the liberation of Iraq.
He said he could see the improvement in their health and in their spirits.
“No matter where you go in the world, kids are kids are kids,” Ferrand said. “They want to learn … they want an education. These kids have a good outlook on life.”
(Editor’s note: Sgt. Christopher Stanis is a journalist with the 1st Armored Division Public Affairs Office in Iraq.)
http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/read.php?story_id_key=5532