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* Thousands of troops serving in Afghanistan enjoy some Christmas treats
* Servicemen and women rip open presents and tuck into full turkey dinner
* But it was business as usual for many troops still on early morning patrol

British troops serving in Afghanistan were given a taste of home when they celebrated Christmas with a traditional turkey dinner, presents from relatives and a charity fun run.

An extra effort was made today to make sure the 9,000 servicemen and women deployed in the Helmand Province were given some 'down time' as staff at the Laskah Gah Main Operating Base opened Secret Santa presents along with gifts from family.

Medics were given home comforts including new socks, underwear and toiletries as Christmas favourites such as Chris Rea's Driving Home For Christmas and the Pogues' Fairytale Of New York played in the background.

Meanwhile, soldiers and service members with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) also enjoyed a Christmas dinner and attended a mass to mark the day.

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Video: Holiday Message from General John R. Allen -- ISAF

IED kills 3 civilians in W Afghanistan -- Press TV (Iran)
4 militants killed in northern Afghanistan: ISAF -- NZWeek
Now in Afghanistan, many a dull moment -- Stars and Stripes

Afghans seek policewoman's motive for killing U.S. contractor -- Reuters
Iranian Woman Killed American in Kabul-- Wall Street Journal
Afghanistan: Woman who killed American is Iranian -- AP
Policewoman who killed US aide in Kabul 'is Iranian' -- BBC
Afghan Policewoman Who Killed U.S. Contractor Is Iranian Citizen -- Radio Free Europe

Attack on US adviser will have negative impacts: Sediqi -- Khaama Press
Diggers in Afghanistan get help from Shadow UAV, the eye in sky -- News.com.au
Missing: 200M USD in gas receipts for NATO aid in Afghanistan -- RAWA News
“Underground railroad” brings dogs out of Afghanistan -- Toronto Star
What next for Afghanistan after NATO’s scheduled pullout? -- Boris Pavlishev, Voice of Russia

Pilgrims and locals celebrated Christmas Day on Tuesday in the ancient Bethlehem church where tradition holds Jesus was born, candles illuminating the sacred site and the joyous sound of prayer filling its overflowing halls.

Overcast skies and a cold wind didn't dampen the spirits of worshippers who came dressed in holiday finery and the traditional attire of foreign lands to mark the holy day in this biblical West Bank town. Bells pealed and long lines formed inside the fourth-century Church of the Nativity complex as Christian faithful waited eagerly to see the grotto that is Jesus' traditional birthplace.

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Gulf Arabs decry Iran "interference", Syria killings.

Syria rebels kill military intelligence chief.

Pope decries slaughter of 'defenseless' Syrians.

Turkey lifts objection to Israel-NATO cooperation.

Group says Gaza Palestinians violated laws of war.

Gunmen in Yemen kill 2 army officers in capital; clashes elsewhere kill 3 troops, 11 tribesmen.

Iran set to unveil new domestic satellite.

Israel endorses first university in West Bank.

Baghdad Christians attend mass at attacked church.


India clamps down on gang rape protests, PM appeals for calm.

Pakistan resume India cricket tour in Bangalore.

Top Philippine communist rebel arrested: army.

Taiwan and China move closer to peace accord?

Two die as passenger jet lands in Myanmar rice field.

What wealthy Chinese want for Christmas: a bike.


Egyptians fret over economy after rancorous vote on constitution.

Central Africa rebels and govt. edge closer to talks.

Ship crew held for 1,000 days rescued off coast of Yemen.

U.N. says South Sudan threatens its peacekeeping mission.

Mali: Poorer by the day.

Nelson Mandela looking much better, says Jacob Zuma after Christmas visit.


Cold war: Bitter winter weather kills hundreds in eastern Europe, Russia.

Russian ruling party official shot dead in Caucasus.

Greece not doing enough against rich tax dodgers, say EU/IMF.

Car-bomb threat sparks megabrothel evacuation in Spain.

Catholic Church urges Irish to oppose abortion law.

Queen's Christmas message hails Olympic stars.


Down to the fiscal cliff wire, with no solution in sight.

Poverty and fear of gangs drive young immigrants to U.S..

Officials push to postpone swearing-in of Chávez. Venezuelans debate missed Chavez inauguration.

2013 will be the year of final victory: Colombia defense minister.

George H.W. Bush, 88, spends Christmas in the hospital as he continues to struggle with cough and weakness.


US drone strikes kill Jordanian, Yemeni AQAP operatives.

U.S. Army to train Africa forces in anti-terror.

When U.S. drones kill civilians, Yemen’s government tries to conceal it.


Mundie, one of Gates' successors, to retire from Microsoft.

Instagram hit with class action lawsuit.

Is this the new BlackBerry? Newly leaked images show what may be the next generation of the device - with the same keyboard design.

The clock has all but run out on the defense industry's efforts to stave off billions in looming budget cuts under sequestration.

At the Pentagon, administration officials have given Defense Department number crunchers the green light to begin planning for the $500 billion in budget cuts set to go into effect in January.

Weeks of intense, last-minute negotiations between Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and President Barack Obama on a potential deal to avoid January’s “fiscal cliff” of looming tax hikes and automatic spending cuts appeared to come to an unceremonious end last Thursday.

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Israel says has no proof poison gas used in Syria -- Reuters

Russian Aerobatic Teams First to Get Su-30SM, Su-35C -- RIA Novosti

Iran to conduct navy drill in Strait of Hormuz in December -- Reuters

Report: Head of Syrian military police joins rebels -- YNet News

Gulf leaders agree on unified military command at Bahrain summit -- Al Arabiya News

New Chinese destroyer ready for debut, report says -- Taipei Times

Photos: New Chinese 4-engine large military transport aircraft -- Alert 5

China Versus Most Of The World -- Strategy Page

Kosovo aims to form military force and join NATO -- Stars and Stripes

US to sell $1.2bn in spy drones to S. Korea -- RT

U.S. Army to train Africa forces in anti-terror -- CBS/AP

U.S. Military Builds Up Its Presence In Africa -- NPR

Air-to-Air Warfare Isn’t Dead -- Defense Tech

Questions Abound Over SEAL Team 4 Commander's Apparent Suicide -- Business Insider/AFP

Sexual assault at the US military academies -- Al Jazeera

'Madder than hell': WWII veteran's medals are stolen -- NBC

No Brown-Bagging on the Big Bird: Air Force One food bills add up. -- New York Magazine

Congress designates ‘Taps’ as national song -- Air Force Times

Many Military Veterans Dealing With ALS -- CBS

CIA hated Zero Dark Thirty -- RT

The Strange, Strange Tale of U.S.S. Inaugural -- Bring the heat, Bring the Stupid

Obamas Offer Holiday Wishes, Call for All to Remember Vets -- US Department of Defense

Pyongyang warned of unspecified consequences because of the tower, which Seoul allowed Christians to light on Saturday.

North Korea is accusing rival South Korea of using an illuminated frontline Christmas tower to engage in psychological warfare.

North Korean state media said on Monday that the lighting of the Christmas tree-shaped tower is because Seoul was humiliated by Pyongyang successfully putting a satellite into orbit on 12 December.

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North Korea says South Korea engaging in psychological warfare by lighting Christmas tower -- FOX News/AP
The Christmas Threat To North Korea…That They Don’t Care About -- Wall Street Journal
North Korea to South Korea: Christmas 'tree' is warfare -- USA Today
North Korea slams Christmas lights as provocation -- Herald Sun
North Korea Accuses South Of Engaging In 'Psychological Warfare' Via Christmas Lights (PICTURE) -- Huffington Post

My Comment: A great Christmas gift .... but 4 months in a Mexican jail .... makes you wonder how many more Americans and foreigners are stuck in some Mexican hell-hole.

(Reuters) - Syrian rebels are surrounding bases and military airports loyal to President Bashar al-Assad across the northern province of Aleppo, a commander said, but are struggling to counter attacks from jet fighters which can fly even from besieged airfields.

Colonel Abdel-Jabbar Oqaidi, who heads the rebels' military council in the province, also told Reuters that his forces are fighting without any help from the Western and Arab governments which want Assad removed from power.

Oqaidi, who leads between 25,000-30,000 troops across Aleppo province, said the rebel strategy had shifted from fighting Assad's forces in the cities to surrounding his bases in the countryside - aiming to encourage defections and weaken the sites so they can be stormed.

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My Comment: This is a first .... a comprehensive and detailed report from a top rebel commander on the military campaign in the Aleppo region. This shows that the rebels are getting better at organizing and passing along info and intel .... as well developing strategies and coordinating their attacks.

The Navy does its best to get troops home for the holidays when it can, but this display at Norfolk Naval base is still more the exception than the rule.

Nine "Flattops," five aircraft carriers, and four amphibious assault ships, are crammed together here at Norfolk among smaller ships and nuclear submarines from December 20, Navy photos. The nine flattops alone, number more than all eight battleships at Pearl Harbor in 1941.

This cohort of ships at Norfolk could all be together for the last time as sixty percent of U.S. ships head to the Pacific and the carrier USS Enterprise (third ship from left, third picture down) falls to decommissioning after 52 years of service.

Ships serving in the Pacific Fleet generally call the Naval Base in San Diego home, making it the largest Navy base on the West Coast.

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My Comment: There are a few more photos at the link .... check it out.