CAMP WAREHOUSE, Afghanistan (AFP) — Christmas on mission is a time for reflection and sharing, says a French officer among the thousands of NATO soldiers spending the festive season far away from home in Afghanistan.
"It is a time when the military community closes ranks, it is a time for reflection, for communion," said commander Gael Keurazet, spokesman for the French troops at Camp Warehouse, the biggest international base in Kabul.
Christmas menus and services were planned well in advance in the camp, which gathers 2,000 soldiers from 15 countries in the 39-nation NATO-led International Security Assistance Force assisting the Afghan government.
But there is no question of relaxing security, the soldiers say, including those at the heavily guarded entrance to the facility who will arrange their shifts so they can all take part in the festivities.
Soldiers have for weeks rehearsed Latin hymns for a collective midnight Mass on December 24th, said the Catholic chaplain, Benoit Galvan.
"The different nations also prepared traditional songs for the Christmas repertoire and I hope that we will sing the creeds, the Our Father and Gloria together," he said before the service in a big tent in the camp centre.
Afterwards, the hot chocolate traditionally served in Italy after Mass would be passed around to the congregation, said Italian Captain Mario Renna.
Also at the camp, on the outskirts of the capital, French Foreign Legion soldiers have built a nativity scene showing the snow-covered mountains of Afghanistan, typical mudbrick homes and, in a twist, international helicopters.
The nationalities were to have their own special Christmas meals in their barracks.
For the French, it would be a sumptuous Christmas Eve repast, including goose stuffed with mushrooms, salmon with champagne sauce, French cheeses, a traditional log cake and, of course, champagne.
There was also traditional Christmas Day fare for US soldiers at the ISAF headquarters in the city centre. On the menu was turkey and pecan-nut and apple pies to be washed down with Coke or juice, said Major Charles Anthony.
Turkey was also prepared for the British soldiers at the HQ. "We officers will serve our soldiers. It is tradition," said British Lieutenant General Jonathon Riley, ISAF deputy commander.
Christmastime has brought some high-profile visits to Afghanistan with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd sweeping in Saturday to meet their soldiers.
They were followed by Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi who stopped in for a few hours on Sunday.
There is talk that other leaders may come by for New Year's Eve.
Some of the nearly 26,000 US soldiers here and their comrades were given a special treat a few days before Christmas when US comedian Robin Williams performed, with cyclist Lance Armstrong and other celebrities also putting in an appearance.
And at the biggest US base at Bagram, 60 kilometres (40 miles) north of Kabul, Irish tenor Ronan Tynan sang for the soldiers who were also entertained by a military choir that sang patriotic and African-American spiritual songs.
One of the songs at one show was called "Have you forgotten?" and referred to the 9/11 attacks which led the US army into Afghanistan, then a base for Al-Qaeda.
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