While Afghanistan in winter can be a beautiful place, Christmas away from family is often a lonely experience and U.S. troops stationed across the mainly Muslim country did their best to get into the Christmas spirit. 
At a U.S. base near the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, U.S. Marines ripped open gifts that included a jack-in-the-box, shampoo and a sweatshirt that read, "Hasta (Osama) bin Laden," a reminder that despite the cheer, U.S. troops are on a dangerous mission. 
Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect in the Sept.11 attacks in the United States, is still at large and the hunt for the Saudi terrorist mastermind and his top aides continues. 
Many soldiers, some spending their first Christmas away from home, told reporters that spending Christmas in combat had increased their spirituality and their awareness of the importance of their mission. 
At the Bagram airbase near the Afghan capital of Kabul, U.S. troops received cards from New York City schoolchildren, which were brought in by New York police and firefighters who visited Kabul last week. A number of the cards were decorated with the American flag and contained poignant thank you messages.
In a radio address from Washington, President Bush expressed compassion for the families of the victims of the Sept.11 attacks and thanked U.S. troops stationed abroad. 

