CNN 2011-12-19

 A big thanks to Mr_students for introducing our panel-to-be programme of 2011.I'm Carol Azutz.You're in store for 10 minutes of commercial free headlines,starting right now.

First up.President Obama has 2 words for American troops who have been serving in Iraq,Welcome home.That was his message during a visit to North Carolina's_yesterday.As we've reported,the war in Iraq is officially over.Almost all US military personnel will be out of that country by the end of this year,though about 16000 US officials and contractors 1 will remain in Iraq.The President and first-lay Michel Obama praised the efforts and sacrifices of the men and women who served in Iraq and their families.President Obama said the fact that US forces sacrificed so much for people they've never met is an example of what makes Americans special.He also said Iraq will continue to deal with challenges.Some of these are being faced by Iraqi Christians 3 right now.Around 97 percent of Iraqis are Muslim,but there's a small christian 2 community there and Michael Homs explains why that community could face more threats now than it did before.Chrismas approaches and Iraqi Christians pray for peace,goodwill and that they'll make it till next Chrismas alive.Outside,police and church security on high alert,being a Christian in Iraq is enough to cost your life.it is a time actually for celebrations and for being very happy,because Christ is coming actually to all the lives,to all the churches,all the country,but we are afraid,we are afraid of attacks.The war here has done the Christian community no favor at all.Saddam Hussein of course often brutally 4 kept_on extremists and christians here benefited from that.Those who would have wanted to do them harm could not.Well,that of course has now all changed.I was kidnapped in 2006 from church.Father Sah was held by Muslim extremists for 28 days.Did you think you would die? Yes,yes,sometimes,actually.Hundreds of other christians have died.Throughout the war,dozens of churches have been bombed,priests and missioners abducted,the homes of the faithful attacked.Last year in October,the worst attack so far,gunmen stormed a Baghdad church,taking the congregation of hostages and detonating bombs.More than 50 worshippers died.Back at Saint Joses,Father sirl says there'll be a chrismas tree inside this year,no decorations outside.He says that would be inviting 5 trouble to a church that's already received its most recent threat just this month.Today the faithful praying regardless_celebrating their religion while acknowledging it could come with a heavy price.Michael Homs,CNN Baghdad