| US Withdrawal From Iraq Nears Completion Posted: 07 Dec 2011 08:49 PM PST <!--AV--> The United States' eight-year military operation of Iraq is coming to an end. Military commanders in Iraq say the withdrawal of troops and equipment from the country is nearly complete. Fewer than 4,000 remain in the country and officials say they will likely be out in the next few days, in keeping with President Obama's orders for a pullout by the Christmas holiday.
Another convoy reaches Kuwait. For the U.S. Air Force and Army combat truckers who have been on the road for days, the trip is exhausting and dangerous. On the way out, the trucks face gunfire and rock-throwing.
For soldiers like 21-year-old Johan Robinson, the departure is part of history. "We accomplished safety for our own people over here during our operations, and safety for others from terrorism," he said.
The drawdown has been under way for months, but in recent days movement has accelerated at U.S. bases in Kuwait that serve as transit points. The goal - to fulfill President Obama's promise to have the troops home by the Christmas holiday.
What took eight years to put into place is being dismantled in weeks.
One of the generals overseeing the drawdown, Army Brigadier General Jonathan Ives, calls it the biggest trucking operation since the World War II mission that supplied U.S. troops invading Europe.
"We've moved a million tons with 4,000 vehicles in the same amount of time [as the World War II operation]. They did it over 90 days, a three-month period. We've done it really from October 16 to today," he said.
Most camps in Iraq have been emptied or handed over to Iraqi authorities, a process that began in the north, making its way south.
U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Curt Stewart has deployed several times since the war started in 2003. "I almost feel like I've spent more time here than I have in the States over the last six or seven years. So, it's definitely historic in terms of finally bringing things to a close and closing bases that I've traveled to and from numerous times over the last several years. Seeing them close and bringing things home feels pretty good," he said.
Specialist Robinson says his deployments have caused his family suffering and he hopes the sacrifices that U.S. soldiers have made will mean a safer world. He also hopes that no others will have to fight in Iraq again.
"A lot of blood has been shed in this country. Now that we're going to be gone, I know that neither me nor my family nor my friends are going to [have] to come back here to this country and do more damage. It's actually a relief," he said.
For the troops returning home and the families of the more than four thousand Americans who perished in this war, this journey out of Iraq is the end of a chapter. 
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| US Communities Rally For High School Football Posted: 07 Dec 2011 04:52 PM PST Football, the American form of the sport, is an iconic part of American high school life, especially in small towns, like Macomb, Illinois, and everyone gets involved.
Musicians cheer the players. And it's the cheerleaders' job to spur on the crowds.
Jill Kelso says cheerleading is an important part of the game.
"We try to pump up the crowd and try to encourage the boys," she says. "I don't know how much it actually helps but it at least pumps up the atmosphere." <!--AV--> That atmosphere motivates the players. On this Saturday afternoon, Macomb's team, the Bombers, has a solid win. The team's star player, Quarterback Chris Jackson, says it's always a good time.
"I'm playing football every day with a lot of my best friends. Kids that I have known for years and kids that I have grown up with," he says.
Football has made him something of a celebrity in Macomb.
"Wherever you go people know you," he explains. "They always shake your hand and they always know what you do so they kind of help you stay out of trouble, too."
And the fans cheer him. But they say they care about more than a win.
"Just the high school spirit: the cheerleaders, the band, the community comes out, especially in small towns - I'm from Chicago but ... I like how the community comes out to support the team," says a fan.
"We have great community here as you can see in the stands - there's lots of fans, lots of parents, so it's part of being in the community," says a woman.
Head coach Kelly Sears says his job is not easy.
"When you deal with high school kids, you really never know who has flunked a test or who broke up with their girlfriend or what's happened to them during the day and that can trigger their attitude toward practice or possibly not even showing up. So the thing is when you start winning some games and you get great tradition, which we have had here at Macomb high, I think that really adds to getting the kids there," coach Sears says.
With more wins in the bag, he says, the community will keep coming back for more.
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| 5 International Broadcasters Call for Action Against Jamming Posted: 07 Dec 2011 04:43 PM PST Five international broadcasters have condemned the deliberate jamming of their broadcast signals this year in countries such as Iran that seek to prevent free access to information.
Voice of America joined the BBC, Deutsche Welle, Audiovisuel Exterieur de la France and Radio Netherlands Worldwide in signing a statement Wednesday, condemning the practice and calling for action to stop it.
In the statement, the five broadcasters say they have seen an escalation this year in the number of pressure tactics that have been used on the media accessed by audiences in Iran and other countries. They asked regulatory authorities to take action against those who deliberately cause interference to satellite signals on the grounds that this is contrary to international conventions.
Representatives of the five outlets discussed the issue at a meeting in London ahead of an international telecommunications union meeting in Switzerland.
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| US, Canada Announce Trade, Security Deals Posted: 07 Dec 2011 04:35 PM PST The United States and Canada have announced deals to ease the flow of trade between them and improve security on their common border. President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper met Wednesday at the White House.
The U.S. and Canada have the world's largest bilateral trading relationship, with more than $1.1 trillion in trade and investment crossing the border last year.
The two countries' leaders have announced two agreements which President Obama said will further streamline cross-border trade and improve their common security.
"Put simply, we are going to make it easier to conduct the trade and travel that creates jobs, and we are going to make it harder for those who would do us harm and threaten our security," said President Obama.
Mr. Obama said more than 90 percent of U.S.-Canada trade passes through roads, bridges and ports, many of which he says need updating.
The president said one of the deals will provide those upgrades.
"We are going to improve our infrastructure," said Obama. "We are going to introduce new technologies. We are going to improve cargo security and screening-all designed to make it easier for our companies to do business and create jobs."
The agreement would also boost security along the U.S.-Canadian border, through increased coordination and the sharing of intelligence between the two allies.
The other deal would reduce regulations on cross-border trade.
Prime Minister Harper said the agreements are the most important between Canada and the U.S. in almost 20 years.
"These agreements create a new, modern border for a new century," said Prime Minister Harper. "Together they represent the most significant steps forward in Canada-U.S. cooperation since the North American Free Trade Agreement."
The two leaders also discussed an issue that has caused some difficulty between them, the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline, which would pump oil from Canada to the US state of Texas.
Mr. Obama delayed a decision on a route for the pipeline until 2013, after environmentalists complained about the possible ecological impact.
The president said Wednesday he told Mr. Harper it is important to ensure that all questions about the project are answered before the pipeline goes ahead.
Opposition Republicans in Congress say the $7 billion project would create thousands of jobs and reduce U.S. dependence on Middle Eastern oil. Republican leaders have threatened to approve Mr. Obama's proposal to extend payroll tax cuts only if he approves the Keystone pipeline too.
The president warned Republican lawmakers not to hold hostage the payroll tax cut or any other legislation.
"Any effort to try to tie Keystone to the payroll tax cut, I will reject," he said.
Mr. Obama also said he is pleased that Canada has expressed an interest in joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a nine-country trade group. Japan and Mexico have also shown interest in joining the group. 
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| Dual Tree Lighting Illuminates Annual Holiday Debate Posted: 07 Dec 2011 04:15 PM PST It's the Christmas holiday season in the United States, and with it comes an annual argument: Should local, state and federal governments put up Christmas trees, or even call attention to Christmas, in a country that has no official religion?
It's one of the most recognizable symbols of the season. But in the northeastern state of Rhode Island State House this year, the governor says the seasonal spruce is getting a name change: from Christmas tree to holiday tree.
"Times are changing and that's just the reality. The world's getting smaller. People are moving around. Religions are more accepted in our society and that's just the evolution that's occurring," said Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee. <!--AV--> The decision angers some Americans, and the governor's office has received thousands of calls denouncing the change. A state legislator even decided to hold a Christmas tree lighting in the State House Tuesday at the same time of the governor's holiday tree lighting.
Janice Crouse is a spokeswoman for Concerned Women for America, the country's largest public policy organization for Christian women.
"You know when it comes to Christmas time, the people who talk about inclusion and diversity and all those cliches of the left, they're the first ones to want to shut down Christmas," said Crouse.
Nearly 80 percent of Americans identify themselves as Christians and celebrate Christmas to mark the birth of Jesus.
"We celebrate other faiths, we ought to celebrate Christian faith as well. And there ought to be symbols in our public square. It's very much a part of who we are as Americans," said Crouse.
Erika Seamon teaches religion in American public life at Georgetown University. She said the Christmas tree illuminates the debate over separation of church and state - a fundamental concept in American law.
"The importance of this is it's not taking Christmas or taking religion out of American society. It's specifically the concern that this tree and this language is associated with government property and government endorsement," said Seamon.
Christmas is a federal holiday in the United States. The courts have ruled the Christmas tree a secular symbol that represents the season without specific religious meaning. That makes it all right to put up a big tree and decorate it here at the Capitol and at other government properties across the country.
But not everybody sees the Christmas tree as secular.
"All symbols point back to Christ for me, the reason for the season we so often say."
Seamon said the change just might be the governor's way of avoiding trying to dictate the meaning of symbols for individuals.
"One could argue that what the government is trying to do in a multiculturally diverse society is just move to the sidelines and not be involved in religious discussion or symbolism or language in the first place," she said.
As long as there are Christmas trees on public property, the seasonal semantics likely will continue.
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