COMPLETE COVERAGE | FRONT LINES | AMERICA AT HOME | INTERACTIVES »

Bush to troops: We pray for your success

American soldiers and British Royal Marines have a Christmas meal at Bagram airbase.

(CNN) -- President Bush told U.S. troops in Afghanistan on Christmas Day he is encouraged by the progress in the fight against terrorism.

"Our cause is just, and we will prevail," Bush said in a message posted on the Pentagon's Web site. "Our efforts to liberate Afghanistan and defend freedom depend on your courage and commitment, your skill and determination."

"We're encouraged by the progress we have made," Bush added.

"We continue to pray for peace on Earth, even as we fight so that oppression may end," the commander in chief said.

"We pray for your success, and we look forward to the day when you can come home to your friends and your families."

Far away from their homes, U.S. troops celebrated Christmas in Afghanistan with hymns, prayers and phone calls to loved ones.

"This is not my first Christmas away," said Sgt. Grady Richardson of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, serving in Kabul. "So you kind of get used to it. ... What can you do?

"I'm in the Marine Corps ... serving my country," Richardson said. "Proudly."

VIDEO CNN's Harris Whitbeck reports on what the U.N. is doing to help the interim Afghan government start rebuilding the country (December 25) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's Amanda Kibel reports on the difficulties that Afghanistan's new interim government faces in ridding the country of weapons (December 25) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     QUICKVOTE Did September 11 change your holiday celebrations? Yes No View Results    CNN.COM SPECIAL REPORT  CNN NewsPass Video  Agencies reportedly got hijack tips in 1998  MORE STORIES Intelligence intercept led to Buffalo suspects Report cites warnings before 9/11  EXTRA INFORMATION Timeline: Who Knew What and When? Interactive: Terror Investigation Terror Warnings System Most wanted terrorists What looks suspicious? In-Depth: America Remembers In-Depth: Terror on Tape In-Depth: How prepared is your city?  RESOURCES On the Scene: Barbara Starr: Al Qaeda hunt expands? On the Scene: Peter Bergen: Getting al Qaeda to talk

Latest developments

• In southern Afghanistan, anti-Taliban forces Tuesday battled wounded al Qaeda fighters at a Kandahar hospital in the fourth day of a standoff that began when an al Qaeda member was handed over to U.S. forces. The remaining al Qaeda fighters were said to be heavily armed and have threatened to blow themselves up if any "foreigners" come near them. U.S. officials said U.S. Special Forces have observed the fighting but have not intervened.

• U.S. officials said that U.S. Marines would soon move into the mountains of eastern Afghanistan to search for Osama bin Laden. Military officials said bombing in the Tora Bora region had tapered off because the movement of U.S. Marines into the area was "imminent." Special Forces troops who are familiar with the area will accompany the Marines.

• In southern Afghanistan, anti-Taliban forces battled wounded al Qaeda fighters at a Kandahar hospital in the fourth day of a standoff that began when an al Qaeda member was handed over to U.S. forces. The remaining al Qaeda fighters were said to be heavily armed and have threatened to blow themselves up if any "foreigners" come near them. U.S. officials said U.S. Special Forces have observed the fighting but have not intervened.

• Two senior Bush administration officials said that U.S. Marines in Afghanistan discovered several dozen Soviet-era weapons outfitted with depleted uranium warheads. The officials said the weapons -- uncovered at an ammunition storage site near Kandahar -- are the only instance of anything remotely radioactive found in the possession of the Taliban or al Qaeda.

• Initial tests indicate that a bomb suspect had plastic explosives in his shoes when he boarded a trans-Atlantic flight last weekend, law enforcement officials said Tuesday. Richard C. Reid, 28, is being held without bond in Massachusetts on charges of interfering with a flight crew. (Full story)

• Airports across Europe have tightened security after the Reid incident on a flight from Paris to Miami. French border police have opened an urgent inquiry on how Reid, allegedly with explosives in his shoes, evaded security checks at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. (Full story)

• Interim Afghan government leader Hamid Karzai has named Northern Alliance Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum as his deputy defense minister. Dostum, an ethnic Uzbek, had criticized the interim government for not giving enough representation to the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance. (Full story)

• President Bush expressed compassion for the victims of the September 11 terror attacks and gratitude to U.S. service members Tuesday in his Christmas radio address. (Full story)

• Thousands of youngsters are facing their first Christmas after losing a parent in the September 11 attacks. (Full story)

• A member of Afghanistan's interim government said Monday that four Arab al Qaeda members were in a convoy struck by U.S. warplanes last week. Amanullah Zadran, minister of border affairs, said Stinger missiles and anti-aircraft weapons were fired from the convoy. U.S. warplanes fired back, Zadran said. Fifty to 60 people were killed when U.S. planes attacked the convoy Friday night in eastern Afghanistan.

• The Afghan Islamic Press reported that U.S. forces had captured Abdul Haq Wasiq, the deputy Taliban intelligence chief. The Pakistan-based news agency said Wasiq was traveling in Mukur area in the eastern Afghan province of Ghazni when U.S. commandos aboard a helicopter swooped down to capture him. A U.S. spokesman said he could not confirm the report.

• Funds raised by an all-star TV tribute broadcast 10 days after the September 11 terror attacks will be distributed to those affected by the tragedy beginning Christmas Eve, the September 11th Fund announced Monday. (Full story)