Christmas for the Commandos in Afghanistan was always going to be different - but no one could have predicted just how different.

One minute they were singing carols at dusk beneath a mellow sun in the baked bare wasteland of Helmand province while wearing festive Santa hats, the next they were firing mortars after their Christmas Day service came under attack from the Taliban.

So rapid was the reaction of Royal Marines of 40 Commando that within less than a minute of the first "contact" from the Taliban's machine guns, they had sprinted the 200 metres to their mortar lines and had begun to return fire.

Merry Christmas, Taliban!  And thanks to and prayers for all who are serving in Afghanistan, striving to give the Taliban just what they deserve!

’Tis the season … to be green. No, not even the traditions of Christmas are immune to the efforts of global warming activism.

No, it’s not Al Gore’s, “How Greenhouse Gases Stole Christmas,” but a children’s story is pushing a similar green agenda. The recently published book by Anne Margaret Lewis called “Santa Goes Green” is about a boy who writes Santa and asks him to help raise awareness about global warming so that his adopted polar bear won’t lose its home.

“You see, it’s like this Santa,” the book reads. “I’ve adopted a polar bear named Leopold. He is in danger of losing his home. I’m sure you being in the North Pole you know about the melting glaciers. All I want this year Santa, is to save Leopold and his home.”

Santa Claus visits the boy, takes him to see the polar bear and then in a moment of eco-awakening, he makes his operations at the North Pole green.

“They arrived back at the North Pole and Santa had a grand idea,” the book reads. “He leaned in toward Swift [the head elf] and told him his new plan. ‘We will collect all of the old toys, Swift, and make them new again. We will reuse last year’s wrapping paper. And we will harness the great North Pole wind to help power up the toy shop.’”

Doesn't that make images of Sugar Plums dance in your head?  Probably not.   It more likely produces haunting visions of presents wrapped in old wrinkled newspapers under a recycled cardboard Christmas tree.  No lights, unless they're mini-fluorescent!  Festive, eh!?  But this isn't the worst of it, Greenpeace has a new ad warning us of a massive polar thaw that's right around the corner.  This ad is sure to put the fear of global warming in all the kiddies who view Santa's close brush with death! To be honest, it has me a little worried because as I watched this video, I'm not sure I could count 9 reindeer and I didn't see Mrs. Claus!