DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Pfc. Nicolas H. J. Gideon, 20, of Murrieta, Calif., died July 6 at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered earlier that day in Paktya, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fires. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Capt. Mark A. Garner, 30, of North Carolina, died July 6 in Argandab District, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany.

Spc. Christopher M. Talbert, 24, of Galesburg, Ill., died July 7 in Shindad, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, Marion, Ill.

July 07, 2009

DoD Identifies Navy Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Petty Officer Second Class Tony Michael Randolph, 22, of Henryetta, Okla. died July 6 in an improvised explosive device attack on his convoy in northern Afghanistan. Randolph was assigned as an individual augmentee to Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan.

July 06, 2009

DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Charles S. Sharp, 20, of Adairsville, Ga., died July 2 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died July 4 at Combat Outpost Zerok, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked the outpost using small arms and indirect fires. They were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Killed were:

Pfc. Justin A. Casillas, 19, of Dunnigan, Calif.

Pfc. Aaron E. Fairbairn, 20, of Aberdeen, Wash.

Afghanistan Photo War 4 Part 3

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines sleep in their fighting holes inside a compound where they stayed for the night, in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province, Wednesday July 8, 2009. AP

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines sleep in their fighting holes inside a compound where they stayed for the night, in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province, Wednesday July 8, 2009. AP

In this undated photo provided by the Illinois National Guard, 1st Lt. Derwin Williams, 41, of Glenwood, Ill. , is shown. Williams was killed Monday, July 6, 2009, when the vehicle he was in hit a roadside bomb in Kandu, Afghanistan. AP

In this undated photo provided by the Illinois National Guard, Spc. Chester Hosford, 35, of Ottawa, Ill. , is shown. Hosford was killed Monday, July 6, 2009, when the vehicle he was in hit a roadside bomb in Kandu, Afghanistan. AP

Soldiers of the Afghan National Army (ANA) drive on their pick-up trucks while searching for pro-Taliban fighters in Kuk Cenar, Baghlan province, northern Afghanistan, Wednesday, July 8, 2009. The province's only ANA battalion started an operation Wednesday to search for insurgents in the Qandahari Valley with the assistance the Ohio National Guard and the Hungarian Army. AP

An Afghan police officers is seen during a search operation for pro-Taliban fighters in Kuk Cenar, in Baghlan province, northern Afghanistan, Wednesday, July 8, 2009. AP

Nicholson:

All right, next question, water. Yeah, this thing popped today. I'm not sure where it came from. I know that the number-one threat to us right now is the heat. And I was out in it most of today, down at Khan Neshin. It's -- it's -- it's just hot as fire down there.

Let me answer -- get back to the water thing. We spend -- we understand the number one threat here right now today is not the Taliban, it's the heat. And as I said, it is hot as fire. Every day we've got helicopters, day and night, pushing all manner of logistics, but especially pallets of water to the Marines. I am more than confident -- and I stay in touch with my commanders down there -- I am more than confident that we're getting the amount of water they need in a timely manner. No one is going without water.

My problem, and what I'm fussing about with my staff, is that the water's not cold. We need to freeze that water. We need to deliver water that's pretty well frozen. It will thaw out very quickly. So we're working on that.

Bravo Company commander Cpt. Drew Schoenmaker of the U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines shaves his face and head inside a compound where they stayed for the night, in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province, Wednesday, July 8, 2009. AP

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines load water that was dropped by helicopter during a resupply to the compound where they stayed for the night, in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province, Wednesday, July 8, 2009. AP

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines are seen shortly after waking up inside a compound where they stayed for the night, in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province, Wednesday, July 8, 2009. AP

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines watch as a helicopter drops an emergency water resupply outside a compound where they stayed for the night, in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province, Wednesday, July 8, 2009. AP

MIAN POSHTEH, AFGHANISTAN - JULY 08: U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. fire a mortar after Marines came under fire on July 8, 2009 in Mian Poshteh, Afghanistan. Getty

1st Sgt David Gill from Alliance, Oh of the OMLT Team Orthos from 1-145AR RGT, left, and Hungarian military adviser SFC Otto Szatmari, right, look at a hill while searching for pro-Taliban fighters near Kuk Cenar, Baghlan province of northern Afghanistan, Wednesday, July 8, 2009. The province's Afghan National Army (ANA) battalion started an operation Wednesday to search for insurgents in the Qandahari Valley with the assistance the Ohio National Guard and the Hungarian Army. AP

MIAN POSHTEH, AFGHANISTAN- JULY 8: U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. sleep together in an empty school that the Marines took over on July 8, 2009 in Mian Poshteh, Afghanistan. Getty

The tattoo of a U.S. Marine from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marine, is seen through a hole on the back of his uniform shirt, as he stands guard at a compound in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province, Wednesday, July 8, 2009. AP

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines stop two Afghan bicyclists to speak with them, at a U.S. Marine checkpoint in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province, Wednesday, July 8, 2009. AP

U.S. Private Joshua Ladd of the 4-25FA Battalion, 3 Brigade, 10th Mountain Division registers targets to respond to possible attacks on the Combat Operation Outpost (COP) Conlon in mountains of Wardak Province in Afghanistan July 8, 2009. Reuters

U.S. Private Jeremy Houle of 3rd Platoon from the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division plays a guitar on the Combat Operation Outpost Conlon in the mountains of Wardak Province in Afghanistan July 8, 2009. Reuters

U.S. soldiers of 3rd Platoon from the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division smoke on top of a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle during a short break on the Combat Operation Outpost (COP) Conlon in the mountains of Wardak Province in Afghanistan July 8, 2009. Reuters

MIAN POSHTEH, AFGHANISTAN- JULY 7: A U.S. Marine from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. takes up a defensive position as he patrols through a village on July 7, 2009 in Mian Poshteh, Afghanistan. Getty

MIAN POSHTEH, AFGHANISTAN- JULY 7: U.S. Marine Corporal Taly Ramirez of St. Paul, Minnesota from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. uses some downtime to fish in a canal on July 7, 2009 in Mian Poshteh, Afghanistan. Getty

French soldiers of the NATO-led coalition secure area around temporary check point on a road in mountains of Wardak province in Afghanistan July 7, 2009. Reuters [Bolt-action rifle, probably sniper.]

A French soldier of the NATO-led coalition prepares for a mission with U.S. troops and Afghan National Army in mountains of Wardak province in Afghanistan July 7, 2009. Reuters

A French soldier of the NATO-led coalition secures an area around a temporary check point on a road in the mountains of Wardak province in Afghanistan July 7, 2009. Reuters

DJ Ashiqullah works at the Garmsir radio station in Helmand province July 7, 2009. The DJs of Radio Garmsir in Afghanistan's lower Helmand River valley knew their station had touched a nerve when the letters started pouring in. First a few, then more, and pretty soon 20 to 30 letters per day, hand delivered to a box outside the NATO base where they broadcast deep into Taliban territory from a desk in a tiny bunker. Reuters

MIAN POSHTEH, AFGHANISTAN- JULY 7: U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. stack sandbags in the windows of their new post on July 7, 2009 in Mian Poshteh, Afghanistan. Getty

MIAN POSHTEH, AFGHANISTAN- JULY 7: U.S. Marine from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. duck for cover after a mortar on July 7, 2009 in Mian Poshteh, Afghanistan. Getty

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines reach the end of a patrol in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province Tuesday July 7, 2009. AP

A U.S. Marine from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines carries his weapon on his shoulders as they reach the end of a patrol in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province Tuesday July 7, 2009. AP

Afghan pupils surround a U.S. soldier of 2nd Platoon from the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, in a school in the village of Sangarkhel in mountains of Wardak Province, Afghanistan, July 7, 2009. U.S. troops and Afghan National Army soldiers visited school to distribute leaflets and school supplies. Reuters

An Afghan boy waves at U.S. soldiers of 2nd Platoon from the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, patrolling in the village of Sangarkhel in mountains of Wardak Province, Afghanistan, July 7, 2009. Reuters

U.S. soldiers of 2nd Platoon from the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, patrol in the village of Sangarkhel in mountains of Wardak Province, Afghanistan, July 7, 2009. Reuters

U.S. soldiers of 2nd Platoon from the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, patrol in the village of Sangarkhel in mountains of Wardak Province, Afghanistan, July 7, 2009. Reuters

This photo released by the U.S. Army shows Pfc. Justin A. Casillas of Dunnigan, Calif. Casillas, 19, a Fort Richardson-based soldier was killed in Afghanistan on July 4, 2009. Casillas, assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, joined the Army last July, and reported to Fort Richardson in November 2008. AP

This undated picture provided by the U.S. Army shows Pfc. Aaron E. Fairbairn of Aberdeen, Wash. The Army has announced that two Fort Richardson-based soldiers, Fairbairn and Pfc. Justin A. Casillas of Dunnigan, Calif. were killed in Afghanistan on July 4, 2009 in an attack on their outpost in the Paktika Province of eastern Afghanistan. Thirteen other soldiers were injured as well. AP

DOVER, DE - JULY 06: Members of a U.S. Army carry team carries the flag-draped transfer case containing the remains of U.S. Army Pfc. Justin A. Casillas of Dunnigan, California during a dignified transfer on the tarmac at Dover Air Force Base on July 6, 2009 in Dover, Delaware. Casillas was killed July 4, 2009 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan when insurgents attacked Combat Outpost Zerok using small arms and indirect fire. Getty

DOVER, DE - JULY 06: Members of a U.S. Army carry team carry the flag-draped transfer case containing the remains of U.S. Army Pfc. Aaron E. Fairbairn of Aberdeen, Washington during a dignified transfer on the tarmac at Dover Air Force Base on July 6, 2009 in Dover, Delaware. Fairbairn was killed on July 4, 2009 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan when insurgents attacked Combat Outpost Zerok using small arms and indirect fire. Getty

Kathie Bulger (R), mother of Corporal Nick Bulger, and his sister Jessica Bulger (L) are escorted to the hearse carrying Corporal Bulger's casket at Canadian Forces Base Trenton July 6, 2009. Corporal Bulger was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated near an armoured vehicle in the Zhari District of Afghanistan July 3, 2009. Reuters

WOOTTON BASSETT, ENGLAND - JULY 06: A mourner becomes emotional as the hearse carrying the coffin of Lieutenant-Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, aged 39, follows that of Trooper Josh Hammond, aged 18, as they pass along the High Street on July 6, 2009 in Wootton Bassett, England. Lieutenant-Colonel Rupert Thorneloe - who was killed in Afghanistan on July 1 alongside Trooper Hammond when their Viking armoured vehicle was blown up by an improvised explosive device in Helmand province during a major offensive against the Taliban - was commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards and was the most senior Army officer to be killed in action since the Falklands war in 1982. The repatriation of the bodies to the nearby RAF Lyneham comes on the day the MoD announced that another three British serviceman had been killed in attacks in southern Afghanistan and their deaths bring the total number of British personnel killed in Afghanistan since 2001 to 174. Twenty-one have been killed during the past two months. Getty

Corporal Nick Bulger's sister Jessica comforts his daughter Brooklyn on the tarmac at Canadian Forces Base Trenton July 6, 2009. Corporal Bulger's body arrived back in Canada on Monday after he was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated near an armoured vehicle in the Zhari District of Afghanistan July 3, 2009. Reuters

U.S. Master Sergeant David Rogers of 4-25th FA, 10th Mountain Division jokes with a shop owner at a market in the village of Sangarkhel in the mountains of Wardak Province, Afghanistan, July 6, 2009. Reuters

ISAF soldiers of the Hungarian Army secure an area while checking the mountains for pro-Taliban fighters and clearing roads of possible improvised explosive devices near Burka, in the Baghlan province of central Afghanistan, Monday, July 6, 2009. The Hungarian Army is stationed in Pul-e-Khumri, the capital of the province where they lead the Provincial Reconstruction Team. AP

Soldiers of the Hungarian Army secure a road near Tangi Murch, Baghlan province of central Afghanistan, Monday, July 6, 2009. The Hungarian Army is stationed in Pul-e-Khumri, the capitol of the province where they lead the Provincial Reconstruction Team. AP

MIAN POSHTEH, AFGHANISTAN - JULY 6: U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Christopher Breen (L) of Chicago, Illinois from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. searches an Afgan man as they conduct a search of an area where shots were fired toward the Marines on July 6, 2009 in Mian Poshteh, Afghanistan. The Marines are part of Operation Khanjari, which was launched to combat Taliban fighters using areas in the Southern Helmand Province as resupply routes, and to help the local Afghan population prepare for the upcoming presidential elections. Getty

MIAN POSHTEH, AFGHANISTAN - JULY 6: U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. search a home for weapons and signs of enemy activity on July 6, 2009 in Mian Poshteh, Afghanistan. The Marines are part of Operation Khanjari, which was launched to combat Taliban fighters using areas in the Southern Helmand Province as resupply routes, and to help the local Afghan population prepare for the upcoming presidential elections. Getty

MIAN POSHTEH, AFGHANISTAN - JULY 6: U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Christopher Breen (2L) of Chicago, Illinois from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. interacts with Afgan men as they conduct a search of an area where shots were fired toward the Marines on July 6, 2009 in Mian Poshteh, Afghanistan. The Marines are part of Operation Khanjari, which was launched to combat Taliban fighters using areas in the Southern Helmand Province as resupply routes, and to help the local Afghan population prepare for the upcoming presidential elections. Getty

An ISAF platoon of the Hungarian Army drives on armored vehicles while checking the mountains for pro-Taliban fighters and clearing roads of possible improvised explosive devices near Burka, Baghlan province of central Afghanistan, Monday, July 6, 2009. The Hungarian Army is stationed in Pul-e-Khumri, the capitol of the province where they lead the Provincial Reconstruction Team. AP

MIAN POSHTEH, AFGHANISTAN - JULY 6: U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. patrol through a village on July 6, 2009 in Mian Poshteh, Afghanistan. The Marines are part of Operation Khanjari, which was launched to combat Taliban fighters using areas in the Southern Helmand Province as resupply routes, and to help the local Afghan population prepare for the upcoming presidential elections. Getty

MIAN POSHTEH, AFGHANISTAN - JULY 6: U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. interact with an Afghan man during a patrol on July 6, 2009 in Mian Poshteh, Afghanistan. The Marines are part of Operation Khanjari, which was launched to combat Taliban fighters using areas in the Southern Helmand Province as resupply routes, and to help the local Afghan population prepare for the upcoming presidential elections. Getty

A U.S. soldier takes an observation position next to a graveyard in the village of Sangarkhel in the mountains of Wardak Province, Afghanistan, July 6, 2009. Reuters

A U.S. soldier enters a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle at Combat Operation Outpost (COP) Conlon in the mountains of Wardak Province, Afghanistan, July 6, 2009. Reuters

A U.S. soldier drives a vehicle with his dog at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Airborne in the mountains of Wardak Province, Afghanistan, July 6, 2009. Reuters

MIAN POSHTEH, AFGHANISTAN - JULY 6: U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. search a home for weapons and signs of enemy activity on July 6, 2009 in Mian Poshteh, Afghanistan. The Marines are part of Operation Khanjari, which was launched to combat Taliban fighters using areas in the Southern Helmand Province as resupply routes, and to help the local Afghan population prepare for the upcoming presidential elections. Getty

Medics attached to the U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines carry a Marine, who was overcome by heat exhaustion, to a medical evacuation helicopter in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province Monday July 6, 2009. AP

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines rest during a patrol in a town in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province Monday July 6, 2009. AP

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines arrive at a compound to sleep for the night in a town in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province Monday July 6, 2009. AP

A U.S. Marine from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines, who was overcome by heat exhaustion, lies on a stretcher as he waits to be picked up by a medical evacuation helicopter in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province Monday July 6, 2009. AP

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines pass by a pile of dried poppy plants as they patrol in a town in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province Monday July 6, 2009. AP

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines arrive at a compound to sleep for the night in a town in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province Monday July 6, 2009. AP

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines arrive at a compound to sleep for the night in a town in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province Monday July 6, 2009. AP

An Afghan National Army soldier smiles during a patrol with U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province Monday July 6, 2009. AP

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines arrive at a compound to sleep for the night in a town in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province Monday July 6, 2009. AP

U.S. armoured vehicles patrol the site of a roadside bomb attack in Kunduz province July 6, 2009. Four foreign soldiers with NATO-led forces were among six people killed by a roadside bomb in Kunduz in northern Afghanistan on Monday, a spokesman for the alliance and an Afghan police official said. Reuters

U.S. Marine Captain Junwie Sun, commander of Foxtrot Company, 2nd battalion, 8th Marines, meets Afghan elders at a shura, or local council meeting, in Sorkhdoz, in the lower Helmand River valley of southern Afghanistan July 5, 2009. Thousands of Marines seized the valley in a massive helicopter and ground assault last week, known as operation Strike the Sword. Reuters

MIAN POSHTEH, AFGHANISTAN- JULY 5: U.S. Marine Captain Eric Meador (C) from Laurel, Mississippi of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. shakes hands with an Afghan man who called himself a village leader after the Marines cleared his village of Taliban fighters on July 5, 2009 in Mian Poshteh, Afghanistan. The Marines are part of Operation Khanjari which was launched to take areas in the Southern Helmand Province that Taliban fighters are using as a resupply route and to help the local Afghan population prepare for the upcoming presidential elections. Getty

MIAN POSHTEH, AFGHANISTAN - JULY 5: Private First Class John Lutz does a canon ball as he and Corporal Evan Steele of the U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. use a canal to wash themselves for the first time after clearing a village of Taliban fighters on July 5, 2009 in Mian Poshteh, Afghanistan. The Marines are part of Operation Khanjari which was launched to take areas in the Southern Helmand Province that Taliban fighters are using as a resupply route and to help the local Afghan population prepare for the upcoming presidential elections. Getty

MIAN POSHTEH, AFGHANISTAN- JULY 5: U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. search a building as they conduct an operation to clear a village of Taliban fighters on July 5, 2009 in Mian Poshteh, Afghanistan. The Marines are part of Operation Khanjari which was launched to take areas in the Southern Helmand Province that Taliban fighters are using as a resupply route and to help the local Afghan population prepare for the upcoming presidential elections. Getty

Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. conduct an operation to clear a village of Taliban fighters on July 5, 2009 in Mian Poshteh, Afghanistan. The Marines are part of Operation Khanjari which was launched to take areas in the Southern Helmand Province that Taliban fighters are using as a resupply route and to help the local Afghan population prepare for the upcoming presidential elections. Getty

MIAN POSHTEH, AFGHANISTAN- JULY 5: U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. conduct an operation to clear a village of Taliban fighters on July 5, 2009 in Mian Poshteh, Afghanistan. The Marines are part of Operation Khanjari which was launched to take areas in the Southern Helmand Province that Taliban fighters are using as a resupply route and to help the local Afghan population prepare for the upcoming presidential elections. Getty

MIAN POSHTEH, AFGHANISTAN- JULY 5: U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. conduct an operation to clear a village of Taliban fighters on July 5, 2009 in Mian Poshteh, Afghanistan. The Marines are part of Operation Khanjari which was launched to take areas in the Southern Helmand Province that Taliban fighters are using as a resupply route and to help the local Afghan population prepare for the upcoming presidential elections. Getty

MIAN POSHTEH, AFGHANISTAN- JULY 5: U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. conduct an operation to clear a village of Taliban fighters on July 5, 2009 in Mian Poshteh, Afghanistan. The Marines are part of Operation Khanjari which was launched to take areas in the Southern Helmand Province that Taliban fighters are using as a resupply route and to help the local Afghan population prepare for the upcoming presidential elections. Getty

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines advance in the Nawa district in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Saturday, July 5, 2009. AP

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines patrol in a village in the Nawa district in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Sunday, July 5, 2009. AP

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines are illuminated by a fire in which they burned their trash, as they settle in for the night in an abandoned compound in the Nawa district in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Saturday, July 5, 2009. AP

An Afghan boy looks on as British troops training the Afghan National Army and U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines patrol through a village in the Nawa district in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Sunday, July 5, 2009. AP

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines leave in the early morning to advance in the Nawa district in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Sunday, July 5, 2009. AP

MIAN POSHTEH, AFGHANISTAN- JULY 5: An Afghan man talks through an interpreter to U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. as they stay at his home after clearing the village of Taliban fighters on July 5, 2009 in Mian Poshteh, Afghanistan. The Marines are part of Operation Khanjari which was launched to take areas in the Southern Helmand Province that Taliban fighters are using as a resupply route and to help the local Afghan population prepare for the upcoming presidential elections. Getty

MIAN POSHTEH, AFGHANISTAN- JULY 5: U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. conduct an operation to clear a village of Taliban fighters on July 5, 2009 in Mian Poshteh, Afghanistan. The Marines are part of Operation Khanjari which was launched to take areas in the Southern Helmand Province that Taliban fighters are using as a resupply route and to help the local Afghan population prepare for the upcoming presidential elections. Getty

MIAN POSHTEH, AFGHANISTAN- JULY 5: U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. meet with Afghan villagers who returned after the Marines drove Taliban fighters from the center of the village on July 5, 2009 in Mian Poshteh, Afghanistan. The Marines are part of Operation Khanjari which was launched to take areas in the Southern Helmand Province that Taliban fighters are using as a resupply route and to help the local Afghan population prepare for the upcoming presidential elections. Getty

A U.S. Marine from Foxtrot Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, stands guard next to an Afghan elder at a "shura", or local council meeting, in Sorkhdoz in Afghanistan's lower Helmand River Valley July 5, 2009. Thousands of Marines advanced into the valley by helicopter and ground this week in the biggest military offensive of Barack Obama's presidency. Reuters

MIAN POSHTEH, AFGHANISTAN - JULY 5: An Afghan man is frisked by a U.S. Marine from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. after he was allowed to return to his village for a short time when the Marines cleared the area of Taliban fighters on July 5, 2009 in Mian Poshteh, Afghanistan. The Marines are part of Operation Khanjari which was launched to take areas in the Southern Helmand Province that Taliban fighters are using as a resupply route and to help the local Afghan population prepare for the upcoming presidential elections. Getty