Afghanistan Photo War 1

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (C) walks with "60 Minutes" reporter Katie Couric (3rd L), Afghan officials and members of his entourage during his visit to Forward Operating Base Airborne in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, May 8, 2009. Reuters

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates walks on the tarmac of Kabul Airport following his visit to Forward Operating Base Airborne in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, May 8, 2009.

Katie Couric and a "60 Minutes" television crew do a stand-up piece during the visit by U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to Forward Operating Base Airborne in the mountains of Wardak Province, Afghanistan, May 8, 2009.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates poses for a picture with a U.S. soldier during his visit to Forward Operating Base Airborne in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, May 8, 2009.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, center, and U.S. Army General David McKiernan, Commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan, right, listen to Afghan governors and local officials during their visit to Forward Operating Base Airborne in the mountains of Wardak Province, Afghanistan, Friday, May 8, 2009.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates walks in front of U.S. troops during his visit to Forward Operating Base Airborne in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, May 8, 2009.

Taliban militants are seen in an undisclosed location in Afghanistan in this picture released to Reuters May 9, 2009. Picture taken May 8, 2009.

American soldiers sit in a military plane before airlift to Afghanistan at U.S. Manas air base in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Friday, May 8, 2009. Kyrgyzstan has ordered the United States to leave the facility by August 18, dashing plans to use it as thousands more troops prepare to pour into Afghanistan.

American soldiers sit in a US C-17 military plane before airlift to Afghanistan at U.S. Manas air base in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Friday, May 8, 2009. Kyrgyzstan has ordered the United States to leave the facility by August 18, dashing plans to use it as thousands more troops prepare to pour into Afghanistan.

US C-17 military plane with American servicemen aboard seen before taking off to Afghanistan at U.S. Manas air base in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Friday, May 8, 2009. Kyrgyzstan has ordered the United States to leave the facility by August 18, dashing plans to use it as thousands more troops prepare to pour into Afghanistan.

Afghan security forces look at the bodies of suspected Talibans after they were killed in a gunfight in Chardara District of Kunduz province, Afghanistan, Friday, May 8, 2009.

Soldiers from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry fire mortars from the Korengal Outpost at Taliban positions in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar Province on Tuesday May 12, 2009.

Soldiers from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry fire mortars from the Korengal Outpost at Taliban positions in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar Province on Tuesday May 12, 2009.

Missiles fired at suspected Taliban positions from Apache helicopters explode on a hillside in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar Province Sunday, May 10, 2009.

Spc. Zachery Boyd of Fort Worth, Texas, and the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry, searches the sky for an A-10 aircraft on a bombing run over Taliban positions in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar Province Sunday, May 10, 2009.

Soldiers from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry, patrol in the mountains of the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province Saturday, May 9, 2009.

An Apache helicopter flies overhead as soldiers from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry, patrol in the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province Saturday, May 9, 2009.

Spc Kevin Fite, from Pamona, Calif. , from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry, rushes across a trail as they patrol in the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province Saturday, May 9, 2009.

Spc. Cecil Montgomery of Many, La. , from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry, patrols a mountain trail in the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province Saturday, May 9, 2009.

Soldiers from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry return to their base Camp Restrepo in the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province on Friday, May 8, 2009.

Soldiers from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry take defensive positions at firebase Restrepo after receiving fire from Taliban positions in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar Province on Monday May 11, 2009. Spc. Zachery Boyd of Fort Worth, TX, far left was wearing 'I love NY' boxer shorts after rushing from his sleeping quarters to join his fellow platoon members. From far right is Spc. Cecil Montgomery of Many, LA and Jordan Custer of Spokan, WA, center.

Soldiers from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry return to their base Camp Restrepo in the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province on Friday May 8, 2009.

Spc. Cecil Montgomery of Many, LA, right, from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry is treated by medic Pfc. Dorian Biberdorf of Bellevue, NB, inside a medical bunker at firebase Restrepo in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar Province on Saturday, May 9, 2009. Montgomery's leg, which was gashed in an operation two weeks ago, became infected and a medic had to open the wound to try to remove the infection and sterilize it.

Lt. Glenn Burkey from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry shaves his head at his platoon's base Camp Restrepo in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar Province on Friday, May 8, 2009.

Lt. Glenn Burkey, from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry, climbs up a ladder to a guard post to give orders to his men as their base Camp Restrepo comes under attack by the Taliban in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar Province on Friday May 8, 2009.

Pfc. Dorian Biberdorf from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry returns fire on a Taliban position as their base Camp Restrepo comes under attack in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar Province on Friday May 8, 2009.

Spl. Jordan Custer from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry returns fire on a Taliban position as their base Camp Restrepo comes under attack in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar Province on Friday May 8, 2009.

Spent rounds lay at the feet of a soldier from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry as he returns fire on a Taliban position as their base Camp Restrepo comes under attack in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar Province on Friday May 8, 2009.

In this photo taken Friday, May 8, 2009, Sgt. Kenneth Alexander of North Hollywood, CA, of the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry rests inside firebase Restrepo after a patrol in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar Province.

Staff Sgt. Alexander Pascual, right, from Kohala, Hawaii, from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry, looks back as he patrols the mountains of in the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province Saturday, May 9, 2009.

Staff Sgt. Alexander Pascual, right, from Kohala, Hawaii, and Sgt. Kenneth Alexander of North Hollywood, Calif. , both of the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry, look out from an observation tower at firebase Restrepo in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar Province Sunday, May 10, 2009.

A soldier from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry returns fire on a Taliban position as their base Camp Restrepo comes under attack in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar Province on Friday May 8, 2009.

Soldiers from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry, are followed by the platoon's pet dog "Chinook" as they patrol a mountain road in the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province Saturday, May 9, 2009.

Staff Sgt. Alexander Pascual from Kohala, Hawaii, cooks chicken on a grill at firebase Restrepo in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar Province Saturday, May 9, 2009.

Steven Bates of Independence, MO and from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry sits with his platoon's pet dog "Chinook" at firebase Restrepo in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar Province on Monday May 11, 2009.

An Apache helicopter fires a missile at a suspected Taliban position as Spc. Zachery Boyd of Fort Worth, Texas, from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry, mans a machine gun from an observation tower at firebase Restrepo in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar Province Sunday, May 10, 2009.

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - MAY 8: (EDITORS NOTE: IMAGE RELEASED BY U.S. MILITARY PRIOR TO TRANSMISSION) In this handout image provided by the Department of Defense (DOD), U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates (L) thanks Gen. David McKiernan, Commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan and NATO's International Security Assistance Force, after visiting field operating base Airborne, May 8, 2009 in Kabul, Afghanistan, The Pentagon has announced that Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal will replace Gen. David McKiernan as U.S. Commander and Commander of NATO Forces in Afghanistan. Getty

Soldiers from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry gather inside their base Camp Restrepo in the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province on Friday, May 8, 2009.

Spl. Taylor Jordan from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry lifts weights in the rain at his platoon's base Camp Restrepo in the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province on Friday May 8, 2009.

Staff Sgt. Steven Dubois of Remus, MI and the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry loads a rifle magazine with ammunition at firebase Restrepo in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar Province on Monday May 11, 2009. Dubois' tattoo reads "For The Fallen" and lists the names of 17 of his friends who have died in combat during his tours to Iraq and Afghanistan.

In this photo taken May 8, 2009, U.S. Army Gen. David D. McKiernan, commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force and the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan, is seen during a visit with U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to the Forward Operating Base Airborne in Wardak Province, Afghanistan. The Pentagon is replacing McKiernan as President Barack Obama tries to turn around a stalemated war.

Soldiers from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry work on their base Camp Restrepo in the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province on Friday May 8, 2009.

A soldier from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry watches US artillery impact on a Taliban position after their base Camp Restrepo came under attack in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar Province on Friday May 8, 2009.

U.S. armored vehicles block a road as a U.S. helicopter patrols overhead at the site of a road side bomb blast on the outskirts of Charikar north of Kabul, Afghanistan on Monday, May 11, 2009. Charikar police officials said no one was injured.

U.S. armored vehicles are seen blocked a road following a road side bomb blast on the outskirts of Charikar north of Kabul, Afghanistan on Monday, May 11, 2009. The bomb blast on U.S. soldiers left no casualties Charikar police officials said.

IN FLIGHT, AFGHANISTAN - MAY 8: A U.S. army gunner sits at the rear of a CH-47 helicopter as he escorts the blackhawk helicopter carrying U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates enroute from Kabul to the Forward Operating Base Airborne on May 8, 2009 in Wardak Province, Afghanistan. Gates is in Afghanistan ahead of the 21,000 increase in U.S. troops in the country.Getty

An aerial view of Kandahar is seen from the blackhawk helicopter carrying U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates during his visit to the region in Afghanistan, May 7, 2009. Reuters

A blackhawk doorgunner's weapon and the landscape of Kandahar Province are reflected in his visor as he flies with U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates over Kandahar Province in Afghanistan, May 7, 2009.

Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper (R) walks with Chief of Defence Staff Walter Natynczyk while touring the Dahla Dam in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan May 7, 2009. Reuters

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, center, conducts a town hall meeting with U.S. Marines and other military service personnel at the Forward Operating Base Bastion in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Thursday May 7, 2009. There are no plans to deploy U.S. ground troops to Pakistan, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday, despite concerns over increasing violence between Pakistani troops and Taliban militants. Speaking to about 300 Marines at in Afghanistan on Thursday, Gates assured them that they wouldn't be fighting in the neighboring sovereign nation.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, bottom, center, greets U.S. Marines and other military service personnel after conducting a town hall meeting with them at Forward Operating Base Bastion in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Thursday May 7, 2009. There are no plans to deploy U.S. ground troops to Pakistan, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday, despite concerns over increasing violence between Pakistani troops and Taliban militants. Speaking to about 300 Marines at in Afghanistan on Thursday, Gates assured them that they wouldn't be fighting in the neighboring sovereign nation.

An Afghan police officer looks down from a roadside checkpoint as a U.S. soldier of the First Battalion, 26th Infantry patrols in a village near the U.S. base camp Blessing in Afghanistan's Kunar Province Wednesday, May 6, 2009.

Canadian forces patrol the Dahla Dam in preparation for the arrival of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper during his visit to Afghanistan on Thursday May 7, 2009.

U.S. soldiers of the First Battalion, 26th Infantry walk through a village above the U.S. base Camp Blessing in Afghanistan's Kunar Province, Monday, May 4, 2009.

Afghan soldiers man an observation post on a mountain ridge overlooking the U.S. base Camp Blessing in Afghanistan's Kunar Province, Monday, May 4, 2009.

An injured Afghan child from the Bala Baluk, district of Afghanistan, is seen on a bed at the hospital in Farah province of Afghanistan Tuesday, May 5, 2009. Abdul Basir Khan, a member of Farah's provincial council, said villagers brought some 30 bodies, including women and children, to Farah city to show the province's governor, that they had been killed by coalition airstrikes. Estimates of the total number of dead varied widely, and no officials were able to travel to Bala Baluk on Tuesday because the region is so dangerous. The top U.S. spokesman in Afghanistan, Col. Greg Julian, confirmed U.S. coalition forces participated in the battle. Julian said several wounded Afghans sought medical treatment at a military base in Farah, but officials were still investigating the reports of civilian deaths.

An Afghan boy shakes hands with a U.S. soldier of the First Battalion, 26th Infantry as they walk through a village near the U.S. base Camp Blessing in Afghanistan's Kunar Province, Monday, May 4, 2009.

U.S. soldiers test fire artillery from a position inside the U.S. base camp Blessing in Afghanistan's Kunar Province Wednesday, May 6, 2009.

Villagers look at the destruction caused after air strikes in Ganj Abad of Bala Buluk district, in Farah province, May 5, 2009. Dozens of people, including women and children, were killed in U.S.-led air strikes while sheltering in homes from a battle Monday and Tuesday in Western Afghanistan, the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Wednesday. Picture taken May 5, 2009. Reuters

A U.S. solider of 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, searches for roadside bomb with his sniffer dog during a search operation to hunt members of Taliban in Nerkh district of Wardak province in west of Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, May 3, 2009.

AFGHANISTAN - MAY 6: U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates walks down the stairs of his plane after arriving at Kabul airport May 6, 2009 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Gates is in Afghanistan ahead of the increase in U.S. troop presence in the country. Getty