Afghanistan Wartime Architecture February 2010
Part 2

U.S. Marines with NATO forces, left, sleeps outside a makeshift base in Marjah, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. AP

An Afghan cobbler man, center, polishes his a costumer's shoe, as garbage are seen behind him in Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. AP

An Afghan police traffic officer stands on a pillar in Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. AP

An Afghan porter youth lies over packed goods, as his colleagues pull the cart in Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. AP

President Barack Obama meets with his national security team on Afghanistan and Pakistan in the Situation Room of the White House, Feb. 17, 2010. General Stanley McChrystal, U.S. Commander in Afghanistan, was among those joining the discussion via videoconference (left screen). (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) Flickr hi-rez

An Afghan man sells second hand items under a building, which was destroyed during the civil war of 1990's in Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. AP

U.S. Marines from Bravo Company of the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, take up positions during an operation in the town of Marjah, in Nad Ali district of Helmand province February 17, 2010. An Afghan and NATO offensive against a Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan has "significantly dislocated" the insurgents' leadership in the area, a NATO commander said on Tuesday. Reuters

U.S. Army Capt. Michael Kovalsky of Fords, N.J. , 26, of the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment of the 5th Stryker Brigade, walks on a roof to reach a lookout point prior to an operation in the Badula Qulp area, west of Lashkar Gah in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. AP

Farmers look out as U.S. soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, walk past during a foot patrol in the Badula Qulp area, west of Lashkar Gah in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. AP

An Afghan man comes out of the building as U.S. soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, sit during a foot patrol in the Badula Qulp area, West of Lashkar Gah in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. AP

In this photo taken Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010, U.S. Army Capt. Michael Kovalsky of Fords, N.J. , 26, of the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment of the 5th Stryker Brigade gestures as he sits in his room of an outpost in the Badula Qulp area, west of Lashkar Gah in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan. The fight in southern Afghanistan between insurgents and NATO troops, along with Afghan forces still learning on the job, is not a conventional war. A lot of it is harassment, the deadly kind. AP

U.S. Marines from Bravo Company of the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, use dogs to search for explosives during an operation in the town of Marjah, in Nad Ali district of Helmand province February 17, 2010. An Afghan and NATO offensive against a Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan has "significantly dislocated" the insurgents' leadership in the area, a NATO commander said on Tuesday. Reuters

U.S. Marines from Bravo Company of the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines lie on the ground during an operation in the town of Marjah, in Nad Ali district of Helmand province February 16, 2010. U.S. Marines, leading one of NATO's biggest offensives against Taliban Islamic militants in Afghanistan, are facing fierce resistance in some areas, bogged down by heavy gunfire, snipers and booby traps. Reuters

A U.S. Marine from Bravo Company of the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines breaks the door of a house to search for weapons during an operation in the town of Marjah, in Nad Ali district of Helmand province February 16, 2010. Reuters

A U.S. Marine from Bravo Company of the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines runs during an operation in the town of Marjah, in Nad Ali district of Helmand province February 16, 2010.  Reuters

U.S. Marines from Bravo Company of the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines kneel during an operation in the town of Marjah in Nad Ali district of Helmand province February 16, 2010.  Reuters

A dog looks on during a meeting between U.S. Lt. Col. Burton Shields, commander of the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry of Task Force Stryker, and village leaders in the Badula Qulp area, West of Lashkar Gah in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010. AP

An Afghan soldier looks at village leaders leaving after a meeting, or shura, with U.S. Lt. Col. Burton Shields, commander of the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry of Task Force Stryker in the Badula Qulp area, West of Lashkar Gah in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010. AP

Col. Paul Bricker, left, Commanding Officer of the 82nd Airborne Division, Combat Aviation Brigade, known as Task Force Pegasus, speaks with helicopter pilots, flights medics and crew members after awarding each with the Army Commendation Medal with Valor, at a forward operating base in southern Afghanistan, Monday Feb. 15, 2010. Pegasus aeromedical crews have faced rocket-propelled grenades and machine gun fire over the past days while supporting U.S. and Afghan troops taking part in an ongoing assault in the Taliban stronghold of Marjah. AP

U.S. soldier Sergeant Christopher Mitchell from Alpha Battery, 4th Brigade combat team, 1-508, 82nd parachute infantry regiment standd during a meeting with Afghans near the town of Shah joy in Zabul province, southern Afghanistan, February 14, 2010. Reuters

U.S. Marines from Bravo Company of the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, run during a gun battle in the town of Marjah in Nad Ali district of Helmand province February 15, 2010. U.S. Marines are making steady progress in one of the biggest NATO offensives in Afghanistan since the war began in 2001, but areas infested with roadside bombs are bogging them down, a spokesman said on Monday. Reuters

A U.S. Marine helps provide security as a U.S. Army flight medic with Task Force Pegasus evacuates two Marine casualties from the battlefield, in Marjah, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Monday Feb. 15, 2010. Thousands of US and Afghan troops are attempting to gain control over the Taliban stronghold of Marjah, encountering sniper and rocket-propelled grenade fire, and countless planted explosives. AP

Photographed through the plexiglass window of a U.S. Army Task Force Pegasus medevac helicopter rescuing two Marine casualties, U.S. Marine armored vehicles and troopers are pictured in Marjah, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Monday Feb. 15, 2010. Thousands of US and Afghan troops are attempting to gain control over the Taliban stronghold of Marjah, encountering sniper fire, home-made bombs, booby traps, and minefields. AP

Photographed through the plexiglass window of a U.S. Army Task Force Pegasus medevac helicopter rescuing two Marine casualties, a U.S. Marine armored vehicle is parked inside a rubble-strewn battlefield in Marjah, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Monday Feb. 15, 2010. AP

Photographed through the plexiglass window of a U.S. Army Task Force Pegasus medevac helicopter rescuing two Marine casualties, U.S. Marine armored vehicles roll through a rubble-strewn battlefield in Marjah, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Monday Feb. 15, 2010. AP

Photographed through the plexiglass window of a U.S. Army Task Force Pegasus medevac helicopter rescuing two U.S. Marine casualties, Marines and Navy Corpsmen shield their patients from the dust wash caused by the landing helicopter, in Marjah, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Monday Feb. 15, 2010. AP

Photographed through the plexiglass window of a U.S. Army Task Force Pegasus medevac helicopter rescuing two Marine casualties, U.S. Marine armored vehicles and troopers are pictured in Marjah, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Monday Feb. 15, 2010. AP

U.S. army Staff Sergeant Alexander Linnehan and Alpha Battery, 4th Brigade combat team, 1-508, 82nd parachute infantry Regiment looks at an Afghan man during a patrol with Afghan Police near the town of Shah joy in Zabul province, southern Afghanistan, February 14, 2010. Reuters

U.S Army First Lieutenant Sean Snook from Concord, Massachusetts, and Alpha Company, 4th Brigade combat team,1-508, 82nd parachute infantry regiment tees off at FOB Bullard in Zabul province, southern Afghanistan, February 12, 2010. Reuters

Afghan Shiite Muslims prepare before flagellating themselves during a Chehlum procession at a shrine in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Feb. 12, 2010. Chehlum is the fortieth day of mourning after Ashura, the anniversary of the death of revered Shiite figure Imam Hussein. AP

France's Prime Minister Francois Fillon meets the troops during a visit to meet with 13th battalion mountain infantrymen in Tagab, in the valley of Kapisa, February 11, 2010. Fillon is in Afghanistan on a visit to meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and the French soldiers fighting Taliban. Picture taken February 11, 2010. Reuters

France's Prime Minister Francois Fillon speaks to French soldiers during a visit to Tagab, in the valley of Kapisa, February 11, 2010. Fillon is in Afghanistan on a visit to meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and the French soldiers fighting Taliban. Picture taken February 11, 2010. Reuters

U.S. Soldiers with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment and Canadian soldiers occupy an abandoned building during Operation Helmand Spider in Badula Qulp, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 9, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Efren Lopez/Released). Date Posted: 2/16/2010

U.S. Soldiers with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment arrange their sleeping areas in an abandoned building during Operation Helmand Spider in Badula Qulp, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 10, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Efren Lopez/Released). Date Posted: 2/16/2010

U.S. Army Spc. Brian McLeod, from Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, carries his personnel equipment to a secure area after conducting a dismounted combat patrol during Operation Helmand Spider in Badula Qulp, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 9, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Efren Lopez/Released). Date Posted: 2/16/2010

U.S. Soldiers with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment and Canadian soldiers provide security from a rooftop during Operation Helmand Spider in Badula Qulp, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 9, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Efren Lopez/Released). Date Posted: 2/16/2010

U.S. Army Pfc. John Gentry, left, Spc. Steven Baker and Cpl. Elgin Briggs, all with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, climb to a rooftop to provide security during Operation Helmand Spider in Badula Qulp, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 9, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Efren Lopez/Released). Date Posted: 2/16/2010

U.S. Army Pfc. Fernando Figuerora, an automated logistical specialist from the 2nd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, carries a kicker box Feb. 9, 2010, at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Unit supplies will be placed in the kicker box. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Horace Murray/Released). Date Posted: 2/10/2010

U.S. Army Crew Chief Spc. Timothy Johns, of Mitchell, S.D. , with Charlie Company, Task Force Talon, checks the tail rotor of his Black Hawk helicopter, at a forward operating base, in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Thursday Feb. 11, 2010. The Talon MEDEVAC in Helmand is one of several army aero-medical units positioned around southern Afghanistan by the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, known as Task Force Pegasus. AP

In this photo taken on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010, Qari Rahmat, center, speaks at a U.S. base in Jalalabad ,Nangarhar province east of Kabul, Afghanistan. The alleged Taliban conspirator nervously sipped tea at this U.S. military base, looking warily at the American diplomat on his right and the Afghan police commander on his left. AP

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines dig their sleeping holes outside of Marjah in Afghanistan's Helmand province Tuesday, February 9, 2010. AP

File photo of a woman in burqa walking next to a German Bundeswehr army soldier of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) during a patrol in the bazaar of Taloqan, west of Kunduz, September 30, 2008. German Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet approved the deployment of a maximum of 850 additional German troops to Afghanistan February 9, 2010. Reuters

Afghan people keep themselves warm as they sit inside a restaurant, Tuesday Feb. 9, 2010, while they wait for transportation after being evacuated from the avalanche which struck the Salang Pass, some 100 km north of Kabul, Afghanistan. Officials said the avalanches have killed at least 28 people and left another 1,500 stranded in a snow-blocked mountain pass, with the Defense Ministry releasing a statement saying another 70 people have been injured as rescue efforts continued to dig out hundreds of vehicles stuck on the pass north of Kabul. AP

An Afghan removes snow from the roof of his house, Tuesday Feb. 9, 2010, near the avalanche struck Salang Pass, some 100 km north of Kabul, Afghanistan Officials said the avalanches have killed at least 28 people and left another 1,500 stranded in a snow-blocked mountain pass, with the Defense Ministry releasing a statement saying another 70 people have been injured as rescue efforts continued to dig out hundreds of vehicles stuck on the pass north of Kabul. AP

U.S. Army medical evacuation Black Hawk helicopters used by Charlie Company, Task Force Talon, sit idle on the flight line during a sand and wind storm, at a forward operating base in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Monday, Feb. 8, 2010. The Talon MEDEVAC in Helmand is one of several army aero-medical units positioned around southern Afghanistan by the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, known as Task Force Pegasus. AP

An Afghan police man, right, stands guard by wreckage of a police vehicle which was hit by a remote control bomb in Kandahar, south of Kabul, Afghanistan Kabul, Afghanistan on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010. A bomb detonated by remote control struck an Afghan patrol, killing three policemen, according to a local policeman, Mohammad Razaq. AP

U.S. Soldiers with the 4th Battalion, 23th Infantry Regiment return to their living quarters after conducting a mission at Camp Tombstone in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 7, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Efren Lopez/Released). Date Posted: 2/16/2010

A U.S. Soldier with 4th Battalion, 23th Infantry Regiment obtains access to the back door of the dining facility at Camp Tombstone in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 7, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Efren Lopez/Released). Date Posted: 2/16/2010

U.S. Soldiers with 4th Battalion, 23th Infantry Regiment take cover from the rain at Camp Tombstone in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 7, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Efren Lopez/Released). Date Posted: 2/16/2010

U.S. Army Spc. Michael Babcock, with Bravo Company, 4th Battalion, 23th Infantry Regiment, cleans his weapon at Camp Tombstone in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 7, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Efren Lopez/Released). Date Posted: 2/16/2010

Afghan police keep watch at the site of a suicide car bombing which killed three Afghans on Thursday, in Kandahar February 5, 2010. A suicide car bomber attempting to strike foreign troops in southern Afghanistan blew up his vehicle near a hotel on Thursday, killing three Afghan civilians and wounding 17, police said. Reuters

Afghan police keep watch at the site of a suicide car bombing which killed three Afghans on Thursday, in Kandahar February 5, 2010. A suicide car bomber attempting to strike foreign troops in southern Afghanistan blew up his vehicle near a hotel on Thursday, killing three Afghan civilians and wounding 17, police said.

U.S. soldiers from Echo Company, 4th Brigade combat team, 1-508 parachute infantry Regiment, play volleyball with Afghan National Army soldiers at FOB Shamulzai in Zabul province, southern Afghanistan February 4, 2010. Reuters

Sgt. Justin Graff, Alaska, a public affairs officer with the 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, talks on a telephone as military personnel play basketball at the "Boardwalk" entertainment area of the Kandahar military base in Afghanistan, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010. AP

Afghan men walk under Indian and Pakistani movie posters at a local movie theater, that like all movie houses, was closed during the Taliban takeover February 02, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Despite years of foreign involvement and the money being committed to Afghanistan from both private and governmental donors, Afghanistan is still plagued by chronic unemployment and neglected public services. Unemployment in the country of some 25 million people is still 40 per cent with more than half the population lives below the poverty line. A man's life expectancy in Afghanistan is 44.04 years, while a woman's is 44.39 years. Getty

Afghan men watch an afternoon film at a theater, that like all movie houses, was closed during the Taliban takeover, February 02, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan.

In this photo from Feb. 2, 2010, An Afghan National Army soldier sits on his bunk inside his quarters at Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan's Helmand province. Thousands of Afghan soldiers and police will join U.S. and NATO troops in the upcoming offensive in southern Afghanistan _ a crucial test for a partnership critical to the strategy of handing over more responsibility so foreign forces can go home. AP

Children play soccer outside of the destroyed former Russian Cultural Center, a notorious drug den, in Kabul on February 02, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. As poppy production in Afghanistan is still high, opium and heroin are cheap and easily available. As a result, drug addiction is quickly becoming a growing problem in Afghanistan with a United Nations survey recently showing over 900,000 people in Afghanistan are considered drug addicts. Getty

Face covered Afghan addicted women walk towards the handicraft training room at the Sanga Amaj Treatment Center run by Social Services for Afghan Women (SSAW) in Kabul, Afghanistan on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010. Afghanistan is the world's largest producer of opium _ the raw ingredient for heroine and it is considered a major funding sources for the Taliban. Though the majority of Afghanistan's massive opium crop is smuggled aboard to feed heroine demand in rich countries, many Afghans have also become addicted to the drug. AP

Addicted children, who are hospitalized with their mothers, draw paints at the Sanga Amaj Treatment Center run by Social Services for Afghan Women (SSAW) in Kabul, Afghanistan on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010.

A view of a Kabul hillside neighborhood on February 1, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty

People shop in a market in the old city February 1, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty

Joe Iarosse uses a curl bar while conducting muscular strength training at Forward Operating Base Fenty in the Nangarhar province of Afghanistan Feb. 11, 2009. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Corey Idleburg/Released). Date Posted: 2/12/2010