Helmand province. Thousands of Marines stormed into an Afghan river valley by helicopter today for the first big military offensive of Barack Obama’s presidency with an assault deep into Taleban-held territoryUS Marines board their helicopters at Camp Dwyer. Operation Khanjar is
intended to seize virtually the entire lower Helmand River valley, a heartland of the Taleban insurgency and the world’s biggest heroin-producing region. It is the biggest operation launched by the US Marines Corps since the retaking of Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004US commanders said they intended to move quickly and decisively with
overwhelming force to seize the entire southern Helmand River valley from Taleban control before the delayed Afghan presidential elections on August 20US Marines wait to board their helicopter at Camp Dwyer in Helmand
province. A fierce 36-hour initial strike is expected to pave the way for the success of Operation KhanjarWave upon wave of helicopters landed US Marines in the early morning darkness at locations throughout the valley. Marine Corps Brigadier
General Larry Nicholson, commander of the Marines in southern Afghanistan, said: "The intent is to go big, go strong and go fast, and by doing so we are going to save lives on both sides"US Marines make preparations as they wait for helicopter transport at
Camp Dwyer. Hundreds more Marines raced by ground in convoys through a barren area known as the Desert of Death, where temperatures reach 50C (122F) at this time of yearUS Marines have been drafted into areas previously patrolled by the British. 
The Marines hope that by appearing suddenly and in overwhelming numbers, they can capture some of the Taleban’s firmest strongholds with little resistance
In all, about 4,000 Marines surged forward and thousands more were
mobilised to assist them. President Obama has declared the Taleban insurgency in Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan to be America’s main foreign threat
Afghan commandos distributing humanitarian assistance items to villagers
during a combined aid mission. The Taleban-led insurgency has intensified this year as Afghan and international troops launch operations to clear militants out of hotspots before the August 20 presidential and provincial council elections
Afghan commandos distributing aid items to villagers in Gardez district,
Paktia province. The biggest challenge is to convince a highly sceptical local population that Western forces will offer long-term security and improvements to their lives
Under President Obama the US force in Afghanistan is more than doubling
this year, from 32,000 at the start of 2009 to an anticipated 68,000 troops by the end of the year, many of them diverted from Iraq. Other Western countries have about 33,000 troops in Afghanistan
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6703271.ece
Manpreet Romana/AFP/Getty Images
The Marines hope that by appearing suddenly and in overwhelming numbers, they can capture some of the Taleban’s firmest strongholds with little resistanceIn all, about 4,000 Marines surged forward and thousands more were
mobilised to assist them. President Obama has declared the Taleban insurgency in Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan to be America’s main foreign threatAfghan commandos distributing humanitarian assistance items to villagers
during a combined aid mission. The Taleban-led insurgency has intensified this year as Afghan and international troops launch operations to clear militants out of hotspots before the August 20 presidential and provincial council electionsAfghan commandos distributing aid items to villagers in Gardez district,
Paktia province. The biggest challenge is to convince a highly sceptical local population that Western forces will offer long-term security and improvements to their livesUnder President Obama the US force in Afghanistan is more than doubling
this year, from 32,000 at the start of 2009 to an anticipated 68,000 troops by the end of the year, many of them diverted from Iraq. Other Western countries have about 33,000 troops in Afghanistanhttp://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6703271.ece
Manpreet Romana/AFP/Getty Images
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