Saturday, February 20, 2010

Pentagon Identifies Marine Casualty (OEF)

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News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2010 -- The following news release made available Saturday by the U.S. Department of Defense is the text of a statement identifying a casualty:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sgt. Jeremy R. McQueary, 27, of Columbus, Ind., died Feb. 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
(Report from a U.S. Defense Department news release.)

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US Military Meets, Exceeds Recruiting Goals for January 2010

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News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2010 - All four active services and the six reserve components met or exceeded their recruiting goals for the month of January, Defense Department officials said today.

At the same time, the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force retained near or above mission goals through the first four months of fiscal 2010, a Pentagon news release says. Attrition in all reserve components is within acceptable limits.

Here is the recruiting breakdown for January:
  • Army: 8,513 accessions, with a goal of 8,393 for 101 percent;

  • Navy: 3,012 accessions, with a goal of 3,012 for 100 percent;

  • Marine Corps: 3,035 accessions, with a goal of 3,024 for 100 percent;

  • Air Force: 2,593 accessions, with a goal of 2,593 for 100 percent;

  • Army National Guard: 4,402 accessions, with a goal of 4,100 for 107 percent;

  • Army Reserve: 2,272 accessions, with a goal of 2,229 for 102 percent;

  • Navy Reserve: 511 accessions, with a goal of 511 for 100 percent;

  • Marine Corps Reserve: 1,130 accessions, with a goal of 819 for 138 percent;

  • Air National Guard: 563 accessions, with a goal of 470 for 120 percent; and,

  • Air Force Reserve: 772 accessions, with a goal of 772 for 100 percent.

(From a U.S. Defense Department news release.)

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Pentagon Identifies Marine Casualty (OEF)

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News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2010 -- The following news release made available Friday by the U.S. Department of Defense is the text of a statement identifying a casualty:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Kielin T. Dunn, 19, of Chesapeake, Va., died Feb. 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
(Report from a U.S. Defense Department news release.)

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Pentagon Identifies Marine Casualty (OEF)

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News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2010 -- The following news release made available Friday by the U.S. Department of Defense is the text of a statement identifying a casualty:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Larry M. Johnson, 19, of Scranton, Pa., died Feb. 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
(Report from a U.S. Defense Department news release.)

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OEF Update, Feb. 20, 2010: Operations in Afghanistan

Dispatches from the Front

Dispatches from the Front:

KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 20, 2010 -- An Afghan-international security force searched a vehicle and compound near Shiray in Helmand's Kajaki district after intelligence information indicated militant activity.

Several weapons were observed in the vehicle as the joint force approached and one of the occupants pointed a weapon at the security force. The security force engaged the vehicle, killing several militants. A search of the car revealed multiple AK-47's, a PKM machine gun and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher.

A nearby compound associated with the vehicle was also searched, resulting in the discovery of several more RPG rounds, grenades, chest racks and a handheld radio of a type often used by insurgents for communications. Several suspected militants in the compound were also detained.
In another Helmand operation yesterday, an Afghan-international security force searched a compound near Juz Ghuray in the Musa Qaleh district after intelligence information indicated militant activity. The joint force detained several suspected insurgents during the search.

In Kandahar last night, a joint force searched a compound outside the village of Angurian, in the Dand district after intelligence found militant activity. During the search the combined force captured a Taliban facilitator, responsible for weapons and ammunition buys and arranging suicide attacks, and a few other insurgents.

The combined force recovered multiple weapons, including two grenades and a large amount of U.S. dollars.

(From a NATO International Security Assistance Force news release.)

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Pentagon Identifies Marine Casualty (OEF)

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News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2010 -- The following news release made available Friday by the U.S. Department of Defense is the text of a statement identifying a casualty:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Pfc. Kyle J. Coutu, 20, of Providence, R.I., died Feb. 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
(Report from a U.S. Defense Department news release.)

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OEF Update, Feb. 20, 2010: Operation Moshtarak

Dispatches from the Front

Dispatches from the Front:

KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 20, 2010 -- Fighting remains difficult in the northeast and west of Marjah, but insurgent activity is not limited to those areas. ISAF and Afghan forces remain committed to reducing the possibilities of civilian and combined force casualties.

The commitment to enduring security that will make the real difference to the Afghan people and will allow the expansion of governance from Lashkar Gah to Marjeh and other areas of Nad-e Ali that have not been under government control. A visible demonstration of this long-term commitment is the deployment of Afghan gendarmerie into Nad-e Ali and parts of Marjeh.

About 2,000 people registered for the "Cash for Work" (CfW) program yesterday in Nad-e Ali. Also, local Afghans are increasingly helping to mark improvised explosive device locations.

An empty compound has been identified in Qari Sahib Kalay that would be suitable to house a school and school supplies will be delivered there soon. The Nad-e Ali District governor recorded a radio message to provide a dedicated phone number encouraging insurgents to reintegrate.

Understanding that local people are keen to resume normal daily life, there will be a number of shuras held throughout Marjeh. Local concerns to date have included the availability of food stores, freedom of movement, and the ability to tend to crops and livestock.

The goal of Operation Moshtarak -- a Dari word for "together" -- is for the combined force (ANA, ANP, ISAF and the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team) to support the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in asserting its authority in central Helmand, thereby demonstrating the Afghan government's commitment to the people living there.

The operation is being conducted at the request of the Afghan government and the governor of Helmand. The security forces involved are serving side-by-side, representing partnership in strength.

(From a NATO International Security Assistance Force news release.)

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Friday, February 19, 2010

Pentagon Identifies Army Casualty (OEF)

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News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19, 2010 -- The following news release made available Friday by the U.S. Department of Defense is the text of a statement identifying a casualty:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Pfc. Charles A. Williams, 29, of Fair Oaks, Calif., died Feb. 7 at Camp Nathan Smith, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained while supporting combat operations. He was assigned to the 97th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, Fort Riley, Kan.
(Report from a U.S. Defense Department news release.)

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Pentagon Discusses Easing of Thumb Drive, Flash Media Bans

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 19, 2010 -- New guidelines from U.S. Strategic Command officials allow servicemembers to use "thumb drives" and other flash media to store computer data under specific circumstances.

Strategic Command officials banned use of thumb drives and flash media in November 2008, after the use of the media infected a number of Defense Department computer systems. Computers users had to turn to alternative means to transfer data from one machine to another.

Now, the command has lifted the ban on the devices under carefully controlled circumstances, said Navy Vice Adm. Carl V. Mauney, Stratcom's deputy commander.

The command issued an order Feb. 12 that allows "a return to limited use of removable devices under very specific circumstances and guidelines," Mauney said.

"This is not a return to 'business as usual,'" the admiral emphasized. "There remain strict limitations on using these devices."

In a telephone interview, Mauney said units in active operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere will get priority in implementation of the new guidelines.

"In terms of the mechanics, we've put together several small kits of the equipment that's needed and we'll be transitioning those to people out in the theater – in Afghanistan in particular – to help certain groups facilitate their use," Mauney explained. The kits will contain hardware and software to ensure the safe use of removable media, he added, and scans and filters are included in the process.

After extensive testing of mitigation measures, Defense Department officials decided to make the technology available again on a very limited and strictly controlled basis, the admiral said.

"Since the order restricting use of removable media, [the Defense Department] developed capabilities and processes that allow safe use of these devices," Mauney said. "Removable media use will be limited to mission-essential operations, and only after strict compliance requirements are met."

The order calls on combatant commands, the services and Defense Department agencies to establish approval authorities for determining whether flash media may be used.

"The commanders and directors can decide that the measures that we're using already meet their needs," Mauney said. "In fact, when we're traveling, ... we look to see how people are doing in moving around their information. People have trained themselves and are able to do it, and are effective and efficient. I think, initially, some will look at this and say they are good with what they are doing. It's proven, and they may opt not to do this."

The removable media will be a tremendous help in Afghanistan and Iraq, Mauney said. "We think there will be some ground to be gained there," he added.

Use of the devices under the new guidelines is restricted to operational mission requirements, Mauney said, and only properly inventoried, government-procured and –owned devices will be allowed for use in Defense Department information systems. Servicemembers and civilians will not use personally owned devices on any Defense Department network or in any Defense Department computer, he said.

Computer users also will not use Defense Department thumb drives and flash media on non-government networks or computers without authorization from an approval authority, the admiral said.

Defense Department officials say they're urging all computer users to be responsible and to do the right thing for cybersecurity. Mauney said the Defense Department has the means and the right to scan the department's computers, and randomly selected users and drives will be subject to periodic auditing.

Joint Task Force Global Network Defense is the operational command that will oversee the program.

(Report by Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service.)

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Pentagon: Army Selects New Camouflage for Afghanistan

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News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19, 2010 -- The following news release made available Friday by the U.S. Department of Defense is the text of a statement announcing the U.S. Army's selection of new camouflage combat uniforms for Afghanistan:
The secretary of the Army announced today that the Army will provide combat uniforms in the MultiCam pattern to all soldiers deploying to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, starting this summer.

This decision follows a rigorous four-month evaluation and reflects the Army's commitment to giving soldiers in Afghanistan the most effective concealment possible.

Soldiers deploying to Afghanistan this summer will receive fire resistant Army combat uniforms in MultiCam, along with associated equipment including body armor, rucksacks, and helmet covers.

The Army's selection of MultiCam for soldiers in Afghanistan culminates phase III of a four-phase plan to thoroughly and deliberately evaluate camouflage alternatives.

The Army took action in fall 2009 to provide two battalion-size elements in Afghanistan with uniforms and associated gear in patterns other than the standard-issue universal camouflage pattern (UCP). One unit received uniforms and gear in MultiCam, and the other in a variant of UCP known as UCP - Delta.

In addition, the Army deployed a team of experts to Afghanistan in October to gather extensive data and photos on the diverse environments of Afghanistan, where soldiers often travel through multiple environments in a single mission, from snow to woodland to desert.

The Army incorporated the information gathered into a photo simulation study it then administered to nearly 750 soldiers who had deployed to Afghanistan. The study asked them to compare six patterns against eight different environments. The results, along with surveys of soldiers in the two battalions who received alternate camouflage, formed the basis for the Army's decision on MultiCam.

The Army will now implement phase IV of its plan for camouflage, which is to evaluate long-term Army combat uniform camouflage options for all soldiers.

Camouflage alternatives represent one facet of the Army's ongoing efforts to improve the Army combat uniform. The Army has made more than 26 improvements to the ACU since it was first fielded in June 2004.
(Report from a U.S. Defense Department news release.)

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Pentagon Identifies Marine Casualty (OEF)

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News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19, 2010 -- The following news release made available Friday by the U.S. Department of Defense is the text of a statement identifying a casualty:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Pfc. Eric D. Currier, 21, of Londonderry, N.H., died Feb. 17 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
(Report from a U.S. Defense Department news release.)

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OEF Summary, Feb. 19, 2010: Forces Uncover Weapons Caches in Afghanistan

Dispatches from the Front

Dispatches from the Front:

KABUL, Feb. 19, 2010 -- Combined Afghan and international patrols uncovered six caches scattered throughout Afghanistan yesterday, netting rocket-propelled grenades, mortar rounds, rifles and a multitude of other weapons.

A combined patrol found a weapons cache in Nuristan province last night. The cache consisted of 12 107 mm rockets, two rocket-propelled grenades and two recoilless rifle rounds.

An Afghan civilian led a patrol to a weapons cache in Wardak province, yesterday. The cache contained four 122 mm rockets.

In Helmand province yesterday:
  • An Afghan civilian told a combined patrol about a weapons cache buried in a field. The patrol found 22 mortar rounds.

  • Another security force found 12 recoilless rifle rounds, eight mortar rounds, an illumination round and a weapons tripod.

  • A combined patrol with Operation Moshtarak found a cache containing 10 pounds of rocket propellant, a pressure plate and two mortar rounds.

  • Another patrol in the same district received a tip from an Afghan civilian about a cache. The cache contained 20 pressure plates, command wires and explosives.

All of the weapons found have been or will be destroyed, officials said.

(From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command news release.)

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Wire: Probe Urged Into Camp Lejeune Toxic Water

Off the Wire

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19, 2010 -- Newswire services this morning reported that a North Carolina congressman said Thursday that he wants an investigation into reports that levels of a cancer-causing chemical in tap water at a Marine Corps base were downplayed and then omitted from official documents.

The Associated Press reported that Democratic Rep. Brad Miller has called for the probe by his House science subcommittee Thursday -- a day after AP reported on new documents that indicate massive fuel leaks at Camp Lejeune and high concentrations of benzene found in a water well there in 1984.
"I am just disbelieving of their failure to act. It may have been worse than a failure to act. They may have acted to minimize or prevent the risk from being disclosed," Miller told the Associated Press on Thursday. "It is hard to imagine they would let this go on. There was too much information that they had to have consciously disregarded."

Benzene, a carcinogen, is a natural part of crude oil and gasoline. Drinking water containing high levels of it can cause vomiting, dizziness, sleepiness, convulsions and death. Long-term exposure damages bone marrow, lowers the number of red blood cells, and can cause anemia and leukemia, according to the EPA.

In 1984, an environmental contractor found benzene at 380 parts per billion at a well near a fuel farm. When a draft report was turned in, the level was changed to 38 parts per billion. The company's final report on the well, issued in 1994, did not mention the benzene.

The Marine Corps had been warned nearly a decade earlier about the dangerously high levels of benzene, which was traced to massive leaks from fuel tanks at the base on the North Carolina coast. The benzene was discovered as part of a broader, ongoing probe into that contamination.

Rep. John D. Dingell, D-Mich., the Chair Emeritus of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said the Marines and their families "deserve to know exactly what was in the water."
AP said health officials believe as many as 1 million people may have been exposed to tainted water at the base before the wells closed two decades ago.

(Report from newswire sources.)

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OEF Update, Feb. 19, 2010: Operation Moshtarak

Dispatches from the Front

Dispatches from the Front:

KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 19, 2010 -- Clearance operations continue and are still meeting with some resistance, more so in Marjah than in Nad-e Ali. IED's remain the main threat to the combined force, with some intense small-arms engagements still occurring.

Afghan and British forces are pressing on with clearing operations in Nad-e Ali and the South Bolan Desert while ANSF and U.S. forces clear Marjah. The combined force is meeting determined pockets of resistance in both the north and east of Marjah city.

The main effort has been on clearing IED's and minefields. Another focus is the emplacement of military bridging across the Nahr-e Burgha and Shamlan, enabling the opening of several roads and patrol bases, enhancing freedom of movement.

Stabilization projects are now underway including repairing irrigation systems and establishing local schools. To date, two "schools-in-a-box" have been opened in Nad-e Ali. Each provides support for a teacher and 25 students.

Power generation and road conditions are being assessed in central Marjah, and work has begun to establish a location for the deputy district governor's office. The cash-for-work program is attracting applicants and 250 have already enrolled in Nad-e Ali. The first three employees have been hired to fill some of the 27 vacant posts in the Nad-e Ali governor's office. A total of 952 residents have received materiel assistance from the government, with five families requesting shelter.

The overall situation in central Helmand is considered positive. Several well-attended shuras have taken place the last few days. Shuras will continue, to give voice to local concerns.

The goal of Operation Moshtarak -- a Dari word for "together" -- is for the combined force (ANA, ANP, ISAF and the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team) to support the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in asserting its authority in central Helmand, thereby demonstrating the Afghan government's commitment to the people living there.

The operation is being conducted at the request of the Afghan government and the governor of Helmand. The security forces involved are serving side-by-side, representing partnership in strength.

(From a NATO International Security Assistance Force news release.)

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Combat Camera: US Marines, Afghan Soldiers Battle Taliban in Marjah, Part 2

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Marines with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, took over an abandoned compound inside the city of Marjeh, Afghanistan, Feb. 14. Marines with Bravo and Alpha Company, 1/6, inserted into the city at night by helicopters as part of a large-scale offensive aimed at routing the Taliban from their last-known stronghold in Helmand province. (Photo by Lance Cpl. James W. Clark, Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs.)

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A helicopter lands for an emergency medical evacuation while Marines and Afghan national army soldiers with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, provide security and prepare to provide covering fire Feb. 13 on the outskirts of the city of Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Marines with Bravo and Alpha Company, 1/6, inserted into the city at night by helicopters as part of a large-scale offensive aimed at routing the Taliban from their last-known stronghold in Helmand province. (Photo by Lance Cpl. James W. Clark, Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs.)

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A Marine with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, steps into an abandoned home after receiving sporadic small-arms fire in the city of Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb 14. Marines with Bravo and Alpha Company, 1/6, inserted into the city at night by helicopters as part of a large-scale offensive aimed at routing the Taliban from their last-known stronghold in Helmand province. (Photo by Lance Cpl. James W. Clark, Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs.)

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A Marine with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, attempts to draw fire from a Taliban sniper who has Marines pinned down Feb. 15 Marjeh, Afghanistan. Marines with Bravo and Alpha Company, 1/6, inserted into the city at night by helicopters as part of a large-scale offensive aimed at routing the Taliban from their last-known stronghold. (Photo by Lance Cpl. James W. Clark, Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs.)

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A helicopter comes in for an emergency medical evacuation while Marines and Afghan national army soldiers with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, provide overwatch Feb. 13 on the outskirts of the city of Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Marines with Bravo and Alpha Company, 1/6, inserted into the city at night by helicopters as part of a large-scale offensive aimed at routing the Taliban from their last-known stronghold in Helmand province. (Photo by Lance Cpl. James W. Clark, Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs.)

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Marines and Afghan national army soldiers with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, take cover in a shallow canal after receiving small-arms fire Feb. 13 in the city of Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Marines with Bravo and Alpha Company, 1/6, inserted into the city at night by helicopters as part of a large-scale offensive aimed at routing the Taliban from their last-known stronghold in Helmand province. (Photo by Lance Cpl. James W. Clark, Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs.)

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Marines and Afghan national army soldiers with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, take cover behind a berm after receiving small-arms fire Feb. 13 in the city of Marjeh, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Marines with Bravo and Alpha Company, 1/6, inserted into the city at night by helicopters as part of a large-scale offensive aimed at routing the Taliban from their last-known stronghold in Helmand province. (Photo by Lance Cpl. James W. Clark, Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs.)

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A Marine holds a photo of two men armed with Soviet-made, medium machine guns, found inside of an abandoned compound in the city of Marjah, Afghanistan, Feb. 14. Marines with Bravo and Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, inserted into the city at night by helicopters as part of a large-scale offensive aimed at routing the Taliban from their last-known stronghold in Helmand province. (Photo by Lance Cpl. James W. Clark, Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs.)

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Marines with 81 mm Mortars Platoon, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, fire mortars on an enemy position Feb. 13 on the outskirts of the city of Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Marines with Bravo and Alpha Company, 1/6, inserted into the city at night by helicopters as part of a large-scale offensive aimed at routing the Taliban from their last-known stronghold in Helmand province. (Photo by Lance Cpl. James W. Clark, Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs.)

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A Marine with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, prepares to head out on a foot patrol through the streets of Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb 15. Marines with Bravo and Alpha Company, 1/6, inserted into the city at night by helicopters as part of a large-scale offensive aimed at routing the Taliban from their last-known stronghold in Helmand province. (Photo by Lance Cpl. James W. Clark, Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs.)

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A Marine with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, takes cover behind a berm after receiving accurate small-arms fire Feb. 13 in the city of Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Marines with Bravo and Alpha Company, 1/6, inserted into the city at night by helicopters as part of a large-scale offensive aimed at routing the Taliban from their last-known stronghold in Helmand province. (Photo by Lance Cpl. James W. Clark, Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs.)

Related: Combat Camera: US Marines, Afghan Soldiers Battle Taliban in Marjah, Part 1

COMBAT CAMERA More Combat Camera Imagery on THE TENSION

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Wire Update: 5 Five Muslim Soldiers Arrested at Fort Jackson in Poisoning Attempt

Off the Wire

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19, 2010 -- Newswire services this morning updated reports that the U.S. Army is investigating allegations that soldiers were attempting to poison the food supply at Fort Jackson in South Carolina.

CBN News reported that five Muslim soldiers were arrested just before Christmas. It is unclear whether the men are still in custody. The five were part of the Arabic Translation program at the base.
A source with intimate knowledge of the investigation, which is ongoing, told CBN News investigators suspect the "Fort Jackson Five" may have been in contact with the group of five Washington, DC area Muslims that traveled to Pakistan to wage jihad against U.S. troops in December. That group was arrested by Pakistani authorities, also just before Christmas.

Coming as it does on the heels of November's Fort Hood jihadist massacre, this news has major implications.
This is a developing story.

(Report from newswire sources.)

Related: Wire: Army Investigates Attempt to Poison Soldiers at Fort Jackson

Source: CBN Exclusive: Five Muslim Soldiers Arrested at Fort Jackson in South Carolina

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Thursday, February 18, 2010

Pentagon Identifies Marine Casualty (OEF)

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News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2010 -- The following news release made available Thursday by the U.S. Department of Defense is the text of a statement identifying a casualty:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Alejandro J. Yazzie, 23, of Rock Point, Ariz., died Feb. 16 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
(Report from a U.S. Defense Department news release.)

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Wire: Army Investigates Attempt to Poison Soldiers at Fort Jackson

Off the Wire

Off the Wire:

Sources: Suspects are Muslim and were part of U.S. military Arabic translation program

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2010 -- Newswire services this evening reported that the U.S. Army is investigating allegations that soldiers were attempting to poison the food supply at Fort Jackson in South Carolina.

The ongoing probe began two months ago, Chris Grey, a spokesman for the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division, according to a report by Fox News.
The Army is taking the allegations “extremely seriously,” Grey said, but so far, "there is no credible information to support the allegations."

The suspects were part of an Arabic translation program called "09 Lima" and use Arabic as their first language, two sources told Fox News. Another military source said they were Muslim.

Grey would not confirm or deny the sources’ information.
(Report from newswire sources.)

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Pentagon Discuses Progress of Operation Moshtarak in Afghanistan

News in Balance

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2010 -- NATO and Afghan forces have made early progress in an ongoing offensive on a Taliban stronghold in Afghanistan, but have encountered some stiff resistance and may need another 25 to 30 days to secure the entire area, a top military official said.

Overall the multinational force has reached the "end of the beginning" of the operation in central Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, said British Maj. Gen. Nick Patrick Carter, commander of NATO forces in International Security Assistance Force's Regional Command-South, during a briefing today.

"I guess it will take us another 25 to 30 days to be entirely sure that we have secured that which needs to be secured," Carter told Pentagon reporters. "And we probably won't know for about 120 days whether or not the population is entirely convinced by the degree of commitment that their government is showing to them."

Despite dislocating the insurgency within 24 hours of landing in the region on Feb. 13, Carter said, fighting continues in Marja, which to date has claimed the lives of six allied troops, including four Americans. Some 15,000 NATO and Afghan forces are engaged in Operation Moshtarak, which in Pashto and Dari means "Operation Together," including 8,000 to 10,000 ground troops.

"In Marja itself, there remains stiff resistance from the insurgence," Carter said. "And U.S. Marines in partnership with Afghan security forces are still fighting [an] intense series of actions, in the process of clearing Marja as a whole."

Pentagon Spokesman Geoff Morrell predicted that insurgents remaining in the area were intent on seeing the fight through.

"It is not very coordinated, but there still are holdouts who have remained in Marja and elsewhere in Helmand who have stayed to fight," he told reporters today, "and they're clearly going to fight to the bitter end."

Morrell added that IEDs, the military shorthand for makeshift bombs known as "improvised explosive devices," mines and other explosives left in the wake fleeing Taliban pose a larger threat than residual enemy fighters.

In spite of the pace of operations being slowed by enemy bombs and explosives, military officials have expressed satisfaction at the rate of progress in the central Helmand operations, which represents the first test of President Barack Obama's plan to add 30,000 more troops in the fight against Afghanistan-based insurgents.

Carter said Operation Moshtarak would likely represent the first wave in a series of operations in a push against insurgents further east towards Kandahar.

"I think, as a result of Moshtarak, is a sense of momentum that will sweep eastwards towards Kandahar during the course of the next six months," he said. "And my sense is that ... you will see the insurgent pushed eastwards in a way that will roll him out during the course of the next 12 months or so."

In a rare glimpse at their playbook, U.S. and NATO military officials for months have remarked publicly on the strategic importance of the southern Afghanistan region and the goal to clear the area of Taliban fighters. The rationale for such a declaration of intent was to allow low-level Taliban fighters the chance to flee, and to warn civilians of the impending attack, officials said.

Marja, like other areas of Helmand, is a source of income for Taliban fighters, who cultivate poppy to yield opium and heroin for the lucrative drug market, according to reports. The U.S. State Department cites Afghanistan as the world's largest producer of opium, and money from the drug trade is said to help in bankrolling terrorism.

(Report by John J. Kruzel, American Forces Press Service.)

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Pentagon Identifies 3 Army Casualties (OEF)

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News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2010 -- The following news release made available Thursday by the U.S. Department of Defense is the text of a statement identifying casualties:
The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device Feb. 13 in Zhari province, Afghanistan. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Killed were:
  • Staff Sgt. John A. Reiners, 24, of Lakeland, Fla.;

  • Sgt. Jeremiah T. Wittman, 26, of Darby, Mont.; and

  • Spc. Bobby J. Pagan, 23, of Austin, Texas.

(Report from a U.S. Defense Department news release.)

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Pentagon Discuses Capture of Taliban Leader in Pakistan

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News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2010 -- The recent capture of the Afghan Taliban's No. 2 leader and top operational commander represents a "significant win," a White House official said.

U.S. officials have said little in public on the capture in Pakistan of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar -- the Taliban's second-in-command to Mohammad Omar -- but White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs yesterday called it "a significant win."

"Obviously, this was the number-two Afghan Taliban -- the operational chief -- and it's a big success for our mutual efforts in the region," Gibbs told White House reporters.

The Pakistani government has confirmed that Baradar is in custody after Pakistani officials apprehended him reportedly in conjunction with the CIA, said Gibbs, who declined to disclose any information gleaned from the Taliban commander's interrogation.

American officials reportedly have described Baradar as the most significant Taliban figure to be detained since the American-led war in Afghanistan started more than eight years ago.

Speaking in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton yesterday expressed appreciation for the increasing cooperation between the United States and Pakistan.

"It is something that I personally believe is in the best interest of both of our countries," she said of Pakistan's support.

News of the apprehension comes as NATO and Afghan forces wage an assault against Taliban fighters ostensibly under Baradar's command in southern Afghanistan. Officials said the offensive on a Taliban stronghold in central Helmand province has yielded both early progress and stiff resistance in the area of Marja.

Some 15,000 NATO and Afghan forces are engaged in Operation Moshtarak, which in Pashto and Dari means "Operation Together," including 8,000 to 10,000 ground troops. Six allied troops have died since fighting began on Feb. 13, including four American forces, officials said.

Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters today that simultaneous operations on both sides of the Afghan-Pakistani border are causing the Taliban to be "squeezed."

"Our hope is clearly that this is creating a certain amount of discontent, worry, turmoil within the organization," Morrell said, "so that Taliban fighters are going to think twice about remaining loyal to this cause and that this will ultimately adversely impact the momentum that they have enjoyed over the past several months."

(Report by John J. Kruzel, American Forces Press Service.)

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Pentagon Identifies Navy Casualty (OEF)

News in Balance

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2010 -- The following news release made available Thursday by the U.S. Department of Defense is the text of a statement identifying a casualty:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Petty Officer 1st Class Sean L. Caughman, 43, of Fort Worth, Texas, died Feb. 16, while supporting operations in Kuwait. Caughman was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Twenty-Two.
(Report from a U.S. Defense Department news release.)

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OEF Summary, Feb. 18, 2010: Forces Uncover Multiple Weapons Caches in Afghanistan

Dispatches from the Front

Dispatches from the Front:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2010 -- Combined patrols of Afghan and international security forces uncovered multiple weapons caches during operations throughout Afghanistan yesterday.

In Helmand province last night, a security patrol found a large cache containing nearly 3,000 rounds of ammunition, three anti-aircraft weapons, 15 rocket-propelled grenades, 34 mortar rounds and other ammunition.

Also, a patrol found a weapons cache in Balkh province yesterday containing 15 Russian 122mm projectiles.

During a patrol in Kandahar last night, forces found a cache containing two artillery rounds, two grenades, an anti-tank mine, 400 rounds of ammunition and a radio.

All caches were destroyed.

In other operations yesterday:
  • A combined Afghan and international security force searched a compound in Helmand province after reports indicated militant activity. The force detained two insurgents during the search. As they were leaving, a small team of militants attempted to set up a small-arms ambush. The force engaged them and killed one insurgent. The joint force later captured two others near the same compound.

  • A security force searched a compound in Kandahar province last night after getting reports of militant activity. During the search, the joint force captured a Taliban commander connected to suicide bombings, foreign fighters and car bomb attacks.

  • A combined force searched a series of buildings in Khost province. During the search the force captured a terrorist subcommander known as an experienced explosives manufacturer, tester and attack planner. Several other insurgents also were detained.

  • In another Khost operation last night, a security force searched a compound after reports confirmed militant activity. During the search the joint force captured a terrorist sub-commander responsible for managing weapons caches, acquiring weapons for militant cells and obtaining illegal passports. When confronted the commander identified himself. The joint force also detained another insurgent. The search also uncovered multiple weapons, including rifles, a shotgun, automatic rifles and grenades.

(Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command news releases.)

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Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Pentagon Identifies Marine Casualty (OEF)

News in Balance

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2010 -- The following news release made available Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Defense is the text of a statement identifying a casualty:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Noah M. Pier, 25, of Charlotte, N.C., died Feb. 16 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
(Report from a U.S. Defense Department news release.)

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OIF Summary, Feb. 17, 2010: Forces in Iraq Nab Weapons Dealer, Bomb Maker

Dispatches from the Front

Dispatches from the Front:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2010 -- Iraqi security forces arrested a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq weapons dealer and two other suspected terrorists during a series of combined operations in Baghdad today.

Intelligence reports led Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors to a home in western Baghdad in search of a terrorist wanted for building and distributing silencers for pistols used to conduct robberies and assassinations. Based on incriminating evidence and information gathered during the operation, forces arrested the suspected weapons dealer.

Al-Qaida in Iraq terrorists use weapons equipped with silencers while robbing financial institutions, businesses and private citizens to acquire funds for attack operations, U.S. officials report.

In addition to robberies, al-Qaida recently has claimed responsibility for assassinating Iraqi officials, security forces and civilians as part of its attempts to disrupt the national election process, said U.S. officials. Members of al-Qaida in Iraq also admit to conducting robberies and claim to use stolen funds to purchase illegal weapons, explosive material and bomb-making components, officials said.

In southwestern Baghdad, Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors searched a home for a suspected terrorist leader believed to be responsible for planning and coordinating robberies of financial institutions and private businesses in Baghdad. The man also allegedly is involved in car-bomb attacks and is connected to terrorists responsible for building homemade bombs.

The security team discovered circuitry used to make explosives. Information obtained during a preliminary investigation led forces to arrest a man allegedly linked to the leader of the al-Qaida in Iraq robbery cell and one other suspected associate.

In a separate operation, Iraqi forces arrested seven suspected terrorists west of Kirkuk as part of a concerted effort to prevent future car-bombing attacks throughout the country.

(Compiled from U.S. Forces Iraq news releases.)

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Pentagon: Iran Continues to Subvert Iraq

News in Balance

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2010 -- As national elections in Iraq loom on the horizon, Iran continues to subvert its western neighbor’s security and political infrastructure, top American military officials said.

Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the top American commander in Iraq, said Iran aims to foment violence in Iraq and to play diplomatic and other nonmilitary roles that call into question Iran’s respect for Iraqi sovereignty.

“Iran clearly has a strategy that goes across lethal aims, diplomatic aims and then soft-power aims -- i.e., influencing people through investment in the economy -- and into some other practices inside of Iraq,” the general said yesterday at the Army and Navy Club here.

Despite success in recent years against Iranian-backed militias operating in Iraq, several new groups have formed that are receiving support from within Iran, Odierno told audience members at the event sponsored by the Institute for the Study of War.

Though down from peak levels, Iranian-backed violence is being generated in part by two groups -- Kataib Hezbollah and the Promised Day Brigade -- that gain funding and military expertise inside Iran before exporting their operations across its western border, the general said.

“We still have EFPs explode just about every day in Iraq,” said Odierno, referring to what the military calls “explosively formed penetrators,” an especially deadly type of roadside bomb that’s designed to pierce armor and is believed to have Iranian origins. “We still uncover Iranian rockets and other goods that are made, and individuals that are trained, in Iran to conduct attacks against both U.S. and Iraqi security forces.”

Asked whether Iran respects Iraqi sovereignty, Odierno replied, “I would say, since they conduct and support lethal actions inside of Iraq, it's clear that they don't.”

As the March 7 Iraqi national election date nears, concerns have mounted that Iran, a Shiite Muslim country, has influenced a decision by Iraqi lawmakers to bar several hundred politicians from the ballots on the grounds that they are linked to Saddam Hussein’s Baath party. The decision primarily disqualified Sunni politicians seeking office.

Two Iraqis involved in blocking the candidates have ties to the Iranian government in Tehran and are attempting to influence the outcome of the Iraqi election, Odierno said. The two men had several meetings in Iran, he said, including one with an Iranian whom the United States placed on the terrorist watch list for a bombing in Kuwait in the 1980s.

One is Ahmed Chalabi, who reportedly is perceived as having supplied faulty intelligence in 2003 before the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. The other is Ali Faisal al-Lami, who was arrested and subsequently freed after being suspected of masterminding a bomb attack on American and Iraqi officials.

“[Lami] and Chalabi clearly are influenced by Iran. We have direct intelligence that tells us that,” Odierno said. “We believe they're absolutely involved in influencing the outcome of the election, and it's concerning that they've been able to do that over time.”

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in recent days expressed concern about the increased levels of violence in Iraq as the election date nears, and he also has denounced Iran’s reach into areas throughout the Middle East, including Iraq.

Speaking to reporters in Cairo after Iran recently announced it would increase its levels of uranium enrichment, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen -- the top U.S. military officer -- characterized Tehran as “hard to predict.”

“I remain extremely concerned about them as a country -- not their people, but their leadership,” Mullen said in Feb. 15 remarks, “and the recent rhetoric concerning the increased enhancement in terms of nuclear fuel, their reach to Hezbollah, their reach to Hamas, their reach into Yemen, their reach into even Afghanistan, as well as Iraq.”

(Report by John J. Kruzel, American Forces Press Service.)

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OEF Summary, Feb. 17, 2010: Afghanistan Operations Seize Suspects, Weapons

Dispatches from the Front

Dispatches from the Front:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2010 -- Combined Afghan and international forces uncovered weapons caches and detained suspected insurgents during multiple operations in Afghanistan today.

A security force searched a compound in Logar province after reports indicated militant activity. While searching the compound, the force captured a Taliban subcommander responsible for the movement of weapons and leading explosive attacks against Afghan and coalition troops.

In another operation today, a force captured a few suspected insurgents in the Nimroz province while in pursuit of a Taliban commander operating in southern Farah province. The force detained an individual in an empty field on suspicion of supporting militant activities.

After detaining the individual, the force searched a nearby compound after reports indicated militant activity there and detained a pair of additional suspected insurgents. The force discovered Taliban paraphernalia and a type of handheld radio often used by militants for communication.

In Kandahar province today, a patrol found a weapons cache containing two artillery rounds, two grenades, an anti-tank mine, ammunition and a radio. The munitions will be destroyed.

In operations yesterday:
  • A security force searched a compound in Nimroz province after getting reports of militant activity. The force detained several militants, found weapons and a large amount of explosives and detonators during their search. Coalition experts detonated the explosives in place.

  • The Afghan National Police discovered 55 pounds of explosive material in Kandahar province. Two insurgents were arrested. An investigation has been launched into the case.

  • A combined Afghan and international security force found and destroyed a cache of 18 mortar rounds, a grenade launcher and bomb-making materials in Helmand.

  • Afghan police discovered and diffused three mines in Uruzgan province. The remote-controlled mines had been placed by insurgents in different districts of the province.

  • A combined force on a routine patrol found four 40-pound bags of opium in Helmand, along with an assault rifle with ammunition magazines, a bayonet and a letter from an anti-Afghan-government organization.

  • An international patrol observed a group of suspicious individuals near the border in eastern Afghanistan. After receiving positive confirmation that the group consisted of insurgents, the patrol requested air support. Coalition aircraft dropped precision-guided munitions on insurgent locations. More than a dozen insurgents reportedly were killed.

(Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command news releases.)

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Combat Camera: US Marines, Afghan Soldiers Battle Taliban in Marjah, Part 1

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Lance Cpl. Sammy Guajardo, a dog handler with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, looks out over a compound where he has taken shelter during the push into the city of Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 14. Marines with Bravo and Alpha Company, 1/6, were inserted into the city at night by helicopters as part of a large-scale offensive aimed at routing the Taliban from their last-known stronghold in Helmand province. (Photo by Lance Cpl. James W. Clark, Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs.)

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A helicopter comes in for an emergency medical evacuation while Marines and Afghan national army soldiers with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment provide overwatch Feb. 13 on the outskirts of the city of Marjah, Afghanistan. Marines with Bravo and Alpha Company, 1/6, inserted into the city at night by helicopters as part of a large-scale offensive aimed at routing the Taliban from their last-known stronghold. (Photo by Lance Cpl. James W. Clark, Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs.)

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Marines with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment take cover behind a mud wall after receiving small-arms fire Feb. 13 in the city of Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Marines with Bravo and Alpha Company, 1/6, inserted into the city at night by helicopters as part of a large-scale offensive aimed at routing the Taliban from their last-known stronghold. (Photo by Lance Cpl. James W. Clark, Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs.)

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A Marine with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, speaks to a villager in the city of Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 14. Marines with Bravo and Alpha Company, 1/6, inserted into the city at night by helicopters as part of a large-scale offensive aimed at routing the Taliban from their last-known stronghold in Helmand province. (Photo by Lance Cpl. James W. Clark, Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs.)

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Marines and Afghan national army soldiers with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment look out across the compound in the city of Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, where they've been taking shelter for the last several days. A gas station nearby erupts into flames after being rocketed by insurgents, Feb. 14. Marines with Bravo and Alpha Company, 1/6, inserted into the city at night by helicopters as part of a large-scale offensive aimed at routing the Taliban from their last-known stronghold in Helmand province. (Photo by Lance Cpl. James W. Clark, Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs.)

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Marines with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment take cover behind a berm after receiving small-arms fire Feb. 13 in the city of Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Marines with Bravo and Alpha Company, 1/6, inserted into the city at night by helicopters as part of a large-scale offensive aimed at routing the Taliban from their last-known stronghold in Helmand province. (Photo by Lance Cpl. James W. Clark, Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs.)

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Marines and Afghan national army soldiers with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, raise the national flag over the compound where they've established a foothold inside the city of Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 14. Marines with Bravo and Alpha Company, 1/6, inserted into the city at night by helicopters as part of a large-scale offensive aimed at routing the Taliban from their last-known stronghold in Helmand province. (Photo by Lance Cpl. James W. Clark, Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs.)

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Marines with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, move across a field in search of cover Feb. 13 in the city of Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Marines with Bravo and Alpha Company, 1/6, inserted into the city at night by helicopters as part of a large-scale offensive aimed at routing the Taliban from their last-known stronghold. (Photo by Lance Cpl. James W. Clark, Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs.)

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Marines and Afghan national army soldiers with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, take cover behind a berm after receiving accurate small-arms fire Feb. 13 in the city of Marjeh, Afghanistan. Marines with Bravo and Alpha Company, 1/6, were inserted into the city at night by helicopters as part of a large scale offensive aimed at routing the Taliban from their last known stronghold in Helmand province. (Photo by Lance Cpl. James W. Clark, Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs.)

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Marines with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, take cover behind a berm after receiving small-arms fire Feb. 13 in the city of Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Marines with Bravo and Alpha Company, 1/6, inserted into the city at night by helicopters as part of a large-scale offensive aimed at routing the Taliban from their last-known stronghold. (Photo by Lance Cpl. James W. Clark, Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs.)

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A Marine with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, attempts to draw fire from a Taliban sniper who has Marines pinned down Feb. 15 in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Marines with Bravo and Alpha Company, 1/6, inserted into the city at night by helicopters as part of a large-scale offensive aimed at routing the Taliban from their last-known stronghold. (Photo by Lance Cpl. James W. Clark, Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs.)

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
Marines and Afghan national army soldiers with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, take cover behind a berm after receiving small-arms fire Feb. 13 in the city of Marjeh, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Marines with Bravo and Alpha Company, 1/6, inserted into the city at night by helicopters as part of a large-scale offensive aimed at routing the Taliban from their last-known stronghold in Helmand province. (Photo by Lance Cpl. James W. Clark, Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs.)

Related: Combat Camera: US Marines, Afghan Soldiers Battle Taliban in Marjah, Part 2

COMBAT CAMERA More Combat Camera Imagery on THE TENSION

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