Afghanistan III
Civilian Surge, February 2010
President Obama’s administration has announced that a “civilian surge”, is to accompany a fresh build-up of US troops throughout Afghanistan. In the Arghandab Valley, north of Kandahar, 2- 508 battalion of the 82nd Airborne Division has secured it’s headquarters next to the Governor of Arghandab’s Office. Working alongside the governor two Americans have arrived in Arghandab to help out: 27-year-old Kevin Melton and 35-year-old Christopher Harich.
This unlikely trio aims to turn the tide of opinion in the district. They must do it before spring, when the valley will come into leaf and the Taliban fighters return from Pakistan in time for fighting season.
An Afghan Policeman stands guard while Chris Harich, (L) a US State Department Officer, and Kevin Melton (R) from USAID, discuss plans with the District Governor of Arghandab, Jaji Abdul Jabar (C), while carrying out a rehabilitation assessment of a religious monument in Baba Saheb, Arghandab, Afghanistan on the 1st February, 2010.
An Afghan Government Soldier sits guard outside of the office of the District Governor in Arghandab, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan on the 31st January, 2010. The US government has sharply increased the number of civilian workers in Southern Afghanistan to try to bolster local government and provide economic projects to undermine support for the Taliban insurgency.- A newly trained Afghan police officer from the Afghan National Police Force (ANP) poses for a photograph in his quarters at his base in Sakari Bagh in Arghandab, Afghanistan on the 1st February, 2010. The Nato led force in Afghanistan has adopted ambitious targets to boost the Afghan National Police Force but faces a host of obstacles including entrenched corruption and lack of logistical capacity.
- An elderly Afghan man puts his thumb print on a form to claim compensation for damage done to his property by ISAF forces at the claim centre run by members of the Canadian Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team at the District Governors Office in Baba Saheb, Arghandab, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan on the 1st February, 2010. The US government has sharply increased the number of civilian workers in Southern Afghanistan to try to bolster local government and provide economic projects to undermine support for the Taliban insurgency.
- A newly trained Afghan policeman stands on the roof of the police station at the new administrative compound constructed with the help of the 2 - 508, 82nd Airborne Division of the US Army in Sakari Bagh, Arghandab, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan on the 1st February, 2010. The Nato - led force in Afghanistan has adopted ambitious targets to boost the Afghan National Police Force but faces a host of obstacles including entrenched corruption and lack of logistical capacity.
- A newly trained Afghan policeman stands on the roof of the police station at the new administrative compound constructed with the help of the 2 - 508, 82nd Airborne Division of the US Army in Sakari Bagh, Arghandab, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan on the 1st February, 2010. The Nato - led force in Afghanistan has adopted ambitious targets to boost the Afghan National Police Force but faces a host of obstacles including entrenched corruption and lack of logistical capacity.
- A view from the window of an armored personnel carrier driven by soldiers of 2 - 508, 82nd Airborne Division of the US army while out on patrol in Arghandab, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan on the 2nd February, 2010. The US government has sharply increased the number of civilian workers in Southern Afghanistan to try to bolster local government and provide economic projects to undermine support for the Taliban insurgency.
- Locally employed workmen help to build an administrative base that is being secured by 2-508 of the 82nd Airborne Division of the US army in Sakari Bagh, Arghandab, Afghanistan on the 2nd February, 2010. The US government has sharply increased the number of civilian workers in Southern Afghanistan to try to bolster local government and provide economic projects to undermine support for the Taliban insurgency.
- MRAPS, the new armored vehicles for the US army, line up at the base of 2-508, of the 82nd Airborne Division of the US army in Baba Saheb, Arghandab, Afghanistan on the 31st January, 2010. The US government has sharply increased the number of civilian workers in Southern Afghanistan to try to bolster local government and provide economic projects to undermine support for the Taliban insurgency.
- Tents are lined up at the base of 2-508 of the 82nd Airborne Division of the US Army in Baba Saheb, Arghandab, Afghanistan on the 31st January, 2010. The US government has sharply increased the number of civilian workers in Southern Afghanistan to try to bolster local government and provide economic projects to undermine support for the Taliban insurgency.
- An ISAF (International Securitisation Assistance Force) gunner keeps watch out the side of a helicopter as it comes into land into Kandahar Airfield, in Kandahar, Afghanistan on the 3rd February, 2010. The US government and allies, has sharply increased the number of civilian workers in Southern Afghanistan to try to bolster local government and provide economic projects to undermine support for the Taliban insurgency.
- Armored vehicles leave for a night patrol from the base of the 2-508, 82nd Airborne Division of the US army in Baba Saheb, Argahandab, Afghanistan on the 2ndd February, 2010. The US government has sharply increased the number of civilian workers in Southern Afghanistan to try to bolster local government and provide economic projects to undermine support for the Taliban insurgency.
- A helicopter lands in a cloud of dust at the base of 2-508, 82nd Airborne Division of the US army in Baba Saheb, Arghandab, Afghanistan on the 3rd February, 2010. The US government has sharply increased the number of civilian workers in Southern Afghanistan to try to bolster local government and provide economic projects to undermine support for the Taliban insurgency.
- A view from the window of an armored personnel carrier driven by soldiers of 2 - 508, 82nd Airborne Division of the US army while out on patrol in Arghandab, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan on the 2nd February, 2010. The US government has sharply increased the number of civilian workers in Southern Afghanistan to try to bolster local government and provide economic projects to undermine support for the Taliban insurgency.
- Private First Class Peterson of 2-508 of the 82nd Airborne Division of the US army while being briefed at base in Baba Saheb, in Arghandab, Afghanistan on the 1st February, 2010. The US government has sharply increased the number of civilian workers in Southern Afghanistan to try to bolster local government and provide economic projects to undermine support for the Taliban insurgency.
- Members of the Afghan National Police (ANP) undergo training by Canadian Forces who are part of POMLT (Police Operational Mentor Liaison Team in Baba Saheb, Arghandab, Afghanistan on the 31st January, 2010. The Nato led force in Afghanistan has adopted ambitious targets to boost the Afghan National Police Force but faces a host of obstacles including entrenched corruption and lack of logistical capacity.
- Soldiers from 2-508, of the 82nd Airborne Division of the US army walk down a hill at their base after finishing a foot patrol in Baba Saheb, Arghandab, Afghanistan on the 1st February, 2010. The US government has sharply increased the number of civilian workers in Southern Afghanistan to try to bolster local government and provide economic projects to undermine support for the Taliban insurgency.
- A soldier from 2-508, of the 82nd Airborne Division of the US army walks down the road to the base after finishing a foot patrol in Baba Saheb, Arghandab, Afghanistan on the 1st February, 2010. The US government has sharply increased the number of civilian workers in Southern Afghanistan to try to bolster local government and provide economic projects to undermine support for the Taliban insurgency.
- Captain Patrick Heime, (R) a soldier from 2-508, of the 82nd Airborne Division of the US army and an Afghan Police Officer take part in a joint foot patrol in Baba Saheb, Arghandab, Afghanistan on the 1st February, 2010. The Nato led force in Afghanistan has adopted ambitious targets to boost the Afghan National Police Force but faces a host of obstacles including entrenched corruption and lack of logistical capacity.
- An Afghan Police Officer stands guard at a religious monument while taking part in a joint foot patrol in Baba Saheb, Arghandab, Afghanistan on the 1st February, 2010. The Nato led force in Afghanistan has adopted ambitious targets to boost the Afghan National Police Force but faces a host of obstacles including entrenched corruption and lack of logistical capacity.
- Kevin Melton (L) from USAID, discuss plans with the District Governor of Arghandab, Jaji Abdul Jabar (L) while carrying out a rehabilitation assessment of a religious monument in Baba Saheb, Arghandab, Afghanistan on the 1st February, 2010. The US government has sharply increased the number of civilian workers in Southern Afghanistan to try to bolster local government and provide economic projects to undermine support for the Taliban insurgency.
- Kevin Melton (R) from USAID, discuss plans with the District Governor of Arghandab, Jaji Abdul Jabar (L) with a view of the Arghandab Valley in the background while carrying out a rehabilitation assessment of a religious monument in Baba Saheb, Arghandab, Afghanistan on the 1st February, 2010. The US government has sharply increased the number of civilian workers in Southern Afghanistan to try to bolster local government and provide economic projects to undermine support for the Taliban insurgency.
- A soldier from the 82nd Airborne Division of the US army pass by the passes by a market stall with two children standing next to it, while on foot patrol with members of the Afghan Police in Sakari Bagh, Arghanbad, Afghanistan on the 2nd February, 2010.
- Staff Sgt Donny Kuehner from 2-508 of the 82nd Airborne Division of the US Army has tea with Haji Jhapor, a local businessmen, while on foot patrol in Sakari Bagh, Arghandab, Afghanistan on the 2nd February, 2010. The US government has sharply increased the number of civilian workers in Southern Afghanistan to try to bolster local government and provide economic projects to undermine support for the Taliban insurgency.
