Afghanistan V

US Marines and Peacebuilding, April 2010

US officials hold up progress in Garmsir in Helmand, a district of 73,000 people, as evidence that their “clear, hold and build” strategy to rally an often deeply ambivalent population behind the government is starting to work.

Lakari Bazaar lies in Garmsir District, where US Marines despatched as part of an initial troop surge launched by Barack Obama, the US president, deployed in July alongside teams of civilians aiming to re-invigorate an ailing or absent Afghan state.

US Marines talk with an Afghan man in Lakari Bazaar, Garmsir District.
An elderly man walks through the market in Garmsir, Helmand Afghanistan on the 26th March, 2010. Garmsir District has a population of around 73,000 people, and was an extremely hostile region of Helmand province , being a major trading centre for opium and weapons that supplied the Taliban.
A US Marine walks passed a man with his donkey carrying wheat while out on patrol in Garmsir Helmand Province, Afghanistan on the 29th March, 2010. Garmsir District was an extremely hostile region of Helmand province , being a major trading centre for opium and weapons that supplied the Taliban. 2/2 of the US Marines arrived in the area in October 2009 and have succeeded in bringing a degree of security and economic stability to the region, despite extreme opposition by insurgent forces.
A US Marine walks passed an MRAP armoured vehicle at Forward Operating Base Delhi in Mian Poshteh Helmand Province, Afghanistan on the 29th March, 2010.
A farmer spreads fertiliser on his newly planted wheat fields that have replaced his poppy crop while US marines walked passed on patrol in Mion Poshteh, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on the 28th March, 2010.
A daughter of Mir Hanzah holds her little sister at their home in the village of Vakil Monn, Mian Poshteh, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on the 28th March, 2010. Mian Poshteh was an extremely hostile region of Helmand province , being a major trading centre for opium and weapons that supplied Taliban insurgents. 2/2 of the US Marines arrived in the area in October 2009 and have succeded in bringing a degree of security and economic stability to the region despite extreme opposition.
A young boy weeds his families poppy plantation, looked over by US marines in Lakari Bazaar, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on the 27th March, 2010. Lakari was an extremely hostile region of Helmand province , being a major trading centre for opium and weapons that supplied the Taliban. 2/2 of the US Marines arrived in the area in October 2009 and have succeded in bringing a degree of security and economic stability to the region despite extreme opposition by insurgent forces.
A US Marine patrols Lakari Bazar that has been rehabilitated by US Marines in Lakari, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on the 29th March, 2010. Lakari was an extremely hostile region of Helmand province , being a major trading centre for opium and weapons that supplied the Taliban. 2/2 of the US Marines arrived in the area in October 2009 and have succeeded in bringing a degree of security and economic stability to the region, despite extreme opposition by insurgent forces.
Lt Bales of 2/2 US Marines briefs his troops beneath a full moon before carrying out a night patrol in Mian Poshteh, Helmand, Afghanstan on the 29th March, 2010.
An eldlerly man is examined by a medical officer from the US Marines at the medical centre set up by Fox Company, 2/2 of the US Marines at their forward operating base in Mian Poshteh, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on the 30th March, 2010.
An elderly man holds a child's hand as a convoy of armoured vehicles belonging to the US marines drives by near the town of Lakari, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on the 30th March, 2010.
Women in burkas wait with their children to attend a health clinic outside a building destroyed by bombing Garmsir, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on the 26th March, 2010.
Captain Scott Cuomo of 2/2 of the US Marines, discusses plans for a new school and health centre with community leaders at a meeting Mian Poshteh Helmand Province, Afghanistan on the 27th March, 2010. Mian Poshteh was an extremely hostile region of Helmand province , being a major trading centre for opium and weapons that supplied the Taliban. 2/2 of the US Marines arrived in the area in October 2009 and have succeeded in bringing a degree of security and economic stability to the region, despite extreme opposition by insurgent forces.
A US Marine briefs his men and a member of the ANA (Afghan National Army) before carrying out a joint foot patrol in Mian Poshteh Helmand Province, Afghanistan on the 28th March, 2010. Mian Poshteh was an extremely hostile region of Helmand province , being a major trading centre for opium and weapons that supplied the Taliban. 2/2 of the US Marines arrived in the area in October 2009 and have succeeded in bringing a degree of security and economic stability to the region, despite extreme opposition by insurgent forces.
A US Marine smokes a cigarette while looking over a poppy field next to their Combat Outpost in Lakari Bazaar, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on the 29th March, 2010. Lakari was an extremely hostile region of Helmand province , being a major trading centre for opium and weapons that supplied the Taliban. 2/2 of the US Marines arrived in the area in October 2009 and have suceeded in bringing a degree of security and economic stability to the region despite extreme opposition by insurgent forces.
1st Lt Conner Gentil of 2/2 of the US Marine (R) and one of his soldiers washes off newly painted graffiti that depicts people shooting down an aeroplane and says that the US presence is not welcome in Lakari Bazaar, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on the 29th March, 2010.
Local men sit in a shop front in Lakari Bazaar, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on the 29th March, 2010. Lakari was an extremely hostile region of Helmand province , being a major trading centre for opium and weapons that supplied the Taliban. 2/2 of the US Marines arrived in the area in October 2009 and have succeeded in bringing a degree of security and economic stability to the region, despite extreme opposition by insurgent forces.
1st Lt Conner Gentil of 2/2 of the US Marines, discusses plans for local development with Haji Mohammed Zahir, a community elder in Lakari, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on the 29th March, 2010.
A medical officer for the US Marines examines a young boy in the medical clinic that has been opened for civilians at the Forward Operating Base in Mian Poshteh Helmand Province, Afghanistan on the 27th March, 2010. This is the only medical clinic offering services to local people. Mian Poshteh was an extremely hostile region of Helmand province , being a major trading centre for opium and weapons that supplied the Taliban. 2/2 of the US Marines arrived in the area in October 2009 and have succeeded in bringing a degree of security and economic stability to the region, despite extreme opposition by insurgent forces.
A US Marine looks down from his gunner post before starting a patrol in Mian Poshteh Helmand Province, Afghanistan on the 30th March, 2010. Mian Poshte was an extremely hostile region of Helmand province , being a major trading centre for opium and weapons that supplied the Taliban. 2/2 of the US Marines arrived in the area in October 2009 and have succeeded in bringing a degree of security and economic stability to the region, despite extreme opposition by insurgent forces.
A US marine, who has been mentoring the training of Afghan National Army Soldiers sleeps on his rucksack in a helicopter as they fly over Helmand Province, Afghanistan on the 30th March, 2010. Garmsir District was an extremely hostile region of Helmand province, being a major trading centre for opium and weapons that supplied the Taliban. 2/2 of the US Marines arrived in the area in October 2009 and have succeeded in bringing a degree of security and economic stability to the region, despite extreme opposition by insurgent forces.
A US Marine looks out of the back of a transport helicopter onto another helicopter as they fly over Helmand Province, Afghanistan on the 29th March, 2010. Garmsir District was an extremely hostile region of Helmand province, being a major trading centre for opium and weapons that supplied the Taliban. 2/2 of the US Marines arrived in the area in October 2009 and have succeeded in bringing a degree of security and economic stability to the region, despite extreme opposition by insurgent forces.
Young children walk down a street that is being patrolled by US Marines in Garmsir, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on the 26th March, 2010.
Lance Corporal Bruce Roberts of Fox company of 2/2 US Marines patrols through a poppy field in Mian Poshteh, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on the 28th March, 2010. Mian Poshteh was an extremely hostile region of Helmand province , being a major trading centre for opium and weapons that supplied the Taliban. 2/2 of the US Marines arrived in the area in October 2009 and have succeeded in bringing a degree of security and economic stability to the region, despite extreme opposition by insurgent forces.

US Marines talk with an Afghan man in Lakari Bazaar, Garmsir District. Kate Holt.

An elderly man walks through the market in Garmsir, Helmand Afghanistan on the 26th March, 2010. Kate Holt.

A US Marine walks passed a man with his donkey carrying wheat while out on patrol in Garmsir Helmand Province. Kate Holt.

A US Marine walks passed an MRAP armoured vehicle at Forward Operating Base Delhi. Kate Holt.

A farmer spreads fertiliser on his newly planted wheat fields that have replaced his poppy crop. Kate Holt.

A daughter of Mir Hanzah holds her little sister at their home in the village of Vakil Monn. Kate Holt.

A young boy weeds his families poppy plantation, looked over by US marines in Lakari Bazaar. Kate Holt.

A US Marine patrols Lakari Bazar that has been rehabilitated by US Marines in Lakari. Kate Holt.

Lt Bales of 2/2 US Marines briefs his troops beneath a full moon before carrying out a night patrol. Kate Holt.

An eldlerly man is examined by a medical officer from the US Marines at the medical centre set up by Fox Company. Kate Holt.

An elderly man holds a child's hand as a convoy of armoured vehicles belonging to the US marines drives by. Kate Holt.

Women in burkas wait with their children to attend a health clinic. Kate Holt.

Captain Scott Cuomo of 2/2 of the US Marines, discusses plans for a new school and health centre with community leaders. Kate Holt.

A US Marine briefs his men and a member of the ANA (Afghan National Army) before carrying out a joint foot patrol. Kate Holt.

A US Marine smokes a cigarette while looking over a poppy field next to their Combat Outpost in Lakari Bazaar. Kate Holt.

1st Lt Conner Gentil of 2/2 of the US Marine (R) and one of his soldiers washes off newly painted graffiti. Kate Holt.

Local men sit in a shop front in Lakari Bazaar, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on the 29th March, 2010. Kate Holt.

1st Lt Conner Gentil of 2/2 of the US Marines, discusses plans for local development with Haji Mohammed Zahir. Kate Holt.

A medical officer for the US Marines examines a young boy in the medical clinic that has been opened for civilians. Kate Holt.

A US Marine looks down from his gunner post before starting a patrol in Mian Poshteh Helmand Province. Kate Holt.

A US marine, who has been mentoring the training of Afghan National Army Soldiers sleeps on his rucksack in a helicopter. Kate Holt.

A US Marine looks out of the back of a transport helicopter. Kate Holt.

Young children walk down a street that is being patrolled by US Marines in Garmsir. Kate Holt.

Lance Corporal Bruce Roberts of Fox company of 2/2 US Marines patrols through a poppy field in Mian Poshteh. Kate Holt.