U.S. Marines Open a New Offensive in Afghanistan

Almost 4,000 Marines, backed by helicopter gunships, pushed into the Helmand River Valley on the morning of July 2 as part of an
Manpreet Romana / AFP / Getty

Deployed
The Marines are part of a larger plan developed by the new American commander in Afghanistan, Stanley A. McChrystal to not only destroy the Taliban but protect the local population as well.

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