Embedded in Afghanistan

40,000 troops told of fall deployment

The Pentagon alerted about 40,000 active-duty and National Guard soldiers yesterday that they will be deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in the fall, a sign that the military expects hard fighting to continue through late next year.

Marines' new enemy: thirst

For the Marines fighting in southern Afghanistan, a shortage of drinking water turned out to be nearly as big a concern as Taliban insurgents.

Marines sweep Taliban refuge

More than a thousand Marines, backed by artillery and helicopter gunships, stormed into this Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan before dawn yesterday.

Marines to help train Afghanistan police force

Diverted at the last minute from its planned deployment to Iraq, a battalion of Marines has arrived here to take up a critical mission: training Afghan police to hold the line against Taliban insurgents.

General urges longer tours

As the Bush administration moves to end 15-month troop deployments, the top commander of U.S. and allied forces here said tours of that length are critical to making progress in the war against Afghanistan's Taliban and other insurgents. He also said he believes it will be necessary to maintain current troop levels here through 2011.

Marines immobile in Afghan red tape

Disagreements and coordination problems high within the international military command are delaying combat operations for 2,500 Marines who arrived here last month to help root out Taliban forces, according to military officers here.

Sun Special Report: Saving Afghanistan

Short-term strategies threaten success

More than seven years after U.S. forces ousted al-Qaida and the Taliban from power here, about 2,500 Marines have arrived in southern Afghanistan seeking to prevent the country from sliding further into Taliban-dominated chaos.