U.S. Marines from Foxtrot Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, patrol near the village of Sorkhdoz in Afghanistan's lower Helmand River Valley July 4, 2009. Thousands of U.S. Marines launched a major offensive in southern Helmand province, a Taliban stronghold and major opium poppy producing area, on Thursday, the first big operation of U.S. President Barack Obama's new regional strategy to defeat the Taliban and stabilise Afghanistan. REUTERS/Peter Graff (AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT POLITICS MILITARY)
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