1.0 link 224394 <![CDATA[U.S. Marines Launch Major Operation In Afghanistan]]> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/01/us-marines-launch-major-o_n_224394.html NAWA, Afghanistan &mdash; Thousands of U.S. Marines and hundreds of Afghan troops poured into Taliban-infested villages of southern Afghanistan with armor and helicopters Thursday in the first major operation under President Barack Obama's strategy to stabilize the country.

The offensive in the once-forgotten war was launched shortly after 1 a.m. Thursday local time in Helmand province, a Taliban stronghold and the world's largest opium poppy producing area. The goal is to clear insurgents from the hotly contested region before the nation's...

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