U.S. Marines tear down a mud wall next to a compound which they will use as a base in the village of Sorkhdoz in Helmand River Valley, July 2, 2009. Thousands of U.S. Marines stormed deep into Taliban territory in an Afghan valley on Thursday, marking the start of a major new effort by the Obama administration to regain the initiative in the war. The Marines met little resistance on day one of Operation Khanjar, or Strike of the Sword, to seize almost all the lower Helmand River valley, heartland of the Taliban insurgency and the world's biggest opium poppy producing region. Reuters Pictures 5 months ago

U.S. Marines tear down a mud wall next to a compound which they will use as a base in the village of Sorkhdoz in Helmand River Valley, July 2, 2009. Thousands of U.S. Marines stormed deep into Taliban territory in an Afghan valley on Thursday, marking the start of a major new effort by the Obama administration to regain the initiative in the war. The Marines met little resistance on day one of Operation Khanjar, or Strike of the Sword, to seize almost all the lower Helmand River valley, heartland of the Taliban insurgency and the world's biggest opium poppy producing region.

More Photos of

Explore Photos of Related Topics

  1. Indonesian activists wear masks featuring US President Barrack Obama (L), Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (2nd L), President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso(2nd R) and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd during a protest against biodiversity offset programs, in Jakarta on November 18, 2009. Scores of environment activists held a protest against the program of biodiversity offset as they believed that biodiversity offsets are conservation activities intended to compensate for the residual, unavoidable harm to biodiversity caused by development projects, and is not the real solution and will ruin ecological dignity of developing countries.
  2. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: In this photo illustration, a copy of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' sits on end on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  3. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Gary Haynes (R) and Matt Cross (L) open boxes of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' as other books sit on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  4. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Matt Cross (R) puts copies of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  5. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Gary Haynes (R) and Matt Cross (L) put copies of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  6. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Gary Haynes (R) and Matt Cross (L) put copies of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  7. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Kathrina Norris (L) and Matt Cross (R) put copies of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  8. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Gary Haynes (R) and Matt Cross (L) put copies of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  9. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Gary Haynes (R) and Matt Cross (L) put copies of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  10. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Kathrina Norris (L) and Jason Holt (R) prepare a display for copies of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' sit in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  11. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Matt Cross lifts a display of copies of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' with a forklift in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  12. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Gary Haynes puts copies of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  13. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Gary Haynes puts copies of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  14. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Matt Cross opens boxes of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' as other books sit on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  15. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Copies of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' sit on a pallet in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800 and 900 copies of the book which goes on sale tomorrow.
  16. SINGAPORE - NOVEMBER 14: U.S ambassador Ron Kirk accompainied by Chong Sick Ching, Chairman of the CEO Summit, arrives on the second day of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit at the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre on November 14, 2009 in Singapore, Ron Kirk will be delivering the keynote address on behalf of President Barak Obama. APEC 2009 brings over 800 of the world's top business leaders and 15 world leaders to Singapore, with the two-day Summit addressing the economic crisis and key global issues.

Recent Photos From The Wire

  1. Cindy Klassen of Canada waves to the crowd after she competed in the women's 3000 meter event during the ISU World Cup speed skating race in Calgary, Alberta, December 4, 2009.
  2. RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - DECEMBER 04: People make their way in from the rain into Central Station, Rio de Janeiro's main train station on December 4, 2009 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As an increasing number of Brazilians migrate to urban centers in search of work, farcicalities like the Central Station train depot are witnessing a surge of riders. In 2009 Central Station had over 135 million people using the train services, which mainly serves outlying suburbs of Rio, the second largest city and former capital of Brazil.
  3. BEAVER CREEK, CO - DECEMBER 04: Natko Zrncic-Dim of Croatia celebrates after his slalom run as he finished third in the Men's FIS Alpine World Cup Super Combined on the Birds of Prey course on December 4, 2009 in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
  4. RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - DECEMBER 04: People make their way in from the rain into Central Station, Rio de Janeiro's main train station on December 4, 2009 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As an increasing number of Brazilians migrate to urban centers in search of work, farcicalities like the Central Station train depot are witnessing a surge of riders. In 2009 Central Station had over 135 million people using the train services, which mainly serves outlying suburbs of Rio, the second largest city and former capital of Brazil.
  5. BEAVER CREEK, CO - DECEMBER 04: Bode Miller of the USA looks on after missing a gate during the Men's Alpine World Cup Super Combined Slalom race on the Birds of Prey course on December 4, 2009 in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
  6. Swiss racer Didier Defago, center, the second-place finisher in the men's World Cup super combined ski race, reaches out to celebrate with winner Carlo Janka, right, also of Switzerland, and third-place finisher Croatia's Natko Zrncic -Dim, left, in the finish area after the race on Friday, Dec. 4, 2009, in Beaver Creek, Colo.
  7. Croatia's Natko Zrncic -Dim celebrates after his third-place finish in the men's World Cup super combined ski race on Friday, Dec. 4, 2009, in Beaver Creek, Colo.
  8. David Ferrer of Spain, left, reacts whith his coach Albert Costa after winning the match against Radek Stepanek of Czech Republic during the second single match of the Davis Cup tennis Final match at Sant Jordi stadium in Barcelona, Spain, on Friday, Dec. 4, 2009. Ferrer won 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6.
  9. BEAVER CREEK, CO - DECEMBER 04: Andrew Weibrecht of the USA competes during the Men's Alpine World Cup Super Combined Slalom race on the Birds of Prey course on December 4, 2009 in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
  10. Padraig Harrington of Ireland acknowledges the crowd around the 18th green after finishing the second round of the Chevron World Challenge golf tournament at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, December 4, 2009.
  11. RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - DECEMBER 04: A homeless street child climbs outside of a train window inside of a train carriage at Central Station, Rio de Janeiro's main train station on December 4, 2009 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Street children, a continuing problem in Brazil with an estimated 25,000 children living on the streets, often congregate in trains and the stations. As an increasing number of Brazilians migrate to urban centers in search of work, farcicalities like the Central Station train depot are witnessing a surge of riders. In 2009 Central Station had over 135 million people using the train services, which mainly serves outlying suburbs of Rio, the second largest city and former capital of Brazil.
  12. Padraig Harrington of Ireland hits his approach shot onto the 18th green during the second round of the Chevron World Challenge golf tournament at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, December 4, 2009.
  13. David Ferrer of Spain reacts after winning against Radek Stepanek of Czech Republic during the second single match of the Davis Cup tennis Final at Sant Jordi stadium in Barcelona, Spain, on Friday, Dec. 4, 2009. Ferrer won by 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6.
  14. Yang Yong-eun of South Korea hits his approach shot onto the 18th green during the second round of the Chevron World Challenge golf tournament at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, December 4, 2009.
  15. Radek Stepanek of Czech Republic reacts against David Ferrer of Spain during the second singles match of the Davis Cup tennis Final match at Sant Jordi stadium in Barcelona, Spain, on Friday, Dec. 4, 2009. Ferrer won 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6.
  16. Radek Stepanek of Czech Republic reacts against David Ferrer of Spain during the match against during the second single match of the Davis Cup tennis Final match at Sant Jordi stadium in Barcelona, Spain, on Friday, Dec. 4, 2009. Ferrer won 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6.