An Afghan soldier mans the machine gun on a Russian Mi-17 transport helicopter as the helicopter ferries Afghan National Army troops from Camp Bastion in Helmand province to Kandahar military base in southern Afghanistan on October 12, 2009. Building and supporting national security forces remains a top priority in Afghanistan where 70,000 foreign troops, most of them with a NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and some with a separate US-led coalition, are currently stationed. Getty Images logo Getty Images 1 month ago

An Afghan soldier mans the machine gun on a Russian Mi-17 transport helicopter as the helicopter ferries Afghan National Army troops from Camp Bastion in Helmand province to Kandahar military base in southern Afghanistan on October 12, 2009. Building and supporting national security forces remains a top priority in Afghanistan where 70,000 foreign troops, most of them with a NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and some with a separate US-led coalition, are currently stationed.

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  1. WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 07: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) meets with Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) in the Oval Office of the White House December 7, 2009 in Washington, DC. The two leaders were expected to discuss policy on the Middle East, the current situation in Iran, and the troop levels in the war in Afghanistan.
  2. SALISBURY, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 07: Soldiers from 4th Battalion The Rifles (4 RIFLES), march through from the Market Square and through the historic city centre on December 7, 2009 in Salisbury, England. The Riflemen who, led by their Commanding Officer, have recently returned to their barracks at Bulford after a five month tour in Afghanistan where they were part of the Election Support Force. Three soldiers from the Battalion were lost during the tour.
  3. An Afghan national army soldier sits with children from Shadal village in Khowst province, Afghanistan, December 7, 2009.

Explore Photos of Related Topics

  1. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (L) shakes hands with Latvia's President Valdis Zatlers in Riga October 8, 2009.
  2. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (L) speaks as Latvia's President Valdis Zatlers listens during a news conference in Riga October 8, 2009.
  3. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (L) speaks as Latvia's President Valdis Zatlers listens during a news conference in Riga October 8, 2009.
  4. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (L) and Latvian President Valdis Zatlers give a joint press conference on October 8, 2009 in Riga.
  5. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (L) and Latvian President Valdis Zatlers (R) arrive to give a joint press conference on October 8, 2009 in Riga.
  6. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (L) listens to Latvian President Valdis Zatlers during a joint press conference on October 8, 2009 in Riga.
  7. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen gives a press conference with Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves (not pictured) on October 8, 2009 in Tallinn during his official visit.
  8. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen gives a press conference with Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves (not pictured) on October 8, 2009 in Tallinn during his official visit.
  9. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen gives a press conference with Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves (not pictured) on October 8, 2009 in Tallinn during his official visit.
  10. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (L) and Latvian President Valdis Zatlers give a joint press conference on October 8, 2009 in Riga.
  11. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (L) signs a guest book after a joint press conference with Latvian President Valdis Zatlers on October 8, 2009 in Riga.
  12. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (L) listens to Latvian President Valdis Zatlers during a joint press conference on October 8, 2009 in Riga.
  13. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (L) shakes hands with Latvian President Valdis Zatlers after a joint press conference on October 8, 2009 in Riga.
  14. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (L) and Latvian President Valdis Zatlers give a joint press conference on October 8, 2009 in Riga.
  15. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (L) and Latvian President Valdis Zatlers (R) arrive to give a joint press conference on October 8, 2009 in Riga.
  16. A Britain soldier with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) tries to cover the lens of the camera, as he leaves the site of a bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009. A powerful car bomb exploded in the busy center of Afghanistan's capital early Thursday, destroying vehicles and blowing off the walls of shops, officials said.

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  1. WEST PALM BEACH, FL - DECEMBER 07: Troy Merritt hits a tee shot during the final round of the 2009 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament at Bear Lakes Country Club on December 7, 2009 in West Palm Beach, Florida.
  2. WEST PALM BEACH, FL - DECEMBER 07: J.P. Hayes lines up a birdie putt on the 17th green during the final round of the 2009 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament at Bear Lakes Country Club on December 7, 2009 in West Palm Beach, Florida.
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  6. WEST PALM BEACH, FL - DECEMBER 07: Matt Jones of Australia hits out of the 17th fairway during the final round of the 2009 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament at Bear Lakes Country Club on December 7, 2009 in West Palm Beach, Florida.
  7. A pilgrim holds an effigy of the Virgen de lo Vasquez on his abdomen inside the Church of Virgen de lo Vasquez during his pilgrimage, on the outskirts of Valparaiso City, about 93 km (58 miles) northwest of Santiago, December 7, 2009. Every year, hundreds of thousands of Christians make the pilgrimage to the sanctuary, walking for up to 50 km (32 miles) to reach the shrine, with some of them covering the final five or six kilometres barefoot or on their knees, to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and to pay homage to the Virgin with their penances.
  8. Students occupying Brasilia's Legislative Chamber inside the Chamber plenary to protest against Jose Roberto Arruda, the governor of the federal district of the capital Brasilia, celebrate the cancellation of a police repossession operation, in Brasilia December 7, 2009. A kickback scandal involving the opposition governor has highlighted Brazil's persistent political corruption and could hurt the opposition's chances of beating President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's candidate in next year's election. The scandal erupted on November 27, 2009 when video footage surfaced showing Arruda apparently receiving large amounts of cash during his election campaign in 2006.
  9. Students occupying Brasilia's Legislative Chamber inside the Chamber plenary to protest against Jose Roberto Arruda, the governor of the federal district of the capital Brasilia, celebrate the cancellation of a police repossession operation, in Brasilia December 7, 2009. A kickback scandal involving the opposition governor has highlighted Brazil's persistent political corruption and could hurt the opposition's chances of beating President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's candidate in next year's election. The scandal erupted on November 27, 2009 when video footage surfaced showing Arruda apparently receiving large amounts of cash during his election campaign in 2006.
  10. Students occupying Brasilia's Legislative Chamber inside the Chamber plenary to protest against Jose Roberto Arruda, the governor of the federal district of the capital Brasilia, celebrate the cancellation of a police repossession operation, in Brasilia December 7, 2009. A kickback scandal involving the opposition governor has highlighted Brazil's persistent political corruption and could hurt the opposition's chances of beating President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's candidate in next year's election. The scandal erupted on November 27, 2009 when video footage surfaced showing Arruda apparently receiving large amounts of cash during his election campaign in 2006.
  11. National Parks Service historian Daniel Martinez bows his head in prayer the 68th anniversary ceremony of the attack at Pearl Harbor, Monday, Dec. 7, 2009 on the USS Arizona Memorial in Honolulu.
  12. Pearl Harbor survivors are honored during the 68th anniversary ceremony of the attack at Pearl Harbor, Monday, Dec. 7, 2009 at Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Honolulu.
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  14. With sailors seen in the foreground, a flag flies at half staff on the Arizona Memorial during the 68th anniversary ceremony of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Monday, Dec. 7, 2009 at Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Honolulu.
  15. A globe is projected as people are seen in Town Hall Square on the opening day of the Climate Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, Monday Dec. 7, 2009. The largest and most important U.N. climate change conference in history opened Monday, with organizers warning diplomats from 192 nations that this could be the best, last chance for a deal to protect the world from calamitous global warming.
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