Strike Of The Sword

Marines wield their terrible swift sword in Helmand Province:

WASHINGTON — U.S. Marines and Afghan security forces moved into Taliban-infested villages Wednesday evening in one of the Obama administration’s first major military operations in the previously forgotten war in Afghanistan. …

Dubbed Operation Khanjar, or “Strike of the Sword,” the military push was described by officials as the largest and fastest-moving of the war’s newest phase. British forces last week led similar missions to fight and clear out insurgents in Helmand and Kandahar provinces.

Looks like they’re aiming for the right objective:

“Where we go we will stay, and where we stay, we will hold, build and work toward transition of all security responsibilities to Afghan forces,” Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson said in a statement.

Good luck, Marines. It’s the first step in a long march.