New Offensive for Marines in Afghanistan
CBS News correspondent Mandy Clark is embedded with the Marines in Afghanistan.
U.S. forces are gearing up for their next major operation in Afghanistan -- to drive the Taliban out of it's birthplace Kandahar, in southern Afghanistan. The new offensive will be modeled after last winter's battle for Marjah. If it turns out to be anything like that, it could be a long fight.
Three months after the battle of Marja, reports the Marines are still coming under fire.
Taliban fighters take shots at the Marines at every opportunity. A Marine was killed here a few days ago. Foot patrols are both a show of force and a chance to show locals that the Marines are here to stay. This is what the new strategy of counter-insurgency looks like, and commanders say it's working.
The area was once the bastion of the Taliban, now they just take pot shots. Marines are still dying in Marja and the next attack is always right around the corner.
The Marines got lucky when a roadside bomb exploded early - before the Marine platoon arrived.
Nine miles and two attacks later, the Marines returned to safely.