Afghanistan | PLACE

Before a mission, U.S. Army Crew Chief Spc. Emil Rivera, of Tuscon, Ariz., left, and flight medic Sgt. Bryan Eickelberg, of Arden Hills, Minn., both with Charlie Company, Task Force Talon, sit inside their Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopter, in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Tuesday Feb. 9, 2010. The Talon MEDEVAC in Helmand is one of several army aero-medical units positioned around southern Afghanistan by the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, known as Task Force Pegasus.

A U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, right, used by Charlie Company, Task Force Talon, powers up before a mission, at a forward operating base, in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Tuesday Feb. 9, 2010. The Talon MEDEVAC in Helmand is one of several army aero-medical units positioned around southern Afghanistan by the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, known as Task Force Pegasus.

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines stop to make camp outside of Marjah in Afghanistan's Helmand province Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010.

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines stop for the night to make camp outside of Marjah in Afghanistan's Helmand province Tuesday, February 9, 2010.

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines dig their sleeping holes outside of Marjah in Afghanistan's Helmand province Tuesday, February 9, 2010.

Airborne in a Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopter en route to a hospital, U.S. Army flight medic Sgt. Michael G. Patangan, from Houston, Texas, left, and fellow medic Sgt. Bryan Eickelberg, of Arden Hills, Minn., both with Charlie Company, Task Force Talon, attend to Governor of Nawa District Haji Abdul Manaf, after Manaf had a heart attack, in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Tuesday Feb. 9, 2010. Behind at center is Crew Chief Spc. Emil Rivera, of Tuscon, Ariz. The Talon MEDEVAC in Helmand is one of several army aero-medical units positioned around southern Afghanistan by the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, known as Task Force Pegasus.

U.S. Marine Brigadier General Larry Nicholson speaks to U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines at Belleau Wood outpost outside Marjah in Afghanistan's Helmand province Tuesday, February 9, 2010.

U.S. Marine Brigadier General Larry Nicholson speaks to U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines at Belleau Wood outpost outside Marjah in Afghanistan's Helmand province Tuesday, February 9, 2010.

U.S. Marine Brigadier General Larry Nicholson speaks to U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines at Belleau Wood outpost outside Marjah in Afghanistan's Helmand province Tuesday, February 9, 2010.

An unidentified Afghan man mourns near the dead body of an avalanche victim at a hospital in Charikar, some 50 kms north of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010. Avalanches roared down a mountain pass north of Afghanistan's capital, killing at least 28 people and leaving hundreds more stranded in their vehicles on snow-blocked roads, officials said Tuesday.

Afghans, carrying a few possessions, walk towards a restaurant after being evacuated following heavy snow which caused an the avalanche in the Salang Pass, some 100 kms north of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010. Avalanches roared down a mountain pass north of Afghanistan's capital, killing at least 28 people and leaving hundreds more stranded in their vehicles on snow-blocked roads, officials said Tuesday.

An unidentified Afghan man mourns near the body, unseen, of an avalanche victim at a hospital in Charikar, some 50 kms north of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010. Avalanches roared down a mountain pass north of Afghanistan's capital, killing at least 28 people and leaving hundreds more stranded in their vehicles on snow-blocked roads, officials said Tuesday.

Afghan people wait in line to board army trucks after heavy snow caused an avalanche in the Salang Pass, some 100 kms noth of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010. Avalanches roared down a mountain pass north of Afghanistan's capital, killing at least 28 people and leaving hundreds more stranded in their vehicles on snow-blocked roads, officials said Tuesday.

Afghan men help a man to climg inside an army truck after an avalanche struck following heavy snow in the Salang Pass, some 100 kms north of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010. Avalanches roared down a mountain pass north of Afghanistan's capital, killing at least 28 people and leaving hundreds more stranded in their vehicles on snow-blocked roads, officials said Tuesday.

Afghan people crowd inside a restaurant as they wait for transportation after an avalanche struck following heavy snow in the Salang Pass, some 100 kms noth of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010. Avalanches roared down a mountain pass north of Afghanistan's capital, killing at least 28 people and leaving hundreds more stranded in their vehicles on snow-blocked roads, officials said Tuesday.

Afghan women struggle to get inside an army truck near Salang Pass, after an avalanche struck, some 100 kms noth of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010. Avalanches roared down a mountain pass north of Afghanistan's capital, killing at least 28 people and leaving hundreds more stranded in their vehicles on snow-blocked roads, officials said Tuesday.

Afghan Interior Minister Hanif Atmar, center, speaks during a press conference as, William R. Crosbie, left, Canadian ambassador in Afghanistan and Graham Muir, Canadian Police Commander listen in Kabul, Afghanistan on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010. Atmar also unveiled a pilot model policing program in Kandahar that will get help from American and Canadian police trainers.

The shadow of a Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopter banking hard as soldiers from Charlie Company, Task Force Talon fly on a mission in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Tuesday Feb. 9, 2010. The Talon MEDEVAC in Helmand is one of several army aero-medical units positioned around southern Afghanistan by the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, known as Task Force Pegasus.

Map locates Marjah in Helmand province, Afghanistan, where a U.S./Afghan offensive against Taliban militants is imminent.

U.S. Army flight medic Sgt. Michael G. Patangan, from Houston, Texas, with Charlie Company, Task Force Talon, checks an instrument during a mission aboard a Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopter, in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Tuesday Feb. 9, 2010. The Talon MEDEVAC in Helmand is one of several army aero-medical units positioned around southern Afghanistan by the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, known as Task Force Pegasus.