Press Release

United States Forces-Afghanistan

January 5, 2009

Release Number 20090501-01

Governor of Farah meets with Marine Corps leaders

KABUL, Afghanistan - Key leaders of the Farah province of the Islamic

Republic of Afghanistan met with senior leaders of Special Purpose

Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan Jan. 3, 2009, to discuss the

alliance's progress and security advancements in the southwestern

province.

Col. Duffy W. White, commander of SPMAGTF-A, attended the bi-weekly

meeting to introduce himself and make known his support to Farah

Provincial Governor Rohullah Amin during their first meeting together.

Other key military and security force leaders also engaged Amin on such

topics as ongoing operations, budgetary expenses and policy in the

region.

The key leaders discussed several of the positive effects seen in Farah

Province, including revised legislation, progress in the logistical

support of Afghan forces, increased security patrols, improved commerce

and the building of schools and improvements in infrastructure, all of

which support ongoing counterinsurgency operations.

"Where the Marines work [with] district leaders, there is really good

coordination," said Amin of his experience of working with U.S. Marines.

Marines and sailors with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment

(Reinforced), and Combat Logistics Battalion 3, the ground and logistics

combat elements of SPMAGTF-A, are working diligently to clear highway

roads of improvised explosive devices and other threats to improve

security and infrastructure in the region.

"It's getting better every day," said Amin. "We should continue this.

There may be some problems, but we should keep going on. We will

continue working well with others."

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