Marines told to make history in south Afghanistan

"You're going to change the world this summer and it starts this morning," Lieutenant Colonel Christian Cabaniss, commander of the 2nd battalion, 8th Marines, told his troops dressed in desert fatigues before they mounted helicopters and humvees.

"The United States and the world are watching. Their expectations are enormously high during this summer of decision."

Their mission was part of the first major push under U.S. President Barack Obama's new regional strategy to turn the tide

in Afghanistan and defeat the Taliban and its al Qaeda allies.

There was little resistance as Fox Company from the 3rd platoon of Cabaniss's battalion pushed north along the Helmand River valley from the town of Garmsir to Nawa.

Afghans kept their distance, sitting in the shade under trees by the side of the road as armoured convoys rumbled past and helicopters kicked up swirling clouds of dust.

On their way to Nawa the company found a roadside bomb, the insurgents' weapon of choice in Afghanistan. The Marines carefully took the device into a field and blew it up.

The Marines have arrived in Afghanistan with a vow to do less shooting and more talking and that was certainly the case in the early stages of Operation Khanjar, or Strike of the Sword.

No major engagements were reported and one company commander said he was looking forward to meeting village leaders in the evening. Orders went out to set up shuras, or community councils, within 24 hours of arriving in a village.