CAMP LEATHERNECK, HELMAND PROVINCE AFGHANISTAN    Just a little over one month into a “surge of US Marines in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, the no. 2 in charge of operations here, Col. George Amland tells Fox News Taliban forces remain an “aggressive enemy.”   

 “They choose their time and place to attack,” he saaid.  Amland added the “key weapon of choice,” is the IED, or roadside bomb, which has led to many US and British casualties.

Operation Khanjar aims to secure the province in advance of Afghan Presidential elections later this month. It involves some of the 10,000 Marines operating out of dusty Camp Leatherneck in central Helmand.  

Though early, the Marine officer told Fox News he has seen “some success” in reconciliation efforts with some lower-level Taliban elements but admits there is a long way to go.  

Asked, if local villagers are waiting to see if the Marines will stick around after the elections, to provide security and hand over authority to the Afghan government he replied emphatically : “Absolutely.”