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Edition: U.S. Article Comments (0) Save Email Print Reprints Most Popular Most Shared U.S. successfully tests airborne laser on missile 3:15am EST Euro slides on persistent Greek woes | Video 9:00am EST Factbox: Fashion world in shock over Alexander McQueen death 11 Feb 2010 U.S. dismisses Iranian uranium enrichment claims 11 Feb 2010 U.S. successfully tests airborne laser on missile 6:52am EST U.S. successfully tests airborne laser on missile 3:15am EST U.S. successfully tests airborne laser on missile 6:52am EST PersonalFinance: The love and money connection 10 Feb 2010 Yahoo executives address "misconception" about search 11 Feb 2010 Critics question Vancouver's green credentials 11 Feb 2010 Nelson Mandela: 20 Years of Freedom South Africa marks Mandela release Chanting "Viva, Nelson Mandela, Viva", thousands of South Africans marked 20 years since the anti-apartheid icon walked to freedom after 27 years as a political prisoner. Full Article | Slideshow Two decades after release, South Africa struggles Timeline: Life and times Factbox: Twenty years of freedom Witness: Driving fast with Nelson Mandela Video: White poverty in South Africa Looming NATO offensive raises few Afghan spirits Abdul Malek LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan Fri Feb 12, 2010 7:21am EST Related News Afghanistan says ready if thousands flee assault Wed, Feb 10 2010 NATO to Afghan assault villagers: keep heads down Tue, Feb 9 2010 U.S. civilians at front in battle for Afghan trust Mon, Feb 8 2010 Taliban dig in for big assault, say Afghan villagers Sun, Feb 7 2010 UK troops pave way for massive NATO Afghan assault Fri, Feb 5 2010 Afghan children look as U.S. Army Specialist Jesus Israel Cisneros from Montrose, California, and Alpha Company, 4th Brigade combat team, 1-508, 82nd Parachute Infantry Regiment holds his gun while on patrol in the town of Shah joy in Zabul province, southern Afghanistan, February 12, 2010. Credit: Reuters/Baz Ratner LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan (Reuters) - A NATO offensive is a hard sell to some Afghans, even if it breaks the Taliban's iron grip on their lives and eventually delivers Western aid. World Thousands of foreign troops, including U.S. Marines and British forces, as well as the largest number of Afghan troops ever involved in a NATO operation, are gearing up to fight in Marjah town in Helmand, Afghanistan's most violent province. One local Taliban commander, Qari Fazluddin, told Reuters some 2,000 fighters were ready to fight in Marjah, the group's last big stronghold in the southern province. People reached by telephone -- many Marjah residents are afraid to leave their homes for fear of planted Taliban bombs -- are skeptical the NATO campaign can lead to political and economic stability in a country ravaged by war for decades. Some don't want change. The Taliban may be brutal but they can also be good business partners. "Our poppy business is booming under the Taliban. We don't want the government, we want the Taliban," said Abdul Ahmad, a farmer. "When the government destroys our only income, why should we support it?" Afghanistan produces more than 90 percent of the world's illegal opium, the raw ingredient used to make heroin, an industry Western countries say funds the insurgency against NATO troops and the Afghan government. The assault, the first since U.S. President Barack Obama ordered 30,000 extra troops to Afghanistan in December, is the start of a campaign to impose government control on rebel-held areas this year, before U.S. forces start to draw down in 2011. "We don't have jets and tanks but we have already planted hundreds of roadside bombs to inflict high casualties on the invading forces," said Fazluddin, the Taliban commander. "I HATE BOTH" Marjah, an area of lush farmland criss-crossed by canals, has been a breeding ground for both insurgents and poppy cultivation for years. The troops want to take the town soon in an effort to demonstrate the Afghan government's ability to reinforce its own security. Western aid may also flow in the direction of Afghans frustrated by state corruption if the Taliban lose the bastion. But Safar Khan seemed oblivious to such possibilities. "I hate both the Taliban and the government for their actions," he said. "The Taliban force us to give them food and shelter. If we don't, they beat people to death." Still, some pinned their hopes on Afghan and Western forces. "We want the government and international forces to drive out the Taliban from our town, so we could live in peace," said Mohammad Naeem. That may be the easy part. Ensuring long-term economic and political support to people in former Taliban bastions may be the best way to ensure the militants do not come back. "If this operation is a show of force then it is not going to work," said Haji Usman, a Marjah tribal elder. "The government needs to bring all public services that we are looking for -- schools, clinics, mosques, electricity and jobs for young boys to get busy instead of fighting for Taliban." He said the government must provide alternatives to poppy crops or the farmers may not be willing to cooperate. That may be wishful thinking. Over the past several years, the country has consistently managed to produce thousands of tonnes more than the entire global demand for the illegal drug, despite an international effort to stamp it out. (Writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Bryson Hull and Jerry Norton) World Add a Comment More from Reuters Wall Street tumbles as China ups bank reserves NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks tumbled on Friday after a surprise move by China to increase bank reserve requirements raised worries about the impact of monetary tightening on global growth, weighing on commodity prices and resource shares. China surprises with further rise in banks' reserves Republican Gregg sees common ground on financial regulation Greek slump threatens debt plan, EU aid elusive | Video Consumer sentiment slips in early February Volcker: Choice is prop trading or bank charter » More Top News Bernd Debusmann: Europe, the superpower? True or false: Europe has the world's biggest economy, the most Fortune 500 companies, and attracts the most U.S. investment? Commentary Euro zone recovery takes hit EU hurt confidence with vague pledge Germany's Merkel cool on Greek aid Global Markets Analysis: Wanted: Exit instruction manual The Fed has the tools to withdraw the $1 trillion it has pumped into the financial system, but do they know how to use them? Full Article Bernanke lays out vision for exit Bernanke's House testimony text Economy © Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters Editorial Editions: Africa Arabic Argentina Brazil Canada China France Germany India Italy Japan Latin America Mexico Russia Spain United Kingdom United States Reuters Contact Us Advertise With Us Help Journalism Handbook Archive Site Index Video Index Analyst Research Mobile Newsletters RSS Podcasts Widgets Your View Labs Thomson Reuters Copyright Disclaimer Privacy Professional Products Professional Products Support Financial Products About Thomson Reuters Careers Online Products Acquisitions Monthly Buyouts.com Buyouts Europe: Buyouts Conferences: Venture Capital Journal EVCJ International Financing Review International Securitisation Report Project Finance International PEhub.com PE Week Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.

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