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More than 100 village elders, and coalition forces representatives gathered at the District Center in Marjah, Nov. 24, to discuss important issues during a Regional Stability Shura. The District of Marjah is comprised of more than 30,000 families with a population of 200,000 people who hope for piece and stability. The group talked about the future of Marjah and what is being done to secure its development. - More than 100 village elders, and coalition forces representatives gathered at the District Center in Marjah, Nov. 24, to discuss important issues during a Regional Stability Shura. The District of Marjah is comprised of more than 30,000 families with a population of 200,000 people who hope for piece and stability. The group talked about the future of Marjah and what is being done to secure its development.

Local Afghans clap and cheer after listening to Al Haj Haji Merdel, an Islamic religious scholar and respected holy man, during shura at Marine Corps Forward Operating Base Camp Hansen, Marjah, Afghanistan, Nov. 13, denouncing the Taliban’s use of Jihad as a justification for years of war and fighting in Afghanistan. Helmand Province government officials, along with local holy men, said the Taliban was using Jihad as a false pretext to fight foreign nations in Afghanistan. - Local Afghans clap and cheer after listening to Al Haj Haji Merdel, an Islamic religious scholar and respected holy man, during shura at Marine Corps Forward Operating Base Camp Hansen, Marjah, Afghanistan, Nov. 13, denouncing the Taliban’s use of Jihad as a justification for years of war and fighting in Afghanistan. Helmand Province government officials, along with local holy men, said the Taliban was using Jihad as a false pretext to fight foreign nations in Afghanistan.

U.S. Marine First Lt. Taylor Williams, platoon commander for Weapons Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, speaks with a village elder about establishing a neighborhood watch under the Interim Security Critical Infrastructure program, in Marjah, Oct. 23, 2010. “When we first came in, we took contact every day for about the first two and-a-half months. The conditions were not stable enough for a [citizen-run] security program in the northern part of our area,” said Williams, 24, from Raleigh, N.C. “Now it seems like the locals are ready to sustain their own type of police force here. The security situation has changed significantly down here.” - U.S. Marine First Lt. Taylor Williams, platoon commander for Weapons Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, speaks with a village elder about establishing a neighborhood watch under the Interim Security Critical Infrastructure program, in Marjah, Oct. 23, 2010. “When we first came in, we took contact every day for about the first two and-a-half months. The conditions were not stable enough for a [citizen-run] security program in the northern part of our area,” said Williams, 24, from Raleigh, N.C. “Now it seems like the locals are ready to sustain their own type of police force here. The security situation has changed significantly down here.”

Lt. Col. Mubark Sha, commanding officer for Afghanistan National Police in Marjah, addresses a crowd in front of Afghani Press during a security shura at a Marine Corps Base in Northern Marjah, Oct. 22. As part of the stabilization process in the region, key leaders of Helmand Province, joined by the Provincial Governor’s Security Advisor, Afghanistan National Director of Security, and the District Chief of Police traveled to Sistani to host several Shuras. - Lt. Col. Mubark Sha, commanding officer for Afghanistan National Police in Marjah, addresses a crowd in front of Afghani Press during a security shura at a Marine Corps Base in Northern Marjah, Oct. 22. As part of the stabilization process in the region, key leaders of Helmand Province, joined by the Provincial Governor’s Security Advisor, Afghanistan National Director of Security, and the District Chief of Police traveled to Sistani to host several Shuras.

Afghan farmers listen to the Nawa District governor, Haji Abdul Manaf, during a shura for the Helmand province food zone program in Nawa, Afghanistan, Oct. 17, 2010. Hundreds of farmers attended the shura to hear the Helmand deputy governor and Nawa District governor address concerns about the food program, which provides farmers with alternative crop options to poppy. - Afghan farmers listen to the Nawa District governor, Haji Abdul Manaf, during a shura for the Helmand province food zone program in Nawa, Afghanistan, Oct. 17, 2010. Hundreds of farmers attended the shura to hear the Helmand deputy governor and Nawa District governor address concerns about the food program, which provides farmers with alternative crop options to poppy.