Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs

Story by Staff Sgt. Luis Agostini

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Garmsir Afghan national police chief pleaded to his governor and the Marines for help.

Delivery trucks, mechanics and gas stations are filling the narrow streets of the Balaclava Bazaar, potentially disrupting business activities in the area. He requested joint patrols between Marines and Afghan national army soldiers be stepped up, due to increased traffic and bazaar patrons. Speed bumps were requested to slow down speeding vehicles through the bazaar. Waste management and traffic control are becoming an issue. He actually recommended closing down a few of the shops, due to the potential of overloading security capabilities.

These issues, along with others, are a far cry from the Garmsir of just one year ago.

Garmsir, once a hotbed of Taliban activity and in Afghanistan's Helmand province, is beginning to serve as a model of economic progress in places such as the Balaclava Bazaar, where fruit stand managers, bread makers and other vendors make a living and provide local Afghans with goods and services.

During a security shura held at the Garmsir District governor's office, Nov. 19, chiefs from the Afghan national police, Afghan national army and Afghan border police, collectively known as the Afghan national security force, along with

Lt. Col. John E. McDonough, commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, met with Garmsir District Gov. Abdullah Jan to discuss security issues in the Garmsir District.

"We promise that our guys will work with your guys during the duration of your deployment. All ANSF organizations work side by side and are everywhere your guys are. I promise that I will take my guys and fight the enemy. I pledge my commitment to the Marines on behalf of the people of Garmsir," Jan told McDonough.

Although reduced, Taliban activity is still active throughout Garmsir.

"The enemy is preaching propaganda, and intimidating the people. They're planting more IEDs to kill ANSF and ISAF forces," Jan said. "Face to face, they can't fight."

Jan also recognized the sacrifices made by the battalion, which took over its area of operations in mid-November.

"Everyone has family in the U.S.," Jan said. "We'll never forget it."

A big problem back in 2005 was 100 kilometers of porous border, which was free for everyone to come through. Jan suggested closing off the borders of Pakistan and Iran with an increase in security forces, which according to him, train terrorists.

"The enemy can come easily into Garmsir and go back within one to two hours," Jan said. "They won't let us have a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan."

While pledging the support of his Marines, McDonough would like to see the Afghan population take a more active approach in addressing civil and commercial concerns.

"It's one thing to have joint patrols. The more important thing is when people see a problem, that they fix it," said McDonough. "It doesn't take 100 Marines and 100 ANSF walking the bazaar to fix the problem. It takes a few guys to see a problem and fix it."

The governor agreed, but still wanted help in the bazaar.

"Civilians don't have the authority to fix something in the bazaar. We need ANP presence," Jan said.

As the Marines look to work with the ANSF and local government to restore stability and security back in the hands of the Afghans, McDonough proposed removing unsightly security landmarks surrounding the bazaar, including sand-filled barriers and razor wire. The governor objected, stating that the presence of barriers, blockades and concertina wire helps reinforce the message that they are protected, and that the Marines are here to stay.

"People have a different mindset here. They see [barriers] around, and they know that the Marines aren't going anywhere. The Taliban spreads propaganda that the Marines are going to leave soon. The barriers are very ugly, but it's good for people's peace of mind," Jan said.

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