>> i think and helmand we are making progress in the areas in which we are active. you've got to remember a lot of helmand is densely -- sparsely populated and in the areas of higher population i think we are making progress with operation as the americans are with the preparation as well, but i accept the long-term future of afghanistan and our ability to defeat a terrorist threat depends not only on what we can contribute militarily but on what we can achieve by civilian as well as military effort in treating the afghan army which would have to be higher than 130,000. its 80,000 at the moment. the plan is 130,000. nobody has doubt its territory as big as afghanistan we have to trade a higher number and of course the trend of the police has to be a sufficient standard to avoid corruption and i will be a group of the already about 70,000. so you've got to have a big basis for an afghan civil society. >> would you agree to many people both in this country and abroad have very little idea what our troops are there for? and do you think that more needs to be done to pe

there have been ,000 british troops in helmand since 2006. their focus is on securing the south, while the british continue to look north. president obama outlined his goals for afghanistan. >> the key strategy for us at this point, the benchmarks of success that we've laid out are are we building an afghan national army and police structure that can secure itself without the assistance of into the forces or u.s. forces -- nato forces or u.s. forces. >> breaking news. an american soldier is captured by the taliban in afghanistan and is still missing. >> in the east of the country, a u.s. soldier is being held by insurgents. the circumstances behind his capture aren't clear. >> this is just the start of what will be a long and bloody campaign. u.s. commanders must know that they need to end what they call the stalemate in the south if this campaign is to be considered a success. martin patience, bbc news, kabul. >> while that was going on, the british forces in helmand were concentrating their efforts on clearing taliban positions around the t

they have been in helmand for over two years. understand that they are highly regarded for that -- by their other marine colleagues and some of the most experienced experts that we have in afghanistan. in addition, a usaid officer will ride in helmand this weekend with three more to follow in the next couple of weeks. these are stabilization experts from our office of transition initiatives, as well as senior development advisers who will be developed -- working directly with the marines to assist holding and building. these added civilians are part of the larger increase of more than 450 civilians that state and civilian agencies are sending to afghanistan to work alongside our military personnel. their deployment have been, and will continue to be, a closely coordinated by the industry in a couple and u.s. forces in afghanistan. -- by the embassy in kabul, and u.s. forces in afghanistan. >> are you planning on sending anymore to supplement those? you mentioned the three so far. do you expect that to increase? >> as i said, we h

helmand is more than a taliban stronghold, it was once the bread basket of afghanistan. but bumper crops of wheat and corn. today, those grains have been largely replaced by opium poppies, the raw material for heroin, morphine and other narcotics. 90% of the world's open upcomes from afghanistan and helmand is the center of opium production in afghanistan. helmand is such fertile ground it accounts for two-thirds of all the opium grown in afghanistan. it provides the taliban with millions in income. farmers are often paid in advance to plant the poppies in the fall. they don't even have to harvest it in may -- other people come into the fields to collect the raw opium. >>> some people say the renewed emphasis on afghanistan is long overdue. others say it could undermine the progress made in iraq. retired army general russell honore joins us from baton rouge, louisiana, my hometown. he joins us with his perspect e perspective. thank you for joining us. how's the weather, pretty hot today? >> it's hot, it's smoking. >> smoking hot. let's talk about afghanistan. we're seein

that is in contrast to the nearly 4000 chinooks used by the marines in helmand.on one of their last exercises with troops on small airplane -- on a salsbury plane, but the rest will be sent back here. >> they never tell us there have been on any front. and what i was out there, i never told my commanders are was happy. people always want more one of the creek -- always want more. one of the key questions is, do we have enough? the answer is, yes. >> know where else have the questions of resources for the campaign have resonated as loudly as in britain. >> the head of iran posing nuclear agency has resigned after 12 years in the post. -- the head of iran's nuclear agency has resigned after 12 years in the post. it is not clear from media reports whether his resignation is linkedç to a vote. the united nations has declared new sanctions against north korea appeared countries will now be banned from doing business with north korea's fine -- five main firms. india has said there will be no formal peace talks until pakistan brings of those responsible for the mumbai

helmand province has seen some of the worst violence anywhere in afghanistan. other parts of the country, more progress is being made. >> how would you feel that you came home to find a house full of soldiers? this home is in the middle of a war zone and she has no idea when they will leave. when u.k. troops conduct major operations in helmand, most civilians flee. but her family has no choice. even with four children to protect, they are too poor to get out. her father tells us that element is being destroyed. he believes people year only under -- the people here only understand violence. there are a nation of total despair. 400 miles away, it could not be more different. in central afghanistan, there is peace in spite of the traumatic past. under the taliban, this was a place where massacres were meted out, women were shattered and fields were raised. but since the fall of the taliban, this area has become a place that has seen real progress unmatched by anywhere else. it might seem a bit shabby, but the street are free of bombs. given security, afghans will

they are battling the taliban in helmand province. now there is a call for a greater commitment by afghanistan's government to get more boots on the ground. cnn pentagon correspondent barbara starr is joining us now live with more information on this. tell us more about what you're hearing from your sources. >> reporter: well, heidi, as combat now enters its second week in southern afghanistan, the marines are saying what they have been saying for many, many weeks, which is they need more afghan troops down south in helmand province. they knew that they wouldn't have enough going in but it is now settling in for the long haul as the marines are in many towns and villages up and down the river valley. what has emerged of course is the need for afghan troops to hold these areas over the long term. we're already hearing that there will be a recommendation for an expansion of the afghan military and police force, part of the new effort in afghanistan. not clear how any of that will actually be paid for. but this is part of the 60-day revi

surge has not materialized and only a few state department representatives have been assigned to helmand chairman of the joint chiefs has assured u.s. commanders they will get what they need in terms of troops, but they will need to just phi any new request. >> we have to make sure that every single american that is there is one that we absolutely need. >> u.s. commanders overseeing the new strategy were irked during a recent visit to afghanistan by national security advisor jim jones when they were told not to ask for more troops which some argued made pursuing a counter insurgency near impossible. >> have they actually determined that there was a kidnapped solder in afghanistan? >> they aren't clear whether these claims by taliban group on their website, whether they, in fact, are holding this private who disappeared last tuesday. bret: ok. we will follow that one. jennifer griffin live at the pentagon. ousted honduran president zell zelaya is meeting with hillary clinton so soon. he ended up in el salvador after his plane was prevented from landing in his homeland. military vehicles l

why helmand province? what does the u.s. hope to accomplish there? >> that part of afghanistan has been pretty much redoubt for various taliban groups now for a long time and with the increase in troops that president obama is aolowed to command afghanistan to have, it's natural to expand operation there's where the british have been trying to deal with that for a couple years with insufficient numbers. really, the strategy that president obama has announced is that we're going to disrupt and disorganize the groups of enemies and seek to prevent significant terrorist threats to the united states or emerging afghanistan. a natural thing to move into that province. there's a lot of money there, as you just pointed out. a lot of agriculture and you expect unit marines back in there a lot and same thing over to eastern afghanistan with the army. >> we talk about all the money they make from opium and on the poppy fields there and narcotics. we're told the troops are not there to destroy the poppy fields. why not? >> i don't know. it's policy with regard

select committee ied to pin him down owhy he refused theequest of mility chiefso sendore troops t helmand id the military mmanders request ditional troops? >> we got 8150 troops now. nobody is suggesting 10,000 troops. >> i'm ying to get to a yes or no. >> you he to understand a riety of options wer considered >> lives on the front les in helmand are putting -- being put at risk byack omen and helicopts. >> the force is not lge enough. it needs to be bger than it is. in the case of the helicopters, you kno there is no doubt that soldiers will be dying because there is a lack of helicopters inhe country. it is a no-brainer. >> the uk has 20 transport helipters in afghanistan for a troop -- a for of 9000 troops in huddy beckham i will send extra 15 helicopters by 2011. at is in contra to the nearly000 chinooks used he marines inelmand. on one of tir last exercises with troops on small airplane -- on a salsbury plane, but the rest wl be sent bachere. >>hey never tell us there have been on any front. and what i was out there, i never to my commanders are s happy. ople always want more one of

we have 9,000 troops in helmand province now or 6,000 helmand, 3,000 elsewhere in the country. british commitment is very substantial, 12% of the total before the american surge. but the biggest increase in troops and i think people forget this in the next few years will not be brits or americans it will be afghans. >> this sounds like you are saying no. >> no one should say given the level of sacrifice of british soldiers, 169 british soldiers have died in afghanistan, we've increased our numbers from four to five to six, to 9,000. >> but now no more >> we always judge according to conditions on the ground. we agreed to put in an extra 700 because of the elections in august. this is a major contribution by the british army. we've done it because it's the right thing to do. backing up a credible strategy. making a difference. we know if there weren't british and american and danish and other troops and canadian troops in afghanistan, the afghan security forces don't yet have the ability to with stand the insurgency. with our support, and with our training, they have the chance

marines battles the taliban in the country's helmand province. of sabul, a group of army soldiers is fighting in isolation, and awaiting reinforcements. our nick schiffren has been with them. >> deep in southern afghanistan, 50 young americans are under this is their home, the taliban have launched an attack on their base. charlie company has been dug in here for six months. and this area the enemy is as strong as ever. >> did -- >> the men are led by lieutenant patrick higgins. two years ago, higgins was in college. today, the 24-year-old is in charge of the district of afghanistan's province. the taliban control 90% of the area. >> the challenge in is how much can you control with what you have, and that's the challenge we have been trying to meet out here. >> on the base, a few romanian soldiers, 75 afghan forces, the company mascot, and higgins' men. >> we're supposed to disrupt the enemy movements. this is one of the main routes that the enemy uses from pakistan to get into the central heart of afghanistan. >> on this day, he happened to rec

. >> this election will take place on schedule, and helmand will be able to participate thanks to this offensive that general nicholson and his colleagues are directing. >> reporter: karzai has been accused of running a lackluster campaign but is still widely expected to finish first. his no show on the debate may not have hurt his chances. the fazli family is split on who they're voting for. >> president karzai. >> reporter: whether the debate will have the same impact as american ones do on its voters is unclear. afghan's democracy is still very much an experiment. mandy clark, cbs news, kabul. >>> actress angelina jolie made a trip to iraq. jolie, a u.n. good will ambassador, visited a camp for displaced people near baghdad yesterday and posed for pictures with u.s. troops. jolie said there was progress getting iraqis back to their homes but that more needs to be done. ben fell in love with the scent of gain laundry detergent in 1972. ( ♪ ) more than 30 years later, not much has changed. ( ♪ ) gain. to smell it is to love it. what are you waiting for? gain. to smell it is to love it

the marine was love to do something like that in helmand province. but the tribal dynamics are so much more complicated that it may prove to be impossible. and there's a great degree of skism from hamid karzai's government in kabul as well as from nato military commanders of such a venture so it seems unlikely that the marine grsing to be able to duplicate what was their greatest tool of success in iraq and they're going to be forced to work through the existing institutions for security here in afghanistan. and that of course causes them great concern because they simply don't have enough soldiers to work with them at this moment. >> woodruff: one other thing, and that is the casualty count for u.s. troops all across afghanistan. what are military officials saying about that? >> well, it's been a particularly bloody week here. there have been a number of u.s. casualties as well as a number of casualtys from forces from other countries here. and what appears to be case here is that the taliban are demonstrating their ability to strike back in other p

fight in afghanistan's volatile bread basket, the helmand river valley. two weeks into the operation, they have one. bullets, mortars and rockets fill the no-man's land between fighters and the marine group. the taliban has set an ambush for the marines leading the advance. and this time, unlike past ambushes, the taliban do not attack and hide. they stay and fight. carlos boettcher videotaped the battle. >> nothing dissuaded them from attacking us. no amount of gun fire. >> reporter: as marines head forward, they tread cautiously. in this area, there is good reason for caution. >> my assessment down there. >> reporter: thousands of feet of copper wire are buried throughout the small farming village. just like american cities are wired for cable, this afghan village is wired for bombs. in the center of the village, a warning is posted near the mosque. do not help the americans or you will die. but the marines in this offensive deliver their own warning to the taliban. they are here to stay. >> it was like watching a pack of wolves move. they knew what the

marines are condting a major operation in n helmand province, the u.s. commanderays they are enuntering more taliban resistance after only spadic fighting ithe first weeks of th operation. one sue for the amerans is a shortage of supies. ann scott tyson of "e washington pos is with the maris in helmand and writes -- "u.s. marines a short of basic equipnt and supplies ranging from radios anvehicles to unifms. critical supies of foo water and ammunition are being dropped to troopby helicopterferrying sling-loads to bypass roads implanted wh bombs. veral marines from one companyfor example, ripped their pants during anrduous foot march and e still waiting for placements, some in boxer shorts." for british forces in afghanistan, t problem is a shorta of helicopters emselves, a problem underscored today in a port by the brith parliament, as we hear in this report from jes blake of itn >> reporter: this helicoptehas just returne from ative rvice in iq. it's one of six that's been brought back to bse at r near oxford to be refitted an adjusted, ready for theeat

rifleman william oldridge, one of the young nest helmand province. rifleman james backhouse and rifleman joseph murphy -- all victims of a multiple bomb attack near sangean. >> there f there is a scandal in afghanistan, it isn't lack of boots or lack of helicopters over there. there is a lack of helicopters it's that young men are sack fiegs our lives because our politicians, the leaders of the western operation in afghanistan, can't get their act together. >> reporter: and yet, public support for the war in afghanistan seems stabile. an icm poll for the guardian states that supports grown 15% since 2006. but antiwar protesters say the poll shows that most people in britain want the troops out by christmas. and emerge this lunchtime that the prime minister has already requested to various nato allies that they provide additional helicopters for coalition forces to use in afghanistan. >> that was james blake of itn. >>> for the united states, the war's becoming more dangerous and deadly as well. with 21,000 additional troops moving into afghanistan, t

which is aimed at securing helmand province ahead of next month's elections. lord malik brown also says the public should had been forewarned about the likelihood about the sudden rising stemming from this offensive.a who died in helmand on monday. his name is captain shepard. the 28-year-old from the royal logistic corps is described by his commanding officer as unbelievably courageous. his wife says she has just not lost a husband but a best friend. appear not only a war in afghanistan but also a battle between the british army and downing street. the intervention of lord malik brown, who leaves his post at the end of this week, comes ahead of the army. criticized the government for failing to supply enough troops, equipment or vehicles. the chief of dissent staff has made similar assertions. >> the more that you can increase your tactical flexibility by moving people by helicopter then the more uncertain, more unpredictable your movements become to the enemy. >> people like the prime minister, the secretary of state, the defense, the generals they know in t

both were killed fighting the taliban in helmand province.st week has been largely successful with the marines taking new ground. cnn was with those troops in helmand province. >> reporter: flying with the u.s. marines into an area of helmand province that was once considered taliban land. just five days after operations strike of the sword began, the governor of helmand stepped into a district he could not before. because it was too dangerous. raising the afghan flag over the district, a symbol of new governance and change. it was a moment that was likened to iwo jima by larry nicholson. a moment that they hope will symbolize a turn in the war here. this castle was built in the 1700s during the time of the father of afghanistan. for the past several years, this castle in this district was occupied by the taliban. but today the u.s. marines and the coalition forces gave it back to the government and the people of helmand province. for the past three years, they were under strict taliban control. now this district of around 2,000 waits to see

as you've seen with the operations in helmand province, as the u.s. has been engaging, the afghani fighters have melted away. we can do some protection of the population. i think that will work. and you can help to shore up karzai and whoever the future presidents of afghanistan as the mayor of kabul, but that is very different from actually coming up with the sort of progress that would be required to allow for a long-term support internationally. the u.s. and europe, to continue this thing. that's probably not going to happen. >> you made a very important point here that the taliban and their allies, including al qaeda, are fighting a traditional guerrilla war based on the mayo model, which is when the enemy is strong, retreat. when the enemy gets strung out, harass. when the enemy gets weak, attack. so the marines who i think have done an outstanding job in helmand province. they're very well trained. they put the emphasis more on soft power than on firepower, but they're faced with the situation. anytime they get strong, the enemy disappears. anyt

deaths in afghanistan as the offensive continues in helmand province down south. words of encouragement from president obama as judge sonia sotomayor gets readied for her supreme court hearings. >>> and did dick cheney hide a secret counterintelligence program from congress when he was the vice president? some democrats are demanding an investigation. hello, i'm tom foreman in for fredricks whitfield and you are in the cnn newsroom. >>> that u.s. offensive in afghanistan is coming a at a price this weekend. bombs killed two americans in helmand province. that brings this year's death toll to 104. cnn's correspondent has details. >> reporter: two u.s. marines were killed in a action yesterday in southern afghanistan by two separate ieds. those are roadside bombs. this is an area of afghanistan that thousands of u.s. marines flooded into and started operation punjar, operation strike of the sword. working with coalition troops, their main aim is to clear and hold areas that coalition troops were not able to in the past because they just didn't have that manpower the

but in the dangerous helmand province in southern afghanistan, the u.k. military says it is now breaking the back of the taliban resistance there. fox news got an inside look at that action. [gunfire] >> british shoulders taking a fight to the taliban in southern afghanistan. clashing with an allusive enemy in the searing heat of central helmand province. 3,000 troops waging biggest mission of the war dug dubbed operation panther's claw. marines newly deployed to southern helmand in own operation called strike of the sword. the brits are having success. this drone video shows cornered taliban fighters oil drums floating across the canal in a desperate attempt to escape. british apache helicopter fire reportedly killing 50. here they fire grenades at another ininsurgent target. battling off side shoot off their rpg's and here they blast a hole in the wall of a suspect compound. ramming their tanks through. amidst the fighting, british soldiers try to win over the locals. for the brits, like the americans, is not just killing the enemy it's making afghans s

this cuts through there, the helmand river valley. this is the most concentrated area for opium growing, and we expect significant combat challenges with respect to the taliban who have been there and we haven't been able to both clear defeat them and clear the area. this extra footprint of marines will allow us to not just secure the area for the afghan people but hold it, so we can develop it and tart to move in the right direction economically and from a governance perspective. >> in terms of resistance the marines have faced in the early da days, is it what you expected? are they melting into the countryside and hiding because they know you're there? >> it's what we expected. there's been some of that. there's been tough fighting as well. all of that really ties into the examinations we had. this has been a taliban stronghold for a significant period of time. it's grown over the last two or three years. what the marines are there for is to really concentrate on that, clear that area, defeat the taliban that's there, clear it, and

helmand is more than a taliban stronghold. it was once the bread basket of afghanistan with bumper crops of wheat and corn. well, today those crops have been largely replaced by opium poppies, the raw material for heroin, morphine and other narcotics. 90% of the world's opium comes from afghanistan. helmand is the center of production in afghanistan. >>> fireworks are a joy to watch but they can be deadly. fourth of july turns deadly in the south. >>> also, the queen speaks out about her idol. queen latifah remembers michael jackson. >>> the annual essence festival is under way this weekend in new orleans. it has become the premier showcase for african-american art and culture in the country. take a look at these live pictures coming from there. is that boosty collins i see onstage? this year, due to the untimely death of michael jackson, nearly every musician and performer are paying their respects. all over the big easy, jackson's signature songs are being performed through the unique filter of new orleans jazz. not a mourni

marines got into a month-long firefight to take an area of helmand province.uldn't push further because they didn't have the troops to do it. these marines have gone in and they're pushing forward from those areas and that is important because the local pop litigation of the time were telling us they have to go further, the troops have to go further because that's where the taliban are hiding and that's what's happening right now. it's going to be tough because marines have to win support of the population. troops in afghanistan have tried to do this before. without strong civilian support, agricultural experts, doctors, vets and the like, it is hard to win over the local population. you beat the taliban in battle, they seep back, in intimidate the local population, plant roadside bombs. ieds, where troops are walking. this is what we saw a year ago, this is what the marines are going into right now. >> chris, how is this mission any different than what we saw the last go-round, the u.s. mission inside of afghanistan? because as we know, the u.s. successfully

>> as i have said partly the operations that have been going on in helmand, i think it's partly it's the summer season when fighting is generally more active and then i think it's partly because it's the political season. the big event in 2009 is the election on august 20th -- there will be presidential elections and i think that as well is leading to increased volatility in the country. >> ifill: there is nobody who thinks that hamid karzai is not going to be re-elected. what is it about the election that feeds into this? >> i think it's traditionally in afghan history, transition of power between regimes has always been an act of violence. the transition in 2001 after the tragedy of 9/11, the establishment of the bonn agreement and then in 2005 with the election of president karzai were the first two instances where there has been a peaceful transition to power. this is then the third transition and whether president karzai is elected or whether one of the other contenders gets elected, i think there is evidence that the field is opening up now with the commitment of the u.s. to a

villagers in helmand, like the ones here, have in the past turned to the taliban for protection.s it was their only choice. but the forces hope to show these men that there is an alternative to their current, less-than-rudimentary existence. >> translator: you can see with your own camera what terrorism is and what al qaeda is. you can see a deficient school, a deficient clinic, deficient district, deficient roads. people don't have the matter or means of living. >> reporter: and lo troops haven't met much resistance yet, general nicholson warns this is only a week into the operation. and like the villagers, the taliban have their own expectations. >> so perhaps the taliban is also expecting us to leave. and i think once they understand that we're not leaving, i think in some cases they will -- they will test us. they will come back at us, and they will try to get back to the population. >> reporter: and it's the population who will have to choose. a decision that will determine the country's future. >> cnn's atia abawi reporting. >>> senators put the judge on the spot. will they

the bbc reports from the helmand valley.n life and death has become dangerously thin, chasing an enemy who has chosen to stand and fight. >> where is it coming from? >> stay there, sy there. >> just stay low. >> reporter: british and afghan soldiers slowly inch through the fields and allies of helmand. hundreds of tros with almost limitless fire power throwing every they have at the insurgents and yethe taliban attack again and again. their progress is slow because of the threat from hidden bombs. buried in roads, walls and ditches. every step must be made safe. the british army's advance dependent on metal detectors. having slowed them down, the taliban open fire. this area is riddled with insurgent bombs. >> fire in the hole, fire in the hole, fire in the hole. >> reporter: these devices are the greatest danger to british troops here and the taliban are laying more and more of them. every day they must face their demons, catching brief moments of rest, knowing that tomorrow could be very different. at just 18 martin watson

they're mounting a major offensive against the taliban in helmand province. the top allied commander, general stanley mcchrystal explained recently why it was so deadly in the south. >> you have a combination of factors there, there's the original home of the taliban, there's the narcotics production which pumps a lot of money into that and breeds corruption, and then there's the fact there's proximity to pakistan, where a tremendous amount of the leaders and whatnot can seek safe haven. >> warner: he assumed his post mid-june after secretary of defense gates fired his predecessor, general david mckiernan. gates said it was time for a new commander to come up with a new strategy. president obama had already announced a major troop increase for afghanistan. the new troops started arriving in late spring and now stand at 62,000. at his senate confirmation, general mcchrystal warned that the stepped up effort would be more costly in u.s. lives. >> there is no simple answer. we must conduct a holistic counterinsurgency campaign, and we must do it well. success wi

speaker, if we are told as we are now helmand province contains taliban come on what basis was it said before on behalf of the government that it was hoped that not a shot would be fired? was this not the beginning of a really serious sweeping of the situation at helmand which is still continuing today in which our armed forces are playing -- paying a heavy blow? >> well, it never was said at that there was hope of their not being a shot fired. what was said and it was said that from this dispatch box and elsewhere and i can remember i sat on that chair along at the time. it was said by the then secretary of state that we would be happy if not a shot would be fired. he was responding to a question, he was expressing a desire, but he wouldn't have been putting 16 air assault brigades into a war if he thought that there wouldn't be a little bit of trouble in the area. >> i confirm what the defense secretary has just said and i tell my right honorable friend that no doubt inadvertently he has just misled the house. i never at any stage expressed the hope and expectation, promise or pledge

marines are seizing ground from the taliban in helmand province, it's squeezing its economic lifeline. drugs flow out. money flows in. people get high. taliban fighters get weapons. and the war drags on. >>> for more now, five years now, the drug enforcement agency has been a part of that war. and now it's part of a surge. thomas harrigan is the dea's chief of operations and joins me live from headquarters in just a moment. >>> but, first, hold on. let's take you to where all this is happening. cnn's ivan watson is with the marines in helmand province and saw the cash cow go up in flames. >> reporter: somerset season for fighting in afghanistan, and it's been a bloody summer. four american soldiers killed on monday by a deadly roadside bomb, which hit their vehicle in eastern afghanistan, and one british soldier killed on monday as well here in helmand province, where we're located. the nato forces here, the u.s. forces, have hit record numbers of casualties for the month of july. they have broken records for this eight-year-long war, and this month is still far from over, as more tro

cnn, helmand river, in afghanistan. >> got to do what you can do to find the water. right? >>> right now a really intriguing story about a bombmaker and the scientist he works with. they work for the u.s. government and try to find every crack and every weakness in airport security. in other words, their job is to keep you safe. they transform items like radios into bombs and then use those devices to test screening machines. sometimes they even detonate those items inside old airliners in order to see if they can bring down a flight. >>> here's some of the other stories we're watching. the nfl commissioner said the league will look into the case against pittsburgh steelers star quarterback. a woman has accused ben roethlisberger of raping her in a lake tahoe hotel last year. >>> canada's biggest city, its are e been 30 days since garbage workers went on strike. still no sign of a compromise with the city. >>> 240 volunteers are rolling up their sleeves for a vaccine that will hopefully protect them against swine flu. the first human trials of the vaccine. two drugmakers sa

the taliban are getting pushed out of hellman did -- helmand province. hidden bonds are slowing down and can sometimes penetrate armor. but something has changed here. this summer, the americans have arrived, injecting a massive input of helicopters, that britain doesn't have an offer of. -- doesn't have enough of. the piece is still a long way off. >> the controversies of the past, it was a fitting tribute to the king of pop. there was a huge memorial service and los angeles, soul rend the life of michael jackson. -- celebrating the life of michael jackson. music from smokey robinson, lionel richie and more. >> [singing] michael jackson was brought back into the limelight one last time. the stark, who boast delighted in public, once again is the focus of the world attention his children have been largely kept away from the camera since their father's death. they mourned with the rest of the family. >> ever since i was born, daddy has been the best father you can ever imagine. i just want to say that i love him very much. >> this was a public memorial. i

there is an american and british offensive underway in afghanistan's helmand province.wo more british soldiers have been killed in separate incidents, born in the total to nine in just nine days. -- bringing the total to nine in just nine days. karen, what happened in these latest two incidents this? >> in one case, a soldier was killed in an explosion while on foot patrol. those bombs are coming increasing numbers of casualties there. the other was a something that involved a fire fight. a soldier died of gunshot wounds, taking part in the operation panthers claw. >> it is a really big operation. but we have been following it this week on the bbc. oneç thing that has been raging all week yet again is about whether they are well enough equipped and whether there are enough british troops there at all for this offensive. >> that is right, that is an important question. how many troops do you need to secure the objective? what exactly are the objectives? that is what the secretary was speaking about earlier this week. he said, political reconciliation is very important.

another marine died yesterday during battles with taliban in helmand province. cnn's ivan watson is embedded with that marines unit. hear now the very latest. sounds like we are having a little bit of difficulty with that report as we've been telling you, ivan is embedded with the marines and sometimes it's difficult for us to get availability with him. so now we are going to try that one more time. once again, ivan watson is live on the telephone with us now. ivan, if you can hear me, okay, tell us about the latest now in the fighting. >> reporter: heidi, i can hear you. it's difficult to communicate here, we're only using satellite telephone technology and it's pretty primitive conditions here in the southernmost point that the u.s. marines have advanced to in afghanistan's turbulent helmand province since they launched an offensive earlier this month. one marine from the reconnaissance battalion paid the ultimate price on this mission yesterday. sergeant ryan wayne, 25-year-old, originally from pittsburgh, pennsylvania. he was killed yesterday, mortally wound

embedded with the marines in the helmand province. great work, ivan. appreciate it. >>> meanwhile, hollywood megastar, angelina jolie, is in iraq, part of her ongoing role as a goodwill ambassador the united nations. today she visited a refugee cam top draw attention to iraqis still displaced by the religious violence that decimated so many neighborhoods around that country. in an exclusive interview with cnn, jolie said now is not the time for the outside world to turn its back on the people of iraq. >> this region of the world, the stability of this region, is important to all of us. there are still 3 million people displaced, innocent families. we have still many young men and women from our country who are fighting every day. there are many men and women from all countries who have lost their lives, and this is a time to try to make some positive change. and so we have to -- this is -- this is -- in working in cambodia and other areas of the world that i've worked in, that so often you find that these countries, years on have all these little probl

>> yeah, i have spent time in helmand province. it is a hostile, rugged area, dry area. temperatures run well above the 100 degree mark. it is not an easy place to fight and secure, and at this point, because there aren't a lot of military installations, because more than half of the districts are under taliban control, there is not a lot of traction, so the ma evens that are there now are really pushing out into a new area where they can expect to confront hostile elements who want to protect their main cash crop and their foothold in the region, and it's going to be a very, very difficult fight as the summer progresses. it is an environment that suits the insurgency very well, because they're familiar. they're more used to the conditions, the heat and so on, so i think this is a quhap ter of the conflict that is going to grind for some time. even if ground is taken by the u.s. marines and the security forces, it's going to take a lot of effort to really hold on to it. host: we will take your phone calls in a moment. abc news chief correspondent yesterday on the program