Afghan and coalition officials are preparing what they say is the most important phase of the operation to secure the southern town of Marjah: rolling out a new administration and pouring millions of dollars into a place held by the Taliban for the past two years. It's also the phase with the most uncertain prospects. The Taliban was able to easily take Marjah more than two years ago because the government's authority there was weak, and what little existed was often corrupt and predatory. The coalition military offensive that began Saturday is making progress in driving the Taliban from the town. But changing the nature of the government that is left is the linchpin of U.S. Gen. Stanley McChrystal's strategy for reversing the tide of the war. It calls for pouring troops into militant-held areas and then staying while the government is rebuilt and confidence in it is restored. Marjah is the first test of the strategy. "Phase 2" is to begin in coming days when the new top administrator of the town, sub-district governor Haji Zahir, is put in place along with a team four American "mentors" who work for the U.[Read more...]