Private First Class Sida (L) and Sergeant Campbell block their ears as they fire a 120mm mortar in support of other members of Dagger Company, 2-12 Infantry, 4th Brigade further down the Pesh Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province July 19, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AFGHANISTAN MILITARY)

A U.S. soldier looks through a net of a medical tent during a hospital supply delivery in the village of Dah-e-Naw in Logar Province in Afghanistan July 23, 2009. Picture taken July 23, 2009. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (AFGHANISTAN MILITARY HEALTH POLITICS IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Lightning illuminates the sky during a thunderstorm over U.S. army's Mine Resistant Ambush Protect (MRAP) armored vehicles on the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Shank in Logar Province in Afghanistan July 18, 2009. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT MILITARY IMAGES OF THE DAY ENVIRONMENT)

Members of a mortar team attached to Dagger Company, 2-12 Infantry, 4th Brigade carry 120mm mortars before firing in support of their comrades further down the Pesh Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province July 19, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AFGHANISTAN MILITARY IMAGES OF THE DAY CONFLICT)

A man tending his wheat field in Jurm, in Afghanistan's Badakhshan province, stands near the shadow of a helicopter carrying officials of presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah July 11, 2009. Picture taken July 11, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AFGHANISTAN SOCIETY POLITICS IMAGES OF THE DAY)

A French soldier of the NATO-led coalition rides in an APC (armoured personnel carrier) during a joint patrol with U.S. and Afghan troops in the village of Hajian in the mountains of Afghanistan's Wardak Province July 12, 2009. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (AFGHANISTAN POLITICS MILITARY)

Private First Class Sida fires a 120mm mortar in support of other members of Dagger Company, 2-12 Infantry, 4th Brigade further down the Pesh Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province July 19, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AFGHANISTAN MILITARY)

U.S. Captain Scott Peterman, a dentist from the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, prepares to check the teeth of an Afghan girl in the village of Dah-e-Naw in Logar Province July 23, 2009. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (AFGHANISTAN MILITARY HEALTH POLITICS IMAGES OF THE DAY)

A British soldier from 3 SCOTS rests with his dog after taking over a Taliban compound in a Taliban-held area of Afghanistan's Helmand province during Operation Panther's Claw, July 10, 2009. British troops have faced heavy fighting during the operation, a bid to clear out Taliban-held areas north of the provincial capital Lashkar Gah, while U.S. Marines stage a massive operation of their own further south. Picture taken July 10, 2009. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood (AFGHANISTAN MILITARY CONFLICT)

An Apple iPod music player is attached to the tactical vest of a U.S. soldier of 3rd Platoon from the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division as he drives to the site of a roadside bomb explosion in the mountains of Wardak Province in Afghanistan July 11, 2009. An improvised explosive device (IED) placed in a culvert exploded without causing hurt during the U.S. army's patrol. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (AFGHANISTAN POLITICS MILITARY)

U.S. soldiers of 2nd Platoon from the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division prepare for a predawn mission in front of MRAP vehicles at Combat Operation Outpost (COP) Conlon in the mountains of Wardak Province in Afghanistan July 9, 2009. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (AFGHANISTAN POLITICS CONFLICT MILITARY)

A car is driven past a U.S. Army MRAP vehicle on a temporary checkpoint on a road in the mountains of Wardak Province in Afghanistan July 9, 2009. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (AFGHANISTAN POLITICS CONFLICT MILITARY IMAGES OF THE DAY)

A bird sits on a barbed wire fence of Combat Operation Outpost (COP) Conlon in the mountains of Wardak Province in Afghanistan predawn July 9, 2009. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (AFGHANISTAN MILITARY ENVIRONMENT ANIMALS)

An Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier frisks pedestrians on a temporary check point on a road in the mountains of Wardak province, Afghanistan, July 7, 2009. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (AFGHANISTAN POLITICS CONFLICT MILITARY)

DJ Ashiqullah works at the Garmsir radio station in Helmand province July 7, 2009. The DJs of Radio Garmsir in Afghanistan's lower Helmand River valley knew their station had touched a nerve when the letters started pouring in. First a few, then more, and pretty soon 20 to 30 letters per day, hand delivered to a box outside the NATO base where they broadcast deep into Taliban territory from a desk in a tiny bunker. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood (AFGHANISTAN SOCIETY ENTERTAINMENT CONFLICT)

An Afghan man removes broken glass from a window near the site of a rocket attack in Kabul August 4, 2009. Suspected Taliban militants fired seven rockets at the Afghan capital in a pre-dawn attack on Tuesday, police said, injuring a child and causing some damage. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani (AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT IMAGES OF THE DAY)

A U.S. soldier from 2-12 Infantry, 4th Brigade holds his cigarette out the door of a hooch (living quarters) at Michigan Base in the Pesh Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province August 3, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AFGHANISTAN MILITARY CONFLICT)

A rocket propelled grenade explodes on a road near a U.S. Army convoy from 2-12 Infantry, 4th Brigade during an attack by militants at Tantil in the Pesh Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province August 3, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AFGHANISTAN MILITARY CONFLICT)

A U.S. soldier of 2-12 Infantry, 4th Brigade runs across an open area while receiving small arms fire at Michigan Base in the Pesh Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province August 2, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AFGHANISTAN MILITARY CONFLICT)

U.S. soldier Private First Class Davis of Dagger Company, 2-12 Infantry, 4th Brigade shuffles cards during a game of Spades, an army favourite, at Michigan Base in the Pesh Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province August 2, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT MILITARY)

The sun sets over a guard tower at the U.S. Army's Michigan Base in the Pesh Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province August 2, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AFGHANISTAN MILITARY CONFLICT)

British troops from the Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS), take a rest hours after being inserted by helicopter into a Taliban-held area of Afghanistan's Helmand province during operation Panther's Claw, July 10, 2009. British troops have faced heavy fighting during the operation, a bid to clear out Taliban-held areas north of the provincial capital Lashkar Gah, while U.S. Marines stage a massive operation of their own further south. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood (AFGHANISTAN MILITARY CONFLICT)

A U.S. soldier of 2-12 Infantry, 4th Brigade rests his foot on a case of ammunition at Michigan Base in the Pesh Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province August 2, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AFGHANISTAN MILITARY CONFLICT)

7.62 calibre ammunition sits on a bench top next to a hand drawn U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division insignia at Michigan Base in the Pesh Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province August 2, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT MILITARY)

Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers patrol a road in Kandagal in the Pesh Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province August 1, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AFGHANISTAN MILITARY CONFLICT)

U.S. soldier Lieutenant Cumbie of Dagger Company, 2-12 Infantry, 4th Brigade walks through a corn field during patrol in the Pesh Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province August 1, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AFGHANISTAN MILITARY CONFLICT IMAGES OF THE DAY)

A body guard of Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai shields himself from a helicopter in Kaihan valley of Baghlan province August 1, 2009. Karzai was on a campaign tour to Kaihan for the presidential elections on August 20. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani (AFGHANISTAN ELECTIONS POLITICS MILITARY)

Supporters take photographs of Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah with their mobile phones as he interacts with the media at the end of an election rally in central Bamiyan province July 29, 2009. Afghanistan's presidential election will be held on August 20. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood (AFGHANISTAN ELECTIONS POLITICS)

A soldier from the U.S. Army's Road Clearance Package (RCP) of the 2-12 Infantry, 4th Brigade ties his bandana before beginning a patrol in the Kunar River valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province July 29, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT)

British soldiers from B Company, 2 Mercian, set off on an operation in Malgir, Helmand province, July 27, 2009. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani (AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT MILITARY)

A Chinook helicopter lands in Malgir, Helmand province as British soldiers from B Company, 2 Mercian, wait to board before setting off on an operation, July 27, 2009. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani (AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT MILITARY)

U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant Brandon Livingston from 741st EOD Battalion Counter Improvised Explosive Device (CIED) Team shows a piece of explosive before it is destroyed in a controlled denotation outside the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Shank in Logar Province in Afghanistan July 27, 2009. U.S and Czech soldiers destroyed IEDs, explosives and ammunition recently discovered throughout the Logar province. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (AFGHANISTAN POLITICS CONFLICT MILITARY)

A cloud of dust and debris from a controlled detonation rise into the air outside the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Shank in Logar Province in Afghanistan July 27, 2009. U.S and Czech soldiers destroyed IEDs, explosives and ammunition recently discovered throughout the Logar province. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (AFGHANISTAN POLITICS CONFLICT MILITARY)

A soldier from the Czech Explosive Ordance Disposal (EOD) team walks past an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) made of a shell before its demolition outside the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Shank in Logar Province in Afghanistan July 27, 2009. U.S and Czech soldiers destroyed IEDs, explosives and ammunition recently discovered throughout the Logar province. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (AFGHANISTAN POLITICS CONFLICT MILITARY IMAGES OF THE DAY)

British soldiers play rugby in a military compound at Malgeer village in Helmand province July 26, 2009. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani (AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT MILITARY)

British soldiers cover themselves from dust as a helicopter lands at the Malgeer village in Helmand province July 26, 2009. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani (AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT MILITARY)

U.S. soldiers of the 741st EOD Battalion Counter Improvised Explosive Device (CIED) Team detain an Afghan man in a house where a weapons cache was discovered in the centre of Logar Province in Afghanistan July 25, 2009. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT MILITARY IMAGES OF THE DAY)

A U.S. soldier of the 741st EOD Battalion Counter Improvised Explosive Device (CIED) Team returns to Forward Operating Base (FOB) Shank after a mission in Logar Province in Afghanistan July 25, 2009. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT MILITARY IMAGES OF THE DAY)

A U.S. soldier of the 741st EOD Battalion Counter Improvised Explosive Device (CIED) Team searches a yard in a house suspected of hiding a weapons cache in the centre of Logar Province in Afghanistan July 25, 2009. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (AFGHANISTAN POLITICS CONFLICT MILITARY)

A puppy chases a U.S. Army soldier from Dagger Company, 2-12 Infantry, 4th Brigade during a patrol through the village of Kandigal in the Pesh Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province July 25, 2009. This brigade is part of NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AFGHANISTAN ANIMALS MILITARY CONFLICT IMAGES OF THE DAY)

A U.S. soldier from 2-12 Infantry, 4th Brigade eats his dinner standing against a protective wall as live rounds fly overhead during a firefight at Michigan base in the Pesh Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province July 24, 2009. Afghanistan will hold a presidential election on August 20, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AFGHANISTAN ELECTIONS POLITICS CONFLICT MILITARY)

U.S. soldiers from Dagger Company, 2-12 Infantry, 4th Brigade sing karaoke at Michigan Base in the Pesh Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province July 24, 2009. Afghanistan will hold a presidential election on August 20, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AFGHANISTAN ELECTIONS POLITICS CONFLICT MILITARY)

A U.S. soldier from Dagger Company, 2-12 Infantry, 4th Brigade walks across a foot bridge during a patrol in the Pesh Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province July 24, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT MILITARY IMAGES OF THE DAY)

A British soldier from A Company, 2 Mercian patrols in Babaji village in Helmand province July 24, 2009. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani (AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT MILITARY IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Afghan man, Haji Rozuddin shows fraudulent voter registration cards in Logar province July 1, 2009. Buried outside his house near the Afghan capital, Haji Rozuddin keeps hundreds of fraudulent voter registration cards to sell to anyone wanting to vote in next month's presidential election. Picture taken July 1, 2009. REUTERS/Hamid Shalizi (AFGHANISTAN CRIME LAW POLITICS ELECTIONS IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Private Barnes (L) and Private Valerio of the U.S. Army's 2-12 Infantry, 4th Brigade move sand bags at Michigan Base in the Pesh Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province July 22, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AFGHANISTAN MILITARY CONFLICT)

U.S. Combat Medic Health Care Specialist Seantella Cottner of the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division plays the saxophone in her Forward Aid Station tent on the Combat Operation Outpost (COP) McClain in Logar Province in Afghanistan July 22, 2009. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (AFGHANISTAN MILITARY SOCIETY)

A girl watches a patrolling Afghan National Army soldier in the village of Tantil in the Pesh Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province July 21, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AFGHANISTAN MILITARY POLITICS)

A U.S soldier plays with a sling from his Mine Resistant Ambush Protect (MRAP) armored vehicle in the village of Baubus in Logar Province in Afghanistan July 20, 2009. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (AFGHANISTAN MILITARY)

An Afghan family wait for transport with their belongings on the side of a road in Kabul July 20, 2009. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood (AFGHANISTAN SOCIETY)

A mortar team attached to the U.S. Army's Dagger Company, 2-12 Infantry, 4th Brigade fires a 120mm mortar as they take fire on Michigan Base in the Pesh Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province July 19, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AFGHANISTAN IMAGES OF THE DAY CONFLICT MILITARY)

Specialist Taylor (R) prepares to fire a 120mm mortar in support of other members of Dagger Company, 2-12 Infantry, 4th Brigade further down the Pesh Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province July 19, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AFGHANISTAN MILITARY)

A U.S. soldier of the 10th Mountain Division takes part in a joint patrol with French and Afghan troops in a village in Kharuti, in the mountains of Wardak Province in Afghanistan July 16, 2009. Picture taken through a night vision device. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (AFGHANISTAN POLITICS CONFLICT MILITARY)

U.S. soldiers of 2nd Platoon from the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division prepare for a night mission in front of Mine Resistant Ambush Protect (MRAP) armored vehicles on the Combat Operation Outpost (COP) Conlon in mountains of Wardak Province in Afghanistan July 14, 2009. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (AFGHANISTAN)

British soldiers from 3 SCOTS secure a Taliban compound after taking over a Taliban-held area of Helmand province during Operation Panther's Claw July 10, 2009. British troops have faced heavy fighting during the operation, a bid to clear out Taliban-held areas north of the provincial capital Lashkar Gah, while U.S. Marines stage a massive operation of their own further south. Picture taken July 10, 2009. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood (AFGHANISTAN MILITARY CONFLICT)

U.S. Lieutenant Richard Chersicla of 2nd Platoon from the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division checks former Soviet army's entrenchment during a patrol in mountains of Wardak Province in Afghanistan July 10, 2009. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (AFGHANISTAN POLITICS MILITARY)

U.S. soldiers of 2nd Platoon from the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division patrol in mountains of Wardak Province in Afghanistan July 10, 2009. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (AFGHANISTAN POLITICS MILITARY IMAGES OF THE DAY)

A U.S. soldier of 2nd Platoon from the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division smokes near his MRAP vehicle before going for a night mission on the Combat Operation Outpost (COP) Conlon in mountains of Wardak Province in Afghanistan July 9, 2009. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov (AFGHANISTAN POLITICS CONFLICT MILITARY)

Members of the security detail for Karl Eikenberry, US Ambassador to Afghanistan, stand in front of a U.S. army Chinook helicopter as it lands near a newly constructed bridge south of Tarin Kot, in the southern Afghan province of Uruzgan July 9, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT POLITICS IMAGES OF THE DAY) For best quality see GM1E58S0PV701