Marine commander shows world how it's done

The Los Angeles Times has a compelling profile of Marine Lt. Col. William McCollough . Tony Perry's report gives a rare look at what our troops are actually doing on the ground in Afghanistan on a day-by-day basis.

McCollough, who commands the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine regiment, is focused on killing and rounding up the enemy, but also on restraint, compassion, and building relationships with local Afghans. In the article, he emphasizes that the war, while critically important, cannot be won quickly, even in the midst of President Obama's troop surge.

"The goal was that every resident in this district would see a Marine within just a few days of us arriving," McCollough said.

With a semblance of safety assured, a "civilian surge" began: U.S. and British government workers who, in tandem with Marine civil affairs officers, met with Afghans to determine a list of priority projects.

"The No. 1 thing was security," McCollough said. "After security, four things came up in talks with the Afghans: roads, clinics, schools, canals. How can you argue with that? That's what America represents to the world."

As Perry explains, McCollough, who is a native of Brainerd, Minnesota, is no spring chicken. He completed two tours in Iraq, in both Fallujah and the volatile Anbar province. The Marine believes routing out terrorists in Afghanistan and bringing freedom and stable democracy to its government is a more daunting challenge than Iraq because of the different needs of citizens in the respective countries. In Afghanistan, running water and electricity are a luxury. In Iraq, some citizens are now seeking to launch small businesses and start new lives.

While McCollough makes difficult decisions on a daily basis, the article explains that military success makes the Marine just as happy as seeing a new dawn for Afghan children:

At McCollough's orders, the Marines launched foot patrols to rout the Taliban. Now the children of Nawa sing:

"When the British were here, they were afraid the Taliban were in the corn.

"Now the Taliban are afraid the Marines are in the corn."