WRAP AP embed with US troops on patrol in Logar province

(23 Nov 2009) SHOTLIST
THIS FOOTAGE WAS SHOT BY A CAMERAMAN EMBEDDED WITH THE US MILITARY AND SUBJECT TO US MILITARY RESTRICTIONS
23 November 2009
1. Various of US troops gathering packs as they prepare to head home
22 November 2009
2. Various of David Haight, US commander, in his office
3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Colonel David Haight, US commander:
"I've got enough to clear, hold and build in the areas I'm currently in, if I had to expand in other words move further in to Western Wardak, which at this time is not necessary, because this is the ethnic and tribal dynamics out there, it's not necessary for us to have a strong presence out there. I've got enough to do what I'm doing now."
23 November 2009
4. Various of US troops patrolling village
5. Local villagers watching US troops
6. Wide of US troops on patrol
23 November 2009
7. Various of US and Afghani troops patrolling in village
8. US troops crossing bridge
9. Set up shot of US soldier First Lieutenant Kevin Eiienbrock talking to villagers
10. SOUNDBITE (English) First Lieutenant Kevin Eiienbrock, US soldier:
"We generally get a neutral reaction in each of these villagers. We've had some reporting about enemy activity in the areas but on a morning like this morning most people are generally ok to stop and talk with us and answer any questions we might have of them."
11. US troops talking to villagers
12. SOUNDBITE (Dari) Mohammed Khufhal, local villager:
"We are very scared of the Taliban because of the way we're talking to you. We're talking about agriculture but we think that when you leave they will come and harass us, that's why I called my friend to be a witness to hear what I'm talking to you about."
13. Afghani troops with villagers
14. Wide of US and Afghani convoy of trucks
STORYLINE
As the administration of US President Barack Obama neared an announcement on troop increases in Afghanistan, soldiers at a military Camp in Logar province prepared to head home at the end of their tour in the country.
The homeward bounds troops will be replaced with equal numbers, but the Obama administration is currently considering military proposals to send 10 to 40 thousand additional US troops to Afghanistan next year.
On Sunday the local US commander in Logar province said that he had enough troops in the area for "what I'm doing now."
"I've got enough to clear, hold and build in the areas I'm currently in," said Colonel David Haight, US commander at a military camp in Puli Alam, the capital of Logar province.
An announcement of a substantial troop increase is expected in the next few weeks.
In Brussels, NATO said on Monday that it wants allied nations to commit more forces to Afghanistan ahead of the US decision on whether to send more troops.
NATO currently has about 71 thousand troops in Afghanistan, nearly half of them American.
Although several allies have said they will dispatch some reinforcements, most NATO nations have so far shied away from making firm commitments.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai, inaugurated last Thursday for a second five-year term, wants more US help to secure his country against the Taliban-led insurgency.
On Monday US and Afghani troops held a regular joint patrol through Puli Alam. Some villagers in the surrounding area said that they were still concerned about being seen talking to US soldiers, for fear of retaliation by Taliban forces.
One man said he had brought a long a friend as a witness while he talked to US soldiers.
Meanwhile on Monday, the military said four American soldiers have been killed in the past 24 hours in Afghanistan.

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