Ben Anderson reports for BBC News from southern Helmand province.
"By wintertime, the Taliban are going to be on their heels, sitting in Pakistan, wondering what to do next. And we'll have the people," Marine Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Christian Cabaniss told me.
"Once the people decide they won't tolerate the Taliban's presence, there's no way they can stay."
Last month he arrived with the 4,000 marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Southern Helmand, Afghanistan's most violent province for Operation Khanjar.
Their mission - the first major military operation ordered by President Barack Obama - was to oust the Taliban and then stay in every area cleared to win the trust of the local population ahead of the presidential elections.
VIDEO: Targeting Afghans, not the enemy
Continues at: news.bbc.co.uk - Targeting Afghans, not 'the enemy'
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