Gardez Arrival

Security Forces Provide Safety Net for Reconstruction Mission - Members of the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry, convoy into Gardez City, the capital of Afghanistan’s Paktia province, Feb. 17, 2009, for meetings with local officials. The security forces “roll heavy” with mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles and heavy machine guns. It is a balance for them to appear nonthreatening while discouraging potential threats. DoD photo by Fred W. Baker III.