Free Republic

KONAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Jan. 4, 2005 -- In the difficult terrain of Afghanistan's Hindu Kush Mountains, troop movement can be slow and tedious. Often, Marine companies break operations down to platoon and squad elements to locate and close with the enemy. Since anti-coalition militants are usually well-versed on evasion tactics in the mountains, the snipers of 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, give commanders the ability to "reach out and touch someone."