Marines exchange fire with Taliban in searing heat

David Guttenfelder/The Associated Press<br> U.S Marines from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, 1st Battalion 5th Marines guards a road after landing by helicopter in an overnight air assault near the Taliban stronghold of Nawa in Afghanistan's Helmand province Thursday. Thousands of U.S. Marines poured from helicopters and armored vehicles into Taliban-controlled villages in southern Afghanistan on Thursday in the first major operation under President Barack Obama's strategy to stabilize the country.