America's North Shore Journal

Tribal elders from Bala Murghab, officers from the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, and International Security Assistance Force representatives – including Commander, International Security Assistance Force, General David McKiernan and Italian Army Brigadier General Paolo Serra – recognized the completion of a key bridge in the local area during a shura near Forward Operating Base Columbus, in Bala Murghab, West Afghanistan, Nov. 30. Prior to its construction, the only bridge across the river Murghab was unstable, with visible cracks in it. The duration of its use was unpredictable. It was only a matter of time before it became unusable. Without a sturdy and reliable bridge, schools and hospitals on one side of the river could not serve the Afghan people on the other side. Loss of a bridge would also … Read entire article »