AFGHAN OFFENSIVE ‘AIMED TO SHAPE U.S. OPINION OF WAR’

Battle for Marja not only militarily significant Story Highlights MARJA, AFGHANISTAN — The Afghan official responsible for governing Marja paid his first visit to this strife-torn community Monday, imploring residents to forsake the Taliban and promising employment programs as an inducement for local men to put down their weapons. Greg Jaffe and Craig Whitlock, both…