KABUL (AP) -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday told about a dozen of Afghanistan's senior military officials that the U.S. will be their partner for a long time despite plans to begin pulling troops out in 2011. He spoke at Kabul airport, where the Afghan generals were en route to a meeting with U.S. officials in the southern city of Kandahar. There, the officers were to learn operational details from the U.S. about its plans to send 30,000 more troops by fall 2010.

Today's post is a collection of images from Associated Press photojounalist, Kevin Frayer, who has been in Afghanistan with the U.S. Marines.(19 images)

A United States Marine from the 4th Light Armored Recon walks toward a LAV fighting vehicle in Khan Nashin, in the volatile Helmand Province of Southern Afghanistan, Thursday, Dec. 3. AP / Kevin Frayer

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United States Marine Cpl. Joseph Kelly of Va., from the 2nd MEB, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, walks past Afghan youths during a patrol near Khan Nashin in the volatile province of Helmand, southern Afghanistan, Friday, Dec. 4. AP / Kevin Frayer

Afghan men drink tea with Cpl. William Lins, left, and Major Mark Vanderbeek, right,and an unidentified Afghan translator from the United States Marine 2nd MEB, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion on Sunday, Dec. 6, during a visit to their farm in Khan Neshin in the volatile province of Helmand, southern Afghanistan. AP / Kevin Frayer

An Afghan girl is given medication from US Navy medical personnel that are part of the United States Marines' 2nd MEB, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, at a free clinic in Khan Neshin in the volatile province of Helmand, southern Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 7. The clinic provides medication and medical treatment for the local population. AP / Kevin Frayer

An Afghan man is checked by US Navy Medical Corps Chief Damon Anderson of Corpus Christi at a free clinic run by the United States Marines' 2nd MEB, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion at a in Khan Neshin in the volatile province of Helmand, southern Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 7. The clinic provides medication and medical treatment for the local population.AP / Kevin Frayer

United States Marine LCpl. Grayson Barnette of Md. from the 2nd MEB, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion gives candy to Afghan children during a patrol in Khan Neshin, in the volatile Helmand province of southern Afghanistan, Thursday, Dec. 10. AP / Kevin Frayer

United States Marine Cpl. Jay McLellan of Fredrick, Md. from the 2nd MEB, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion shows his weapon to an Afghan youth during a patrol in Khan Neshin, in the volatile Helmand province of southern Afghanistan, Thursday, Dec. 10. AP / Kevin Frayer

United States Marines from the 2nd MEB, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion walk on the edge of a muddy road following rain during a patrol in Khan Neshin, in the volatile Helmand province of southern Afghanistan, Thursday, Dec. 10. AP / Kevin Frayer

United States Marine LCpl. Grayson Barnette of Md. from the 2nd MEB, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion patrols past Afghan men at the market in Khan Neshin, in the volatile Helmand province of southern Afghanistan, Thursday, Dec. 10. AP / Kevin Frayer

A United States Army soldier runs with the ball as United States Marines from the 2nd MEB, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion try to tackle while playing a game of mud football following a rain storm at their base in Khan Neshin, in the volatile Helmand province of southern Afghanistan, Wednesday, Dec. 9. AP / Kevin Frayer

A United States Marine from the 4th Light Armored Recon closes the hatch of his LAV fighting vehicle during a patrol near Khan Nashin, in the volatile Helmand Province of Southern Afghanistan, Thursday, Dec. 3. AP / Kevin Frayer

An unidentified United States Marine from the 4th Light Armored Recon holds a puppy as he stands near the razor-wire of their base in Khan Nashin, in the volatile Helmand Province of Southern Afghanistan, Thursday, Dec. 3. AP / Kevin Frayer

A United States Marine from the Police Mentor Training Program of the 2nd MEB, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion walks out of a house carrying a mine sweeper after searching for explosives on a patrol in Khan Neshin in the volatile province of Helmand, southern Afghanistan, Tuesday, Dec. 8. AP / Kevin Frayer

United States Marine Lance Cpl. Grayson Barnette of Md., from the 2nd MEB, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion walks past a poster advertising the Afghan Security Forces at the market in Khan Neshin in the volatile province of Helmand, southern Afghanistan, Tuesday, Dec. 8. AP / Kevin Frayer

United States Marines from the 2nd MEB, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion guard a helipad as a CH-53 helicopter lands with supplies in Khan Neshin in the volatile province of Helmand, southern Afghanistan, Tuesday, Dec. 8. AP / Kevin Frayer

An unidentified United States Marines from the 2nd MEB, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion takes a position, during a patrol near Khan Nashin in the volatile province of Helmand, southern Afghanistan, Sunday, Dec. 6. AP / Kevin Frayer

United States Marines from the 2nd MEB, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion Lance Cpl. Grayson Barnette of Md., left, and Lance Cpl. Michael Dombrowski, right, talk as they shop for goods in the market following a patrol in Khan Neshin in the volatile province of Helmand, southern Afghanistan, Tuesday, Dec. 8. AP / Kevin Frayer

United States Marine Cpl. William Lins of Md., from the 2nd MEB, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, stands near Afghans during a patrol near Khan Nashin, in the volatile province of Helmand, southern Afghanistan, Friday, Dec. 4. AP / Kevin Frayer

United States Marines from the 2nd MEB, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion gather during a patrol where a gun battle with insurgents occurred earlier, near Shabu in the volatile province of Helmand, southern Afghanistan, Saturday, Dec. 5. AP / Kevin Frayer