Afghanistan Wartime Architecture January 2010
Part 1

U.S. soldiers walk towards a helicopter from their base in Zabul province, southern Afghanistan, February 1, 2010. Reuters

fghans walk in front of a mosque at dusk January 31, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Despite years of foreign involvement and the money being committed to Afghanistan from both private and governmental donors, Afghanistan is still plagued by chronic unemployment and neglected public services. Unemployment in the country of some 25 million people is still 40 percent with more than half the population living below the poverty line. Getty

Men walk along a stretch of dirt road at dusk January 31, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Despite years of foreign involvement and the money being committed to Afghanistan from both private and governmental donors, Afghanistan is still plagued by chronic unemployment and neglected public services. Unemployment in the country of some 25 million people is still 40 percent with more than half the population living below the poverty line. Getty

A view of greater Kabul from a hillside on January 30, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Despite years of foreign involvement and the money being committed to Afghanistan from both private and governmental donors, Afghanistan is still plagued by chronic unemployment and neglected public services. Unemployment in the country of some 25 million people is still 40 per cent with more than half the population lives below the poverty line. Getty

Afghan National Army soldiers stand in front a building damaged during a fierce gun battle in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Friday, Jan. 29, 2010. A fierce gun battle broke out between security forces and a team of Taliban fighters targeting U.N. and government buildings in the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah. The fighting came nearly two weeks after a similar assault in the Afghan capital of Kabul, once again showing the ability of insurgents to penetrate heavily secured areas. AP

Empty shops is seen near a building under construction in a neighborhood housing the local branch of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and government buildings where a fierce gunbattle broke out between security forces and a team of Taliban fighters in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on Friday, Jan. 29, 2010. A fierce gunbattle broke out between security forces and a team of Taliban fighters targeting U.N. and government buildings on Friday in the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah. The fighting came nearly two weeks after a similar assault in the Afghan capital of Kabul, once again showing the ability of insurgents to penetrate heavily secured areas. AP

A general view of the destroyed remains of the Darulaman Palace, or Royal Palace January 29, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Darulaman Palace, which was first gutted by fire in 1969, was built in the 1920s under the reformist King Amanullah Khan. It has repeatedly been used by occupying militias and governments over the years of intercine fighting in Afghanistan. Despite years of foreign involvement and the money being committed to Afghanistan from both private and governmental donors, Afghanistan is still plagued by chronic unemployment and neglected public services. Unemployment in the country of some 25 million people is still 40 per cent with more than half the population lives below the poverty line. Getty

A general view of the destroyed remains of the Darulaman Palace, or Royal Palace January 29, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty

A general view of the destroyed remains of the Darulaman Palace, or Royal Palace January 29, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty

A general view of the destroyed remains of the Darulaman Palace, or Royal Palace January 29, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty

The destroyed remains of the Darulaman Palace, or Royal Palace, is viewed January 29, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan.  Getty

A general view of the destroyed remains of the Darulaman Palace, or Royal Palace January 29, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty

A general view of the destroyed remains of the Darulaman Palace, or Royal Palace January 29, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty

A general view of the destroyed remains of the Darulaman Palace, or Royal Palace January 29, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty

A displaced Afghan child (L) from Helmand province stands outside with two adults near their mud huts on January 28, 2010 in the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan. London is hosting a critical day-long international conference today on the future of war ravaged Afghanistan. Among the proposals being discussed is a plan to bring moderate Taliban fighters into civilian life with offers of employment and education. Getty

A displaced Afghan child from Helmand province looks out from the shelter on January 28, 2010 in the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan. London is hosting a critical day-long international conference today on the future of war ravaged Afghanistan. Among the proposals being discussed is a plan to bring moderate Taliban fighters into civilian life with offers of employment and education. Getty

Afghan boys play soccer in an unfinished Soviet-era swimming pool on a rainy day in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010. Major world powers opened talks Thursday seeking an end to the grinding conflict in Afghanistan, drafting plans to hand over security responsibilities to local forces and quell the insurgency with an offer of jobs and housing to lure Taliban fighters to renounce violence. AP

An Afghan girl wraps herself with a shawl on a rainy day in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010. Major world powers opened talks Thursday seeking an end to the grinding conflict in Afghanistan, drafting plans to hand over security responsibilities to local forces and quell the insurgency with an offer of jobs and housing to lure Taliban fighters to renounce violence. AP

Afghan Police direct traffic and watch for suspicious vehicles January 28, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. London is hosting a critical day-long international conference today on the future of war ravaged Afghanistan. Among the proposals being discussed is a plan to bring moderate Taliban fighters into civilian life with offers of employment and education. Co-hosted by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the conference also seeks a path to security independence for Afghanistan with aims to turn over all military and police operations to the Afghans by 2014. Despite progress in civilian life in Kabul, the capital city is still subject to frequent violent attacks by members of the Taliban. Getty

A U.S. Army 120mm mortar team barrages a nearby Taliban position, at Combat Outpost Michigan, in the Pech Valley, Kunar province, northeastern Afghanistan, Thursday Jan. 28, 2010. The soldiers from the 2-12 Infantry, Task Force Lethal at COP Michigan regularly receive small and large-arms fire from Taliban militants who operate in the hillsides overlooking the base. AP

In this photo taken Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010, 1st Lt. Jesse Kadel, left, from Boise, Idaho and Sgt. Sean Sibert, right, from Salinas, Calif. of the 473 CAV, 4th Brigade CT, 82nd Airborne walk past sea containers at Kandahar Airfield in southern Afghanistan. The airfield has received multiple rocket attacks from insurgents over the last week. AP

A U.S. Army 120mm mortar team barrages a nearby Taliban position, at Combat Outpost Michigan, in the Pech Valley, Kunar province, northeastern Afghanistan, Thursday Jan. 28, 2010. The soldiers from the 2-12 Infantry, Task Force Lethal at COP Michigan regularly receive small and large-arms fire from Taliban militants who operate in the hillsides overlooking the base. AP

Shinwari tribal leaders offer prayers at the end of a gathering at the Afghan Border Police compound in Jalalabad, Nangarhar province east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010. An eastern Afghan tribe has signed a pact to keep the Taliban out of their lands _ pledging to burn down the houses of those who shelter insurgents and force them to pay fines high as $20,000. AP

Men with an Afghan security division monitor traffic for suicide bombers and Taliban along a busy shopping street on January 27, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. A major international conference on stabilizing Afghanistan is set to begin in London this coming Thursday. Attendees to the event will include foreign ministers, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Getty

A man waits for work with his wheelbarrow along a busy shopping street on January 27, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. A major international conference on stabilizing Afghanistan is set to begin in London this coming Thursday. Attendees to the event will include foreign ministers, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Getty

Men stand on a street corner in front of a recently bombed building on January 27, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. A major international conference on stabilizing Afghanistan is set to begin in London this coming Thursday. Attendees to the event will include foreign ministers, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Getty