CHO: Watching a developing story. Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning. Thousands of U.S. Marines on the move in Afghanistan. Their mission? To flush out the Taliban, of course. But U.S. commanders carrying out President Obama's new strategy for the war are expressing concern now over a shortfall of Afghan security forces. CNN's Barbara Starr live at the Pentagon for us. So, Barbara, what are you hearing from your sources there?</s>BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Alina, good morning to you. We have spoken to senior U.S. military officials and they say absolutely, yes. They need more Afghan troops on the ground in that combat in southern Afghanistan's Helmand Province. This is becoming a serious issue, they say. You know, they just simply don't have enough Afghan troops. And if they can't get more on the ground there, what is the risk? Well, the operation could basically stall. U.S. commanders say they must demonstrate progress to the Afghan people and that it has to come at the hands of Afghan security forces. If they just toss the Taliban out, the U.S. troops, well, the people aren't going really see their lives improve. So, this is becoming a very critical issue as we now enter the second week of this major combat operation in southern Afghanistan -- Alina.</s>CHO: And Barbara, of course, we are seeing some more deadly fighting across Afghanistan. What is the latest from the region right now?</s>STARR: Well, you know, even as the combat goes on down in the south, in the north and in the east, there have been a number of attacks against U.S. and NATO troops. And just one sad marker on the wall -- Monday alone, 10 NATO troops including seven U.S. troops died in the series of attacks in various places in Afghanistan. It was one of the deadliest days in over a year. So it shows that this effort is getting hotter and the combat is growing more intense. Alina?</s>CHO: Barbara Starr live at the Pentagon for us. Barbara, thank you. Forty-seven minutes after the hour.
U.S. Concerns Over Lack of Afghan Force