Afstan: Good and bad news

1) Good news, well, er, coordinated:

In Helmand, a model for success?
Influx of Marines and focus on security bring peace to a southern Afghan town -- at least for now [with photo gallery]

There’s No Substitute for Troops on the Ground

2) Bad news:

Militants deepen their foothold in Afghanistan's north
The Taliban and others wield power brazenly in the once-stable region. Roadblocks and ambushes are now part of life for the nervous population.

More on Kunduz here and here.