As General David Petraeus assumes direct control of the war in Afghanistan, he and his officers—not to mention the policymakers back home—are pinning their hopes on improved cooperation with friendly locals. Traveling to the southern Afghan city of Marja, site of a major offensive this past February, photographer/videographer Micah Garen surveys the diverse cast of characters—soldiers, elders, farmers, even robots—whose actions will decide the mission’s outcome.

Micah Garen was in Marja in April and May, 2010, photographing and filming.   His photographs, using a large format 4x5 film camera, were published as an online exclusive in Vanity Fair in July 2010.  The images can be seen below, or by clicking over to Vanity Fair

He then published a five part multimedia audio-photography-video series with an 800 word written piece Newsweek in September 2010.  Those five videos can be see by clicking over to Newsweek