Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditiona

Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) taking up defensive positions at the Kandahar airport after shots were fired near the northern perimeter as an illumination grenade is seen in the background. The gunfire erupted shortly after a C-17 transport plane containing 20 al-Qaida and Taliban detainees took off from the U.S. military base in southern Afghanistan. The Marines responded to the small arms fire with M-16 rifles and machine guns while two Marine Cobra helicopt ers canvassed the area. (Photo by Mai/Getty Images)