Hawaii troops are playing a key role in an unprecedented strategy aimed at driving Taliban fighters out of an Afghanistan province and leaving Afghan administrators in their place. Their bravery and expertise rise to levels worthy of our deep thanks for the goal of eliminating any future launch of another 9/11.

Unduly distracted by the war in Iraq, the Bush administration chose a rallying cry of “;clear, build and hold”; among undermanned troops in Afghanistan. Following a growth of troop strength, the Obama administration has added the fourth element of “;transfer,”; assigning authority to the Afghans as soon as the Taliban has fled or been defeated, and NATO has signed on to the strategy.

“;We've got a government in a box, ready to roll in,”; said Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the American commander who persuaded Defense Secretary Robert Gates on the plan. In the end, Gates has said, the Obama approach will rise or fall on whether “;the Afghans themselves can create conditions that would keep the Taliban from returning.”;

The role of more than 15,000 American, Afghan and British troops, including 1,000 “;Lava Dogs”; of the Kaneohe-based 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, since Saturday has been to seize the walled town of Marjah in Helmand province, which has been under Taliban control.

Freshly entering the war arena are 150 members of the 230th Engineer Company from Schofield Barracks: carpenters, plumbers, electricians and others who leave today for Afghanistan. They will be stationed in Afghanistan's Regional Command East, which consists of 14 eastern provinces bordering Pakistan.

The NATO-approved strategy was announced several weeks before its execution, giving the Taliban enemies time to flee. Many did so, possibly heading for Pakistan.

That was where the Taliban's top military commander, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, was just captured — another encouraging development. Caught several days ago in Karachi, Pakistan, Baradar is the most significant Taliban figure detained since the American-led war in Afghanistan began more than eight years ago, U.S. officials said.

By yesterday, fighting had slowed in Marjah, with the Taliban fighters who remained still engaging in “;pockets of resistance,”; said a spokesman for the international forces.

“;I felt the assault went well,”; said Capt. Stephan P. Karabin, commanding officer of 1st Battalion's Charlie Company. “;We got in here quickly, under the cover of darkness on the helicopters, moved into position, set everything in place and were able to seize the objective.”;

In taking three months to decide upon a surge of 30,000 troops in Afghanistan, President Barack Obama vowed that such a plan must be in place to transfer authority promptly to the Afghans, what his advisers call the “;postlude.”; Success will depend largely on the ability and cooperation of President Hamid Karzai, who is saddled with eight years of corruption and failed leadership.

Numerous observers have regarded Karzai as inadequate for such a task. The Obama administration will need to persuade Karzai of the absolute necessity of a successful “;postlude”; to bring the war to an end and bring our troops home.