1.   Even before they touched down at the desert airstrip, a transport helicopter and two attack helicopters had their rotors spinning for the trip to the front.

2.   In addition, Navy Seabees have begun repairing the desert airstrip and expect to start building showers soon.

3.   In addition, Navy Seabees have set to work repairing the desert airstrip and expect to start building showers soon.

4.   Just hours after Marines set up operations on a desert airstrip in southern Afghanistan, U.S. warplanes attacked a fast-moving armored column near the base late Monday.

5.   Nine days after the Marines seized this desert airstrip, they have started to settle in and secure the perimeter.

6.   On Sunday, the Marines nearly doubled the size of their combat helicopter fleet at the desert airstrip they seized late last month.

7.   They worked swiftly under a bright moon to turn their desert airstrip into a land base from which to track Osama bin Laden and crush his Taliban protectors.

8.   They worked swiftly under a bright moon to turn their desert airstrip into a land base from which to track bin Laden and crush his Taliban protectors.

9.   What are called deep reconnaissance platoons, comprised of seasoned Marines given special training have begun expanding the radius in which they patrol from the desert airstrip.

10.   An American commander said they had seized a desert airstrip, but provided no details.