A 35 man Italian advance reconnaissance unit landed at Kabul's airport, an advance team for roughly 1,000 troops arriving before the end of February. Half of them from the Alpine Regiment, who are renowned mountain troopers. The Italians will conduct International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) patrols in March, supposedly be working side by side with the US Marines near Khost and Gardez on the Pakistani border. As part of "Enduring Freedom," the Italians also have another Navy ship with 230 crewmen patrolling the Persian Gulf and 120 Air Force men operating the C-130's in Abu Dhabi and Manas airport (Kirghizia). - Adam Geibel