Over the past two years, tens of thousands of U.S.-led coalition troops flooded Taliban strongholds in South Afghanistan. It was a largely successful effort to boost security.

But the Taliban continue to conduct targeted assassinations of pro-government figures. They claimed responsibility for three suicide-bomb attacks in Kandahar on Wednesday. Twenty-two people were killed when bombs went off in a crowded marketplace.

Dan Lamothe, senior writer for Marine Corps Times, just returned after six weeks living with Marines in Helmand Province. He shared perspective on the U.S. handoff to Afghan forces with Capital Insider.