Marine Lt. Andrew Abbott, 23, took it all in as he peered at the graffiti-covered buildings, knowing the lessons he learned recently in one of the city's toughest neighborhoods could help him soon in the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan. ; var ifr = document.getElementById("afz_ifr_1440951622"); ifr.src = "http://media.adfrontiers.com/pq?t=f&s=680&ts=1278953829902&cm=220&ac=5&at=5&xvk=37196353.40664364&fd=t&tc=1&rr=t";

"People are the center of gravity, and if you do everything you can to protect them, then they'll protect you," he said. "That's something true here and pretty much everywhere."