When it comes to understanding southwestern Afghanistan, it’s a good idea to pay attention to what the U.S.’s counterparts in Great Britain are thinking. There are currently some 9,000 British forces deployed in Afghanistan, primarily in Helmand province alongside U.S. Marines. Task Force Helmand, as the British forces are known, covers a broad swath of real estate in between the two U.S. regimental combat teams deployed in the region. The British task force’s leadership is based out of Lashkar Gah, Helmand’s capital, and reports to Maj. Gen. John Toolan, commander of II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) and Regional Command-Southwest, at…