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Volume 79 Edition 176 ©SS 2020 MONDAY,DECEMBER 21, 2020 50¢/Free to Deployed Areas Violence in Kabul continues with blast

BY PHILLIP WALTER WELLMAN Stars and Stripes KABUL, Afghanistan — A large car bomb exploded in the Afghan capital Sunday, killing at least nine people and wounding 20 oth- ers, the country’s Interior Minis- ter said. The blast adds to the near daily attacks seen in Kabul since the Ta- liban and government started peace talks in September, and comes as the U.S. remains on course to reduce the number of American troops in the country to the lowest level since the begin- ning of the war. The Sunday morning attack oc- curred in a western neighborhood of the city and appeared to target parliamentarian Khan Moham- mad Wardak, Interior Minister Massoud Andarabi told reporters. Wardak was wounded, but in PHOTOS BY PAUL SANCYA/AP “good condition,” Andarabi said. Above: A worker gives a thumbs up while transporting boxes containing the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to the loading dock for shipping at the Children and elderly people McKesson distribution center in Olive Branch, Miss., Sunday. Below right: Boxes containing the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. were among the victims, and homes near the blast site were se- verely damaged, the Interior Min- istry said in a separate statement. No group immediately claimed 2nd US vaccine shipping out responsibility for the blast, which came a day after five rockets were fired onto Bagram Airfield, the Moderna-developed shots expected to be available Monday largest U.S. base in Afghanistan. The U.S. military said no casual- Associated Press were boxing up the vaccine developed by Mod- ties or damage resulted from that OLIVE BRANCH, Miss. — Workers on Sun- erna Inc. and the National Institutes of Health. attack. day began packaging shipments of the second The much-needed shots are expected to be giv- The Taliban have vowed to re- COVID-19 vaccine authorized in the U.S., a en starting Monday, just three days after the frain from attacking international desperately needed boost to efforts to bring the Food and Drug Administration authorized forces and Afghan cities as part of coronavirus pandemic under control. a U.S.-Taliban deal signed in Feb- Employees at a factory in the Memphis area SEE SHIPPING ON PAGE 7 ruary, and the local Islamic State affiliate has claimed most large at- INSIDE tacks in recent months. But smaller attacks, such as General sorry for ‘miscommunication’ over shipments Sunday’s targeting high-profile

Page 7 SEE BLAST ON PAGE 6 PAGE 2 • STARS AND STRIPES • Monday, December 21, 2020 BUSINESS/WEATHER States halt virus supply deals with businesses EXCHANGE RATES Military rates So. Korea (Won) 1,099.51 Associated Press of orders this spring, sometimes chases by states this spring for Switzerland (Franc) 0.8839 Euro costs (Dec. 21) $1.20 Thailand (Baht) 29.85 The call went out from states: sticking businesses with huge personal protective equipment Dollar buys (Dec. 21) 0.7951 Turkey (New Lira) 7.6354 British pound (Dec. 21) $1.32 Masks, gowns, gloves and other costs they can’t recoup, according and high-demand medical de- Japanese yen (Dec. 21) 101.00 (Military exchange rates are those available personal protective equipment to an Associated Press analysis of vices, such as ventilators and in- South Korean won (Dec. 21) 1,070.00 to customers at military banking facilities in the Commercial rates country of issuance for Japan, South Korea, Ger­ were needed fast in the battle states’ purchasing data. frared thermometers. many, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Bahrain (Dinar) 0.3770 For nonlocal currency exchange rates (i.e., pur­ against the coronavirus. “It was a nightmare, it was an The AP did not request details Britain (Pound) 1.3507 chasing British pounds in Germany), check with Canada (Dollar) 1.2788 your local military banking facility. Commercial Many businesses that jumped in absolute nightmare,” said Chris- on canceled contracts, but one- China (Yuan) 6.5370 rates are interbank rates provided for reference Denmark (Krone) 6.0763 to help this spring soon found tian Weber, CEO of Advanced third of the states voluntarily pro- Egypt (Pound) 15.7101 when buying currency. All figures are foreign themselves facing delays from Shelter Systems Inc., which saw vided data totaling more than $3 Euro 0.8169 currencies to one dollar, except for the British Hong Kong (Dollar) 7.7521 pound, which is represented in dollars­to­ suppliers and, in some cases, hav- Texas cancel a contract to supply billion in canceled orders. Respi- Hungary (Forint) 292.18 pound, and the euro, which is dollars­to­euro.) Israel (Shekel) 3.2371 ing orders canceled by states too millions of KN95 masks, similar to rator masks like N95s were among Japan (Yen) 103.31 INTEREST RATES impatient to wait. the N95 that filters out particles. the hardest-to-find items and the Kuwait (Dinar) 0.3042 Norway (Krone) 8.5956 Prime rate 3.25 States looking to acquire per- Based on data obtained through most frequently canceled, ac- Philippines (Peso) 48.07 Interest Rates Discount rate 0.25 Poland (Zloty) 3.65 Federal funds market rate 0.09 sonal protective equipment ended open-records requests, the AP tal- counting for about one-third of all Saudi Arab (Riyal) 3.7519 3­month bill 0.08 up halting billions of dollars worth lied more than $7 billion in pur- halted orders in those states. Singapore (Dollar) 1.3280 30­year bond 1.70 WEATHER OUTLOOK MONDAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST MONDAY IN EUROPE TUESDAY IN THE PACIFIC

Misawa 41/28

Kabul Seoul 48/31 44/26 Baghdad 68/48 Tokyo Drawsko Osan Kandahar Mildenhall/ 45/27 50/30 59/30 Pomorskie Busan Lakenheath 40/37 53/38 50/32 Iwakuni Kuwait City 54/32 Bahrain Brussels Zagan Sasebo Guam 70/50 72/64 Ramstein 40/36 54/39 52/45 43/35 86/80 Riyadh Lajes, 69/45 Doha Azores Stuttgart Pápa 63/59 50/46 76/64 Aviano/ 42/31 Vicenza 44/32

Naples 58/46 Okinawa Morón 70/61 60/46 Sigonella Rota 56/43 The weather is provided by the Djibouti 61/51 Souda Bay American Forces Network Weather Center, 84/77 64/58 2nd Weather Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. TODAY IN STRIPES American Roundup ...... 11 Classified ...... 13 Comics ...... 16 Crossword ...... 16 Faces ...... 18 Opinion ...... 14 Sports ...... 20-24 Monday, December 21, 2020 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 3 MILITARY Navy breaks yearly record of transits via Taiwan Strait BY CAITLIN DOORNBOS made nine such trips last year, Stars and Stripes three in 2018 and five in 2017. Be- YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Ja- fore Saturday, the Navy’s most re- pan — The Navy on Saturday broke cent sail through the strait hap- KRISTAN CAMPBELL/U.S. Air Force its record for the number of times it pened Nov. 22 by the guided-mis- A U.S. Marine based in Okinawa helped save the life of a local woman after she was bitten by a habu snake.has sent a warship through the Tai- sile destroyer USS Barry. wan Strait in a single year, accord- The number of Navy trips ing to the Yokosuka-based 7th through the strait has increased Fleet. along with tensions between the Marine credited for saving The guided-missile destroyer United States and China in the USS Mustin steamed through the South and East China seas. Strain contested waterway separating with China over Taiwan has grown Okinawan with snakebite Taiwan from mainland China on after the U.S. this month approved Saturday “in accordance with in- a$280 million sale of advanced mil- BY MATTHEW M. BURKE what was wrong until she started the habu, Hime habu, Sakishima ternational law,” 7th Fleet spokes- itary communications equipment Stars and Stripes screaming out ‘habu, habu.’” habu and Taiwan habu — accord- man Lt. Joe Keiley said by email. to Taiwan. CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — A James, of Dubois, Neb., did not ing to the Okinawa prefectural Navy passes through the 110- Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Marine on Okinawa was credited hesitate, the statement said. He government website. mile-wide strait typically provoke Zheng Zeguang said the sale “seri- Thursday with saving the life of a found the bitemarks and quickly Up to 50 people on Okinawa — condemnation from Beijing, which ously violated the basic norms of in- local woman after she was bitten fastened a tourniquet two inches most often farmers or farmwork- sees Taiwan as a breakaway prov- ternational relations, seriously in- by a venomous habu snake. above the wound, using a friend’s ers — are bitten each year. Habu ince and the waterway its territory. terfered in China’s domestic poli- Sgt. John James, a motor vehi- belt. venom is hemotoxic, destroying The U.S. regards the strait as in- tics, seriously damaged China-U.S. cle operator While the bar owner called blood cells and tissues, according ternational waters and acknowl- relations, are arrogant, unreasona- from Combat emergency services, James con- to the Okinawa Institute of Sci- edges China’s claim to Taiwan un- ble and vile,” according to a Dec. 8 Logistics Bat- tacted a corpsman friend to see ence and Technology Graduate der its “One China” policy but report by The Associated Press. talion 31, was what else he could do, the state- University’s website. Snakebite views the island’s status as unset- The Mustin’s sail came a day af- barbecuing ment said. Local authorities ar- anti-venom is available but the tled. ter Chinese Foreign Ministry with friends at rived quickly. They found the bites can be painful and cause per- “The ship’s transit through the spokesman Wang Wenbin, during the Saloon bar snake and administered the cor- manent tissue damage. Taiwan Strait demonstrates the a press conference Friday, called in Kin town on rect anti-venom. Less than 1% of those bitten by a U.S. commitment to a free and open on the U.S. to “focus on cooperation Nov. 6 when First responders credited habu die, according to a 2013 state- Indo-Pacific,” Keiley said in his to manage differences and bring James they heard a James and his quick actions with ment from the U.S. Naval Hospital email. “The United States military China-U.S. relations back to the scream, Marine saving the woman’s life, the state- Okinawa. The snakes are most ac- will continue to fly, sail and operate right track so as to bring more ben- officials said in a statement Thurs- ment said. tive September through Novem- anywhere international law al- efits to the people of both countries day. James said he spoke to the wom- ber. lows.” and the world.” “We were grilling burgers and an earlier this month, according to Combat Logistics Battalion 31 is The transit was the Navy’s 13th hot dogs and suddenly we heard the statement. She’s doing “really a subordinate unit of the 31st Ma- this year, passing the service’s pre- [email protected] an elderly woman screaming in a well” and went back to work a few rine Expeditionary Unit. vious record of 12 set in 2016. It Twitter: @CaitlinDoornbos language we didn’t understand,” days after the incident.

James said, according to the Ma- There are four types of habu [email protected] rine statement. “We didn’t know snakes indigenous to Okinawa — Twitter: @MatthewMBurke1 Airman in Japan recognized for pocket-sized emergency checklist BY ERICA EARL Col. Regina Agee-Cruz, on be- basic emergency care steps, in- Stars and Stripes half of Lt. Gen. Dorothy Hogg, the cluding checking responsiveness, An airman from Misawa Air Air Force surgeon general, con- checking for pulse and breathing Base has created an easy emer- tacted DaSilva via FaceTime on and administering CPR. gency checklist that earned rec- Oct. 23 to personally applaud her “Anyone can use this card if ognition from the Air Force sur- idea, according to the release. they froze or were scared that geon general and the American Hogg’s office intends to distrib- they didn’t know what to do,” Da- Red Cross. ute it across the Department of Silva said in a video posted on Staff Sgt. Julia DaSilva, of the Defense, and the American Red Misawa’s Facebook page Dec. 13. 35th Medical Group, designed a Cross plans to push it nationwide. It’s particularly useful for pocket-sized card that lists first- “It was truly surprising as I had someone who’s never had to re- aid fundamentals for easy access not heard anything about my idea spond to a medical crisis or taken in a medical emergency, the 35th for some months due to CO- a life support class recently, she Fighter Wing said Dec.10 in a VID-19,” DaSilva said in an email said. news release. Thursday to Stars and Stripes. “I can see people using this to DaSilva, of Port Saint John, DaSilva got the idea for the save millions of lives,” DaSilva Fla., has a lead role in the air card in July 2019 when she was said in the news release. “I never base’s response to the coronavi- taking a Basic Life Support re- expected it to be able to reach so rus pandemic as flight chief for fresher course and realized that a many people, so it is truly beyond the medical group’s COVID cell. quick-reference tool could make a dream come true.” ARTHUR ROSEN/U.S. Navy The card she created includes critical medical knowledge more Petty Officer 1st Class Isis Hernandez, of Albuquerque, N.M., stands step-by-step instructions for readily available. [email protected] lookout watch on the bridge wing as the guided­missile destroyer treating an unresponsive person. The card features a diagram of Twitter: @ThisEarlGirl USS Mustin sails in the East China Sea on Friday. PAGE 4 • STARS AND STRIPES • Monday, December 21, 2020 MILITARY Soldiers spot accident from air, land to help BY IMMANUEL JOHNSON the ground beside the vehicle.” Stars and Stripes Fortunately, the man spoke GRAFENWOEHR, Germany “pretty good English,” Stork said, — Five 101st Airborne Division sol- “because my German is broken.” diers flying over rural Germany Stork evaluated him, making sure were in the right place at the right that he could move his arms and time to help a local man. legs, and was aware of his sur- The four-person crew and flight roundings. surgeon were returning from a “He was in pretty good shape training flight to their base (considering what happened),” Wednesday when crew chief Spc. Stork said. “He had some bruises, Bruce Cook spotted trouble on the scrapes, a little bit of bleeding and ground, out of the corner of his back pain but overall, he was do- eye. ing quite well.” “We were coming over a ridge Shortly after Stork stabilized line and I was looking outside, the driver’s neck and back, an am- where I noticed a puff of white bulance arrived, the Army said in smoke,” he said in a phone inter- a statement. He gave a report to view Friday. “I looked further and the paramedics and helped load I saw a car roll three times.” GARRETT DIPUM/U.S. Army National Guard the man into the vehicle, it said. The crash happened in Fabriks- U.S. Army pilot Chief Warrant Officer 2 Dave Acton, flight engineer Sgt. Patrick Carter, medical officer “As we were getting him on the chleichach, a Bavarian town Maj. Benjamin Stork, crew chief Spc. Bruce Cook and pilot Chief Warrant Officer 2 Robert Riedel, of spine board, the victim got his about an hour’s drive away from Company B, 6th General Support Aviation Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne phone and called his family,” Illesheim, where the 101st Combat Division (Air Assault), stand in front of a CH­47F Chinook helicopter in Illesheim, Germany. Stork said. He was speaking Ger- Aviation Brigade soldiers are man, but “he mentioned U.S. Ar- based during their nine-month ro- from there as a crew,” Cook said. cled back to help. “We landed in a muddy farm my on the phone … I think it was a tation with the Atlantic Resolve After getting clearance from Cook served as a runner be- field and I ran across that, then pretty good impression we mission, a U.S. effort to deter Rus- their mission commander to tween the helicopter and brigade across a ditch, then a road,” Stork made.” sian aggression in Europe. break away, the Chinook piloted surgeon Maj. Benjamin Stork, said. “Saw a vehicle, one or two

“I just called it up and the deci- by Chief Warrant Officers 2 Da- who ran to assess the German civilians standing around it, and [email protected] sion-making started happening vid Acton and Robert Riedel cir- driver. then the injured German man on Twitter: Manny_Stripes Japanese swimmer chases Olympic dream while teaching at base

BY SETH ROBSON Olympics for the first time this AND HANA KUSUMOTO year but the trials and the games Stars and Stripes were postponed due to the corona- YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — virus pandemic. One second separates a swimming Olympic organizers and Japa- instructor at the home of U.S. nese officials say the games will Forces Japan in western Tokyo start July 23 despite recent polling from his dream of representing that suggests most Japanese peo- Japan at next year’s Olympic ple want the event canceled or Games. postponed again. Shotaro Shimazaki, 27, of Ome, As a youngster, Shimazaki com- Japan, has been swimming since peted for the Central Fussa Swim age 6 and teaches intermediate Team, in the city that borders Yo- and expert adult swim classes at kota’s main gate. THERON GODBOLD/Stars and Stripes the Yokota Natatorium. “My teammate was a breast- Shotaro Shimazaki, 27, a swimming instructor at Yokota Air Base, Japan, is a competitive breaststroker The speedster doesn’t brag, ac- stroker,” he recalled. “He was a who plans to enter trials that will determine who competes for Japan at the summer games in Tokyo. cording to his colleagues, but he’s few years older than I was and I a competitive breaststroker and felt that breaststroke was so cool.” Aquatic Center, where the Olym- didn’t mention it and I heard it proper leg technique, he said. plans to enter trials in April that Keiko Aso, 54, coached Shima- pic events will take place, Shima- from other staff.” “The legs are the most impor- will determine who competes for zaki for three years in high school. zaki said. Swimming is a great sport for tant,” he said, demonstrating how Japan at the summer games in To- During a phone interview Tues- “I swam there last week. Every- kids, Shimazaki said. they should be kicked in the cor- kyo. day, she said Shimazaki has a thing is big and there are huge “It’s good for fitness but they al- rect manner to generate power To be selected, Shimazaki, great build for the sport. stands and monitors,” he said, so learn to survive if they fall in the through the water. ranked 16th in Japan for 100-me- “He had a natural aptitude as a adding that the water in the pool is sea or a river,” he said. In summer, Shimazaki goes to ter-breaststroke based on this swimmer but didn’t have the moti- very smooth. Lately, however, he has been fo- Shimoda Beach in Shizuoka pre- year’s results, will need to be one vation,” she said. He fuels himself for training cused on teaching 15 adult expert fecture, south of Tokyo, but of the fastest two swimmers at the But, after competing at the ju- with Japanese food such as rice and intermediate swimmers to doesn’t try to impress people there National Swimming Champion- nior level, Shimazaki’s attitude and natto, a sticky fermented improve their breaststroke times. with his breaststroking and just ships and clock a 100-meter time changed and he started talking bean, he said. He tracks their progress on a enjoys the sun and sand, he said. of under 59.21 seconds, according about the Olympics, Aso said. Shimazaki is popular with chart that shows their improve- Even if he doesn’t make the to information provided by the Ja- “I have hopes for him since he swimmers at Yokota and the par- ment from week to week. Olympic team, Shimazaki said pan Swimming Federation. has accomplished, no matter ents of the 160 kids who take les- Competitive breaststrokers he’s excited about the games com- Right now, he’s swimming the what, when he decided to do so,” sons at the Natatorium, according must breath every stroke, but Shi- ing to Tokyo and hopes to watch distance in about a minute flat, he she said. to base aquatics director Jason mazaki said he can swim the Japan’s baseball team compete. said during a Dec. 9 interview. The young athlete trains 90 min- Fay. length of an Olympic 50-meter “If I can drop one second, I’ll utes a day, five or six days a week, “When I started working with pool underwater. [email protected] Twitter: @SethRobson1 make the team,” he said. mostly at Yokota in preparation him I didn’t realize he was trying A common problem among the [email protected] Shimazaki hoped to enter the for trials at the newly built Tokyo out for the Olympics,” he said. “He recreational breaststrokers is im- Twitter: @HanaKusumoto Monday, December 21, 2020 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 5 MILITARY Flu-shot exercise offers dry run for virus vaccine BY CAITLIN DOORNBOS In the Pacific, the vaccine has Stars and Stripes been sent to hospitals at Camp YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Humphreys in South Korea and Japan — The annual flu-shot cam- Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, as paign, SHOTEX, at the naval hos- well as Tripler Army Medical pital here provided a mass-immu- Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, as nization dry run for the corpsmen part of a pilot program to ensure preparing to inoculate thousands the distribution process works, of personnel with the coming cor- the Pentagon said last week. onavirus vaccine. Over the course of the cam- The Nov. 16-Dec. 11 campaign paign, corpsmen brushed up on provided Navy corpsmen real- skills specific to mass immuniza- world experience that could come tion events, such as how to docu- in handy once the coronavirus ment the immunizations in patient vaccine is available for the gener- records; properly administer al public, Naval Medical Forces shots; handle and transport vac- Pacific spokeswoman Regena Ko- cines, Kowitz said. They also en- CAITLIN DOORNBOS/Stars and Stripes witz said in an email Friday. sured their basic life support cer- A box labeled “mass quarantine supplies” sits inside the Purdy Gym at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, on “Across Navy Medicine, we tifications were up to date “in case Dec. 11, the final day of the installation’s annual flu shot campaign. have a lot of experience providing of an emergency or adverse reac- mass immunizations, whether it’s tion.” Though avoiding sickness has there. and any unique requirements, to vaccinate large numbers of new “Any opportunity to administer been top-of-mind throughout the With everyone standing six feet such as storage and handling.” recruits in basic training or the an- vaccines on a large scale, such as pandemic, Kowitz said she could apart, the line into Purdy Gym for For example, current coronavi- nual influenza SHOTEX,” she the annual flu shot exercise, is an not speculate why the turnout was the shot extended outside and rus vaccines have temperature re- said. “Any vaccine that would opportunity for our corpsmen to much higher this year than in pre- wrapped around the building quirements, which would require need to be administered on a large build their skills for future exer- vious flu-shot campaigns. throughout the first weeks of the freezing capabilities. The Pfizer- scale would likely be done in a cises like this,” Kowitz said in the At Yokosuka, the vaccine was campaign. Several patients re- BioNTech vaccine must be kept at similar way.” email. distributed for the first time at the ported waiting for more than two minus 94 degrees F, while the For now, only medical workers, In a little less than a month, Yo- base’s Purdy Gym. In years past, it hours. Later, people were told to Moderna vaccine must be stored residents and staff of Defense De- kosuka Naval Hospital staff vacci- was given at Sullivans Elemen- come on specific days in accord- at minus 4 degrees F. partment care homes, high-risk nated nearly 8,800 service mem- tary School, but the need for social ance with their last names to even Though the flu shot campaign beneficiaries, emergency respon- bers, military personnel and de- distancing required a larger space out the turnout. has since ended, immunizations ders and security personnel are pendents, Kowitz said. That’s this year, according to Kowitz. It While Kowitz said the coronavi- remain available at the hospital. receiving the vaccine until suppli- about 86 percent of the 10,173 flu was also made available at the Ike- rus vaccine could be distributed in es grow, according to the Penta- shots given throughout last year’s go housing area, about 6.5 miles a similar manner, it also “would [email protected] gon. flu season. from the main base, for residents depend on the specific vaccine Twitter: @CaitlinDoornbos Some bases in Japan offer free virus tests for troops BY ERICA EARL installation’s clinics at least two days before Stars and Stripes the desired testing date and provide copies of TOKYO — Some U.S. military bases in Ja- their travel itinerary and leave request pan are providing coronavirus screenings forms. for service members, their families and civil- While the pre-screenings are just in time ian employees heading home for the holi- for holiday travel, some bases will be extend- days, and beyond. ing them into next year. Medical centers at Naval Air Facility Atsu- “In support of Team Kadena’s ongoing ef- gi, Sasebo Naval Base, Yokota Air Base and forts to protect not only local communities Kadena Air Base are offering the tests, which but also off-island populations, pre-med some U.S. states require prior to entry. While screenings will be conducted for the foresee- tests are free for active-duty service mem- able future for areas that require them, not bers, there may be fees for civilians, contrac- just during the holidays,” Kadena spokes- tors and retirees based on each installation’s man Tech. Sgt. Daniel Fernandez said policy. Wednesday by email. Alaska, Hawaii and Maryland require The U.S. Army Japan headquarters at proof of a negative coronavirus test at least 72 Camp Zama will not provide pre-travel hours before entry; Pennsylvania requires screenings, spokesperson Kevin Krejcarek the same proof for anyone age 11 and above, said in a phone call Thursday. NATALIE GREENWOOD/ U.S. Marine Corps according to the Centers for Disease Control Negative coronavirus tests, even where Medical centers on some bases in Japan are offering free coronavirus screenings for and Prevention website as of Tuesday. required for travel, do not preclude service troops heading home for the holidays. Yokosuka Naval Hospital is offering tests members, their families, contractors or civil- only for active-duty service members and ian employees from mandatory quarantines to Stars and Stripes’ inquiries. pointment or $465 without one. The cost at their families, according to a spokesperson when returning from overseas travel, he Japanese public health authorities admin- Haneda is $385. for the medical center. said. ister the tests at Narita and Haneda interna-

NAF Atsugi, 26 miles south of Tokyo, rec- Marine Corps Installations Pacific and III tional airports near Tokyo, but they aren’t [email protected] ommends travelers contact their respective Marine Expeditionary Force did not respond cheap. The cost at Narita is $325 with an ap- Twitter: @ThisEarlGirl PAGE 6 • STARS AND STRIPES • Monday, December 21, 2020 WAR/MILITARY Military in Europe to receive virus vaccines soon

BY JOHN VANDIVER in the city’s west, inside the for- AND MARCUS KLOECKNER mer part of the Opel factory and Stars and Stripes near the U.S. Army’s Rhine Ord- STUTTGART, Germany — The nance Barracks. U.S. military could begin adminis- Explaining the discrepancy, tering the coronavirus vaccine to Lessmeister said the state health health care workers and emergen- ministry had not communicated cy responders in Europe within with the U.S. military. days, while German authorities In Baden-Wuerttemberg, home are readying vaccination centers to U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart, that could be open to military-af- the state health ministry said SO- filiated Americans in some loca- FA-status Americans will be tions. treated like Germans and receive “We are prepared to receive the coronavirus vaccine if they (the coronavirus vaccine) as early show up at off-post vaccination as next week,” Brig. Gen. Mark W. centers. Thompson, head of Regional Americans may use an app or Health Command Europe, said in call a phone number to arrange an a phone interview Friday. appointment to receive the vac- It’s not yet finalized whether the cine at no cost, the ministry told Pfizer or Moderna vaccine will be Stars and Stripes. The producer of administered, but the military in the vaccine, medical officials or Europe has a preference. the state would cover any poten- The Moderna vaccine, which tial harm the vaccine may cause, a received emergency approval by ministry official said. the FDA on Friday, is easier to Government health officials in store and transport, Thompson Bavaria did not immediately say said. That gives it an advantage for whether they would provide the a dispersed U.S. military commu- vaccine to SOFA-status Ameri- nity in Europe, he said. cans at their vaccination centers. If it ends up being the Pfizer Germany is still waiting for the version — a vaccine also devel- European Medicine Agency to ap- oped by the Mainz-based compa- prove the vaccination the country ny BioNTech — the military has a will use. When it does arrive, it system in place to handle that as could take some time before the well, Thompson said. vaccination is widely available to The pilot vaccination phase will MARCUS KLOECKNER/Stars and Stripes the general population. begin with personnel at Landstuhl A person proceeds to a checkout desk in a demonstration of procedures at the coronavirus vaccination German Health Minister Jens Regional Medical Center and oth- center in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Friday. Spahn, in an interview with ZDF er military clinics in Europe. It news Friday, outlined a plan that will last about a month, since inoc- fast manufacturers can supply cans in the country under the NA- sioner Ralf Lessmeister said that calls for dividing vaccination can- ulation requires two shots, weeks them and how the U.S. govern- TO Status of Forces Agreement he and Maj. Gen. Randall Reed, didates into priority groups. apart. ment distributes them. when they begin vaccinations. the commander of Third Air The first group includes people At Ramstein Air Base, the vac- That could raise the prospect of They are expected to start in early Force, discussed that all Ameri- over 80, nursing home staff and cine will be offered to first respon- choosing to get a shot off-base at a January, with German health care cans in the Kaiserslautern mili- select medical workers. The sec- ders, police, firefighters and se- private health care provider, workers and the elderly first in tary community that fall under ond group is composed of people lect health care personnel, base should a host nation like Germany line. SOFA should receive the vaccine over 70; those with trisomy 21, de- officials said. receive supplies faster than the But in Rheinland-Pfalz, home to on base. mentia and transplant patients; After the monthlong pilot phase military. about 50,000 U.S. personnel and The only Americans who would asylum seekers and homeless is finished, vaccines will go to Thompson said personnel, to in- family members, health officials be eligible to get inoculated on the shelter residents; close contacts of highly deployed forces, high-risk clude civilians and family mem- had a different message Thurs- German side would be civilians people in need of certain medical populations and lastly the remain- bers, should consult with their day: Americans could be turned registered with their local city care; and pregnant women. ing military force and civilian health care provider as vaccines away at Kaiserslautern district hall, Lessmeister said. The third group includes people community, Thompson said. become available. vaccination centers, despite an Military officials have long dis- over 60, those with certain chronic The aim is to have all personnel Still, it isn’t yet clear which com- earlier statement provided to couraged most personnel from diseases; police and firefighters; who want the shots to be vaccinat- munities in Germany will allow Stars and Stripes by the state’s registering, which could subject some government workers, edu- ed within the calendar year, he military-affiliated Americans to health ministry that “members of their government paychecks to cators and retail workers. said, adding that the decision to be use free vaccination centers off the U.S. armed forces and their questioning by German income inoculated is voluntary. base. relatives” would be “treated like tax officials. The speed of delivering vac- Two German states where U.S. all other German citizens in the Lessmeister spoke to reporters Stars and Stripes reporter Jennifer H. Svan contributed to this report. cines to the U.S. military commu- forces are stationed said last week vaccination strategy.” Thursday during a tour of Kaiser- [email protected] nity in Europe will hinge on how that they would include Ameri- Kaiserslautern district commis- slautern’s new vaccination center Twitter: @john_vandiver Blast: Hope for Afghan peace eroding as violence continues

FROM PAGE 1 the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani liament, was the second lawmak- The perpetual violence has duce the number of troops in Af- Afghans, have become a frequent network, the Interior Ministry er attacked in a week. On Dec. 13, made Afghans more doubtful ghanistan to 2,500 by the middle occurrence in Kabul and other said. a bomb attached to the car of par- about future peace. of January. Under the U.S.-Tali- parts of the country, and many In a statement condemning liamentarian Tofeq Wahdt killed Optimism over the ongoing ban agreement, all remaining government officials have put the Sunday’s bombing, President his driver and security guard and peace process dropped from 86% troops could be withdrawn by blame on the Taliban. Ashraf Ghani said the Taliban left him wounded. No one claimed in the summer to 57% this fall, ac- May if the Taliban is able to meet In September, a bomb targeting should stop violence against civil- responsibility for the attack. Two cording to a survey by the Insti- certain anti-terrorism require- Vice President Amrullah Saleh ians and agree to a ceasefire. But days later on Dec. 15, a bomb at- tute of War and Peace Studies, a ments. detonated in central Kabul, killing he didn’t directly blame the group tached to the car of Kabul’s depu- Kabul-based think tank. 10 civilians. The Taliban denied for the blast. ty provincial governor, Mahbo- Despite the violence, the Zubair Babakarkhail contributed to this report. involvement, but explosives Wardak, a prominent business- bullah Mohibi, exploded, killing Trump administration announced [email protected] found at the scene were linked to man as well as a member of par- him and two others. last month that the U.S. would re- Twitter: @pwwellman Monday, December 21, 2020 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 7 VIRUS OUTBREAK New strain leads some EU nations to halt UK flights

BY KIRSTEN GRIESHABER German officials, meanwhile, AND SYLVIA HUI said they were considering “seri- Associated Press ous options” regarding incoming BERLIN — One by one, several flights from the U.K. and the European Union nations banned Czech Republic imposed stricter flights from the U.K. on Sunday quarantine measures from people and others like Germany were arriving from Britain. An EU offi- considering such action, all in cial, who spoke on condition of hopes of blocking a new strain of anonymity because the talks were coronavirus sweeping across still ongoing, said Sunday after- southern England from establish- noon that the EU Commission was ing a strong foothold on the Conti- in touch with member states on nent. the rapidly developing situation. The Netherlands banned flights Just days before Christmas, PETER DEJONG / AP from the U.K. for at least the rest high-speed train operator Euros- Arriving and departing passengers use the flat escalators at Schiphol Airport, near Amsterdam, of the year while Belgium issued a tar canceled its trains between Netherlands, on Friday. The Netherlands is banning flights from the United Kingdom for the rest of the flight ban for 24 hours starting at London, Brussels and Amsterdam year in an attempt to make sure that a new strain of the COVID­19 virus does not reach its shores. midnight and also halted train beginning Monday, but kept trains links to Britain, including the Eu- operating on the London-to-Paris strains appeared to be driving the learned. well, the dpa news agency reported rostar. Austria and Italy said they route. rapid spread of new infections in The new strain was identified in Sunday. would halt flights from the U.K. The EU governments said they London and southern England. But southeastern England in Septem- The European Medicines Agen- but did not say exactly when that were taking action in response to he added “there’s no evidence to ber and has been circulating in the cy is meeting Monday to approve would take place. tougher measures imposed Satur- suggest it is more lethal or causes area ever since, a WHO official told the first COVID-19 vaccine for the Italian Foreign Minister Luigi day by British Prime Minister Bo- more severe illness,” or that vac- the BBC on Sunday. European Union’s 27 nations, Di Maio said on Twitter that the ris Johnson on London and its sur- cines will be less effective against “What we understand is that it bringing vaccinations closer for government was preparing the rounding areas. Johnson immedi- it. does have increased transmissibil- millions of EU citizens. The vac- ban “to protect Italians” from the ately put those regions into a new The World Health Organization ity, in terms of its ability to spread,” cine made by German pharmaceu- new coronavirus variant. About Tier 4 restriction level, upending tweeted late Saturday that it was said Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s tical company BioNTech and two dozen flights were scheduled Christmas plans for millions. “in close contact with U.K. officials technical lead on COVID-19. American drugmaker Pfizer is al- to arrive in Italy on Sunday, most Johnson said a fast-moving new on the new #COVID19 virus varia- Germany has not yet spelled out ready in use in the United States, in the northern region of Lombar- variant of the virus that is 70% nt” and promised to update gov- a ban but is considering limiting or Britain, Canada and other coun- dy but also to Venice and Rome. more transmissible than existing ernments and the public as more is halting flights from the U.K. as tries. Shipping: Panel General apologizes for debating who will ‘miscommunication’ over vaccine shipments get the next doses Associated Press that are ready to be released. The Army general in charge of The finished product must un- FROM PAGE 1 getting COVID-19 vaccines across dergo “rigorous quality control their emergency rollout. the United States apologized on and sterility Later Sunday, an expert committee was to debate Saturday for “miscommunica- tests,” which can who should be next in line for early doses of the Mod- tion” with states over the number take up to a erna vaccine and a similar one from Pfizer Inc. and PAUL SANCYA / AP of doses to be delivered in the month, the De- Germany’s BioNTech. Pfizer’s shots were first ship- Boxes containing the Moderna COVID­19 vaccine are early stages of distribution. partment of ped out a week ago and started being used the next prepared to be shipped at the McKesson distribution “I failed. I’m adjusting. I am fix- Health and Hu- day, kicking off the nation’s biggest vaccination drive. center in Olive Branch, Miss., on Sunday. ing and we will move forward man Services Public health experts say the shots — and others in from there,” Gen. Gustave Perna said. the pipeline — are the only way to stop a virus that has sential workers” next in line, because people like bus told reporters in a telephone brief- The Food and been spreading wildly. Nationwide, more than drivers, grocery store clerks and others are the ones ing. Perna Drug Adminis- 219,000 people per day on average test positive for the getting infected most often. But other experts say peo- Perna’s remarks came a day af- tration then virus, which has killed more than 314,000 in the U.S. ple 65 and older should be next, along with people ter a second vaccine was added in must receive a certificate of analy- and nearly 1.7 million worldwide. with certain medical conditions, because those are the fight against COVID-19, which sis 48 hours before the manufac- The Pfizer and Moderna shots shipped so far and the Americans who are dying at the highest rates. has killed more than 312,000 peo- turer ships a batch, the govern- going out over the next few weeks are nearly all going The expert panel’s advice is almost always en- ple in the U.S. Governors in more ment said. to health care workers and residents of long-term dorsed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and than a dozen states have said the Perna said the government now care homes, based on the advice of the Advisory Com- Prevention. No matter what the CDC says, there will federal government has told them is on track to get approximately 20 mittee on Immunization Practices. be differences from state to state, because their health that next week’s shipment of the million doses to states by the first That panel was meeting Sunday to debate who departments have different ideas about who should Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be week of January, a combination of should get the doses available after those early shots be closer to the front of the line. less than originally projected. the newly approved Moderna vac- are given. Both the new Moderna vaccine and the Pfizer- The general said he made mis- cine and the Pfizer-BioNTech vac- There won’t be enough shots for the general pop- BioNTech shot require two doses several weeks takes by citing numbers of doses cine. ulation until spring, so doses will be rationed at least apart. The second dose must be from the same com- that he believed would be ready. Perna said 2.9 million Pfizer- for the next several months. pany as the first. Both vaccines appeared safe and There’s a distinction between BioNTech doses have been deliv- The panel members are leaning toward putting “es- strongly protective in large, still unfinished studies. manufactured vaccine and doses ered to states so far. PAGE 8 • STARS AND STRIPES • Monday, December 21, 2020 VIRUS OUTBREAK Military medical crews vaccinated in Hawaii BY WYATT OLSON to receive flu vaccine each year. But the Stars and Stripes coronavirus vaccine is entirely voluntary at TRIPLER ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, this point. Hawaii — Hundreds of military medical “We have well over 50% of the folks vol- personnel on Oahu had been inoculated unteering to receive the vaccine,” said Col. against the coronavirus as of Thursday Ingrid Lim, deputy commander for medi- morning, two days after Tripler Army cal services at Tripler. That amounted to “a Medical Center received an initial batch of few hundred” volunteers as of Thursday Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. morning, she said. The medical center on the outskirts of Personnel who opt out are encouraged to Honolulu serves all uniformed branches. It reconsider and “to talk to either family is one of 16 Defense Department sites members or their doctor if they have spe- around the world to begin a vaccination cific medical conditions that they are con- drive aiming to protect roughly 11.1 million cerned about,” she said. defense personnel from COVID-19, the dis- The attitude of those already inoculated MACKENZIE WALSH/ Tripler Army Medical Center ease caused by the virus. has “run from ecstatic and excited and Dr. Scott Belnap, a physician at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, “We’re honored that we get to be a key can’t-wait to those who are, you know, ‘It’s receives the COVID­19 vaccine on Dec. 16. player in reaching the end of COVID,” Col. just another vaccine,’” she said. “But most Martin Doperak, Tripler’s commander, folks who are taking it now are excited to be family members and military retirees of all observed. said during a news conference Thursday part of history and also excited to get the service branches in Hawaii. That number “A unit that’s going to deploy will be morning on the medical center’s sprawling vaccine to protect themselves. They see it does not include Defense Department civil- ahead of a soldier that’s not going to deploy grounds. as an essential component to providing ian personnel. and be back here at home station,” Doperak Citing operational security concerns, good clinical care and being safe.” Hawaii’s civilian medical facilities are said. Doperak declined to say how many initial Tripler was chosen as one of the Defense distributing roughly 5,000 doses of vaccine The Pfizer vaccination requires a second doses of vaccine Tripler received. Department sites for the vaccine rollout be- received directly from Pfizer. Another shot 21 days after the initial inoculation, but The doses on hand are being given in a cause of the state’s sizable defense person- 7,800 doses are expected to be delivered the Tripler staff is not holding back any of “phased approach” under guidelines devel- nel footprint and the medical center’s ultra- next week. the initially received doses, which offer oped by the Defense Department, Depart- cold storage capability. Doperak said that less at-risk categories 50% to 70% efficacy compared to 95% effec- ment of Health and Human Services and The Pfizer vaccine must be stored at mi- of people will be offered inoculations as tiveness of the double dose. the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- nus 94 degrees Fahrenheit or it will break Tripler receives additional doses of vaccine “We are giving as many people as pos- vention, he said. down and become ineffective. in coming days. sible that first dose because it gives them “[We] are first inoculating our intensive- The first shipments of Pfizer vaccine to The phased approach prioritizes vaccine some protection,” he said. care unit personnel; emergency room and the 16 installations are serving as a pilot ef- for military heath care workers most at- Tripler was among the sites nationwide urgent-care personnel; first responders; in- fort, testing for glitches in the system be- risk for infection, a group that includes discovering last week that each vial of vac- patient and outpatient health delivery; and fore larger quantities are distributed, Dop- members of security forces, fire depart- cine intended to inoculate five people had support personnel,” Doperak said. “Basi- erak said. ments, first responders and ambulance enough for a sixth, sometimes seventh, cally, those that will come into contact with The Defense Department only received drivers, he said. shot. COVID patients. This first tier includes just under 44,000 doses of vaccine from Subsequent phases focus on populations “That basically is a Christmas present for both active-duty, civilians and contractors Pfizer, which are being distributed to the 16 with elevated risk of dying from COVID-19. the whole health care system,” Doperak who have volunteered to receive the vac- installations in proportion to the population Only after that will the vaccine become said. “You can basically say we’ve in- cine.” size of the selected sites, the Pentagon said available to the generally healthy active du- creased the amount we have by 20%.” Defense Department policy requires all in a news release Tuesday. ty service members and dependents, he active duty and reserve personnel, as well Tripler supports a beneficiary popula- said. [email protected]  as anyone working in the health care field, tion of more than 140,000 service members, But even then, certain priorities will be Twitter: @WyattWOlson Mostly virus-free Kauai hit by pandemic after travel resumes Associated Press ed the cost of vacationing in para- mi. HONOLULU — On Hawaii’s dise, for now, is too high. Seeking to prevent such a sce- rural island of Kauai, where Clark got COVID-19 in Novem- nario, Kawakami proposed a man- sprawling white sand beaches and ber and died about 10 days later. datory second test for all arriving dramatic seaside mountains at- At age 84, he worked until he con- passengers after arrival. His plan tract visitors from around the tracted the disease and most re- would have included a short quar- world, local residents spent the cently shuttled airline pilots and antine while people awaited their first seven months of the pandem- crew to and from the airport. Air- second result. ic sheltered from the viral storm. line crews are exempt from the “We think having a negative test Early and aggressive local mea- state’s testing and quarantine is a good prerequisite to getting on sures coupled with a strictly en- rules. a plane,” Kawakami said. But forced statewide travel quaran- The day after Clark’s death, “once you land on Kauai ... (trav- tine kept Kauai’s 72,000 residents Kauai officials said they would opt elers) should be able to sit and cool mostly healthy — the island had out of the state’s testing program off for three days.” only 61 known coronavirus cases and require visitors to again quar- But the proposal was turned from March through September. antine for two weeks whether or down by state officials, with Dem- CALEB JONES / AP But on Oct. 15, the state launched a not they test negative for CO- ocratic Gov. David Ige saying the A woman walks into the international airport in Honolulu in October, pre-travel testing program to reig- amid a quarantine rule that effectively shut down the tourism industry VID-19 before arriving. plan would have to be locally fund- nite Hawaii’s decimated tourism in the state. Kauai officials say the single- ed and administered. economy. test scheme did not do enough to After the Kauai surge, the state Kauai went from having no in- who worked for decades as a tour state to sidestep quarantine rules, protect the people who live there. Department of Health traced fections to at least 84 new cases in driver. the Kauai spike illustrates the dif- With only nine ICU beds and 14 most of the island’s October and seven weeks. The surge seeded Despite Hawaii’s cautious ef- ficulty of preserving public health ventilators, the island’s health November cases to returning resi- community transmission and led fort at reopening that allowed — even on an isolated island — care system could quickly become dents and tourists who brought the to the island’s first — and so far on- travelers who tested negative for when economic recovery relies on overwhelmed by a large outbreak, virus in despite the pre-flight test- ly — COVID-19 death: Ron Clark, COVID-19 before they flew to the travel. Kauai officials have decid- said Kauai Mayor Derek Kawaka- ing program. Monday, December 21, 2020 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 9 NATION Trump downplays Russia connection to hacking

BY JILL COLVIN down, according to one U.S. offi- clear over the past week that the AND MATTHEW LEE cial familiar with the conversa- operation appears to be the work Associated Press tions who spoke on condition of of Russia. There has been no cred- WASHINGTON — Contradict- anonymity to discuss private de- ible suggestion that any other ing his secretary of state and other liberations. country — including China — is top officials, President Donald It is not clear whether Pompeo responsible. Trump suggested without evi- got that message before his inter- Democrats in Congress who AP dence that China — not Russia — view, but officials are now scram- have received classified briefings The Pentagon, with the Washington Monument in the background. may be behind the cyber espion- bling to figure out how to square have also affirmed publicly that age operation against the United the disparate accounts. Russia, which in 2014 hacked the States and tried to minimize its The White House did not imme- State Department and interfered Lawmaker criticizes DOD impact. diately respond to questions about through hacking in the 2016 presi- In his first comments on the the statement or the basis of dential election, was behind it. breach, Trump scoffed at the fo- Trump’s claims. The State De- It’s not clear exactly what the plan for cybersecurity split cus on the Kremlin and down- partment also did not respond to hackers were seeking, but experts Associated Press cess to U.S. government computer played the intrusions, which the questions about Pompeo’s re- say it could include nuclear se- WASHINGTON— The Penta- systems and likely purloined a nation’s cybersecurity agency has marks. crets, blueprints for advanced gon is proposing to end an ar- trove of delicate secrets over a warned posed a “grave” risk to Throughout his presidency, weaponry, COVID-19 vaccine-re- rangement in which a single mil- monthslong period before being government and private net- Trump has refused to blame Rus- lated research and information itary officer leads two of the na- detected. works. sia for well-documented hostili- for dossiers on government and tion’s main cybersecurity organi- Secretary of State Mike Pompeo “The Cyber Hack is far greater ties, including its interference in industry leaders. zations, a move that a leading said on Friday that Russia was in the Fake News Media than in the 2016 election to help him get Russia has said it had “nothing Democrat said Saturday makes “pretty clearly” behind the hack, actuality. I have been fully briefed elected. He blamed his predeces- to do” with the hacking. him “profoundly concerned” which is ongoing. On Saturday, and everything is well under con- sor, Barack Obama, for Russia’s While Trump downplayed the amid a large-scale hacking cam- President Donald Trump suggest- trol,” Trump tweeted Saturday. annexation of Crimea, has en- impact of the hacks, the Cyberse- paign on U.S. government com- ed without evidence that China — He also claimed the media are dorsed allowing Russia to return curity and Infrastructure Securi- puter systems. not Russia — may be behind the “petrified” of “discussing the pos- to the G-7 group of nations and ty Agency has said it compro- Rep. Adam Smith, chairman of hack and tried to minimize its im- sibility that it may be China (it has never taken the country to mised federal agencies as well as the House Armed Services Com- pact. may!).” task for allegedly putting bounties “critical infrastructure.” mittee, said in a letter to acting De- A U.S. official confirmed Satur- There is no evidence to suggest on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan. Homeland Security, the agen- fense Secretary Christopher Mill- day that the Pentagon has a plan that is the case. Secretary of State Pompeo in the interview said cy’s parent department, defines er that he objects to the way the for separating the National Secu- Mike Pompeo said late Friday the government was still “un- such infrastructure as any “vital” Pentagon is going about splitting rity Agency and Cyber Command. that Russia was “pretty clearly” packing” the cyberespionage op- assets to the U.S. or its economy, a off U.S. Cyber Command from the The official spoke on condition of behind the operation against the eration and some of it would likely broad category that could include National Security Agency. anonymity to discuss an internal United States. remain classified. power plants and financial institu- Both organizations currently matter not publicly announced. “This was a very significant ef- “But suffice it to say there was a tions. are headed by Army Gen. Paul In his letter to Miller, Smith said fort and I think it’s the case that significant effort to use a piece of One U.S. official, speaking Nakasone, an arrangement known the Pentagon has not met condi- now we can say pretty clearly that third-party software to essentially Thursday on condition of ano- as “dual-hatting.” tions set by the 2017 defense bill it was the Russians that engaged embed code inside of U.S. govern- nymity to discuss a matter that is “Any action to sever the dual- for severing the NSA from Cyber in this activity,” Pompeo said in ment systems and it now appears under investigation, described the hat relationship could have grave Command. Those conditions in- the interview with radio talk show systems of private companies and hack as severe and extremely da- impacts on our national security, clude certification by the secreta- host Mark Levin. companies and governments maging. especially during a time that the ry of defense and the chairman of Officials at the White House across the world as well,” he said. “This is looking like it’s the country is wrestling with what the Joint Chiefs of Staff that end- had been prepared to put out a Though Pompeo was the first worst hacking case in the history may be the most damaging cyber- ing the “dual-hat” arrangement statement Friday afternoon that Trump administration official to of America,” the official said. attack in our country’s history,” will not hurt national security. accused Russia of being “the publicly blame Russia for the in- “They got into everything.” Smith wrote. Smith sent a similar letter to main actor” in the hack, but were trusion, cybersecurity experts Trump had been silent on the Smith was referring to revela- Gen. Mark A. Milley, the Joint told at the last minute to stand and other U.S. officials have been hacks before Saturday. tions that elite hackers gained ac- Chiefs chairman. Senate investigators fault FAA over Boeing jet, safety Associated Press Both grew out of concern about review the report in full,” the Chi- in a flight simulator respond to the division manager was first invit- Boeing improperly influenced a the agency’s approval of the Boe- cago-based company said. problem in a few seconds. The re- ed, then excluded from a review of test designed to see how quickly ing Max. All Max planes were grounded action of three flight crews was the Max crashes even though his pilots could respond to malfunc- In a statement, the FAA said the worldwide after crashes in Indo- still slower than Boeing had as- position normally would call for tions on the Boeing 737 Max, and report “contains a number of un- nesia and Ethiopia killed 346 peo- sumed, according to the report. him to participate in the review. Federal Aviation Administration substantiated allegations” and de- ple. Following a lengthy review of Each time the plane would have The official said he believes he officials may have obstructed a re- fended its review of the Max, call- Boeing changes, the FAA last been thrown into a nose-down was excluded to shield FAA from view of two deadly crashes involv- ing it thorough and deliberate. month approved the plane to fly pitch, although recovery would criticism. ing the plane, Senate investigators “We are confident that the safe- again if airlines update a key have been possible, the investiga- The committee chairman, Rog- say. ty issues that played a role in the flight-control system and make tors said. er Wicker, R-Miss., called the in- In a report released Friday, the tragic accidents involving Lion other changes. In the two Max crashes, a fail- vestigators’ findings troubling. Senate Commerce Committee al- Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Air- The Senate report, however, ure of the key flight system, called “The report details a number of so said the FAA continues to retal- lines Flight 302 have been ad- criticized a key part of the FAA re- MCAS, pushed the nose down re- significant examples of lapses in iate against whistleblowers. The dressed through the design chang- view. It said that Boeing “inappro- peatedly, sending the planes into aviation safety oversight and FAA’s parent agency, the Trans- es required and independently ap- priately influenced” FAA testing fatal dives. failed leadership in the FAA,” portation Department, has also proved by the FAA and its part- of pilot-reaction time to a nose- The FAA countered that it was Wicker said in a statement. “It is hindered investigators by failing ners,” the agency said. down pitch of the plane. an FAA pilot who discovered a clear that the agency requires to turn over documents, it said. Boeing didn’t comment on spe- According to a whistleblower separate computer issue in the consistent oversight to ensure The report follows a similarly cific allegations. who was an FAA safety inspector, plane, a flaw that took Boeing ad- their work to protect the flying scathing review of the FAA by a “We take seriously the Commit- Boeing representatives watched ditional months to fix. public is executed fully and cor- House panel earlier this year. tee’s findings and will continue to and gave advice to help test pilots Investigators also said an FAA rectly.” PAGE 10 • STARS AND STRIPES • Monday, December 21, 2020 NATION Boston police seen pepper-spraying, shoving protesters

Associated Press ters to our attention so that we can BOSTON — Boston police and investigate them appropriately.” prosecutors are investigating af- Mayor Marty Walsh said in a ter body camera footage surfaced statement that the footage is diffi- that shows officers pushing pro- cult to watch and that he hopes to testers, pepper-spraying crowds get answers through the investiga- and one officer talking about hit- tion. ting protesters with a police vehi- “We never want to see police of- cle. ficers using more force than nec- A sergeant has been placed on essary, even when tensions are DARRON CUMMINGS/AP administrative leave after the leak high,” he said. Malina Jeffers looks at the Black Lives Matter street mural stretching across Indiana Avenue on Dec. 10 inlast week of the footage captured A spokesperson for Suffolk Indianapolis. during Boston demonstrations County District Attorney Rachael early June 1 after the killing of Ge- Rollins said she is also investigat- orge Floyd by police in Minneapo- ing. lis. The head of Boston’s largest po- Artists, activists rush to save The videos posted Friday by lice union accused the the defense The Appeal, an online news outlet, attorney who provided the videos show officers spraying pepper to the news outlet of “stitching to- murals of Black Lives Matter spray on people and into crowds, gether several contextually defi- pushing nonviolent demonstra- cient video snippets” to falsely BY CHRISTINE FERNANDO “The art was changing quickly, local Black artists behind the origi- tors to the ground and one officer portray police as “the real enemy Associated Press and these raw, immediate re- nal mural. More than 1,000 shirts saying he may have hit people in the city that night.” INDIANAPOLIS — Neither sponses were being erased and have been sold. Vinyl banners rep- with a car. “The reality-altering effort and woman could bring themselves to painted over,” said Todd Law- resenting 24 other murals painted An attorney for the protesters insult aside, the fact remains, the watch the video of George Floyd’s rence, an associate professor of En- in the downtown area are displayed has requested the video. violence and hatred perpetrated final moments, his neck pinned un- glish at the University of St. Tho- at the city’s Central Library. Police Commissioner William against our officers and our City der a Minneapolis police officer’s mas in St. Paul, Minn., and one of “All of us know the mural won’t Gross said in a statement that he that night will forever be en- knee. the database’s creators. “We want be there forever,” Jeffers said. “So ordered an investigation as soon grained in the minds and memo- But as their city grieved, Leesa people to see the full range of re- we all wanted a piece of it to hold on- as the videos were brought to his ries of our officers and their fam- Kelly and Kenda Zellner-Smith sponses, the complexity, the multi- to.” attention. ilies because of the damage done found much-needed comfort in the tude of voices.” For Seattle’s Black Lives Matter “I have placed a sergeant in- by cop-hating anarchists and agi- messages of anguish and hope that Lawrence and art history profes- street mural, Mexican American volved in this incident on adminis- tators who showed up to a peace- appeared on boarded-up windows sor Heather Shirey were part of a artist Angelina Villalobos, aka 179, trative leave and I will take any ful protest armed for violence and as residents turned miles of ply- research team already document- mixed her mother’s ashes into the additional action as necessary at looking for a fight,” Larry Calde- wood into canvases. Now, they’re ing street art. When the streets of bright green paint she used for the the conclusion of the investiga- rone of the Boston Police Patrol- working to save those murals be- countless cities became temporary letter A. City workers scrubbed the tion,” Gross said. “I want to en- men’s Association said in a state- fore they vanish. galleries after Floyd’s death, they mural from the asphalt after it be- courage people to bring these mat- ment. “These walls speak,” said Zell- set out to capture the art before it gan chipping, but one worker col- ner-Smith, who said she was too disappeared. lected paint from each letter, which numb to cry after Floyd’s killing. Although many of the 1,600 art- Villalobos plans to keep on her “They’re the expressions of com- works in the crowdsourced data- mother’s altar in the kitchen. Man arrested on trip across munities. We want these feelings, base come from Minneapolis, Shi- “I’m getting my mom back, but hopes, calls to action to live on.” rey said they hope to expand to she’s been transformed,” she said. US with girl, 12, sheriff says Together, the two Black women pieces from around the world. “It’s like ... a time capsule of that formed Save the Boards to Memo- “Oppression and racial violence mural experience and all the work out of her house around 2 a.m. rialize the Movement, part of a is unfortunately universal, so art is and thought and pain that went into Associated Press Monday. They took a rideshare car push to preserve the ephemeral ex- responding to it around the world,” it.” FRESNO, Calif. — A self-pro- to the Fresno Airport, where they pressions of anger and pain born of she said. Kelly and Zellner-Smith have fil- claimed pedophilia advocate who boarded a plane bound for Wash- outrage over racial injustice that Similar work is going on across led their warehouse space to ca- once ran for political office in Vir- ington, D.C., she added. triggered weeks of protests across the country as groups take mea- pacity. They started out by hoard- ginia has been arrested by author- Larson was taken into custody the country. sures to keep the art alive. ing boards in their garages. They ities who said they caught him fly- and the girl was rescued by a Den- Some artists began painting in- In New York City, the Soho now have 537 in a warehouse. They ing across the country last week ver police officer who stopped the tricate murals, but many spray- Broadway Initiative worked with said watching the space fill up was with a 12-year-old girl he had per- pair during their layover in Col- painted raw messages of anguish. local arts groups to get permission surreal. suaded to run away from her Cali- orado, Mims said. The girl was not Zellner-Smith started with the sim- for murals and provide artists with “Being surrounded by these fornia home. injured and was later reunited ple pieces. materials. As murals started com- boards that encompass this pain Nathan Larson, 40, made the girl with her family. “Some of these boards aren’t ing down, the organization return- and grief and hope, it was spiritu- wear a long-haired wig to make Mims said that while the girl was pretty,” she said. “There is collec- ed 22 artworks to artists and col- al,” Kelly said. her look older and told her to pre- not physically harmed, detectives tive pain and grief in each board, lected 20 more waiting to be return- The group’s next steps are to cat- tend to be mute during their travel, have evidence of inappropriate and each one tells a different aspect ed. alog the boards, do 3D scans and Fresno County Sheriff Margaret touching at the airport. of this story. And now we get to tell In Indianapolis, organizer Mali- build a virtual gallery. Mims announced on Saturday. She said the steps Larson had that story to everyone.” na Jeffers is unsure about the fu- But while Kelly and Zellner- The investigation began Mon- taken to groom the girl were of a One is the word “MAMA” scraw- ture of the Black Lives Matter Smith created a GoFundMe to day morning when the girl’s fam- “sophisticated nature” and asked led hastily onto the side of an aban- street mural stretching across In- raise money for the project, funds ily reported her missing from her anyone who may have had inap- doned Walmart. The word was diana Avenue. The mural is wear- have quickly dwindled. bedroom in Fresno, Calif. propriate contact with Larson to among Floyd’s last. Now it’s part of ing down from traffic, and winter “They all need to be saved,” Zell- Mims said detectives learned contact police. She also urged par- a database of protest art called the will bring weather damage and ner-Smith said. “They all matter, that Larson, a resident of Catlett, ents to always monitor their chil- Urban Art Mapping George Floyd snowplows. and we want to keep collecting. Va., met the girl previously dren’s internet activity and who and Anti-Racist Street Art data- But the mural will live on in We’re just a little stuck right now. through social media, flew to Cali- they are communicating with on- base. prints and T-shirts created by the But the work is far from over.” fornia and persuaded her to sneak line. Monday, December 21, 2020 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 11 AMERICAN ROUNDUP

Police: Man falsley said infant was in stolen car CINCINNATI — A OH man falsely reported a 10-month-old was in his car when it was stolen from a gas station to get a faster response, police said. The man called police to say the car was snatched with the baby in- side, police said. Police mobilized resources in- cluding a helicopter in an attempt to find the vehicle. But about 45 minutes into the search, police said that the man changed his sto- ry and said that the child was not in the vehicle. While police tried to verify that the child was safe, a tip came in and police located the car. Offi- cers apprehended one suspect. Police verified the child was safe with a grandmother. The man who reported the car was stolen will be charged with in- ducing panic and making false alarms. Cemetery makes more room for green burials CHASSELL TOWN- MI SHIP — A cemetery in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is making more room for so-called green burials. The Chassell Township cemete- ry in Houghton County has sold out of the approximately 40 sites that were created five years ago. JOHN HART, WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL/AP The cemetery has added more than two dozen plots in a wooded area, The Daily Mining Gazette Puck stops here reported. With sub­freezing temperatures taking hold in the region, a group of young hockey enthusiasts enjoy one of their first outings on the ice during Green burials refer to burials a visit to Vilas Park in Madison, Wis. that do not use embalming fluids to preserve the body or cement will allow undergraduate students THE CENSUS vaults. The body typically is bur- to receive free text books during Turkey that had fans ied in a biodegradable container the next school year. The worth in thousands of dollars of merchandise taken from a and haters is killed or a cloth shroud, according to the The EKU BookSmart program 100 New York City jewelry store by two armed men. Police said one Keweenaw Green Burial Alliance. was developed by the university of the bandits pistol-whipped a 58-year-old employee before the pair grabbed SOMERVILLE — A The burials are usually less ex- and is possible due to its partner- neck chains and pendants from behind a counter. The suspects, who were MA wild turkey that had pensive than a conventional buri- ship with Barnes & Noble College wearing face masks, fled on foot. The employee was taken to the hospital and developed an online fan following al. Booksellers, the school an- was in stable condition. but also drew complaints about nounced. The program will pro- aggressive behavior was euthan- Beach may decide to vide required textbooks and said. Sheriff’s officials say a truck day to appeal the citation, which ized, Massachusetts wildlife offi- ban alcohol outdoors course materials for all in-person driver whose rig was struck by de- includes a $45,100 fine. cials said. and online students. Materials can bris reported seeing two youths The turkey had become a fix- TYBEE ISLAND — be delivered or picked up at the throwing objects from the over- Coyote bites grocery ture in a Somerville neighbor- GA Georgia’s largest pub- campus bookstore, officials said. pass. store worker in leg hood, know by some adorers as lic beach could decide in early Barry Poynter, senior vice pres- “Pat Cluck” or “Mayor Turka- 2021 whether to ban drinking alco- ident for finance and administra- Scones maker cited for LAFAYETTE — A tone,” The Boston Globe reported. hol outdoors. tion, said national studies show overworking teens CA coyote bit a grocery An Instagram account created The city council on Tybee Is- that the average costs of textbooks store worker in the leg in the for the turkey described it as “a land began weighing an open con- is $1,200 annually. TUMWATER — The fourth such attack in the San Fran- classic wild turkey who enjoys tainer ban in October and asked a WA maker of Fisher cisco Bay Area since April, a wild- kindness, not being honked at, and task force to study the issue. The Boy in car hit by rock Scones, which has been a favorite life official said. bringing joy to humans.” The ac- group will make its final recom- thrown from overpass at the Washington State Fair for At least two of the attacks in- count attracted more than 1,700 mendation in January, City Man- years, was cited for more than volved the same coyote. State offi- followers since its July posting. ager Shawn Gillen told WTOC- FLORENCE — A 15- 1,500 instances of overworking cials are testing to see if the most The bird also had a long history TV. SC year-old was knocked teenagers. recent bite was from that animal, of aggressive behavior, said David Officials began looking at ban- unconscious after a rock was State Department of Labor and which the California Department Scarpitti, a wildlife biologist and ning drinking on the streets after thrown from an overpass and Industries investigators found Co- of Fish and Wildlife is hunting, the turkey expert with the state’s Di- noticing an increase in recent smashed through the windshield nifer Specialties was responsible San Francisco Chronicle vision of Fisheries and Wildlife. years of police dealing with more of the car he was in, authorities for 1,560 instances of teens work- reported. Wildlife officials had urged lo- unruly people impaired by alco- said. ing more hours than state law al- The Diablo Foods employee cal residents to stop feeding the hol. Part of the solution will be put- The boy was unconscious when lows. Of the 1,560 violations, 426 took a break behind the grocery bird, which can encourage ag- ting more police on the streets. he was taken to a hospital, Dar- involved teens working during store in downtown Lafayette gressive behavior, he said. lington County sheriff’s officials school hours. when, unprovoked, a coyote bit But neighbors kept feeding the School: Undergraduates said. No other information on his The report of a teenager injured him on the leg. He and a few co- turkey and the behavior contin- to get free text books condition was immediately avail- while using a commercial-grade workers scared it off, Foy said. ued, leading to the decision to cap- able. mixer prompted the investigation The attack is the eighth con- ture and euthanize it, Scarpitti RICHMOND — East- Another woman reported that in 2019, state officials said. firmed coyote bite this year in Cal- said. KY ern Kentucky Univer- her vehicle was also struck on the The company, owned by John ifornia and the fourth in the Bay sity announced an initiative that windshield by a rock, authorities Patrick Heily, has until Wednes- Area. From The Associated Press PAGE 12 • STARS AND STRIPES • Monday, December 21, 2020 WORLD Armenia honors Nagorno-Karabakh dead

Associated Press forces for more than a quarter- shields and umbrellas as protes- YEREVAN, Armenia — Both century has traumatized Arme- ters attempted to hit him with opponents and supporters of Ar- nians, triggering weeks of protests eggs. menia’s prime minister rallied demanding the resignation of Later in the day, about 20,000 Saturday as the nation paid tribute Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. opposition supporters marched to the thousands who died in fight- On Saturday, thousands of pro- across Yerevan for a memorial ing with Azerbaijan over the re- testers rallied near the Yerablur church service for the victims of gion of Nagorno-Karabakh. Crit- military memorial cemetery on the conflict. ics demanded that the leader re- the outskirts of the Armenian cap- Also on Saturday, 14 retired mil- sign and tried to pelt him with ital of Yerevan as Pashinyan vis- itary generals issued a statement eggs. ited it to honor the soldiers killed calling for the resignation of the The Azerbaijani army pushed in the latest fighting. The nation is government over its handling of deep into Nagorno-Karabakh in observing a three-day mourning the latest fighting. six weeks of hostilities that ended period for the dead. Nagorno-Karabakh lies within with a Russia-brokered peace The prime minister’s oppo- Azerbaijan, but was under the deal Nov. 10 that saw Azerbaijan nents, shouting “Nikol, you trai- control of ethnic Armenian forces reclaim large parts of the separa- tor!,” engaged in scuffles with his backed by Armenia since a sepa- tist region and surrounding terri- supporters and police. Police dis- ratist war there ended in 1994. TIGRAN MEHRABYAN, PAN PHOTO/AP tories. persed the protesters to clear the That war left Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians attend a march of remembrance of those killed in a war The loss of lands that had been way for Pashinyan and his securi- itself and substantial surrounding over the Nagorno­Karabakh region, in Yerevan, Armenia, on Saturday. controlled by ethnic Armenian ty guards covered him with territory in Armenian hands. Germany brings home 3 women, 12 children from camps in Syria Associated Press The German weekly newspaper had been arrested upon her arriv- which brought home six children The women and children who BERLIN — Germany has orga- Bild am Sonntag reported, howev- al at Frankfurt airport. It said she and two women. just recently arrived in Germany nized the return of three women er, that all three women had left is accused of membership in the “These are humanitarian cases, were detained at the al-Hol and and 12 children from camps in Germany in recent years to join foreign terrorist group and alleg- especially orphans and children Roj camps in northeastern Syria, northeastern Syria for humanitar- the extremist Islamic State group. edly committed crimes against with illnesses — cases in which according to the German foreign ian reasons, its foreign minister The paper identified the women humanity. the departure was urgently need- ministry. The camps are managed reported Sunday. as Merve A., Yasmin A. and Leon- Maas said he was “very re- ed,” Maas said. “This good news by the Kurdish-led administration Heiko Maas did not further ora M. lieved” about the return of the 12 just before Christmas makes us in northeastern Syria, but they identify the women or children, Also Sunday, Germany's federal children and three of their moth- confident that we will be able to lack basic services and have been who were flown back to Germany prosecutor's office said a German ers. He said the return was orga- organize the return of further rife with diseases and lawless- on Saturday. citizen by the name of Leonora M. nized in cooperation with Finland, cases as well.” ness. Monday, December 21, 2020 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 13 WORLD North Korea vows to redevelop mountain resort

Associated Press sign and construction of “a world- rean facilities “shabby” and “un- SEOUL, South Korea — A top level hotel, golf course, skiing pleasant-looking.” North Korea official has visited a ground,” according to KCNA. But in January, North Korea mountain resort that had been North Korea had operated a postponed the demolition plans jointly run with rival South Korea joint tour program at the moun- out of concerns about the spread during past rapprochement and tain with South Korea for about 10 of the coronavirus. discussed efforts to unilaterally years before it was suspended fol- North Korea has said it hasn’t rebuild it into “a cultural resort lowing the shooting death of a found a single virus case, a claim envied by the whole world,” state South Korean tourist there in disputed by many outside ex- media reported Sunday. 2008. About 2 million South Ko- perts. A major outbreak in North Some experts say North Korea rean tourists had visited the re- Korea could have devastating may be putting pressure on South sort, a rare source of foreign cur- consequences because its health Korea in order to benefit from an rency for the impoverished system remains fragile. The pan- economic engagement as the pan- North. demic has also caused a massive demic is aggravating North Ko- When relations improved in re- blow to the North’s economy, rean economic woes. cent years, the two Koreas along with the U.N. sanctions and During a trip to the Diamond pushed to restart stalled joint eco- a spate of natural disasters this Mountain resort, Premier Kim nomic projects including the Dia- summer. Tok Hun “stressed the need to mond Mountain tours. But Seoul Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at build the tourist area our own way was eventually unable to do so Ewha University in Seoul, said in which national character and without defying punishing U.N. the timing of Sunday’s North Ko- modernity are combined while in sanctions imposed over the rean statement is less about tou- DITA ALANGKARA/ AP good harmony with the natural North’s nuclear program. rism and more about political Local tourists walk on the trail in 2018 at Mount Kumgang, known as scenery,” the Korean Central Late last year, an angry North pressure. “By holding Seoul’s Diamond Mountain, in North Korea. News Agency reported. Korea pushed for the destruction hopes for engagement at risk,” Kim said North Korea aims to of South Korean-made hotels and North Korea is pressuring South the resort. But experts doubt inter-Korean border and hun- turn the mountain area into “the other facilities at the resort and Korea “to find ways of resuming whether it could redevelop and dreds of miles away from the one well-known for serving the demanded South Korea send financial benefits for the North,” turn the area into a major tourism North’s border with China. North people and a cultural resort envi- workers to the site to clear out the he said. site without cooperation from Korea’s poor transport links ed by the whole world.” He and buildings. North Korean leader Before the pandemic, North South Korea. make it difficult to bring a large other officials discussed the de- Kim Jong Un called the South Ko- Korea hosted Chinese tourists at The resort sits just north of the number of Chinese tourists there. PAGE 14 • STARS AND STRIPES • Monday, December 21, 2020 OPINION

Max D. Lederer Jr., Publisher Lt. Col. Marci Hoffman, Europe commander Lt. Col. Richard McClintic, Pacific commander S. Korea’s anti-leaflet law falls flat in US Caroline E. Miller, Europe Business Operations BY JOSH ROGIN tion: to salvage nuclear negotiations with Thae Yong-ho, a former senior North Ko- The Washington Post North Korea. rean diplomat who defected, and who was ast week, the South Korean parlia- Seoul’s actions affect Washington be- elected to the South Korean parliament as a EDITORIAL ment passed a law criminalizing cause the incoming Biden administration member of the opposition this year, told me Terry Leonard, Editor the practice of floating balloons will have to act fast to come up with a new that it’s a false choice. In fact, he said, by cut- [email protected] Lwith anti-regime leaflets, cultural U.S. policy on North Korea. Nongovernmen- ting off the North Korean people from out- items and cash into North Korea. The move tal organizations in Washington and human side information, the Moon government is Robert H. Reid, Senior Managing Editor is causing a backlash in Washington, where rights groups are also warning that their ac- pushing the prospect of peace and reunifica- [email protected] lawmakers and nongovernmental organiza- tivities on behalf of North Korean human tion even further away. Tina Croley, Managing Editor for Content tions are worried that Seoul is sacrificing rights — many of which are based in South “It is the first time in the history of the Ko- [email protected] free speech and human rights to appease Korea — could become collateral damage. rean Peninsula’s division that the parlia- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. “This bill seems to go well beyond its in- ment of the North and the parliament of the Sean Moores, Managing Editor for Presentation [email protected] On Dec. 14, the House Foreign Affairs tended purpose of protecting communities South have joined their hands together to Committee’s ranking Republican, Michael near the DMZ,” Manpreet Singh Anand, re- ban the movement of cultural content be- Joe Gromelski, Managing Editor for Digital McCaul, of Texas, issued a statement criti- gional director for Asia-Pacific programs at tween the two sides,” he said. “They want to [email protected] cizing the new South Korean law, which, he the National Democratic Institute, told me. close the North Korean people’s eyes.” said, could deepen the brutal isolation im- “Criminalizing those who are merely facili- The Moon government granted Kim Jong BUREAU STAFF posed on millions of North Koreans by the tating access to information can do irrepara- Un a huge concession in exchange for noth- dictatorship in Pyongyang. The law’s critics, ble harm to human rights defenders and will ing, Thae said, in a desperate bid to bolster its Europe/Mideast including prominent North Korean defec- likely embolden the regime in Pyongyang to domestic political standing. Moreover, Erik Slavin, Europe & Mideast Bureau Chief [email protected] tors, believe that smuggling information in- make more anti-democratic demands.” granting Kim even more control over his +49(0)631.3615.9350; DSN (314)583.9350 to the hermit kingdom is crucial to eventual The institute is one of several organiza- people’s minds only enables his repression. Pacific peace and reunification. As happened in tions that operate under the umbrella of the Thae believes that if the U.S. government Aaron Kidd, Pacific Bureau Chief East Germany during the Cold War, North National Endowment for Democracy, a U.S. and Congress were to make clear to Moon [email protected] Koreans might come to understand that government-funded network that supports that this new law was a problem, it would +81.42.552.2511 ext. 88380; DSN (315)227.7380 their government is lying to them, and that a programs to improve human rights in North have some positive effect. Sources told me Washington better life is not only possible but also within Korea. It’s unclear exactly which of their that Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Bie- Joseph Cacchioli, Washington Bureau Chief reach just across the Demilitarized Zone. programs could be curtailed under the law, gun, also the Trump administration’s spe- [email protected] (+1)(202)886-0033 “Freedom of expression is a core demo- but U.S. human rights groups see this as only cial representative for North Korea, private- Brian Bowers, Assistant Managing Editor, News cratic value,” McCaul said. “A bright future the latest example of an ominous pattern. ly conveyed the Trump administration’s [email protected] for the Korean Peninsula rests on North Ko- “For the larger North Korean human concerns about the legislation before its pas- rea becoming more like South Korea — not rights community, the law presents another sage during a recent trip to Seoul. CIRCULATION the other way around.” attempt for the current South Korean gov- The Biden administration will rightly Mideast The South Korean government of Presi- ernment to weaken the movement in the want to repair the U.S.-South Korean alli- Robert Reismann, Mideast Circulation Manager dent Moon Jae-in sees these balloon oper- name of peace negotiations and inter-Korea ance and friendship after years of misman- [email protected] ations as a threat to its efforts to reestablish dialogue,” NED Associate Director for Asia agement by President Donald Trump. But if [email protected] talks with the Kim regime, which has been Lynn Lee told me. Joe Biden wants to engage North Korea from DSN (314)583-9111 complaining about them for years. Moon’s One South Korean official told me that a position of strength, he should encourage Europe ruling party passed the law, claiming it was danger to South Korean communities along South Korea to avoid undermining the drive Karen Lewis, Community Engagement Manager necessary for the safety of the South Ko- the border was real, and that the South Ko- for freedom, human rights and peace. [email protected] [email protected] reans living along the border, whom Kim has rean government had to balance two com- +49(0)631.3615.9090; DSN (314)583.9090 threatened. However, a leading sponsor of peting interests, the safety of its citizens and Josh Rogin is a columnist for the Global Opinions section of The Pacific the bill argued there was another motiva- their right to free speech. Washington Post and a political analyst for CNN. Mari Mori, [email protected] +81-3 6385.3171; DSN (315)227.7333 CONTACT US 3 Trump foreign policy pillars Biden should build on Washington BY NIKKI HALEY tel: (+1)202.886.0003 plains why Trump pursued a military buil- fringe, but their views did not make for suc- 633 3rd St. NW, Suite 116, Washington, DC 20001-3050 Special to The Washington Post dup, punished Chinese companies for steal- cessful policy under the Obama administra- Reader letters t the United Nations, I often found ing U.S. trade secrets, sanctioned Chinese tion. It would be no different now. [email protected] that many countries agreed with leaders and firms for their horrific human Third: Biden should encourage the re- U.S. policies in private but would rights abuses, and strengthened coordina- markable progress of Arab-Israeli peace. Additional contacts not say so in public. One wonders tion with U.S. allies and partners to hold Chi- The blooming friendships between Israel stripes.com/contactus A if President-elect Joe Biden has a similar na accountable. Biden would endanger U.S. and numerous Arab countries have been OMBUDSMAN view of President Donald Trump’s foreign interests if he reversed course. among the most beautiful developments of policy successes. Biden will also face a critical test in Tai- the past four years. Trump refused to accept Ernie Gates Biden is sure to feel strong partisan pres- wan. Just as China has crushed freedom in the tired thinking that the Palestinian cause The Stars and Stripes ombudsman protects the free flow sure to reject most, if not all, of Trump’s for- Hong Kong, Beijing seeks to destroy the free- was the key to broader regional peace. And of news and information, reporting any attempts by the eign policy. That would be a mistake. Sweep- dom of 24 million Taiwanese people. It is sure he put strong pressure on Iran’s murderous military or other authorities to undermine the newspaper’s independence. The ombudsman also responds to concerns ing away the achievements and strategies of to test those waters in the next four years. If regime, which hates the Arab world nearly as and questions from readers, and monitors coverage for the past four years would endanger Ameri- Biden fails to push back, there will be no stop- much as it hates Israel and our country. fairness, accuracy, timeliness and balance. The ombudsman welcomes comments from readers, and can be contacted by can safety and interests. ping Chinese communist aggression in Asia Trump’s actions aligned American, Israeli email at [email protected], or by phone at 202.886.0003. Ihave no illusions that Biden would simply and beyond. and Arab policy, with peace the result. pick up where Trump leaves off. But in the Second: Biden should not drop Trump’s How can Biden foster a deeper peace? Not Stars and Stripes (USPS 0417900) is published week- spirit of helping our country, I urge Biden to pressure on Latin American dictatorships. by caving to Iran or turning on Israel, both of days (except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) for 50 cents Monday prioritize continuity and continued progress In keeping with the finest traditions of which would fray the nascent Arab-Israeli through Thursday and for $1 on Friday by Pacific Stars and Stripes, Unit 45002, APO AP 96301-5002. Periodicals in three critical areas. American values, Trump clearly and power- bonds that still need strengthening. The bet- postage paid at San Francisco, CA, Postmaster: Send First: Biden should keep key aspects of fully sided with the people of Venezuela and ter path is to continue to isolate Iran and en- address changes to Pacific Stars and Stripes, Unit 45002, APO AP 96301-5002. This newspaper is authorized by the Trump’s China policy. Cuba over their oppressors. He used unprec- courage harmony between Israel and the Department of Defense for members of the military services overseas. However, the contents of Stars and Stripes are Washington’s posture toward Beijing edented sanctions and forged a regional alli- Arab states, which now clearly see their com- unofficial, and are not to be considered as the official views shifted in much-needed ways in the past four ance against the criminal Maduro regime in mon interests. of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government. As a DOD newspa- per, Stars and Stripes may be distributed through official years. Trump overturned decades-old bipar- Venezuela. And he recognized that provid- Staying the course on China, Latin Amer- channels and use appropriated funds for distribution to tisan consensus that economic cooperation ing economic relief to the Cuban regime in- ica and the Middle East is the right path. Bi- remote locations where overseas DOD personnel are located. The appearance of advertising in this publication does with China would push the Chinese Commu- creased its power at the expense of the long- den can expand on our success and promote not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense or nist Party in a more peaceful direction. A suffering Cuban people. A Biden reversal in America’s interests in each. It would be di- Stars and Stripes of the products or services advertised. Products or services advertised shall be made available for new bipartisan consensus is rising against either country would amount to an embrace sastrous if he missed the opportunity be- purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical that flawed thinking. of socialism and give a pass to the most mon- cause of a partisan desire to reverse the handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of China is the most serious global threat the strous regimes in our hemisphere. course of his predecessor. the purchaser, user or patron. United States faces. It is a strategic compet- Biden’s support for the victims of Cuban © Stars and Stripes 2020 itor with hostile intentions of overtaking us communism and Venezuelan socialism Nikki Haley was governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017 stripes.com economically and militarily. This truth ex- would irritate some of his party’s leftist and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations from 2017 to 2019. Monday, December 21, 2020 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 15 PAGE 16 • STARS AND STRIPES • Monday, December 21, 2020 Eugene Sheffer Crossword Frazz Dilbert

ACROSS 60 Pester 28 Toast toppings 1 Capote 61 “Uh-huh” 29 Slender nickname woodwind 4 Mentalist’s claim DOWN 30 Lunch hour 7 Go yachting 1 1982 sci-fi film 31 Silent Pearls Before Swine Pearls Before 11 Impetuous 2 Scarce 35 Remit 13 Have a cold 3 Exploits 38 Day fractions 14 — Major 4 Vichy water (Abbr.) 15 Sandwich treat 5 Go caroling 40 River blocker 16 French article 6 Implore 42 Vice President 17 Openings 7 Holiday party Burr 18 Birds’ homes plateful 45 “I did it!” 20 Quite 8 Parseghian 47 Picture of enthusiastic of football health? 22 Tax prep pro 9 AOL, for one 48 Noble Italian Non Sequitur 24 Coercion 10 “Viva — Vegas” family 28 Don Draper 12 Holiday party 49 Dance move portrayer in cupful 50 Under the “Mad Men” 19 Hot tub weather 32 Painting of 21 Gloomy guy 51 Japanese 23 Sound booster pond carp a scene 25 Deserve 52 A billion years 33 Peek suffix 26 Bridge 54 “Family Guy” 34 Young dog 27 Actress Ward daughter 36 Spoken Answer to Previous Puzzle 37 Sponge Candorville 39 “Material Girl” singer 41 Madrid matron 43 Tibetan bovine 44 Aspiring atty.’s exam 46 Blends 50 Furniture brand 53 Hit hard 55 Formerly, once Carpe Diem 56 Booty 57 Praise in verse 58 Fill up 59 Queue Beetle Bailey Bizarro Monday, December 21, 2020 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 17 PAGE 18 • STARS AND STRIPES • Monday, December 21, 2020 FACES Pine in favor Grammy nod for of Tarantino’s Zellweger? She’s R-rated Trek From wire reports Chris Pine wouldn’t mind getting in on Quentin Tarantino’s proposed Star Trek re- surprised also make. The actor, who last portrayed Captain Kirk in 2016’s “Star Trek Beyond,” says that ‘Judy’ starring role gathering awards at the moment, he knows about as much as anyone else about the potential R-rated in- attention from multiple directions stallment — but is looking forward to it. “I haven’t read that script; I don’t know BY JAMES REED where it is in development,” he told Comic- Los Angeles Times Book.com. “But I love enee Zellweger giggles when she remembers the first the character, I love the time she sang in a film. For 1995’s “Empire Records,” universe, I love my she pogoed on a rooftop next to musician Coyote Shivers, friends in it. To have a Rher voice coarse and cracked as she channeled her inner Quentin take on it Courtney Love on a song called “Sugar High.” would be tremendously No one would have guessed that, 25 years later, Zellweger would interesting and enter- be nominated for her first Grammy. From her Oscar-winning tour taining.” de force as Judy Garland in last year’s “Judy,” her work on the Dec- The Academy ca soundtrack is up for traditional pop vocal album, alongside Burt Pine Award-winning auteur Bacharach and Daniel Tashian, Harry Connick Jr., James Taylor is rumored to have and Rufus Wainwright. been working on his own chapter of the leg- Zellweger, 51, swears she’s not a singer, but she’s no newbie, ei- endary sci-fi franchise, but there has been ther. She began sharpening her vocal chops as Roxie Hart in Rob no official word on whether or not it’s a go. Marshall’s 2002 movie adaptation of the musical “Chicago.” She Last year, Paramount Pictures an- was game for a fizzy duet with Ewan McGregor in “Down with nounced that acclaimed writer, director Love” and tackled Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie — yes, really — in TNS and novelist Noah Hawley will script and 2010’s “My Own Love Song.” (And she was pitch-perfect in this off- Actress Renee Zellweger, shown at the Los Angeles premiere of direct the forthcoming “Star Trek 4,” which key stinker from “Bridget Jones’s Diary.”) “Judy” in September 2019, won an Academy Award for her role will officially be the fourth installment of But in “Judy,” Zellweger startled audiences and critics with her as Judy Garland. Now she’s also up for a Grammy for the part. the legendary franchise J.J. Abrams ruminative interpretations of Garland classics such as “Over the breathed new life into in 2009. Rainbow” and “Get Happy,” mastering not just the icon’s pathos The upcoming project — slated to reunite but her razzle-dazzle too. Pine with costars Zachary Quinto and Zoe Over Zoom from her home in Los Angeles, Zellweger told The LA Saldana — is separate from one that Taran- Times about her previous experiences singing for movies, and her tino has been attached to do in recent years. favorite singers. Jeremy Bulloch, Boba Fett Los Angeles Times: Renee Zellweger, Grammy nominee. Does that blow your mind? in first Star Wars trilogy, dies Zellweger: I love that you laughed when you said that! Jeremy Bulloch, the English actor who I laugh lovingly. Did a Grammy ever seem like a possibility? first played Boba Fett in the original Star I laughed too. No, I thought we’d all moved on (from the film). I Wars trilogy, died Dec. 17 in London. Bull- didn’t realize that it was in contention for consideration this year. It och had health complications after years of was a big surprise, and, of course, it was thrilling. It was an odyssey, living with Parkinson’s disease, his agents and I loved every minute of it. at Brown, Simcocks & Andrews said in a What was your initial reaction to director Rupert Goold’s statement. He was 75. suggestion that you sing live in “Judy”? As the Mandalorian bounty hunter Boba I thought, “That’s the worst idea I’ve ever heard.” And I kept Fett, Bulloch made off with a frozen-in-car- thinking, “Well, we are going to do these recordings” (in the studio bonite Han Solo in 1980’s “The Empire for the soundtrack), and so I think I was sort of tricked into believ- Strikes Back,” then zoomed around Ta- ing that it wasn’t really going to happen. That we would work to- ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS/TNS tooine in a jet pack in 1983’s “Return of the ward that ultimate goal, but then, he would see what a terrible idea Renee Zellweger as Judy Garland in “Judy.” Jedi.” Boba Fett had just a few minutes of it was, and we would just use these recordings. Which we had to do screen time between the two movies, and in case something went wrong during the day, or I got laryngitis and sing in front of people, I knocked my knee on something under the speaks just four lines of dialogue that were we had to just push through and film with whatever we had. table. And I looked, and I saw that they had strategically placed a performed by another actor. But the char- “Get Happy” is revamped on the soundtrack as a splashy duet microphone, a secret microphone, underneath my little space at the acter quickly became a cult favorite and with Sam Smith. But the movie version is quietly devastating. table. They were afraid that I was going to swallow it and sing to eventually would emerge as one of the most How did you approach that performance? myself and my script. (Laughs) beloved figures in the Star Wars galaxy, in- I understood (Rupert’s) intention with that scene and what it was Is singing its own form of acting for you? spiring characters and plotlines in other meant to represent about her life. And what she has meant to so Maybe so. I haven’t thought about it that way. For “Judy,” it cer- Star Wars properties, most notably “The many people. It was really late and cold outside, so it fit the mood of tainly was, because I felt protected because I was pretending some- Mandalorian” on Disney+. the scene. It was remarkably moving, and that was the first live thing else and channeling something else. I wasn’t exposing myself scene in the film. So I remember being a little bit nervous, but the so much. I thought of it more from the perspective of an athlete, beauty of the underlying message in it was more powerful in the really. I was a gymnast [in high school], and I would think of it as room than my fear. like when you’re training for a routine on the beam. I knew what I What was it like to step up as a singer in “Chicago”? needed to do vocally and with my body and then with my breath and I didn’t understand why (director) Rob Marshall had invited me all of that. I knew what was necessary in each beat of the song. And to do that. I had no background in [singing]; I had no training. So it then, once that was in my body, then it became about the emotion was all about Rob Marshall for me. I didn’t want to let him down ... If and the performance. he thought it was possible, then I was going to go with that. Who are some of your favorite singers? I remember we did this huge read-through when we began our I love Rufus (Wainwright, who sings a duet of “Have Yourself a rehearsals up in Toronto. Queen Latifah sat next to me here, and Merry Little Christmas” with Zellweger on the “Judy” soundtrack). Richard (Gere) was here and Catherine (Zeta-Jones). And then at His voice makes me cry. There’s just something about him. I also AP the end, where the U kind of turned, was Rob Marshall, my stage love Tom Petty, as a poet and a songwriter. Joni Mitchell, the Avett Jeremy Bulloch, shown in 2017, died Dec. mom. And we were sitting, about to start with the performance, and Brothers. And, of course, Judy Garland. 17. Bulloch played Boba Fett in the I remember fidgeting. Because I was so nervous that I was going to The Grammy Awards take place Jan. 31. original Star Wars trilogy. Monday, December 21, 2020 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 19 PAGE 20 • STARS AND STRIPES • Monday, December 21, 2020 SCOREBOARD/COLLEGE BASKETBALL

COLLEGE BASKETBALL DEALS TOP 25 ROUNDUP

Men's Top 25 fared Far West Saturday's Transactions Oregon 80, Portland 41 Friday Saint Mary's (Cal.) 53, Colorado St. 33 Stanford 78, Arizona 75 BASKETBALL No. 1 Gonzaga (4-0) beat No. 3 Iowa 99- National Basketball Association 88. Next: vs. Northwestern St., Monday. Texas St. 70, Denver 68 Top-ranked Gonzaga No. 2 Baylor (5-0) beat Kansas State 100- UC Irvine 85, San Diego 53 NBA — Fined C Thomas Bryant for re- 69. Next: vs. UAPB, Monday. UC Santa Barbara 75, Pepperdine 63 peatedly making inappropriate contact No. 3 Iowa (6-1) lost to No. 1 Gonzaga 99- UMKC 95, KCC 36 with a game official in a game against De- 88. Next: vs. Purdue, Tuesday. UMKC 98, KCC 42 troit on Dec. 17. No. 4 Michigan St. (6-0) did not play. California 87, CS Northridge 56 CHICAGO BULLS — Placed the contracts Next: at Northwestern, Sunday. Dixie St. 90, Bethesda 69 of F Simi Shittu and G Zach Norvell on No. 5 Kansas (7-1) did not play. Next: at waivers. rolls past No. 3 Iowa E. Washington 80, N. Arizona 64 No. 8 West Virginia, Tuesday. MIAMI HEAT — Signed G Max Strus to a No. 6 Houston (4-0) did not play. Next: vs. Women’s Top 25 Fared two-way contract with Sioux Falls. Alcorn St., Sunday. MILWAUKEE BUCKS — Placed the con- No. 7 Villanova (7-1) beat St. Joseph's 88- Friday tracts of G Treveon Graham and G Nik Associated Press Moore’s fastbreak dunk off a turn- 68. Next: at Marquette, Wednesday. Stauskas on waivers. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Jalen over made it 58-43. Daniels, fitting No. 8 West Virginia (7-1) did not play. No. 1 Stanford (6-0) beat Southern Cal NEW ORLEANS PELICANS — Placed the Next: at No. 5 Kansas, Tuesday. 80-60. Next: at No. 11 UCLA, Monday. contracts of Fs Jarrod Uthoff and Ike Anig- Suggs scored 18 of his career-high right in after transferring from No. 9 Creighton (5-2) did not play. Next: No. 2 Louisville (5-0) did not play. Next: bogu, Gs Tony Carr and Rawle Alkins on at UConn, Sunday. at Duke, Thursday, Dec. 31. waivers. 27 points in the first half and No. 1 Tulsa, buried a three for a 25-point No. 10 Tennessee (4-0) did not play. No. 3 UConn (4-0) beat Xavier 106-59. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS — Placed the con- Next: vs. Western Kentucky, Tuesday. Gonzaga held off a late rally to beat lead, and there was no slowing Next: vs. Villanova, Tuesday. tract of G Justin Anderson on waivers. No. 11 Texas (6-1) did not play. Next: vs. No. 4 NC State (7-0) did not play. Next: at No. 3 Iowa 99-88 on Saturday. down the Wildcats. Oklahoma St., Sunday. Georgia Tech, Thursday, Dec. 31. TORONTO RAPTORS — Placed the con- No. 12 Wisconsin (6-1) beat No. 23 Louis- No. 5 South Carolina (5-1) did not play. tracts of Fs Alize Johnson and Henry Ellen- This was the Bulldogs first game No. 12 Wisconsin 85, No. 23 ville 85-48. Next: vs. Nebraska, Tuesday. Next: vs. Ole Miss, Thursday, Dec. 31. son and G OShae Brisset on waivers. No. 13 Illinois (5-2) did not play. Next: at No. 6 Arizona (5-0) did not play. Next: at since pausing activities in early Louisville 48:Micah Potter scored No. 19 Rutgers, Sunday. Utah, Sunday. FOOTBALL December because of the corona- 20 points and Aleem Ford added 12 No. 14 Texas Tech (6-2) did not play. No. 7 Baylor (7-1) beat McNeese St. 117- National Football League Next: at Oklahoma, Tuesday. 24. Next: at TCU, Saturday, Jan. 2. ARIZONA CARDINALS — Activated TE virus. Gonzaga showed little rust to lead the host Badgers over the No. 15 Florida St. (4-1) lost to UCF 86-74. No. 7 Oregon (6-0) beat Washington 73- Darrell Daniels from injured reserve. from not playing a game since Dec. short-handed Cardinals in a res- Next: vs. Gardner-Webb, Monday. 49. Next: at Washington St., Monday. Signed RB D.J. Foster to the active roster. No. 16 Missouri (5-0) did not play. Next: No. 9 Kentucky (7-1) beat Wofford 98-37. Placed K Zane Gonzalez and DL Jordan 2. cheduled ACC/Big Ten Challenge vs. Bradley, Tuesday. Next: vs. Arkansas, Thursday, Dec. 31. Phillips on injured reserve. Promoted K No. 17 Virginia (3-1) did not play. Next: No. 10 Texas A&M (7-0) did not play. Mike Nugent and LB Terrance Smith to the Suggs, the West Coast Confer- game. vs. William & Mary, Tuesday. Next: vs. Rice, Sunday. active roster. No. 18 San Diego St. (5-1) did not play. No. 11 UCLA (5-1) beat California 71-37. ATLANTA FALCONS — Promoted CB Del- ence freshman player of the week Louisville, playing its first game Next: at St. Mary's, Tuesday. Next: vs. No. 1 Stanford, Monday. rick Abrams Jr. to the active roster. before Gonzaga’s season was since Dec. 1 after team activities No. 19 Rutgers (5-0) did not play. Next: No. 12 Arkansas (8-1) beat Little Rock 80- CHICAGO BEARS — Activated DB Xavier vs. No. 13 Illinois, Sunday. 70. Next: vs. UAPB, Monday. Crawford from the practice squad/CO- paused, entered the game against were suspended due to coronavi- No. 20 Ohio St. (6-1) beat UCLA 77-70. No. 13 Mississippi St. (4-1) did not play. VID-19 list. Activated LB Mani Te'o from Next: vs. Rutgers, Wednesday. Next: vs. Central Arkansas, Sunday. the reserve/COVID-19 list. Iowa averaging 13.3 points per rus issues within the program, was No. 14 Maryland (5-1) beat James Madi- CLEVELAND BROWNS — Promoted G Mi- No. 21 Duke (3-2) did not play. Next: vs. son 101-59. Next: at Penn St., Thursday, game. He blew by that midway without leading scorer Carlik chael Dunn to the active roster. Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 29. Dec. 31. through the first half and finished 8 Jones. The graduate transfer point No. 22 North Carolina (5-2) beat Ken- No. 15 Indiana (2-2) did not play. Next: vs. DETROIT LIONS — Placed DL Da'Shawn tucky 75-63. Next: at North Carolina St., Nebraska, Sunday. Hand on injured reserve. Activated OT Ha- for 17 from the floor and was 7 for 10 guard, averaging 17.3 points, trav- Tuesday. No. 16 Northwestern (3-0) did not play. lapoulivaati Vaitai from injured reserve. No. 23 Louisville (4-1) lost to No. 12 Wis- Next: vs. Eastern, Tuesday. Promoted OT Dan Skipper, DE Kareem from the three-point line. His pre- eled with the team but didn’t play. consin 85-48. Next: at Pittsburgh, Tuesday. No. 17 Ohio St. (4-0) did not play. Next: at Martin and OL Marcus Martin to the active vious career high was 24 against The Cardinals (4-1), playing its No. 24 Clemson (5-1) did not play. Next: Maryland, Wednesday. roster. Signed P Arryn Siposs to the prac- at Morehead St., Tuesday. No. 18 Syracuse (3-1) did not play. Next: tice squad. Promoted CB Alex Myres to the Kansas on Nov. 26. first road game, originally had No. 25 Michigan (6-0)did not play. Next: at Boston College, Sunday. active roster as a COVID-19 replacement. at Nebraska, Friday. No. 19 Michigan (5-0) did not play. Next: GREEN BAY PACKERS — Promoted G Drew Timme added 15 points been scheduled to visit Wisconsin vs. Penn St., Wednesday. Zack Johnson to the active roster. and Joel Ayai added 11 points and on Dec. 9. No. 20 Missouri St. (4-2) lost to South Da- HOUSTON TEXANS —Activated LB Bren- Saturday's men's scores kota St. 60-52. Next: at Evansville, Friday, nan Scarlett from injured reserve. Promot- grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds Trevor Anderson added 11 Jan. 1. ed WR Steven Mitchell, WR Chad Hansen East No. 21 Oregon St. (3-3) lost to Washing- and CB Anthony Chesley to the active ros- for Gonzaga (4-0). points and Brad Davison 10 for the ton St. 61-55. Next: at Washington, Mon- Drexel 85, Fairleigh Dickinson 68 ter. Luka Garza led Iowa (6-1) with Badgers (6-1), who rolled to a 44-18 day. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS — Promoted C Hartford 63, Maine 60 No. 22 Texas (5-1) did not play. Next: at 30 points and 10 rebounds on 13- halftime lead. Iona 72, Rider 64 Kansas State, Monday. Joey Hunt to the active roster as a CO- La Salle 71, Delaware 61 No. 23 South Florida (4-1) did not play. VID-19 replacement. of-18 shooting. Joe Wieskamp add- UCF 86, No. 15 Florida State Marist 61, Manhattan 39 Next: at Cincinnati, Tuesday. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS —Activated CB Niagara 81, Fairfield 61 No. 24 DePaul (4-2) beat Georgetown 72- Chris Claybrooks and OL Andrew Norwell ed 20 points and nine rebounds for 74: Brandon Mahan scored 26 of St. Bonaventure 77, Hofstra 69 54. Next: at Creighton, Tuesday. from injured reserve. Activated CB Tre the Hawkeyes. his career-high 32 points in the sec- St. Peter's 78, Monmouth (NJ) 76 No. 25 Gonzaga (3-2) did not play. Next: Herndon from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Stony Brook 73, Binghamton 59 vs. Eastern Michigan, Sunday. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS — Promoted CB No. 2 Baylor 100, Kansas State ond half and Isaiah Adams added Syracuse 107, Buffalo 96, OT Deandre Baker, LB Emmanuel Smith and G Temple 72, NJIT 60 Stefen Wisniewski to the active roster. Ac- 69: MaCio Teague had 23 points 22 points as the Knights ended the UMBC 65, Albany (NY) 64 Saturday’s women’s scores tivated WR Byron Pringle from injured re- and 10 rebounds, Davion Mitchell Seminoles’ 27-game home win- Villanova 88, Saint Joseph's 68 serve. WVU Tech 73, Morgan St. 67 MIAMI DOLPHINS —Promoted WR Isaiah scored 20 points and the Bears ning streak. East South Ford (from practice squad) Chris Myarick earned a road win. Mahan shot 10-for-13 from the Alabama A&M 93, South Alabama 90, Albany (NY) 66, UMBC 56 (COVID-19 replacement) to the active ros- 2OT Buffalo 71, St. Bonaventure 52 ter. Jared Butler had 14 points and 13 floor and 10-for-10 from the line as Auburn 77, Troy 41 Iona 56, Rider 40 MINNESOTA VIKINGS — Signed K Taylor Charlotte 76, NC A&T 72 Maryland 101, James Madison 59 Bertolet to the practice squad. Promoted assists for his first career double- UCF (2-1) won for the first time in Chattanooga 69, UAB 66 Mass.-Lowell 66, Vermont 50 CB Cordrea Tankersley to the active ros- double with the Bears (5-0, 1-0 Big 12 games against the Seminoles. ETSU 62, Lee 53 Providence 76, St. John’s 53 ter. East Carolina 73, James Madison 64 UConn 106, Xavier 59 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS — Activated QB 12), and Jonathan Tchamwa Darin Green Jr. scored 20 points Flagler 73, North Florida 66 Villanova 73, Creighton 68 Drew Brees from injured reserve. Placed Tchatchoua scored 13 points. for the Knights, who opened the Georgia 83, Cincinnati 68 South WRs Michael Thomas and Deonte Harris Georgia Southern 103, FIU 99, 2OT Alabama 74, Memphis 68 on injured reserve. Waived TE Garrett Grif- Antonio Gordon led the Wildcats second half by making 6 of 7 three- High Point 71, William & Mary 49 Austin Peay 64, Murray St. 60 fin and QB Trevor Siemian. Promoted G Louisiana Tech 86, Lamar 57 Bowling Green 76, Morehead St. 61 Will Clapp, WRs Juwan Johnson, Tommy- (3-5, 1-1) with 23 points on 9-of-9 pointers to pull away. UCF shot 27 Louisiana-Lafayette 75, McNeese St. 65 Kentucky 98, Wofford 37 Miami 73, Jacksonville 64 lee Lewis and Lil'Jordan Humphrey to the shooting, and Selton Miguel scored of 54 (50%) from the floor and 9 of Longwood 89, Howard 78 active roster. N. Kentucky 79, Youngstown St. 64 Mississippi 64, George Mason 34 NC State 69, Campbell 50 NEW YORK GIANTS — Annouced Ste- 14 points. 19 (47.4%) from three-point range. North Carolina 75, Kentucky 63 Southern Miss. 57, William Carey 50 phen Brown, offensive assistant coach, This was the first game for Bay- No. 20 Ohio State 77, UCLA Samford 65, Kennesaw St. 63 Tulane 70, SE Louisiana 54 tested positive for COVID-19 and is self- Southern Miss. 60, Louisiana-Monroe 47 UAB 81, Abilene Christian 73 isolating. Announced outside linebacker lor in a week after the school 70: Duane Washington Jr. hit two Stetson 95, Carver 51 UNC-Asheville 63, High Point 54 coach Bret Bielema accepted the head Tennessee St. 90, Crowley's Ridge 68 Midwest coach position at the University of Illinois paused team activity due to CO- free throws in the final minute and The Citadel 91, Longwood 89 DePaul 72, Georgetown 54 and will be leaving the coaching staff. Ac- VID-19 protocols. finished with 14 points, helping the Tulane 77, Grambling St. 65 Evansville 66, Miami (Ohio) 60 tivated D Adrian Colbert from injured re- Ill.-Chicago 76, Detroit 72, OT UCF 86, Florida St. 74 serve. Promoted Jarren William and Quin- No. 7 Villanova 88, Saint Jo­ Buckeyes win at the CBS Sports UNC-Greensboro 71, Elon 64 Milwaukee 64, Robert Morris 52 Missouri 88, Oral Roberts 49 cy Wilson to the active roster. Promoted seph’s 68: Jeremiah Robinson- Classic in Cleveland. Vanderbilt 59, Radford 50 QB Clayton Thorson to the active roster as Virginia Tech 97, Coppin St. 57 N. Kentucky 83, Fort Wayne 48 Oakland 75, Wright St. 69 a COVID-19 replacement. Signed QB Joe Earl scored 25 points with a broken Zed Key had 11 points and six re- W. Kentucky 73, Alabama 71 Webb to the active roster. Winthrop 87, Furman 71 S. Dakota St. 60, Missouri St. 52 nose, Caleb Daniels had 19 points bounds and CJ Walker scored 10 W. Illinois 79, Bellarmine 57 NEW YORK JETS —Activated K Sam Fick- Midwest Southwest en from injured reserve. Promoted DL Tan- and the Wildcats won at home in a points for Ohio State (6-1), which Akron 93, Malone 83 Arkansas 80, UALR 70 zel Smart, LB Shariff Finch and LB Noah Baylor 100, Kansas St. 69 Baylor 117, McNeese St. 24 Dawkins to the active roster. hastily-scheduled game. bounced back from a 70-67 loss at Bradley 69, Miami (Ohio) 68 Stephen F. Austin 85, Texas-Tyler 43 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES — Promoted S Robinson-Earl played with a Purdue on Dec. 16. Neither team Cleveland St. 63, Fort Wayne 61 Texas State 69, Lamar 53 Blake Countess and CB Jameson Houston Dayton 65, Mississippi 62 Texas Tech 78, TCU 72 to the active roster. protective mask after breaking his led by more than six points until the Gonzaga 99, Iowa 88 UCF 53, Tulsa 42 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS — Activated RB nose in Wednesday’s win against final minute. Ill.-Chicago 74, Oakland 72 Far West Rashaad Penny and DE Damontre Moore Indiana 68, Butler 60 from injured reserve. Placed RB Travis Butler. He helped Villanova (7-1) The Bruins (5-2) ended a five- Indiana St. 67, Ball St. 57 California Baptist 61, Cal Poly 51 Oregon 73, Washington 49 Homer and Ol Jamarco Jones on injured re- Milwaukee 68, Green Bay 65 serve. turn this one into a rout in the sec- game winning streak. Missouri St. 94, Northwestern St. 67 Pacific 73, LSU 64 Santa Clara 73, UC Santa Barbara 51 WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM — Pro- ond half with 8-of-14 shooting over- No. 22 North Carolina 75, Ken­ Ohio St. 77, UCLA 70 moted QB Taylor Heinicke to the active Purdue 88, Notre Dame 78 Seattle 77, E. Washington 65 Toledo 71, Valparaiso 57 Stanford 80, Southern Cal 60 roster. Waived WR Jeff Badet. all, and he made seven of his team’s tucky 63: Armando Bacot scored Wisconsin 85, Louisville 48 UC Irvine 66, San Diego St. 55 11 free throws, added seven re- 11 of his team-high 14 points in the Wright St. 93, Detroit 70 UCLA 71, California 37 HOCKEY Washington St. 61, Oregon St. 55 East Coast Hockey League bounds and never seemed both- second half, rallying the Tar Heels ECHL DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS ered by his injury. from a double-digit deficit to beat PRO BASKETBALL — Announced RW Antoine Waked has been suspended for one game and an un- The winless Hawks (0-4) made it the Wildcats at the CBS Sports NBA preseason L.A. Lakers 114, Phoenix 113 disclosed amount for his actions in a game a game for a while and trailed by Classic in Cleveland. Saturday’s games against Kansas Ciy on Dec. 18. SOCCER eight at halftime, the latest to force Kentucky (1-5) has lost five in a Friday’s games Washington 99, Detroit 96 Orlando 120, Charlotte 117 Major League Soccer somewhat of a competitive score row for the first time since John Philadelphia 113, Indiana 107 Atlanta 117, Memphis 116 Miami 117, Toronto 105 NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION —Signed G against the Wildcats until they Calipari became coach in 2009. New York 119, Cleveland 83 Sunday’s games Earl Edwards Jr. Chicago 105, Oklahoma City 103 No games scheduled. COLLEGE pulled away. Kerwin Walton scored 13 points Brooklyn 113, Boston 89 Villanova got a three-pointer and fellow freshman guard Caleb New Orleans 127, Milwaukee 113 Monday’s games UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS — Named Bret Denver 129, Portland 96 No games scheduled. Bielema head football coach. from Robinson-Earl and Justin Love had 11 points and six assists. Monday, December 21, 2020 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 21 NFL

Scoreboard

American Conference Buffalo 48, Denver 19 Buffalo 7 14 17 10 — 48 East Denver 0 13 0 6 — 19 WLTPct PF PA yx-Buffalo 11 3 0 .786 407 340 First Quarter Miami 8 5 0 .615 330 245 Buf—Knox 9 pass from Allen (Bass kick), New England 6 7 0 .462 277 279 4:05. N.Y. Jets 0 13 0 .000 183 393 Second Quarter South Buf—Allen 24 run (Bass kick), 10:30. Den—Gordon 10 run (Russolino kick), WLTPct PF PA 6:28. Buf—Kumerow 22 pass from Allen (Bass Indianapolis 9 4 0 .692 372 300 kick), 1:49. Tennessee 9 4 0 .692 390 336 Den—Fant 6 pass from Lock (kick failed), Houston 4 9 0 .308 295 359 :05. Jacksonville 1 12 0 .077 261 383 Third Quarter North Buf—Allen 1 run (Bass kick), 10:58. Buf—Hughes 21 fumble return (Bass WLTPct PF PA kick), 10:41. Buf—FG Bass 27, :44. x-Pittsburgh 11 2 0 .846 349 237 Cleveland 9 4 0 .692 348 368 Fourth Quarter Baltimore 8 5 0 .615 363 273 Buf—FG Bass 27, 5:46. Cincinnati 2 10 1 .192 244 338 Den—Gordon 8 run (kick failed), 1:52. Buf—Singletary 51 run (Bass kick), 1:40. West A—0. Buf Den WLTPct PF PA First downs 29 19 yx-Kansas City 12 1 0 .923 403 281 Total Net Yards 534 255 Las Vegas 7 7 0 .500 377 421 Rushes-yards 24-182 28-140 JACK DEMPSEY / AP Denver 5 9 0 .357 276 395 Passing 352 115 L.A. Chargers 5 9 0 .357 327 389 Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen ran for two touchdowns and passed for two in the Bills' 48­19 win Saturday. Punt Returns 4-7 1-0 National Conference Kickoff Returns 3-102 0-0 Interceptions Ret. 0-0 0-0 Comp-Att-Int 28-40-0 20-32-0 NFL ROUNDUP East Sacked-Yards Lost 1-7 3-17 WLTPct PF PA Punts 1-63.0 6-48.5 Fumbles-Lost 2-1 2-1 Washington 6 7 0 .462 287 275 Penalties-Yards 8-75 7-33 N.Y. Giants 5 8 0 .385 238 291 Time of Possession 33:50 26:10 Philadelphia 4 8 1 .346 277 328 Dallas 4 9 0 .308 298 400 Bills beat Broncos, clinch

South Individual statistics WLTPct PF PA RUSHING—Buffalo, Moss 13-81, Single- tary 8-68, Allen 3-33. Denver, Gordon 11-61, x-New Orleans 10 3 0 .769 368 265 Lindsay 11-38, Lock 5-37, Freeman 1-4. Tampa Bay 8 5 0 .615 370 294 PASSING—Buffalo, Allen 28-40-0-359. 1st AFC East title since ’95 Denver, Lock 20-32-0-132. Atlanta 4 9 0 .308 328 322 RECEIVING—Buffalo, Diggs 11-147, Beas- Carolina 4 10 0 .286 323 356 ley 8-112, Singletary 3-16, Knox 2-36, Davis Associated Press for the Packers. Rodgers is the cord. The Packers own a tie- 2-18, Kumerow 1-22, McKenzie 1-8. Denver, North Fant 8-68, Gordon 4-20, Patrick 3-14, Lind- DENVER — The Buffalo Bills first player in NFL history to breaker over the Saints after win- say 3-7, Jeudy 1-19, Hamler 1-4. captured their first AFC East title throw at least 40 touchdown pas- ning 37-30 at New Orleans on WLTPct PF PA MISSED FIELD GOALS—Denver, Russoli- no 51. in a quarter-century Saturday ses in three separate seasons; he Sept. 27. yx-Green Bay 11 3 0 .786 434 339 when 24-year-old quarterback had 45 during his 2011 MVP cam- Under the NFL’s new 14-team Chicago 6 7 0 .462 282 291 Minnesota 6 7 0 .462 333 355 Green Bay 24, Carolina 16 Josh Allen threw for two touch- paign and 40 in 2016. playoff format this year, only the Detroit 5 8 0 .385 310 389 Carolina 3 0 7 6 — 16 downs and ran for two more in a Green Bay (11-3) won its fourth No. 1 seed in each conference 48-19 rout of the Denver Broncos. straight and took a half-game earns a first-round bye. West Green Bay 7 14 0 3 — 24 WLTPct PF PA The Bills (11-3) scored twice in lead over New Orleans (10-3) in Carolina (4-10) has lost eight of First Quarter a 17-second span in the third the race for the NFC’s best re- their last nine games. L.A. Rams 9 4 0 .692 325 246 GB—Tonyan 1 pass from Rodgers (Cros- quarter to ice their fourth straight Seattle 9 4 0 .692 393 324 by kick), 9:54. Arizona 7 6 0 .538 358 303 Car—FG Slye 36, 5:57. victory that officially ended the San Francisco 5 8 0 .385 300 311 New England Patriots’ 11-year x-clinched playoff spot Second Quarter y-clinched division GB—Rodgers 6 run (Crosby kick), 14:09. reign atop the division. GB—Jones 8 run (Crosby kick), 3:58. The Broncos (5-9) have their Thursday's games L.A. Chargers 30, Las Vegas 27, OT Third Quarter fourth consecutive losing season Saturday's games Car—Bridgewater 13 run (Slye kick), for the first time since they had 10 5:15. Buffalo 48, Denver 19 straight sub-.500 campaigns from Green Bay 24, Carolina 16 Fourth Quarter 1963-72. They also became the Sunday's games Car—FG Slye 22, 8:39. first team ever to go five years Chicago at Minnesota GB—FG Crosby 51, 3:39. Detroit at Tennessee Car—FG Slye 33, 2:04. without making the playoffs fol- Houston at Indianapolis A—0. lowing a Super Bowl title. Jacksonville at Baltimore Car GB New England at Miami Allen threw for 359 yards, hit- San Francisco at Dallas First downs 20 20 Seattle at Washington ting Stefon Diggs 11 times for 147 Tampa Bay at Atlanta Total Net Yards 364 291 yards before a foot injury in the N.Y. Jets at L.A. Rams Rushes-yards 27-115 27-195 Philadelphia at Arizona Passing 249 96 fourth quarter, and Cole Beasley Kansas City at New Orleans Cleveland at N.Y. Giants Punt Returns 3-20 1-5 eight times for 112 yards. Kickoff Returns 3-72 0-0 Monday's game Allen also tied Jack Kemp’s re- Interceptions Ret. 0-0 0-0 cord of 25 career touchdown runs Pittsburgh at Cincinnati Comp-Att-Int 21-35-0 20-29-0 Friday, Dec. 25 Sacked-Yards Lost 3-9 5-47 with his second TD scamper, a 1- Minnesota at New Orleans Punts 4-45.8 6-45.8 yard keeper to the right that was Fumbles-Lost 2-1 0-0 Saturday, Dec. 26 set up by Andre Roberts’ 55-yard Penalties-Yards 7-66 5-50 Tampa Bay at Detroit return of Taylor Russilino’s short San Francisco at Arizona Time of Possession 30:51 29:09 Miami at Las Vegas second-half kickoff. Sunday, Dec. 27 Packers 24, Panthers 16: Aa- Atlanta at Kansas City Individual statistics ron Jones rushed for 145 yards Carolina at Washington RUSHING—Carolina, Davis 14-59, Bridge- and a touchdown as host Green Chicago at Jacksonville water 4-26, Smith 4-23, Samuel 2-6, Zylstra Cincinnati at Houston 1-1, Moore 1-1, Anderson 1-(minus 1). Bay reached the end zone on its Cleveland at N.Y. Jets Green Bay, Jones 20-145, Rodgers 5-26, Dil- Indianapolis at Pittsburgh lon 1-18, Williams 1-6. first three series before hanging N.Y. Giants at Baltimore PASSING—Carolina, Bridgewater 21-35- on. Denver at L.A. Chargers 0-258. Green Bay, Rodgers 20-29-0-143. L.A. Rams at Seattle RECEIVING—Carolina, Moore 6-131, Sa- Aaron Rodgers threw for a sea- Philadelphia at Dallas muel 4-42, Thomas 3-29, Smith 3-24, Ander- Tennessee at Green Bay son 2-21, Davis 2-2, Armah 1-9. Green Bay, son-low 143 yards but produced a Adams 7-42, Lazard 5-56, Tonyan 3-18, touchdown pass — his 40th of the Monday, Dec. 28 Jones 3-13, Williams 2-14. Buffalo at New England. MISSED FIELD GOALS—None. season — and a touchdown run PAGE 22 • STARS AND STRIPES • Monday, December 21, 2020 COLLEGE FOOTBALL Black Knights edge Falcons, win their ninth CIC trophy

BY JOHN KEKIS Associated Press “We had to get WEST POINT, N.Y. — With the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy at it. There was no stake, Jakobi Buchanan made sure the prized hardware return- other choice for ed to West Point. Facing a fourth-and-goal from us.” the 1, the 260-pound Army full- Jakobi Buchanan back followed senior captain left BRIANNA PACIORKA / AP guard Mike Johnson through the Army fullback on his winning TD Texas A&M defensive back Brian George (16), and defensive linemen Bobby Brown III and DeMarvin Leal Air Force line and into the end (8) celebrate during a 34­13 win Saturday at Tennessee. zone with 73 seconds left to give hood that’s just uncommon. This the Black Knights a 10-7 victory is the best team that I’ve ever Saturday, their second emotional been a part of.” TOP 25 ROUNDUP win in a week. The Falcons (3-3) began the Army (9-2) was coming off a season with a dominant 40-7 win hard-fought 15-0 victory over ar- over Navy and were poised to cap- chrival Navy a week ago in the ture their record 21st CIC after Mond leads No. 5 Aggies past Vols first game between the schools at being stymied by the Black Associated Press Alec Pierce had a career-high lead the Spartans to their first West Point in 77 years. The win Knights’ defense and failing to KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Kellen 146 yards receiving on five catch- Mountain West Conference cham- gave the Black Knights their score in the first half. Air Force Mond threw for 281 yards and a es, Desmond Ridder passed for pionship in Las Vegas. ninth CIC, emblematic of su- went to the air late in the third and touchdown and rushed for 59 269 yards and a touchdown and San Jose State (7-0) had lost all premacy among the three acade- finally broke through behind yards and a score, helping No. 5 ran for a score, and Jerome Ford 14 previous meetings with the mies. Haaziq Daniels. He hit Kyle Pat- Texas A&M to win 34-13 Saturday added a 42-yard scoring run for Broncos (5-2). “We were just determined,” terson for 16 yards and 39 yards, at Tennessee. Cincinnati (9-0, No. 9 CFP). Starkel broke former Fresno said Buchanan, who finished with and Brandon Lewis for 11 yards, Isaiah Spiller ran for 89 yards The Golden Hurricanes (6-2, State star Derek Carr’s title-game 86 yards rushing on 21 carries. to key a 10-play, 87-yard drive and a touchdown, and Ainias No. 23 CFP) reached the confer- record of 404 yards passing set in “For us, fourth down is just anoth- that he finished with a 10-yard Smith scored once rushing and ence championship game follow- 2013 in a victory over Utah State. er down to convert. We were all touchdown pass over the middle once receiving. ing three straight losing seasons. It was the fourth 400-yard pass- on the same page. We knew it was to Patterson with 15 seconds left Mond completed 26 of 32 pas- It was their first appearance in the ing game of Starkel’s career, and a game-winner. We had to get it. in the third. ses. The Aggies (8-1, No. 5 CFP) AAC title game. second this season, his first with There was no other choice for us.” But Army’s Jabari Moore stop- finished their regular season. Tulsa tied it with 3:41 remaining the Spartans. He spent the first The touchdown was the second ped the Falcons’ attempt to seal it The Volunteers (3-7) have lost on Zach Smith’s 13-yard touch- three years of his college career at fourth-down conversion of the with an interception at the goal seven of their last eight games, down pass to JuanCarlos Santana. Texas A&M and Arkansas before march. Quarterback Christian line midway through the fourth to ramping up speculation about Jer- But the Golden Hurricane defense transferring to San Jose State in Anderson converted on fourth- set up the winning drive for the emy Pruitt’s future as coach. jumped offside on a hard count on January. Tre Walker and Derrick and-3 six plays earlier and Arik Black Knights, who have won 10 No. 6 Cincinnati 27, Tulsa 24: fourth-and-2, Deese Jr. each had seven recep- Smith’s interception on a deflect- straight at home. Daniels com- Cole Smith made a 34-yard field No. 25 San Jose State 34, tions. Walker led all receivers ed first-down pass after the ensu- pleted a 22-yard pass to Ben Pe- goal as time expired to lift the host Boise State 20: Nick Starkel with 137 yards. ing kickoff sealed it for Army. terson on a third-and-18 play but Bearcats in the rainy American completed 32 of 52 passes for 453 Boise State’s Hank Bachmeier “I don’t know if I’ve processed got greedy and Moore made them Conference Championship game. yards and three touchdowns to was 20-for-40 for 221 yards. it yet. It’s definitely tough, right?” pay with his juggling interception. Falcons defensive tackle George Silvanic said. “One play to win a The takeaway championship and you don’t get it Air Force: The Falcons had lots Sooners win 6th straight Big 12 title and they do. Hats off to them. I’m of time to prepare fortheir service very sad and distraught and I’m academy rivals. They started the BY STEPHEN HAWKINS was the Sooners’ offensive coordi- heartbroken for the guys, the se- season with the dominant win Associated Press nator the two seasons before that. niors. That’s kind of the feeling of over Navy and had more than a ARLINGTON, Texas — Oklaho- That impressive title streak- the whole team right now.” month to prepare for Army. They ma coach Lincoln Riley remem- wasn’t enough to get the Sooners Quinn Maretzki kicked a 24- were held to 109 yards rushing in bered two specific moments right (8-2, No. 10 CFP) back in the Col- yard field goal early in the second the opening half and and 47 of after the No. 12 Sooners won their lege Football Playoff for the fourth quarter for the Black Knights’ those came on two carries — a 30- sixth consecutive Big 12 cham- year in a row, even when paired other points. yarder by Roberts and a 17-yard pionship. with their seven-game winning Air Force (3-3) beat Army 17-13 gain by Daniels — as the Black There was the uncertainty of streak since that 37-30 loss in at home last year, stopping the Knights dominated possession what was next when players were Ames, Iowa on Oct. 3. Black Knights on fourth down at time, holding the ball for 19 min- sent home after one spring prac- Oklahoma still has its 14th Big the goal line in the final seconds to utes and converting seven of 10 tice in March at the start of the 12 title overall in the league’s 25- escape, so this was a sweet pay- third downs. coronavirus pandemic. And then JEFFREY MCWHORTER / AP season history, and the 50th con- back, especially since it gave the Army: Through COVID-19, the the feeling in the locker room after Oklahoma quarterback Spencer ference championship in school senior class its 35th win, an acad- Black Knights rebounded from a a loss at Iowa State that had Okla- Rattler was 22 of 34 for 272 history. emy record. subpar 2019 despite starting four homa 0-2 in league play for the yards and a touchdown pass in “When we were 0-2 in the con- “The last drive, we found a way. quarterbacks until Tyler emerged first time since 1998. the win Saturday. ference, and I told them a place We just weren’t going to be de- late in the season. Though the The Sooners got a bit of revenge like OU there’s nowhere to hide. nied.” Army coach Jeff Monken schedule had to be revamped al- Saturday when winning another No. 8 Cyclones. It’s not like we’re just going to go said. “This season, this year has most entirely — it ended up in- Big 12 title game, with Spencer “I’ve felt tremendous excite- off and have a bad season and peo- been a challenge for every human cluding three championship sub- Rattler throwing a 45-yard touch- ment after each one of them, but ple aren’t going to pay attention,” being on the face of this planet. division teams. Army entered the down to fellow freshman Marvin this one does feel different ... may- Riley said. “I think everybody in There’s a spirit in this team and a game ranked second nationally Mims and running for another be the most unlikely,” said Riley, our locker room knew that this love for each other in this brother- (272.1 yards per game). score in a 27-21 victory over the the fourth-year head coach who was possible at that point.” Monday, December 21, 2020 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 23 COLLEGE FOOTBALL Lawrence, Clemson dominate Notre Dame BY STEVE REED on a third-down run late in the sec- Associated Press ond quarter leading to a touch- CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After a down and a 24-3 halftime lead. heartbreaking 47-40 double-over- Clemson has won all nine games time loss to Notre Dame last Lawrence has started by at least month, Clemson coach Dabo 18 points and their average mar- Swinney assured his players in the gin of victory in those games is locker room that there would be 33.6 points. no trophy handed out that night. Swinney called Lawrence the There would, however, be one best player in the country. up for grabs when they got to “It would be a crying shame if Charlotte for the Atlantic Coast the Heisman didn’t attach their Conference championship game. name to Trevor Lawrence,” Swin- The Tigers haven’t blinked ney said. “I know that has become since, staying focused on their a stat award, but if you watch and goal. On Saturday they collected you don’t know this is the best the hardware — again. player in the country, I don’t what Trevor Lawrence had 412 yards you’re looking at.” of offense and three touchdowns, Rodgers had eight catches for Travis Etienne ran for 124 yards 121 yards, and Williams added BRYNN ANDERSON/AP and a score and No. 4 Clemson four for 80 yards including a dy- Alabama running back Najee Harris (22) scores a touchdown against Florida during the first half of the dominated No. 2 Notre Dame 34- namic one-handed grab where he Southeastern Conference championship Saturday in Atlanta. 10 on Saturday to win its sixth reached behind his head to snag straight ACC title. the ball. “All we had to do was take care The momentum changed late in of business after that,” Lawrence the first quarter when Notre Alabama holds off Florida said about the loss in South Bend. Dame kicker Jonathan Doerer, “We remember fans running off who had converted an ACC title- BY PAUL NEWBERRY 46 shootout for the Southeastern two more TDs in the fourth period the field and getting in our face. game record 51-yard field goal on Associated Press Conference championship Satur- before the clock hit zero. You remember those images and the game’s opening drive, clanked ATLANTA — In a season of day night. “We were rolling pretty good,” keep those things in your head.” a 21-yard attempt off the right up- blowouts, Alabama finally got “Those guys are pretty phenom- said quarterback Kyle Trask, who Lawrence, who didn’t play in right. tested. Against a team that just enal. They have been all year,” Sa- threw for 408 yards and three the first meeting because the coro- The Tigers quickly capitalized wouldn’t quit, the Crimson Tide ban said. “They certainly deliver- TDs. “We just ran out of time.” navirus, threw long scoring passes when Rodgers got cornerback required every last point. ed tonight when we needed them Harris, the game’s MVP, essen- to Amari Rodgers and E.J Wil- Shaun Crawford to bite on a dou- Nick Saban needed his offen- to.” tially established residency in the liams in the first half to help the Ti- ble move and hauled in a perfectly sive stars to shine as bright as they The Crimson Tide (11-0, No. 1 Mercedes-Benz Stadium end gers (10-1) lock up a spot in the thrown pass from Lawrence for a have all season. CFP) got its toughest challenge in zones. College Football Playoff for the 67-yard strike, the first of four Boy, did they ever. aseason of blowouts, but the result The senior running back had 31 sixth straight season. straight scoring drives to close the Najee Harris rushed for 178 was the same. Another win. Now, bruising carries, scoring on plays Lawrence, the game MVP and first half. yards and scored five touch- with one of his best teams yet, the of 8 and 1 yards and leaping like a presumptive No. 1 pick in the NFL After Clemson stopped Notre downs. Mac Jones threw for 418 69-year-old coach heads to the hurdler over a defender who tried draft, overcame an early intercep- Dame on a key fourth-and-3, Law- yards and five TDs. DeVonta playoff in search of his seventh na- to go low on a 19-yard run. tion on a tipped ball to complete 25 rence moved the Tigers 72 yards Smith hauled in 15 receptions for tional title. Amazingly, Harris was even of 36 passes for 322 yards. He ran in six plays, showing his pocket 184 yards and two scores. After trailing 35-17 at halftime, more dynamic in the passing 14 times for 90 yards, with a 34- awareness by stepping up to avoid It was just enough to send No. 1 Florida (8-3, No. 7 CFP) made a game. He hauled in five throws for yard touchdown scamper. pressure and buy enough time to Alabama to the College Football game of it with a pair of third- 67 yards, including touchdown “His ability to run really stress- find Williams on a crossing route Playoff with a perfect record, quarter scores. And the Gators plays of 23, 17 and 7 yards in Ala- es your coverage calls,” Notre for a 33-yard score and a 14-3 lead holding off No. 11 Florida in a 52- fought to the bitter end, adding bama’s first-half blitz. Dame coach Brian Kelly said. “... — Notre Dame’s largest deficit of So what you try to do is bring some the season. pressures that eliminate those Etienne broke it open when he runs. It just opens up some 1-on-1 took a handoff, slipped an ankle Sight: Pandemic forces relocation matchups that are not favorable.” tackle and raced 44 yards for a The junior quarterback did it touchdown on fourth-and-1 for a all, even throwing a block to 24-3 lead with 21 seconds left in from Rose Bowl to AT&T Stadium spring Etienne for a 15-yard gain the first half.

FROM PAGE 24 Irish will be a matchup with Ala- in the 2016 playoff and Clemson bama (11-0). The last time the beat the Buckeyes 31-0. the SEC in 2017, thanks to the fa- teams played was the 2012 BCS One of the semifinals was mously independent Fighting championship game and the Tide scheduled to be played at the Rose Irish joining the league in football won 42-14. Bowl but a move was announced for a year because of the pandem- The Southeastern Conference Saturday night. The change was ic. champion Crimson Tide is back in made after coaches and school of- After sitting second in the CFP the playoff for the sixth time after ficials from playoff contenders rankings for a month, Notre Dame missing out last year. complained about California’s was blown out 34-10 by Clemson in Clemson (10-1) is in for a sixth COVID-19 restrictions that bans the Atlantic Coast Conference straight season, only missing out spectators from sporting events championship game. That opened on the first playoff. Ohio State and would have made it impossi- the door for Texas A&M (8-1), (6-0) is making its third appear- which had been lurking in fifth. ance. The Tigers have won two ble for players’ families attend the The Aggies (8-1) closed their playoff titles and the Buckeyes game. regular-season Saturday by cruis- won the first after the 2014 sea- The Rose Bowl twice asked for a ing to a win over Tennessee, but son. special exemption from the state were unable to become the third Clemson-Ohio State is a re- and was denied. team in the playoff’s seven-year match of last season’s dramatic The final drama of this season BRIAN BLANCO/AP history to make the field without semifinal in Glendale, Ariz., won will not only be in the crowning of Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence throws to an open receiver even winning its division. 29-23 by the Tigers. The two a champion but simply getting to against Notre Dame during the first half of the Atlantic Coast The reward for the Fighting teams also met at the Fiesta Bowl the games. Conference championship game Saturday in Charlotte, N.C. PAGE 24 • STARS AND STRIPES • Monday, December 21, 2020 The Bills are back SPORTS Buffalo beats Denver, ends Patriots’ 11-year grip on AFC East ›› NFL, Page 21

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF Familiar sight Alabama, Clemson back atop final rankings; Ohio State, Notre Dame round out playoff

otre Dame was goes according to plan. picked Sunday The national champion of over Texas A&M this college football season for the final Col- played through a pandemic lege Football is scheduled to be deter- PNlayoff spot and will face mined Jan. 11 at Hard Rock No. 1 Alabama in the semi- Stadium in Miami Gardens, finals while Clemson and Fla. Ohio State were paired in The Fighting Irish (10-1) the CFP for the third time. are back in the playoff for The Fighting Irish and the second time in three Crimson Tide will meet Jan. seasons, becoming the first 1 at AT&T Stadium in Ar- team to lose a conference ti- lington, Texas, after a late tle game and make the se- pandemic-related reloca- lection committee’s final tion from the Rose Bowl in four. The ACC is the second Pasadena, Calif. The Tigers conference to have two and Buckeyes are set to play teams in the playoff, joining the same day at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans — if all SEE SIGHT ON PAGE 23 INSIDE Army holds off Air Force to capture PHOTOS BY BRIAN BLANCO AND BRYNN ANDERSON/AP Commander-in-Chief's Trophy Top: Clemson wide receiver E.J. Williams (6) hauls in a pass with one hand in front of Notre Dame corner­ back Clarence Lewis during the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game on Saturday, in Charlotte, for ninth time N.C. Above: Alabama wide receiver John Metchie III (8) hits Florida defensive back Trey Dean III after Page 22 Dean's interception during the Southeastern Conference championship game Saturday in Atlanta.

No. 1 Gonzaga knocks off No. 3 Iowa ›› College basketball, Page 20