Korean War Wager
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NFL FACES MILITARY Lutz lifts Saints Damon-Bale film US bombs ISIS with 58-yard FG ‘Ford v Ferrari’ gets island in Iraq’s as time expires revved up in Toronto Tigris River Back page Page 18 Page 2 Vets running in 2020 struggling to make inroads with voters » Page 10 stripes.com Volume 78, No. 105 ©SS 2019 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 50¢/Free to Deployed Areas Korean War wager First Lt. Baldomero Lopez leads Marines over a seawall High-stakes gamble during the Incheon landing on Sept. 15, 1950. Lopez, who died smothering a grenade, of Incheon landing was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. led to crucial victory U.S. MARINE CORPS Naval History and Heritage Command BY KIM GAMEL Stars and Stripes INCHEON, South Korea — U.S.-led forces were in danger of losing the Ko- rean War as the North Koreans pushed them back to a defensive line on the southern tip of the peninsula known as the Pusan Perimeter. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, in com- mand of the troops fighting under Unit- ed Nations auspices, knew what needed to be done. But first, the five-star gener- al had to convince the other top brass. The Incheon landing, which began 69 years ago Sunday, went against the better judgment of Navy, Marine and other Army commanders who argued the narrow port channel, swift currents and extreme tides were too dangerous and could leave ships stranded and vul- nerable to attack. The 70-year-old war hero prevailed, insisting that the riskiness of the plan to land Marines behind enemy lines only boosted the element of surprise. SEE WAGER ON PAGE 6 INSIDE North Korea fires 2 projectiles after offering to restart talks Page 3 Trump’s halt to talks pushes Afghans toward fragile vote BY CARA ANNA ANALYSIS longest war on hold, Af- trustful than ever and has vowed to keep efits Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who Associated Press ghanistan suddenly faces fighting. The talks are “dead,” Trump said was sidelined in the negotiations because a presidential vote amid Monday. the Taliban dismiss his government as KABUL, Afghanistan — President Don- warnings that it’s not ready — and the The Afghan people, essentially shut out a U.S. puppet. Ghani insists the Sept. 28 ald Trump’s sudden halt to U.S.-Taliban threat of even more violence. of the talks, want a say in their fate. But if election go ahead, even as the U.S. seemed talks looks like a gift to the beleaguered The Taliban have told Afghans to boycott this election is as chaotic as last year’s par- to be more interested in signing a deal with Afghan president, who has insisted on the vote and warned that rallies and poll- liamentary vote and the 2014 presidential the Taliban and committing to immediate holding a key election in less than three ing stations would be targets. Spurned by election, some observers fear the Afghan intra-Afghan talks on the country’s politi- weeks’ time despite widespread expecta- Trump on the brink of a deal they said had government could be badly weakened at a cal future. tions that a peace deal would push it aside. been “finalized” to end nearly 18 years of pivotal time. Now, with an agreement to end America’s conflict, the insurgent group is more dis- Trump’s surprise announcement ben- SEE AFGHANS ON PAGE 5 PAGE 2 F3HIJKLM •STARS AND STRIPES• Wednesday, September 11, 2019 MILITARY US bombs ISIS island in Iraq’s Tigris River BY CHAD GARLAND Task Force, referring to ISIS by It was seized by ISIS in 2014 Stars and Stripes an Arabic term. after the Americans left. U.S. Air Force F-15 Strike Ea- The base was recaptured by Coalition and Iraqi forces gles and F-35 Lightning II air- U.S.-backed forces and used carried out airstrikes Tuesday craft took part in bombing the as a staging ground as part of against an island south of Mosul “Daesh infested-island,” Opera- the nine-month battle to retake in the Tigris River believed to be tion Inherent Resolve spokesman Mosul from the terrorist group a safe haven for Islamic State in Col. Myles B. Caggins III said on that began in late 2016. Iraq. Twitter. While ISIS was routed from Fireballs exploded across The fighter jets dropped about the last of the territory it held in Qanus Island, in Iraq’s Salahud- 80,000 pounds of bombs, he said. Iraq in late 2017 and ousted from din province, as plumes of smoke The operation “demonstrates its last bastion in Syria early this billowed up into the sky, a video our continued partnership to en- year, the group has continued to posted on Twitter showed. Black- able [Iraqi security forces] to carry out targeted killings and clad Iraqi counterterrorism keep its boot on the forehead of arson of crops in both countries. troops are seen watching over the ISIS,” Caggins said. operation from the ground. Officials have warned that the It was aimed at destroying a U.S. Air Force Following the early morning major transit hub for ISIS mem- group is seeking to regain its ca- strikes, ground clearance opera- bers moving from Syria and the pabilities and remains a threat as Bombs are loaded onto an F-15 Strike Eagle on Monday, a day tions conducted by the Iraqi spe- Jazeera desert into the Mosul, an insurgent movement in both before F-15s and F-35A Lightning IIs dropped 80,000 pounds of cial forces were underway on the Makhmour and Kirkuk regions. countries. bombs on ISIS on an island in the Tigris River in Iraq. island, the U.S.-led coalition said The island lies near Qayyarah “ISIS remains a threat in Iraq in a statement in the afternoon. Airfield West, known as Q-West and Syria,” the Pentagon’s lead to disrupt the hard-line Islamist for our partner forces to continue “We’re denying Daesh the abil- or Forward Operating Base En- inspector general for the U.S. op- group’s ability to hide in the thick bringing stability to the region,” ity to hide on Qanus Island,” said durance, which was home to U.S. eration in the region said in a re- vegetation on the island, the co- Hill said. Maj. Gen. Eric T. Hill, command- forces during the Iraq War of port last month. alition statement said. [email protected] er of Special Operations Joint 2003- 11. Tuesday’s strikes were meant “We’re setting the conditions Twitter: @chadgarland Survey: Most vets approve of Trump; some question his military judgment BY NEIL FOTRE Washington, based its results on veterans generally have a more veyed said they trust Trump to cisions about the use of military Stars and Stripes an online survey of 1,284 military favorable rating of Trump than make the correct decision about force and nuclear weapons than veterans. The survey results from the general public. The survey the use of military force and the ones who did not have such WASHINGTON — The major- the summer were compiled before of veterans found 57% approve of nuclear weapons. Approximately experiences. ity of veterans surveyed recently the most recent tensions between Trump in his execution of duties 40% said they do not. Opinions about Trump also var- said they support President Don- the United States and Iran. as commander in chief. In addition, 45% of veterans said ied based on generations. About ald Trump as leader of the armed Almost half, or 48%, said they Trump is not listening enough to The purpose of the study was 38% of veterans who served in forces, though some of them believe Trump administration his military leaders. to gauge whether there is a differ- uniform before 9/11 are more question his ability to make the policies have made the military The survey also asked veterans likely to trust Trump regarding right decision when it comes to ence of opinion between the vet- stronger. That is more than the to identify whether they had sig- using military force and nuclear eran community and the general approximately 41% of the general nificant or traumatic emotional the use of nuclear weapons, com- weapons, according to a report public on the performance and public that approves of the Trump experiences while in combat. pared with 30% of veterans of the released Tuesday. judgment of Trump, according to administration, according to the Fewer veterans who said they post-9/11 generation. The Pew Research Center, a the report. survey results. had these experiences, roughly [email protected] nonpartisan think tank based in Overall, the survey results show The majority of veterans sur- 27%, trust Trump in making de- Twitter: @Neil_Fotre T O D A Y IN STRIPES American Roundup ............ 17 Business .......................... 21 Classified ................... 19, 23 Comics ............................. 22 Crossword ........................ 22 Faces ............................... 18 Opinion ............................ 20 Sports .........................24-32 Weather ........................... 21 Wednesday, September 11, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• F3HIJKLM PAGE 3 MILITARY 2 North Korean launches follow new call for talks Projectiles sail in 10th firing since May BY KIM GAMEL While their traveling distance AND YOO KYONG CHANG has been short, experts warned Stars and Stripes they could pose a threat to South Korea and the 28,500 American SEOUL, South Korea — North troops stationed on the divided Korea fired two short-range pro- peninsula. jectiles Tuesday, officials said, Trump has insisted the weap- hours after the communist state ons tests are standard and don’t offered to restart stalled nucle- violate North Korean leader Kim TAYLER P. S CHWAMB/U.S.