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Cobra blood is off the training menu for US troops, PETA says ›› Page 3

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AFGHANISTAN Taliban violently disperse rare protest At least 1 person is killed in show of public dissent Associated Press KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban violently broke up a pro- test in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing at least one person as they quashed a rare public show of dissent. The mili- tant group meanwhile met with former officials from the toppled Western-backed government. As officials work to shape a fu- ture government, the United Arab Emirates acknowledged that Af- ghan President Ashraf Ghani, who fled the Taliban advance, and his family were in that country. The Taliban’s every action in their sudden sweep to power is be- ing watched closely. They insist they have changed and won’t im- pose the same draconian restric- tions they did when they last ruled Afghanistan, all but eliminating women’s rights, carrying out pub- lic executions and harboring al- Qaida in the years before the 9/11 attacks. But many Afghans remain deeply skeptical, and the violent response to Wednesday’s protest could only fuel their fears. Thou- RAHMAT GUL/AP sands are racing to the airport and Taliban fighters patrol in the Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood in the city of Kabul, Afghanistan, on Wednesday. borders to flee the country. Many others are hiding inside their homes, fearful after prisons and ‘Victorious US withdrawal’ from Afghanistan impossible, watchdog finds armories were emptied during the

BY SARAH CAMMARATA sources, according to the sons learned.” By relying on unsustainable goals that could not SEE TALIBAN ON PAGE 5 Stars and Stripes watchdog agency created by Con- quick-fix solutions, U.S. programs create the conditions to allow a WASHINGTON — A “victo- gress to provide oversight. ultimately worsened the issues victorious U.S. withdrawal,” ac- RELATED rious U.S. withdrawal” from Af- U.S. officials also pushed their that they were meant to address. cording to the report. ghanistan was impossible to own political aims without taking “By design, these timelines of- The U.S. continued to draw US withdrawal achieve because the U.S. govern- into account what was achievable, ten ignored conditions on the down troops and resources, de- ment created unrealistic time- a report released Tuesday by the ground and forced reckless com- spite recognizing the Afghan gov- forces a rethink lines to rebuild the country, lead- Special Inspector General for Af- promises in U.S. programs, creat- ernment’s failure to address its in- ing to short-term fixes such as in- ghanistan Reconstruction, or SI- ing perverse incentives to spend of its global role jections of troops, money and re- GAR, concluded in its final “les- quickly and focus on short-term, SEE WATCHDOG ON PAGE 7 Page 4 PAGE 2 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, August 19, 2021 BUSINESS/WEATHER TSA extends mask rule for passengers into Jan. EXCHANGE RATES Military rates South Korea (Won) 1,170.96 Associated Press and planned to discuss it with airline Individual airlines declined to Switzerland (Franc) .9161 Euro costs (Aug. 19) $1.14 Thailand (Baht) 33.28 Federal officials are extending unions Wednesday. The mask rule comment on the Biden administra- Dollar buys (Aug. 19) 0.8319 Turkey (New Lira) 8.4804 British pound (Aug. 19) $1.34 into January a requirement that also applies to employees on planes tion’s decision, and their trade Japanese yen (Aug. 19) 107.00 (Military exchange rates are those available people on airline flights and public and public transportation. group, Airlines for America, said South Korean won (Aug. 19) 1,145.00 to customers at military banking facilities in the Commercial rates country of issuance for Japan, South Korea, Ger­ transportation wear face masks, a The mask mandate has been con- only that U.S. carriers will strictly many, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Bahrain (Dinar) .3770 For nonlocal currency exchange rates (i.e., pur­ rule intended to limit the spread of troversial and has led to many en- enforce the rule. A broader group, Britain (Pound) 1.3767 chasing British pounds in Germany), check with Canada (Dollar) 1.2614 your local military banking facility. Commercial COVID-19. counters between passengers who the U.S. Travel Association, said the China (Yuan) 6.4803 rates are interbank rates provided for reference Denmark (Krone) 6.3472 The Transportation Security Ad- don’t want to wear a mask and flight extension “has the travel industry’s Egypt (Pound) 15.7086 when buying currency. All figures are foreign ministration’s current order was attendants asked to enforce the rule. full support.” Euro .8535 currencies to one dollar, except for the British Hong Kong (Dollar) 7.7874 pound, which is represented in dollars­to­ scheduled to expire Sept. 13. An The Federal Aviation Administra- “We have a responsibility in avia- Hungary (Forint) 299.22 pound, and the euro, which is dollars­to­euro.) Israel (Shekel) 3.2329 agency spokesman said Tuesday tion said Tuesday that airlines have tion to keep everyone safe and do Japan (Yen) 109.81 INTEREST RATES that the mandate will be extended reported 3,889 incidents involving our part to end the pandemic, rather Kuwait (Dinar) .3010 Norway (Krone) 8.8885 Prime rate 3.25 until Jan. 18. unruly passengers this year, and than aid the continuation of it,” said Philippines (Peso) 50.43 Interest Rates Discount rate 0.75 Poland (Zloty) 3.89 Federal funds market rate 0.09 The TSA briefed airline industry 2,867 — or 74% — involved refusing Sara Nelson, president of the Asso- Saudi Arabia (Riyal) 3.7506 3­month bill 0.07 representatives on its plan Tuesday to wear a mask. ciation of Flight Attendants. Singapore (Dollar) 1.3601 30­year bond 1.92 WEATHER OUTLOOK THURSDAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST THURSDAY IN EUROPE FRIDAY IN THE PACIFIC

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TODAY IN STRIPES American Roundup ...... 11 Classified ...... 13 Comics ...... 16 Crossword ...... 16 Faces ...... 18 Opinion ...... 14 Sports ...... 19-24 Thursday, August 19, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 3 MILITARY PETA: Cobra blood is off the training menu for US troops BY MATTHEW M. BURKE Gala said the group was con- Stars and Stripes cerned about the poor treatment The animal rights group People of animals, but also about the for the Ethical Treatment of Ani- health of the service members. mals declared victory this week The practice poses “a serious after the practice of drinking the zoonotic disease threat,” a group blood of cobras was axed from the of 19 military veterans and PETA multinational Cobra Gold military supporters wrote to Defense Sec- exercise in Thailand. retary Lloyd Austin on July 22. Killing the snakes to demon- “The World Health Organiza- strate a jungle survival technique tion has warned that ‘an estimated was scuttled at the exercise earli- 70% of emerging and re-emerging AKIFUMI ISHIKAWA/Stars and Stripes er this month, PETA announced pathogens’ — such as those that Members of the U.S. Paralympic team stand next to a C­130J Super Hercules after arriving at Yokota Air Monday, citing unnamed Thai have caused the current CO- Base in western Tokyo, Japan. military sources. The nonprofit, VID-19 pandemic, along with Ebo- based in Norfolk, Va., spent years la, Zika, SARS, MERS, smallpox, lobbying against a practice it tuberculosis and others — origi- called “frat boy-style barbarity.” nated in animals,” the letter said. US Paralympians train at USAF Images of beheaded snakes, “It’s irresponsible to jeopardize their blood dripping onto the our service members’ health and base in Tokyo ahead of games tongues of eager young Marines, safety during these bloodlust ex- were publicized by the Defense ercises.” BY SETH ROBSON A crowd of about 50 adults and commitment.” Department itself. PETA complained in writing to Stars and Stripes children sat on bleachers beside The family got a kick out of “We are proud that after PE- Marine Corps Commandant Gen. YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — the high school football field and watching Olympic track and field TA’s intensive campaigning, Thai David Berger, then-Secretary of Athletes of the U.S. Paralympic watched the Paralympians, often and synchronized diving on TV and U.S. armed forces made the Defense Mark Esper, Navy In- team were given a warm welcome fitted with sport-specific pros- and plan to watch the Paralym- ethical and safe decision to not kill spector General Vice Admiral at this air base in western Tokyo, thetics such as running blades, pics, but the training session was any animals during this year’s Co- John Fuller and Thai officials. the headquarters of U.S. Forces sprint and throw a javelin and a their only chance to see athletes bra Gold exercises, apparently for PETA supporters protested at Japan, where they are training for medicine ball. up close, he said. the first time in the event’s histo- the Thai embassy and Austin’s a week prior to the games. Javelin thrower Mike Gallardo, Paralympic events, like those of ry,” PETA vice president of inter- Virginia home; they drafted pet- About 70 members of the U.S. of Los Angeles, is an Army veter- the Olympics, which concluded national laboratory methods Sha- itions, wrote op-eds and solicited Paralympic team and several doz- an who lost his leg after his vehi- after 17 days of competition Aug. lin Gala wrote in an email media coverage, Gala said. He en coaches and support staff are cle was struck by a pair of road- 8, will be held without spectators, Wednesday to Stars and Stripes. said more than 119,000 supporters at Yokota preparing for the de- side bombs in Iraq in 2007. with exceptions for some school “This move means that this year, responded to PETA online action layed 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, He showed off his skills by run- groups. troops were no longer made to eat alerts. which kick off Tuesday and close ning in front of the crowd and go- About 4,400 Paralympians and live animals or drink the blood of “These actions likely influen- Sept. 5. ing through the motions to hurl staff from roughly 160 countries beheaded snakes, which is a win- ced the Cobra Gold organizers to U.S. Paralympic track and field his javelin. and territories are expected to win, sparing animals and protect- reconsider the ritualistic blood- and swim team members are us- Gallardo said he’d been stuck at take part in the games, which are ing public health.” lust killing of animals this year,” ing indoor and outdoor pools at home training for the games by being held in Tokyo and the The III Marine Expeditionary he said. “This is an important vic- the air base, as well as at the Yo- throwing a ball into a net in his neighboring prefectures of Chiba, Force, which is based in Okinawa, tory for ensuring that troops can kota High School running track, backyard during the coronavirus Saitama and Shizuoka. Japan, and usually participates in learn survival techniques without to train for their events. Other pandemic. Team USA includes three Ar- Cobra Gold, did not respond to an having to mutilate and kill ani- members of the team are training “Sometimes I’d throw the ball my veterans competing in shoot- email seeking comment Wednes- mals.” back in the states and will start ar- over the net and have to go get it,” ing and swimming events and 16 day. Better jungle survival methods riving at the Olympic athletes’ vil- he told the crowd, getting a laugh. veterans who served in the Army, PETA began campaigning in can be taught that do not include lage later this week. Air Force Lt. Col. Scott Hen- Navy, Air Force and Marine 2020 against the military killing the killing of animals, he said. Several athletes posed Wednes- drix, 37, of Denton, Texas, Corps competing in archery, cy- cobras at Cobra Gold after the im- Gala wrote that PETA would day for a photograph with a brought his family, who arrived in cling, paratriathlon, rowing, track ages came to their attention, Gala monitor future exercises to en- C-130J Super Hercules airlifter Japan just before the Olympics, to and field, wheelchair fencing and said. The group discovered that sure the practice is not resurrec- beside Yokota’s runway and watch the training session. wheelchair rugby. troops and instructors also killed ted. spoke to reporters, who, along “It’s incredible to see these chickens with their bare hands, with base residents, watched folks doing what they do,” he said. [email protected] skinned and ate live geckos and [email protected] them train on a sunny afternoon. “It takes a tremendous amount of Twitter: @SethRobson1 ate live scorpions and tarantulas. Twitter: @MatthewMBurke1 Coast Guard patrols from Japan to target fisheries violators BY JUAN KING 12 in Japan as part of Operation the high seas. The Coast Guard aims to curtail illicit fishing, ac- the state-run Global Times report- Stars and Stripes North Pacific Guard, according to typically commits a surface vessel cording to a Coast Guard news re- ed at the time. YOKOTA AIR BASE — An Air Force Staff Sgt. Jessica Aval- and a C-130 to the operation. The lease from the 2020 operation. The Chinese ships will be on pa- HC-130J Super Hercules that lone, a spokeswoman for the 374th fisheries enforcement program is Each nation is responsible for trol for 31 days, according to the stayed a short time on the Yokota Airlift Wing at Yokota. one area in which the United providing surface and air patrols Global Times. flight line seemed like a good fit The C-130 and its crew of seven States and China, more often at and sharing intelligence that The U.S. Coast Guard did not re- for this Air Force airlift hub in stayed only a few days, said Coast cross-purposes in the Pacific, on guide those patrols to make at-sea spond to a query Monday by Stars western Tokyo. Guard Cmdr. Steven Stowers at paper are expected to work to- inspections that target illicit fish- and Stripes seeking further infor- But its red-and-white livery set Yokota, but another crew is sched- gether. ing activity. mation on this year’s North Pacific it apart as property of the U.S. uled to take its place next week. The operation is a joint endeav- The China Coast Guard sent two Guard. Coast Guard. The aircraft and its North Pacific Guard, an annual or of nations of the North Pacific of its vessels from Shanghai on Ju- crew, normally based at Air Sta- operation, targets illegal, unre- Rim, also including Japan, Russia, ly 31 to cruise the North Pacific as [email protected] tion Kodiak, Alaska, arrived Aug. ported and unregulated fishing on South Korea and Canada, that part of the enforcement program, Twitter: @JuanKin58785131 PAGE 4 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, August 19, 2021 AFGHANISTAN US exit forces reconsideration of its global role

BY JOHN HUDSON ing policy director at the Interna- AND MISSY RYAN tional Crisis Group. The Washington Post He pointed to the 2011 interven- President Joe Biden’s decision tion in Libya, which was intended to withdraw from Afghanistan has as a shield for those rising up triggered a globe-spanning reth- against dictator Moammar Gad- ink of America’s role in the world, dafi but which has been followed as European allies discuss their by a decade of chaos and insecuri- need to play a bigger part in secu- ty. That lesson is also apparent in rity matters and Russia and China Afghanistan, where despite im- consider how to promote their in- portant gains in health and wom- terests in a Taliban-led Afghanis- en’s rights, the long U.S.-backed tan. effort was unable to secure lasting Biden’s defiant address to the peace. nation on Monday, when he stood “That’s the lived experience of “squarely” behind his decision to a lot of people who are now at the pull out U.S. troops, also renewed top of the foreign policy hierarchy one of the most hotly contested in this administration,” Pomper debates of the post-9/11 era: said. Would a withdrawal from Af- Brian Katulis, a scholar at the ghanistan convey weakness, pro- left-leaning Center for American voke aggression and shatter Progress, said the administration America’s ability to lead on the in- has at times reacted to events at ternational stage, or would it re- home and abroad rather than ar- flect a sound realignment of the ticulating an overarching ideolo- national interest, put the country gy. on better footing to deal with the “That raises the question, new challenges of the 21st century ‘What do you stand for when the and clarify to allies and adversar- chips are down?’” he said. ies what the United States is and On Tuesday, world powers be- is not willing to expend resources gan adjusting to the new reality of on? AP Taliban rule as the group’s de fac- In the European Union, which A Taliban fighter stands guard at a checkpoint near the U.S. Embassy that was previously manned by to leader, Abdul Ghani Baradar, held an emergency session of for- American troops in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Tuesday. arrived in the country for the first eign ministers on Afghanistan on time in more than a decade. Tuesday, officials offered rare with Biden’s skepticism of the At a news conference in Kabul criticism of Washington for risk- “Deciding not to keep fighting an military, which was apparent dur- on Tuesday, Taliban leaders of- ing a flood of refugees to their bor- ing his time as vice president, fered conciliatory messages — ders and the return of a platform unwinnable war for a less-than-vital when he argued against the ambi- met with skepticism by some offi- for terrorism in Central Asia. tious troop surge that Pentagon cials and analysts — promising “This kind of troop withdrawal interest hardly means the United leaders were proposing in 2009 to not to discriminate against wom- caused chaos,” Latvia’s defense check a Taliban resurgence. Bi- en or to seek control of the media, minister, Artis Pabriks, said in a States will not fight when the den, warning President Barack and suggesting that those who radio interview Tuesday, noting Obama against letting the top worked with the previous govern- the demise of long-term nation- stakes are higher.” brass “jam” him, unsuccessfully ment and allied forces would be building projects and how the de- argued for a much leaner mission “pardoned.” cision to withdraw was essentially Stephen Walt narrowly focused on blocking With the Biden administration foisted on Europeans. “This era is scholar of international relations at Harvard University threats against the U.S. home- still “taking stock” of whether it over. Unfortunately, the West, land. will officially recognize the Tali- and Europe in particular, are the United States will not fight Those statements were often But on issues involving other ban as the government of Afghan- showing they are weaker global- when the stakes are higher,” said designed to create a contrast with elements of American power, like istan, other countries began stak- ly.” Stephen Walt, a scholar of inter- the Trump administration, which diplomacy or trade, Biden has ar- ing out their own approach. Germany’s conservative candi- national relations at Harvard Uni- denigrated European allies and ticulated a more ambitious view, Russia, which has long-estab- date to succeed Chancellor Ange- versity. “On the contrary, ending cozied up to authoritarian-leaning seeking to take greater risks to ad- lished ties to the Taliban but does la Merkel, Armin Laschet, on the long and futile war in Afghan- governments in Egypt, Saudi Ara- vance human rights. His adminis- not officially recognize it, praised Tuesday called the withdrawal of istan will allow Washington to fo- bia, Hungary and Brazil. tration has repeatedly called out the group on Monday. forces “the greatest debacle that cus more attention on bigger pri- Critics of Biden’s policy seized China for what it views as a cam- “The situation is peaceful and NATO has experienced since its orities.” on that rhetoric as the Taliban paign of genocide against Uyghur good, and everything has calmed foundation.” In his remarks to the nation, Bi- swept into Kabul, and many wom- Muslims in Xinjiang, for instance. down in the city. The situation in In China, where the U.S. with- den latched on to the need to dis- en and girls sheltered at home in “Those things generally coexist Kabul now under the Taliban is drawal is seen as creating both lodge the U.S. from costly quag- fear of a return to the militants’ without too much tension,” said a better than it was under [Presi- risks and opportunity, Foreign mires in an era of big-power com- harsh rule that had banned wom- former defense official familiar dent] Ashraf Ghani,” said Dmitry Minister Wang Yi told U.S. Secre- petition. en from education and work when with his thinking who spoke on Zhirnov, the Russian ambassador tary of State Antony Blinken in a “Our true strategic competi- the Taliban was last in power. the condition of anonymity to talk to Afghanistan. phone call that the rapid depar- tors, China and Russia, would “Whatever happened to ‘Amer- candidly. “In Afghanistan, there Canadian Prime Minister Jus- ture of U.S. troops caused a “se- love nothing more than the United ica is back’?” said Tobias Ellwood, was a trade-off.” tin Trudeau, meanwhile, said his verely adverse impact.” States to continue to funnel bil- who chairs the Defense Commit- Biden’s views, and those of government had “no plans” to He also drew broader implica- lions of dollars in resources and tee in the British Parliament, not- some of his aides, were also heavi- recognize the Taliban govern- tions from the pullout, saying it attention into stabilizing Afghan- ing Biden’s promise to rebuild al- ly informed by the wrenching de- ment. showed America’s inability to istan indefinitely,” he said. liances and restore America’s bates over intervention in Libya State Department spokesman transpose a foreign model of gov- Biden said the U.S. could con- place in the world. and Syria during the Obama ad- Ned Price said Monday that the ernance to a country with differ- tinue to disrupt terrorist organiza- Part of the confusion stems ministration. U.S. would decide whether to rec- ent cultural and historical attri- tions with air power. from the mix of ideologies inside “One of the realities that has ognize its rule only after it demon- butes. Although history could vindi- the Biden administration, in par- been realized in the past two dec- strates a willingness to govern in- Longtime critics of the war in cate Biden’s order, his adminis- ticular, longtime advocates of hu- ades is that advancing human clusively and prohibit terrorists Afghanistan say claims about lost tration faces difficult questions manitarian interventions such as rights policy through military in- from operating on its soil. U.S. resolve and credibility ring about squaring the decision with Blinken and USAID Administra- tervention is extremely difficult,” “We are still taking stock of hollow. its near-constant refrain that hu- tor Samantha Power, who rou- said Stephen Pomper, who served what has transpired over the past “Deciding not to keep fighting man rights and support for allies tinely speak about the importance as a senior White House official 72 hours and the diplomatic and an unwinnable war for a less- will be “at the center of U.S. for- of human rights. for human rights during the Oba- political implications of that,” than-vital interest hardly means eign policy.” The outlook stands in contrast ma administration and is now act- Price said. Thursday, August 19, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 5 AFGHANISTAN Flights out of Kabul for evacuees continue Challenge for most is getting to the airfield

Staff and wire reports Tuesday. As the U.S. seeks to evacuate some 5,000 “I would just let the results speak for people a day from Kabul, the challenge of themselves,” Kirby said. “There are inter- getting out of Afghanistan is getting into the actions multiple times a day and … there’s airfield, which is secured in separate areas been no hostile interactions from the Tali- by both U.S. and Taliban forces. ban to our operations at the airport.” U.S. government-provided flights are de- On Wednesday, Kirby said 18 U.S. C-17 parting, and American citizens and perma- cargo jets removed about 2,000 people since nent residents “should consider traveling to Tuesday from Kabul’s international air- ISAIAH CAMPBELL, U.S. MARINE CORPS/ AP Hamid Karzai International Airport,” the port. Marines of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit process Department of State personnel State Department said in an alert Wednes- The outgoing jets evacuated 325 Ameri- for evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sunday. day afternoon. can citizens and hundreds of Afghans and But the message carried a warning that NATO ally personnel, Kirby said. At the commercial flights had also come and gone nals. the U.S. government cannot ensure safe same time, some 700 U.S. troops and their from the Kabul airport in recent hours. The Afghan Independent Journalists As- passage to the airport. gear arrived in Kabul on 18 C-17s and one Kirby said a few hundred additional sociation also voiced concerns about press The military side of the facility is being smaller C-130 cargo plane. The latest in- American troops, mostly Marines, were ex- freedoms Wednesday, saying in a state- secured by thousands of Americans. Out- crease of troops brings the total U.S. mili- pected to arrive Wednesday at the Kabul ment that three journalists had been beaten side, Taliban militants had set up check- tary presence at Hamid Karzai Internation- airport. by the Taliban, including one who was try- points and were demanding travel docu- al Airport to about 4,500 service members, The force at the airport is expected to re- ing to talk to a militant about the situation ments before letting anyone in, said a for- he said. ach about 6,000 American troops at some outside Kabul’s airport. mer airport worker who was waiting to be Kirby also said he expected a similar point, but Kirby did not say when that entire Many of the desperate Afghans who gath- called back to his job and declined to be number of flights in and out from the Kabul force would be in place. ered outside the airport beginning Sunday named for safety reasons. airport during the next 24-hour period, but Afghans swarmed the tarmac earlier in had returned to their homes Tuesday, but The militants fired occasional warning he declined to estimate how many people the week, and two were killed by American the roads were still jammed, said Moham- shots to disperse crowds of people who could be evacuated during that time. Kirby troops after showing hostile intent, officials mad Nasim, 26, a Kabul resident who was in sought to push through the gate into the air- previously said the Pentagon was working said. Others desperate to escape fell from a the crowd and spoke to Stars and Stripes by port each time it opened even an inch, The to ramp up to moving some 5,000 to 9,000 C-17 military plane they’d clung to when it phone Wednesday. Associated Press reported. evacuees from the airport per day on more took off. Some were still getting onto the airport But in meetings with the group’s senior than two dozen incoming and outgoing Many in the country fear brutal Taliban grounds by climbing over the walls, said leadership in Qatar over the weekend, U.S. flights. reprisals, though the militants have sought Nasim, who said he had no documents, Central Command boss Gen. Frank “We expect the same kind of air activity to assure Afghans that they will not face ret- passport or electronic ID card, but heard McKenzie cautioned that any attack on the in terms … of the number of [flights], but I ribution for supporting the U.S. or the de- three days ago that some Afghans were evacuation effort would be met with “over- can’t tell you exactly the numbers of people posed government. evacuated without any paperwork. whelming force,” he said in a statement that we will have coming and going,” Kirby But some Kabul residents said groups of “I just want to get on a plane and don’t Tuesday after touring the airfield. told reporters in a news briefing from the armed men have been going door to door care where they take me,” he said. “It Since those meetings, U.S. commanders Pentagon. “The goal is to get as many peo- asking about Afghans who worked with the should just be outside of Afghanistan.” have had discussions with Taliban com- ple out as quickly as we can.” Americans or the ousted Kabul administra- manders on the ground outside the airport, He said in addition to the U.S. military tion, the AP reported, though it was unclear Stars and Stripes reporters Zubair Babakarkhail and Corey Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said flights, some NATO partner flights and whether the gunmen were Taliban or crimi- Dickstein contributed to this report. Taliban: Talks underway to form ‘inclusive, Islamic government’

FROM PAGE 1 Meanwhile, videos from the ing talks with former Afghan peared amid widespread anger whom are supposed to leave at the insurgents’ blitz across the coun- Panjshir Valley north of Kabul, a President Hamid Karzai and Ab- from Afghans over the collapse of end of the month. try. stronghold of the Northern Alli- dullah Abdullah, a senior official the country’s security forces. When the Taliban were last in Dozens of people gathered in ance militias that allied with the in the ousted government. Mo- In Kabul, groups of Taliban power they sheltered Osama bin the eastern city of Jalalabad to U.S. against the Taliban in 2001, hammad Yusof Saha, a spokes- fighters carrying long guns pa- Laden and his al-Qaida group, raise the national flag a day before appear to show potential opposi- man for Karzai, said preliminary trolled a well-to-do neighborhood which carried out the Sept. 11, Afghanistan’s Independence Day, tion figures gathering there. It’s in meetings with Taliban officials that is home to many embassies as 2001, attacks. U.S. officials fear al- which commemorates the end of the only province that hasn’t yet would facilitate eventual negotia- well as mansions of the Afghan Qaida and other groups could re- British rule in 1919. They lowered fallen to the Taliban. tions with Mullah Abdul Ghani elite. constitute themselves in Afghan- the Taliban flag — a white banner Those figures include members Baradar, the top Taliban political The Taliban have promised to istan now that the Taliban are with an Islamic inscription — that of the deposed government — leader, who returned to the coun- maintain security, but residents back in power. the militants have raised in the ar- Vice President Amrullah Saleh, try this week. say groups of armed men have Elsewhere in Afghanistan, the eas they captured. who asserted on Twitter that he is Karzai and Abdullah met been going door to door inquiring Taliban blew up a statue depicting Video footage later showed the the country’s rightful president Wednesday with Anas Haqqani, a about Afghans who worked with Abdul Ali Mazari, a militia leader Taliban firing into the air and at- and Defense Minister Gen. Bis- senior leader in a powerful Tali- the Americans or the deposed gov- killed by the Taliban in 1996, when tacking people with batons to dis- millah Mohammadi — as well as ban faction. The U.S. branded the ernment. It’s unclear if the gun- the Islamic militants seized power perse the crowd. Babrak Amirza- Ahmad Massoud, the son of the Haqqani network a terrorist men are Taliban or criminals pos- from rival warlords. da, a reporter for a local news slain Northern Alliance leader group in 2012, and its involvement ing as militants. Mazari was a champion of Af- agency, said he and a TV camera- Ahmad Shah Massoud. It’s un- in a future government could trig- Another Taliban promise being ghanistan’s ethnic Hazara minor- man from another agency were clear if they intend to challenge ger international sanctions. closely watched is their vow to ity, Shiites who were persecuted beaten by the Taliban as they tried the Taliban, who seized most of Meanwhile, the UAE’s Foreign prevent Afghanistan from again under the Sunni Taliban’s earlier to cover the unrest. the country in a matter of days last Ministry acknowledged in a one- being used as a base for planning rule. A local health official said at week. sentence statement that Ghani terrorist attacks. That was en- That further raised concerns least one person was killed and six The Taliban, meanwhile, and his family were in the country shrined in a 2020 peace deal with about whether they would make wounded. The official was not au- pressed ahead with their efforts to for “humanitarian considera- the Trump administration that good on their promises, including thorized to speak to media and so form an “inclusive, Islamic gov- tions.” The president fled the Tali- paved the way for the drawdown not seeking revenge on those who spoke on condition of anonymity. ernment.” They have been hold- ban advance on Sunday and disap- of American troops, the last of have opposed them. PAGE 6 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, August 19, 2021 AFGHANISTAN Takeover won’t alter defense spending much BY ANDREW CLEVENGER ghan nationals, and their families, tion Act. House Armed Services events in Afghanistan. Institute who specializes in the de- CQ-Roll Call who aided the U.S. military during subcommittees marked up their They could still be changed in fense budget, cautioned against WASHINGTON — The Tali- the two decades-long war in Af- portions of the House bill in July, conference, as conferees recon- assuming Congress will zero out ban’s rapid takeover of Afghanis- ghanistan. with the full committee scheduled cile the Senate and House ver- spending related to Afghanistan tan could mean changes for the “The most likely outcome is to hold its marathon markup ses- sions of the NDAA, but Harrison now that it is under Taliban con- billions of dollars the Pentagon there’s a lot of handwringing, sion of the massive defense policy doesn’t envision big changes due trol. Congress will shift some sought in the next fiscal year, but there’s a lot of sadness, there’s a bill on Sept. 1. to the fall of Kabul. funds around, she said, “but not is unlikely to change the trajectory lot of disappointment in the way On the spending side, House ap- “It’s not going to have a signif- nearly as much as some are esti- of the larger defense policy and things are going down in Afghan- propriators have already ap- icant funding effect for DOD, nor mating because the situation is so spending bills currently under istan,” said Todd Harrison, the di- proved a $705.9 billion defense will it change the focus for DOD fluid.” consideration in Congress. rector of defense budget analysis bill. Senate appropriators have not planning or strategy, which is on Additionally, the long-distance The sudden collapse of the Af- at the Center for Strategic and In- yet unveiled their draft spending near-peer competition with China air operations that the Pentagon ghan government and the fall of ternational Studies. “But it ulti- bill, but one could be released as and Russia,” Harrison said. “I expects to use to counter terrorist Kabul to the Taliban required the mately does not affect the defense soon as next month. don’t see it changing investments activity in Afghanistan will be ex- emergency evacuation of the em- authorization or appropriations All of this progress ahead of the in weapon systems, I don’t see it pensive, she said. And the cost to bassy in Kabul. President Joe Bi- process in any significant way.” start of the new fiscal year on Oct. changing force structure, I don’t airlift interpreters and other non- den ordered the deployment of The Senate Armed Services 1 doesn’t mean policies and dollar see it changing military personnel combatants who helped U.S. 7,000 additional troops to secure Committee already has finished amounts are set in stone for the policy.” troops will add up quickly, espe- Hamid Karzai International Air- marking up its version of the fiscal Department of Defense, and Mackenzie Eaglen, a senior fel- cially if the effort lasts for weeks port amid an effort to relocate Af- 2022 National Defense Authoriza- couldn’t be altered in response to low at the American Enterprise or months. Charitable groups respond

BY CHAD GARLAND mation about the challenges they people to volunteer and donate to Stars and Stripes face, such as with integration and support resettlement efforts, and it The Taliban takeover of Afghan- resettlement. has partnered with Airbnb, where istan is inspiring drives by veterans With the help of his followers, Lu- people can offer to host refugee and others to ease suffering and aid cier chose to back the groups Keep- families and others in need of a Afghans who supported the U.S. ing Our Promise, which helps reset- place to stay. war effort. tle Afghans who supported the U.S. Catholic Charities and Jewish Organizations in the U.S. are pre- government, and Hearts and Family Service are among four or- paring for an influx of refugees, Homes for Refugees, which pro- ganizations in San Diego that told while groups that are continuing vides sponsors and other programs CBS8 they’re receiving three to five aid work in Afghanistan have seen to aid with refugee integration. Afghan refugee families a week and increased bloodshed and other Lucier then turned to the current expect that number to increase as hardships caused by the crisis. and former military members the crisis deepens. PHILLIP WALTER WELLMAN/Stars and Stripes Here are some ways to help. dubbed “MilTwitter,” hoping to The U.S. Department of Health Displaced people camp out at a park in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Friday. “put a veteran face” on crowdfund- and Human Services Office of Ref- Helping Afghan refugees ing campaigns to support the ugee Resettlement also provides a tims of war, but of pregnant moth- The International Rescue Com- As he watched the unfolding cri- groups. They’ve raised some list of contacts for refugee resettle- ers and others in need of care. mittee, which has been operating in sis from St. Louis, Afghanistan vet- $40,000 in a matter of days. ment programs in all 50 states. The nonprofit Emergency Surgi- the country since the 1980s and says eran and law student Peter Lucier The first pledges last week ad- Boian also recommended Refugee cal Center in Kabul was over capac- its projects are 99% staffed by Af- wanted to do something. But not dressed an immediate need, he Council USA. ity as it treated 115 patients Mon- ghans, warns that 2021 could be the knowing what to do, he sought ad- said, allowing Keeping Our Prom- day, including some injured at the deadliest year in the conflict in over vice from people he knows on Twit- ise to begin preparing for an Afghan Groups in Afghanistan airport, which was overrun with a decade and is asking for $10 mil- ter. family being whisked to the U.S. Despite the violence and uncer- fleeing Afghans, said Alberto Za- lion to support its humanitarian ef- “Ten years after getting out, I’m Another group, Lutheran Social tainty, many aid groups and non- nin, the facility’s medical coordina- forts. still a Marine,” he said. “So if you Services National Capital Area, is profits say they are continuing their tor, in a statement. PARSA, a nonprofit that runs a tell me what to do, I’ll do it.” mobilizing to support the Afghans work in Afghanistan. The International Committee of Scouts program for Afghan boys Because news in such crises can arriving at Fort Lee, Va., one of Doctors Without Borders said in- the Red Cross, which operates over and girls, is cautiously resuming be bewildering, Christopher Boian, three places where the Pentagon creased violence has put some of its a dozen medical centers, has com- work after its compound was initial- aspokesman for the United Nations said it will house up to 22,000 spe- facilities on the front lines of the mitted to continuing its work in the ly overrun by the Taliban, but no High Commissioner for Refugees, cial immigrant visa applicants and conflict, but its staff is working to country, where it said it has treated one was hurt, the charity’s execu- said people who want to help refu- refugees for processing. keep health care facilities open and over 4,000 patients wounded by tive director Marnie Gustavson gees should first seek deeper infor- New York-based HIAS is urging ensure treatment not only of vic- weapons since Aug. 1. said in an email Wednesday. VA encourages Afghanistan vets to seek mental health care BY NIKKI WENTLING gress, as well as President Joe Bi- the latest developments in Af- an uptick in veterans seeking iors compared to normal.” Stars and Stripes den’s administration, listed avail- ghanistan — and if you are feeling mental health care. The department encouraged WASHINGTON — The Depart- able mental health resources, of- depressed, angry, heartbroken, or The department attributed the veterans to spend time with loved ment of Veterans Affairs urged fered consolations and anything else, we at VA are here increase in demand to America’s ones, practice self-care, stick to veterans Tuesday to seek mental encouraged veterans to check on for you.” withdrawal from Afghanistan and their routines and limit their health care if they need help com- each other. VA Secretary Denis Taliban fighters swept into Ka- the upcoming 20th anniversary of media exposure. Veterans can al- ing to terms with the Taliban take- McDonough said the VA is “stand- bul on Sunday nearly two decades 9/11. Nearly 2 million post-9/11 so visit a Vet Center or access the over of Afghanistan — a country ing by and ready to help.” after the American military drove veterans are enrolled into VA VA’s mental health services at where hundreds of thousands of “When our country was at- them out, ending the Afghan gov- health care. mentalhealth.va.gov. veterans served in the 20 years tacked, you and your loved ones ernment’s rule of the country and “Veterans should be on the loo- The VA also suggested veterans since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. made the heroic choice to run to- forcing President Ashraf Ghani to kout for red flags if news of Af- reach out to organizations such as The Taliban’s rapid conquest of ward the fight. That courageous flee Afghanistan. It also signaled ghanistan starts changing behav- Together We Served, Student Vet- the country during the past week sacrifice matters and has made us the final stage of the U.S. involve- ior,” said Sonya Norman, director erans of America, Team Rubicon left some Afghanistan War veter- safer, no matter what happens to- ment there, and staff at the U.S. of the National Center for PTSD and Team Red, White & Blue. ans stunned and troubled. day or any other day,” McDo- Embassy evacuated. Consultation. “These include iso-

In messages to veterans, Re- nough said. “It’s entirely natural Even before the takeover, the lating, using alcohol and drugs or [email protected] publicans and Democrats in Con- to feel a range of emotions about VA on Friday warned it had seen any increase in unhealthy behav- Twitter: @nikkiwentling Thursday, August 19, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 7 AFGHANISTAN

Watchdog: Dad of first American killed Report decries in Afghanistan ‘frustrated’ BY TIMOTHY BELLA uprising in northern Afghanistan. ‘short timelines’ The Washington Post So when President Joe Biden Johnny Spann had just dropped said Monday that he was resolute off his granddaughter at her in his decision to close down a war to see progress school in Birmingham, Ala., on effort that lost its way long ago, Monday when he grew so frus- Johnny Spann was heartbroken FROM PAGE 1 trated at the images on his cell- and angered stability, the report said. phone that he had to pull over to over the mess- The government’s unrealistic the side of the road. age, he said, and timelines — devised on the “mis- The 73-year-old watched in the president’s taken” belief that the choices in HOSHANG HASHIMI/AP horror as Afghans so desperate to decision told Washington could “transform the U.S. troops patrol west of Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2012. The Special escape the Taliban’s capture of Americans: calculus of complex Afghan insti- Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction released its final their nation plunged to their “We’ve been de- tutions, powerbrokers and com- report on “lessons learned” Tuesday. deaths after trying to hold onto a feated.” munities contested by the Tali- U.S. military jet as it departed Ka- “We don’t Mike Spann ban” — is one of seven lessons ex- sistently to cover the destruction simply found new ways to ignore bul. seem to learn plained in the report that the U.S. of the Taliban and corrupt Afghan conditions on the ground,” the re- The images from nearly 7,500 from our mistakes,” Spann told must learn after almost two dec- officials. port said. miles away — a scene, he said, The Washington Post, adding that ades of war. A resulting weak and incoher- In one “short-term solution,” that reminded him of Americans Afghanistan had been “handed Since Congress created SIGAR ent strategy by the U.S. govern- then-President Barack Obama in during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist over to the Taliban.” “We could in the fiscal 2009 National Defense ment shows it was “simply not December 2009 — near the end of attacks who jumped to their not have done the things that we Authorization Act to provide inde- equipped to undertake something his first year in office — ordered deaths from the World Trade did as a country without those Af- pendent oversight on the billions this ambitious in such an uncom- an 18-month surge of troops, mon- Center — were an uncomfortable ghans. We made promises to them of dollars appropriated for Af- promising environment,” the re- ey and resources into Afghanis- reminder for Spann. This Novem- — and we know what’s going to ghanistan’s reconstruction, the in- port concluded. tan. The timeline was “sprung” ber marks 20 years since his son, happen to them.” spector general has systematical- As the U.S. government built onto U.S. Central Command, the Johnny Micheal Spann, who went Although Spann said he is not ly detailed years of waste, corrup- unsustainable infrastructure, bil- report said, and commanders by Mike, became the first known opposed to American troops leav- tion and fraud. In the agency’s last lions of reconstruction dollars were given two days of notice pri- American to die during combat in ing the country, he disagreed with quarterly report, SIGAR chief were wasted, and persistent vio- or to Obama’s announcement. the Afghanistan War. Mike it happening now, telling The John Sopko provided a grim out- lence and insecurity undermined “The U.S. government ‘set in Spann, 32, a CIA paramilitary of- Washington Post: “I’m very frus- look on the future of a country that all reconstruction efforts. The U.S. motion a series of events that fos- ficer from Winfield, Ala., was trated and ashamed of the way the U.S. has spent 20 years and also did not understand the coun- tered unrealistic expectations of killed during a Taliban prisoner we’re exiting Afghanistan.” $145 billion trying to rebuild. The try’s social, economic and political what could be achieved in a few Defense Department has also dynamics, and attempted to im- years and ensured the U.S. gov- spent an additional $837 billion on pose Western models of govern- ernment’s stabilization strategy warfighting, during which 2,443 ance onto Afghan economic insti- would not succeed,’ ” SIGAR said American troops and 1,144 allied tutions, the report found. in its latest report, citing one of the troops have been killed and 20,666 One of the most “significant fail- agency’s earlier reports. U.S. troops injured, according to ures of the mission” was the gov- Between 2009 and 2010, spend- the report. ernment’s inability to attract the ing in Afghanistan spiked more On Sunday, Taliban fighters right civilian and military person- than 50%, though the U.S. had poured into Afghanistan’s capital nel, according to the report, as shown it could not manage previ- city of Kabul, ending the Afghan well as retain qualified workers. ous levels of funding. government’s rule of the country Many U.S. personnel were poorly “Enormous pressure to demon- and signaling the final stage of the trained and unqualified, and there strate progress to the Congress U.S. involvement there. Images was not enough staff to oversee and the American and Afghan struck a nerve for many Ameri- spending, the report said. people distorted accountability cans on Monday morning of thou- Finally, the report found the systems into spin machines. sands of desperate Afghans cling- U.S. did not conduct adequate There was little appetite for hon- ing to and chasing after U.S. mil- monitoring and evaluation to fig- est assessments of what worked itary aircraft in an attempt to flee ure out what worked and what and what did not,” the report said. the country. didn’t and how to improve, endan- The administration of former In the midst of the chaos at Ha- gering the lives of U.S., Afghan President Donald Trump “still mid Karzai International Airport and coalition government person- continued its predecessor’s tend- in Kabul, the Pentagon deployed nel and civilians. ency to draw down troops and re- additional troops to the airport, SIGAR officials said in the re- sources with little concern for bringing the total number of U.S. port that none of the policymakers conditions on the ground,” despite forces expected to be in Afghanis- the agency interviewed found it the U.S. and the Taliban reaching tan to roughly 6,000 to assist with acceptable to keep the U.S. in- a peace deal in February 2020 to evacuations from the country. volved in Afghanistan for 20 complete the U.S. withdrawal of The Taliban’s swift takeover of years, the actions of these policy- troops in exchange for commit- the country in recent days is not makers made it so that the pro- ments from the Taliban to contin- surprising, Sopko told NPR. For longed involvement was inevita- ue negotiations with the Afghan the last 10 years, SIGAR has shone ble. government. a light on the Afghan National Se- “Not only did U.S. officials mis- The report concludes a cascade curity Forces’ weaknesses. judge in good faith the time and re- of government decisions resulted “I think the speed maybe is a lit- sources required to rebuild Af- in a counterproductive cycle in tle bit of a surprise. But the fact ghanistan, they also prioritized which “short-term goals generat- that the [Afghan National Defense their own political preferences for ed short timelines, which created and Security Forces] could not what Afghanistan’s reconstruct- new problems that could only be fight on their own should not have ion should look like, rather than addressed by more short-term been a surprise to anyone,” he said what they could realistically goals.” Monday on NPR. achieve,” the report said. When all else failed, the U.S. The SIGAR report issued Tues- U.S. officials felt pressured to government decided to pull out all day maps out a wide range of U.S. demonstrate progress and to in- troops, another short-term goal, failures that led to the collapse of crease resources for reconstruct- without taking into consideration Afghanistan. The mission in Af- ion as security crumbled, which how that would impact the recon- ghanistan was first tied to the de- accelerated unrealistic goals. struction mission and the person- feat of the terrorist group al-Qai- Even when officials recognized nel necessary to continue security da, but the strategy expanded con- the timelines had backfired, “they assistance in Afghanistan. PAGE 8 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, August 19, 2021 MILITARY

Tokyo reports DODEA: Masks 5K new virus cases; US required indoors military has 24 BY JOSEPH DITZLER AND HANA KUSUMOTO Stars and Stripes TOKYO — The coronavirus pan- at all schools demic appeared far from relaxing its grip Wednesday on Japan’s cap- BY JENNIFER H. SVAN ant. It recommends universal in- ital city, where the one-day count Stars and Stripes door masking for all teachers, of newly infected people exceeded KAISERSLAUTERN, Germa- staff, students and visitors. 5,000 for the fourth time this ny — Face masks will be re- Students will be given fre- month. quired indoors when the new quent outdoor mask breaks and The Tokyo Metropolitan Gov- year for Defense Department can take their masks off when ernment reported 5,386 people had schools begins Monday, includ- eating and drinking while spaced tested positive Wednesday, the ing for students and teachers a safe distance apart, Ter Horst second-highest one-day total of the who are already vaccinated said. pandemic, according to public against the coronavirus, school “We understand that no one broadcaster NHK and metro gov- and military officials said. wants to wear masks all day,” he ernment data. Six people died of Masks also will be mandatory said. “Kids want to do whatever complications of COVID-19, the on school buses, where seating it takes to be in school. We BRIAN FERGUSON/Stars and Stripes coronavirus respiratory disease, charts will be used to assist with couldn’t do this without them.” Students walk to class on the first day of school in August 2020 at according to NHK, citing metro contact tracing, school adminis- The issue of whether face cov- Vogelweh Elementary School, Germany. Face masks will be required sources. trators said. erings should be optional or man- indoors for students and teachers at Defense Department schools Meanwhile, U.S. military com- “In the interest of keeping ev- datory in U.S. public school dis- this year when the new school year starts. mands in Japan and South Korea eryone safe, all folks in buildings tricts has sharply divided many reported 38 people newly infected will be masked, including teach- parents and policymakers — di- unteers will be allowed in class- said. with the virus. Four bases in Japan ers,” said Jason Ter Horst, DO- visions that arose on the garri- rooms on a limited basis. Most schools are expected to accounted for 24 cases. DEA community superintendent son’s Facebook page, which live- Parents are being asked to open their doors to students next U.S. Army Japan said 13 people of Baumholder, Sembach and streamed the meeting. check students’ temperatures week despite a recent rise in cor- have tested positive for COVID-19 Wiesbaden schools, at a U.S. Ar- “I appreciate you all using the and basic health daily, Ter Horst onavirus cases in the Kaiserslau- between Aug. 11 and Wednesday, my Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz science and data to support our said. A child with a fever or other tern area and across Germany, according to an Army news re- online town hall meeting Tues- kids and families,” a viewer symptoms should stay at home. Ter Horst said. lease. Five fell ill with symptoms of day. wrote. The absence will be excused. The only exception among the disease, three were in restrict- Face masks also were required But one parent asked, “What if Vaccinations for employees schools in Europe is in Sigonella, ed movement as new arrivals to Ja- indoors at all DODEA schools we don’t want our kids to be are still voluntary, DODEA offi- Italy, where damage to the instal- pan and five had been quarantined last year. masked all day at school?” cials said in an email to Stars and lation’s power substation has as close contacts, the Army said. The rules are based on DOD “You can always home Stripes. The agency is waiting on temporarily left the school com- The Marine Corps reported and Centers for Disease Control school,” a commenter suggested federal guidance on testing re- plex without power, said Stephen eight new COVID-19 cases within and Prevention guidance, school in response. quirements for employees who Smith, DODEA-Europe spokes- its community on Okinawa, ac- officials said. Ter Horst called some changes are not vaccinated, they said. man. cording to a Facebook post The CDC earlier this month for this year “bright spots,” in- At DODEA schools in Kaiser- Wednesday by Marine Corps In- updated its masking guidance for cluding more lenient physical slautern, Ramstein and Wiesba- Stars and Stripes reporter Karin Zeitvogel stallations Pacific. contributed to this report. K-12 schools due to the spread of distancing rules in the classroom den, “90% plus of our teachers [email protected] Sasebo Naval Base, on Kyushu the highly contagious delta vari- – 3 feet instead of 6 feet. Also, vol- are fully vaccinated,” Ter Horst Twitter: @stripesktown Island, identified two newly infect- ed individuals on Tuesday, accord- ing to a Facebook post by the base Wednesday. Marine Corps Air Sta- ‘New’ middle, high school at Misawa ready to open tion Iwakuni, south of Hiroshima, said one person there tested posi- BY JUAN KING feet that three main buildings share. No addi- tive, according to a news release Stars and Stripes tional construction was added, Ferguson said. Wednesday. A pair of schools at Misawa Air Base, Japan, The school’s namesake, Col. Robert D. Ed- In South Korea, the U.S. com- were renovated and consolidated into one gren, was a popular commander at Misawa mand on Tuesday reported 14 of its school in time for the 2021-2022 school year. Air Base in the 1970s. people tested positive for the virus Edgren Middle/High School opens its doors The new school configuration conforms to between Aug. 10 and Monday. Wednesday to 350 students from sixth DODEA’s 21st century schools concept, which Two service members at Osan through 12th grades, according to an email Fri- is designed to prepare students for the tech- Air Base, and one each at Camp day from Miranda Ferguson, spokeswoman focused jobs of the future. Humphreys, Daegu Garrison and for the Pacific Region of the Department of “This long-anticipated opening will allow on temporary duty in South Korea Defense Education Activity. students to learn in a 21st century environ- fell ill with COVID-19 symptoms The newly configured school takes sixth ment that fosters collaboration, creativity and between Friday and Monday, ac- grade from Sollars Elementary School and community,” Allen was quoted as saying. cording to a U.S. Forces Korea joins it with Edgren Middle School, which The 21st century schools include upgrades in news release. combined with the former Misawa High education technology such as smartboards, A family member at Osan also School into one institution. new furniture and an open design that re- fell ill; four at Daegu and one at During the $33 million renovation project, moves walls and doors to create a peer-to- Humphreys were discovered dur- which started in 2017, the middle and high peer learning atmosphere, according to Fer- ing contact tracing, according to school classes were temporarily located at the guson. USFK. One family member at former Cummings Elementary School, Fergu- DODEA announced in February it was Osan tested positive Aug. 13. son said in an email to Stars and Stripes on building a similar school, Bob Hope Elemen- Two South Korean employees, Aug. 11. tary, at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, to open one at Daegu and one at Hum- “We are looking forward to welcoming our in time for the 2021-2022 school year. That phreys, tested positive on Aug. 12, Edgren Middle/High School students and school was completed in time for first day of Department of Defense Education Activity USFK said. staff back to school in the new building,” Fer- school on Aug. 26, Ferguson said. Robert D. Edgren Middle/High School at guson quoted Pacific East District Superin- Misawa Air Base, shown in this undated Stars and Stripes reporter Mari Higa contributed photograph, was reconfigured into a Defense to this report. tendent Judy Allen as saying Friday. [email protected] [email protected] The makeover includes all 84,000 square Twitter: @juanking_17 Department 21st century school. [email protected] Thursday, August 19, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 9 MILITARY Ax slaying of US soldiers by N. Koreans recalled

BY DAVID CHOI family member in a war zone. Stars and Stripes “I acknowledge what it’s like to CAMP BONIFAS, South Korea lose a family member,” Luce said. — Service members from the U.S. “We’re very proud of the Bonifas and South Korea on Wednesday and Barrett family. It’s a time of afternoon paid tribute to two remembrance. We don’t want to American soldiers who were axed forget.” to death by North Korean troops Capt. Lee Chang Rok of the 45 years ago. South Korean army took part in On Aug. 18, 1976, Capt. Arthur Wednesday’s event and said the Bonifas, a Joint Security Force memorial was one of many sacred company commander, and 1st Lt. traditions in the Joint Security Ar- Mark Barrett, a platoon leader, ea. were slain while trimming a tree “I have to work hard so that the at the Joint Security Area of the efforts of my seniors and com- demilitarized zone between North rades are not in vain,” Rok said, and South Korea. referring to Bonifas and Barrett. The U.S. soldiers, part of the Bonifas’ legacy continues United Nations Command, were through his family. His daughter, dispatched to trim a poplar tree who was 6 years old when he died, that obstructed a watch tower’s reached the rank of captain in the view of a checkpoint near a Army’s nursing program. bridge. Dubbed the Bridge of No Bonifas’ grandson, Spc. An- Return, it was frequented by drew Arthur Bonifas, joined the troops of U.N. Command and sol- Army in 2019 and serves as pet- diers of North Korea’s Korean roleum supply specialist with the People’s Army, who, at the time, 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Re- taunted and provoked each other, giment, out of Fort Riley, Kan. according to the command’s secu- “I wanted to join the military to rity battalion. DAVID CHOI/Stars and Stripes follow my grandfather’s and my Bonifas and Barrett, part of a Troops of U.N. Command salute during a ceremony on the South Korean side of the Demilitarized Zone onmom’s footsteps,”Andrew Boni- 10-man U.N. Command security Wednesday, marking 45 years since the killing of two U.S. officers at the site. fas said to Stars and Stripes in a team, were sent with workers to phone interview Wednesday. trim the tree after the North Ko- Gerald Ford, who ordered the troops of U.N. Command placed and at that location is historically Andrew, who is currently sta- rean side was informed of their tree felled three days later in Op- flowers and wreaths at the site relevant,” Luce said to Stars and tioned in Camp Humphreys, intent. Nonetheless, a North Ko- eration Paul Bunyan. Combat where the tree once stood. U.S. Stripes. “It’s an honor to be up South Korea, visited Camp Boni- rean officer on site told the U.N. troops and engineers cut down Army Lt. Col. Rick Luce, the Se- here. It’s an honor to walk on the fas during the July 4th weekend. troops to cease their operation. the tree in roughly 45 minutes curity Battalion-Joint Security same ground as those UNC sol- “It’s just really surreal,” he The officer summoned roughly 30 without incident as American Area commander, described the diers.” said. additional troops, who attacked forces throughout the peninsula memorial as an “important part of Luce, whose younger brother

Bonifas’ team without warning. stood by on alert. our history.” was killed in combat in Afghan- [email protected] The killings shocked President In a ceremony Wednesday, “Being here at this battalion istan, also reflected on losing a Twitter: @choibboy German city remembers US soldiers who died in helo crash 50 years ago BY IMMANUEL JOHNSON ground. Stars and Stripes The victims burned to death, according GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — A small to the Bavarian police who were at the Bavarian city paid tribute Wednesday to scene. One of the first Germans there saw the victims of a fiery helicopter crash in “four badly charred bodies still fastened which more than three dozen American to their seats.” soldiers died 50 years ago. One of the victims, Pfc. Arthur Kearney, Attendees at the ceremony in Pegnitz, was a mortarman with 2nd Battalion, 4th which is home to about 15,000 people, in- Infantry Regiment, 56th Field Artillery cluded victims’ relatives, military person- Brigade. Several relatives of the New York nel and government officials. native were on hand Wednesday in Peg- Among them was John Hutson, who in nitz to honor him and remember his ser- 1971 was a 17-year-old private and a mor- vice. tarman. He was one of the soldiers sent to Peter Kearney, one of Arthur’s siblings, take the place of those who had died in the wore his brother’s uniform at the ceremo- helicopter crash. ny. “When we dedicated the memorial two “He was two years older than me in the IMMANUEL JOHNSON/Stars and Stripes years later, I was the narrator for the cere- Army, and when the accident happened, I U.S. and German soldiers carry wreaths from a CH­47 Chinook helicopter to the mony and got to read all the names,” Hut- was in the Navy stationed in Antarctica,” memorial site for soldiers killed in a Chinook crash 50 years ago, near Pegnitz, Germany. son said. “So it was special knowing they Peter Kearney said. “I couldn’t come were going to have this ceremony today.” home for the funeral because there are no neral he couldn’t attend. teered and went,” Gagliano said. “My par- The crash took place close to the auto- flights for six months in the dark. I came Another of Kearney’s siblings, Laurene ents are very proud (of his service), be- bahn from Munich to Berlin. It’s about 10 home about a month after it was all over.” Gagliano, said she was moved by the hom- cause my father was a World War II vet.” miles from the Grafenwoehr Training Ar- Peter was with some buddies drinking age that the people of Pegnitz paid to her In June, the 12th Combat Aviation Bri- ea, which is the largest U.S. Army training beer when his commanding officer told brother and his comrades. gade presented a CH-47 Chinook rotor area in Europe. him that the chaplain wanted to speak with She said that when Arthur joined the blade to the people of Pegnitz. The blade Stars and Stripes reported at the time him. When the chaplain informed him of service, it was during the time of the draft will eventually become part of a memorial that the crash was due to a crack in the ro- the news, Peter asked which one of his lottery. at the crash site. tor blade caused by a “corroded pit about three brothers had been killed. “Arthur joined the Army because he the size of a finger.” The crack caused the For him, the memorial ceremony in knew he was going to get drafted, so he [email protected] CH-47 Chinook helicopter to plunge to the Pegnitz served as a substitute for the fu- said he was not going to wait and volun- Twitter: Manny_Stripes PAGE 10 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, August 19, 2021 NATION Texas governor has tested positive for virus, no symptoms BY PAUL J. WEBER called the Republican Club at Associated Press Heritage Ranch. Reached by AUSTIN — Texas Gov. Greg phone Tuesday after Abbott an- Abbott tested positive for CO- nounced he had tested positive, VID-19 on Tuesday, according to Jack DeSimone, president of the his office, who said the Republi- club, said he did not like “to have can is in good health and experi- conversations like this” and de- encing no symptoms. clined to comment further on Ab- Abbott, who was vaccinated in bott’s appearance. December and has refused calls to Abbott has rebuffed calls to reinstate mask mandates as the reimpose pandemic restrictions, highly contagious delta variant including mask mandates, as surges in Texas, was isolating in cases in Texas the governor’s mansion in Austin are again soar- and receiving monoclonal anti- ing, hospitals are body treatment, spokesman Mark stretched thin BRYNN ANDERSON/AP Miner said in a statement. He is at and a growing A car attempts to drive through flood waters near Peachtree Creek near Atlanta as Tropical Storm Fred least the 11th governor to test posi- number of makes its way through north and central Georgia on Tuesday. tive since the pandemic began, ac- school districts cording to a tally by The Associat- defy his orders ed Press. that prohibit Abbott “Governor Abbott is fully vacci- face-covering Fred a sloppy mess, shuts down nated against COVID-19, in good requirements in classrooms. Ab- health and currently experiencing bott and Republican Attorney no symptoms. Everyone that the General Ken Paxton are now in highways with mudslides, floods Governor has been in close con- court fighting what amounts to Associated Press according to the utility tracker leashing torrential rain on earth- tact with today has been notified,” many of Texas’ largest school dis- Tropical Depression Fred swir- poweroutage.us, most of them in quake-damaged Haiti. Grace’s Miner said. tricts, which began classes this led over West Virginia early West Virginia and North Carolina, sustained winds grew to 65 mph In a video posted on social week. Wednesday and dumped heavy where steady downpours swelled early Wednesday as it moved be- media, Abbott said that being fully More than 12,200 patients in rain over the northeastern U.S., waterways and washed rocks and tween southeastern Cuba and Ja- vaccinated “may be one reason Texas were hospitalized with the threatening to unleash mudslides mud onto highways. Multiple maica, and could be a hurricane I’m really not feeling any symp- virus as of Tuesday, the highest and flash floods in upstate New landslides closed Interstate 19 before hitting Mexico’s Yucatan toms right now. I have no fever, no levels since January, and state York after closing interstate high- through the Nantahala Gorge, ac- peninsula late Wednesday or aches and pains, no other types of health officials said this week they ways in the lower Appalachians. cording to the North Carolina early Thursday. symptoms.” had requested five morgue trail- Tornado watches remained in ef- transportation department. It was about 40 miles south The positive test comes a day af- ers from the federal government fect for mountainous areas of Vir- The National Hurricane Center south-east of Grand Cayman ter Abbott, who has seldom been as a precaution. But as cases have ginia and the Carolinas. said Fred had top sustained winds where a tropical storm warning seen wearing a mask in public re- sharply climbed, Abbott has stuck Unconfirmed tornadoes un- of 25 mph and was moving north- was in effect, along with the Yuca- cently, did not wear one while to a message that the path forward leashed by the stormy weather al- east past Charleston, W.Va., at 20 tan Peninsula of Mexico from speaking indoors near Dallas to a “relies on personal responsibili- ready caused damage in places in mph Wednesday morning. north of Cancun to Campeche and crowded room of GOP supporters, ty.” Georgia and North Carolina on As many as 14 possible torna- from south of Punta Herrero to most of whom were older and un- By Tuesday, at least four Texas Tuesday as Fred moved north, does were reported across Geor- Puerto Costa Maya. A hurricane masked. Video posted by his cam- school districts had already tem- well inland from the coastal areas gia and the Carolinas on Tuesday, warning is in effect for the Yuca- paign shows the 63-year-old gov- porarily closed because of virus that usually bear the brunt of trop- according to the weather service. tan from Cancun to Punta Herre- ernor — who is up for reelection in outbreaks just days into students ical weather. One death was re- Transylvania County, N.C., de- ro, including Cozumel. 2022 and has drawn two GOP returning to class. And in a sign of ported — a Las Vegas man whose clared a state of emergency after Tropical Storm Henri, mean- challengers who have attacked the tensions as schools defy Abbott’s car hydroplaned and flipped into a 10 inches fell, sending mud and while, was about 160 miles south- virus restrictions he put in place orders, the superintendent of the ditch near Panama City, Fla., rock onto highways, flooding southwest of Bermuda. The small last year — mingling with attend- Eanes school district near Austin hours after the storm moved ash- roads and destroying at least one tropical cyclone had 65 mph ees as they gathered around him said one parent “physically as- ore, Florida Highway Patrol said. home. winds and was expected to circle taking pictures. saulted” one teacher by ripping a About 25,000 customers were Meanwhile, Tropical Storm widely around the island, the hur- The event was held by a group mask off her face without power early Wednesday Grace was strengthening after un- ricane center said. Devastating wildfires continue advancing through Northern Calif. Associated Press ple. sor Chief Jeff Marsolais said at a elementary school were also de- off power to as many as 51,000 cus- GRIZZLY FLATS — Northern Fire officials estimated that at briefing. stroyed. tomers in 18 Northern California California wildfires that inciner- least 50 homes had burned in the Both fires grew by tens of thou- Derek Shaves, who had evac- counties to prevent wildfires for ated two mountain communities area since the fire erupted Satur- sands of acres from Monday after- uated late Monday, said he visited the first time since last year’s his- continued marching through the day and two people were hospital- noon through Tuesday, torching the town Tuesday and saw that his torically bad fire season. Sierra Nevada on Wednesday ized with serious injuries. trees and burning up brush left home and most of the houses in his The utility said the shutoffs while a utility purposely blacked Gov. Gavin Newsom pro- tinder-dry by high temperatures, neighborhood had been de- were focused in the Sierra Nevada out as many as 51,000 customers to claimed a state of emergency in El low humidity and drought. After- stroyed. foothills, the North Coast, the prevent new blazes. Dorado County, where authorities noon gusts drove the flames. “It’s a pile of ash,” he said. “Ev- North Valley and the North Bay Two weeks after the Dixie Fire were considering closing the en- Few homes were left standing in erybody on my block is a pile of mountains and could last into destroyed most of the Gold Rush- tire El Dorado National Forest. Grizzly Flats, where streets were ash and every block that I visited Wednesday afternoon. era town of Greenville, the Caldor “We know this fire has done littered with downed power lines — but for five separate homes that The nation’s largest utility an- Fire a few miles southeast explod- things that nobody could have pre- and poles. Houses were reduced were safe — was totally devastat- nounced the blackouts as a pre- ed through tinder-dry trees and dicted, but that’s how firefighting to smoldering ash and twisted ed.” caution to prevent gusts from da- ravaged Grizzly Flats, a forest has been in the state this year,” El metal with only chimneys rising Late Tuesday, Pacific Gas & maging power lines and sparking community of around 1,200 peo- Dorado National Forest Supervi- above the ruins. A post office and Electric said it has begun shutting blazes. Thursday, August 19, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 11 AMERICAN ROUNDUP

Gator handler recovering after attack, rescue SALT LAKE CITY — A UT Utah reptile center em- ployee is recovering after an alli- gator yanked her into its enclo- sure during a presentation, thrashing her around before a fast-acting visitor leapt inside and helped free her from its jaws. Video taken by a guest shows an unidentified handler at Scales & Tails Utah, in suburban Salt Lake City, talking to some adults and children about the alligator when it bit her hand and dragged her in- to the water. After pulling the handler into its pen, the alligator began whipping around and kept its jaws clamped on her. One of the guests, later identi- fied as Donnie Wiseman, yelled “We’ve got trouble in here!” be- fore jumping into the water and climbing on top of the reptile. Wiseman got the alligator pinned, and the handler calmly gave him and another man, Todd Christopher, instructions to help her escape from the pool. Wise- man stayed on top of the reptile until after the woman was free. Man sentenced to life in wallet theft released NEW ORLEANS — A LA Louisiana man sen- MIKE SIMON, TULSA (OKLA.) WORLD/AP tenced to life without parole for stealing a wallet is free after serv- ing 12 years. Picking up steam New Orleans prosecutors Union Pacific steam locomotive Big Boy No. 4014 leaves Vinita, Okla., on its way to Louisiana where it will be on display this weekend. At more agreed to dismiss a habitual of- than 130 feet long — longer than two city buses — and 560 tons in weight, the Big Boy locomotives are generally accepted as the largest fender sentencing enhancement steam locomotives built anywhere, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. This year’s 10­state tour includes whistle­stops ranging against Henry Phillips, 65, and he from 15 to 45 minutes in more than 90 communities. was released, The Times-Picay- une/New Orleans Advocate erupt in the pile, and crews have THE CENSUS pear she had made it to the lookout reported. used more 500,000 gallons of wa- tower. Phillips was convicted in 2009 ter on the fire, Fire Chief Jim The approximate number of Norfolk Southern Railway cars Lakoduk’s mother, Elizabeth of purse-snatching after prosecu- Clark said. 30 that derailed in Oconee, Ga., earlier this week. Washington Tripp, posted on Facebook Mon- tors said he swiped a man’s wallet The city has issued notice to County Sheriff Joel Cochran said the train, traveling to Macon from Columbia, day morning: “Our beloved Ra- from a McDonald’s counter and Tyler Excavating that the pile S.C., derailed and more than 30 cars jumped the track. No injuries were report- chel’s remains arrived off the then pretended to have a gun must be removed, and officials ed. A roadway was blocked by the freight cars while crews worked to clear the mountain yesterday.” when he was confronted. He stole said the business has been cooper- crossing. $20 before he was arrested half a ating. Zoo announces deaths of block away. mals. floor, landing near the building’s ostrich, harbor seal Prosecutors under former Dis- Man flees after crashing He was taken to the hospital front door, said Battalion Chief Ri- trict Attorney Leon Cannizzaro in- car, fighting off trooper with injuries not considered life ta Reith of the Indianapolis Fire ASHEBORO — Two voked his two prior robbery con- threatening, the statement said. Department. NC longtime residents at victions to give him a sentence of ORLANDO — Author- Authorities, including state en- The firefighters were hospital- the North Carolina Zoo — an os- mandatory life without parole, ac- FL ities were searching for vironmental police, searched for ized but Reith said that all five had trich and a harbor seal — have cording to The Times-Picayune/ a man who fled into the woods af- the coyote but were unable to im- been released from the hospital died. New Orleans Advocate. ter crashing his car and fighting a mediately locate it. and were recovering at home, The An ostrich named Pearl was eu- Florida Highway Patrol trooper Previously, a young child was Indianapolis Star reported. thanized recently, zoo officials an- Business owners near Orlando. bitten by a coyote on a Province- nounced. And the N.C. Zoo said complain about trash fire The driver got into an alterca- town beach within the Cape Cod Searchers find body of earlier this month that the seal tion with a trooper who responded National Seashore. The coyote hiker missing 2 years named Paco had died, The Cou- JOHNSTON — Some to the scene, according to Lt. Kim was shot and killed by park rang- rier-Tribune of Asheboro IA businesses in the Des Montes. ers and tested negative for rabies. MOUNT VERNON — reported. Moines suburb of Johnston are The man was able to fight off the WA The body of a 28-year- Pearl was 19 years old and had complaining about smoke and ash trooper and run into the woods, 5 firefighters injured old hiker who went missing in the lived on the state zoological park’s billowing from a trash pile in the she said. The trooper was taken to when floor collapses North Cascades nearly two years Watani Grasslands since arriving city that’s been burning for more the hospital with minor injuries. ago was found by a private search in Asheboro at age 1. When Pearl than 10 days. INDIANAPOLIS — Five and rescue group. was under general anesthesia, vet- The fire has been burning a A second child has been IN Indianapolis firefighters Rachel Lakoduk, of Moses erinarians learned she had a se- massive pile of construction mate- bitten by a coyote were hospitalized with injuries af- Lake, went missing Oct. 17, 2019, vere reproductive disease that rials, mulch and trees in front of ter they fell through the floor of a after telling her family she would kill her, the newspaper said. Tyler Excavating since Aug. 6, tel- ARLINGTON — A 5- burning home while responding to planned to hike the Hidden Lake The cause of death for Paco, evision station KCCI reported. MA year-old boy playing a fire later ruled an arson, officials Trail to a lookout cabin and spend who lived at the N.C. Zoo for 13 The Johnston-Grimes Metro- in a sandbox in a suburban Boston said. the night, KING5 reported. years, hadn’t yet been deter- politan Fire Department is equal- yard was bitten on the leg by a The firefighters were on the va- During the initial search for La- mined, but he had a large mass on ly unhappy with the fire. It’s been coyote, the second time in a week cant home’s second floor when the koduk, her vehicle was found at his lung, WTVD reported. called out about a dozen times to a young child in Massachusetts floor collapsed beneath them and the trailhead. However, search extinguish fires that continue to was attacked by one of the ani- they fell about 10 feet to the first crews reported that it didn’t ap- From The Associated Press PAGE 12 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, August 19, 2021 NATION

House Dems plan a budget Mustang roundups fuel policy vote that moderates oppose Associated Press approve the budget resolution WASHINGTON — Top Demo- next Tuesday, according to a par- debate as drought grips West crats plan House votes next week ticipant in the call who spoke on on a budget resolution that could condition of anonymity. BY LINDSAY WHITEHURST clear a path for future passage of a If all Republicans oppose the AND JAMES ANDERSON $3.5 trillion, 10-year social and en- budget as expected, Democrats Associated Press vironment package, suggesting a could lose no more than three of TOOELE, Utah — The sound of showdown ahead with rebellious their own votes and prevail. The the helicopter propeller thundered party moderates. budget’s congressional approval across the horizon as it dipped down Nine centrists have threatened would prevent Republicans from toward mustangs dotting the golden to vote against their own party’s killing the subsequent $3.5 trillion brown plain. The horses burst into a budget blueprint, enough to defeat bill via Senate filibusters. gallop at the machine’s approach, it in the closely divided House. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi al- their high-pitched whinnies rising They want the chamber to first ap- so made clear that a final vote on into the dry air. prove a separate $1 trillion bill fi- the public works bill would wait That helicopter roundup in the nancing highway, water supply until the larger measure progress- mountains of western Utah re- and other infrastructure projects, es. In a letter to fellow Democrats moved hundreds of free-roaming their top priority. late Tuesday, she said the House wild horses, shortly before the Bi- House leaders made clear must pass the budget blueprint den administration announced it Tuesday that’s not their plan. “immediately” or endanger “the would sharply increase the number Instead, Majority Leader Steny once-in-a-generation opportunity of mustangs removed across the re- RICK BOWMER/AP Hoyer, D-Md., said in a confer- we face to enact initiatives that gion. It’s an emergency step land A helicopter pushes wild horses during a roundup last month near ence call among House Demo- meet the needs of working fam- managers say is essential to pre- U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground, Utah. Federal land managers are crats that he’d like the chamber to ilies at this crucial time.” serving the ecosystem and the increasing the number of horses removed from the range this year. horses as a megadrought worsened by climate change grips the region. nation of Hollywood celebrities and nounced reforms aimed at ensuring “What were seeing here in the Girl Scout troops alike. Horses in the that captured horses put up for Data of more than 40 million West gives some insight into a new picturesque and accessible herd are adoption do not eventually end up in norm,” Terry Messmer, a professor so well known that many have slaughterhouses, but advocates exposed in T-Mobile breach at Utah State University who studies names, like the patriarch “Old worry problems could persist as Associated Press wild horse management. Man.” He was left behind in the July long as the government offers a were exposed. The company said The removals are adding fuel to roundup, but about 300 other horses $1,000 adoption incentive. NEW YORK — The names, Social that it proactively reset all of the longstanding conflicts with activists were taken to be adopted or kept in Wild-horse advocates acknowl- Security numbers and information PINs on those accounts. No Metro for the animals whose beauty and captivity for the rest of their lives. edge that lack of forage and water from driver's licenses or other iden- by T-Mobile, former Sprint prepaid, power make them an enduring em- “It’s really unfortunate the Biden can be an issue, but they argue re- tification of just over 40 million for- or Boost customers had their names blem of the American West. They administration continues to scape- movals from the herds like the Ona- mer and prospective customers that or PINs exposed. say the U.S. government is using the goat the horses while giving a pass to qui are unnecessary. They want to applied for T-Mobile credit were ex- The announcement comes two drought as an excuse to take out livestock that have a greater impact leave the horses on the range and in- posed in a recent data breach, the days after T-Mobile said that it was horses in favor of cattle grazing. on public lands,” said Suzanne Roy, stead administer fertility treat- company said Wednesday. investigating a leak of its data after Horses that are captured are held executive director of the American ments to limit the size of the herd. The same data for about 7.8 mil- someone took to an online forum of- in government corrals and pastures Wild Horse Campaign. The number of sheep and cattle lion current T-Mobile postpaid cus- fering to sell the personal informa- mostly in the West and Midwest be- The Bureau of Land Manage- that graze on leased public land is tomers appears to be compromised. tion of cellphone users. The compa- fore they are made available for ment is planning to remove some far larger than the number of wild No phone numbers, account num- ny said Monday that it had con- public adoption. Some also end up 6,000 horses, mostly from Nevada, horses, Messmer said. A key differ- bers, PINs, passwords, or financial firmed there was unauthorized ac- being used by law enforcement enti- Oregon, Wyoming and Colorado, by ence, though, is that livestock are information from the nearly 50 mil- cess to “some T-Mobile data” and ties such as the U.S. Border Patrol, October — a 50% increase from last part of the U.S. economy. lion records and accounts were that it had closed the entry point or go to prison inmate programs year. Eventually land managers say “Americans like their McDo- compromised, it said. used to gain access. where they are tamed for future use. they need to cut the number of wild nald’s burgers. They like their Big T-Mobile also confirmed that ap- T-Mobile, which is based in Belle- Advocates tried unsuccessfully to horses by two-thirds to keep things Macs. They like all of those things, proximately 850,000 active T-Mo- vue, Wash., became one of the coun- stop the roundup of Utah’s Onaqui in balance. and all of those things have beef as bile prepaid customer names, try’s largest cellphone service carri- herd, one that’s captured the imagi- The Biden administration has an- part of it,” he said. phone numbers and account PINs ers after buying rival Sprint. Thursday, August 19, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 13 WORLD

Wildfire rages near French Riviera, 2 killed Haiti’s injured still showing up at hospitals BORMES-LES-MIMOSAS, France — A wildfire near the Associated Press raised the disaster’s death toll by increased the number of fatalities and operating wing at the L’Asile French Riviera killed two people L’ASILE, Haiti — The prob- more than 500. Grinding poverty, from Saturday’s earthquake to hospital collapsed, though every- and was burning out of control lems in Haiti may be summed up poor roads and faith in natural 1,941. It also raised the number of one made it out. Despite the col- Wednesday in the forests of the by the public hospital in L’Asile, medicine all conspire to make the injured to 9,900, many of whom lapse, the hospital was able to popular region, fueled by wind deep in a remote stretch of coun- problems worse. have had to wait for medical help treat about 170 severely injured and drought. Over 1,100 firefight- tryside in the nation’s southwest “We do what we can, remove lying outside in wilting heat and quake victims in improvised tents ers were battling the flames and area. Here, a full four days after a the necrotized tissue and give riding out a storm Monday night in the facility’s yard. thousands of tourists and locals powerful earthquake hit this re- them antibiotics and try to get that brought heavy rains and Officials said the magnitude 7.2 were evacuated to safer areas. gion the hardest, people are still them a splint,” Fevry said, adding wind gusts. earthquake destroyed more than The fire started Monday eve- showing up from isolated villages that road access to the facility in The countryside was worse hit 7,000 homes and damaged nearly ning 25 miles inland from the with broken arms and legs. the department of Nippes is diffi- by the quake, perhaps, than the 5,000, leaving about 30,000 fam- coastal resort of Saint-Tropez. Hospital director Sonel Fevry cult and not everyone can make cities, but news is only slowly ilies homeless. Hospitals, schools, Whipped up by powerful seasonal said five such patients showed up it. trickling out. offices and churches also were winds coming off the Mediterra- Tuesday, the same day officials Haiti’s Civil Protection Agency The whole obstetrics, pediatric demolished or badly damaged. nean Sea, the fire had burned 17,300 acres of forest by Wednes- day morning, local officals said. The prefect of the Var region, Snake snagged in supermarket spices Evence Richard, told reporters that two people were killed. The Associated Press and it poked its head out.” local prosecutor said the bodies CANBERRA, Australia — Helaina Alati was Alati, who coincidently is a trained snake were found in a home that burned browsing the spice aisle of an Australian su- catcher, said the snake's head came to within 8 down near the town of Grimaud. permarket when she came face-to-face with a inches of her own. An investigation has been opened huge snake. Supermarket chain Woolworths confirmed to formally identify the victims. The head of the 10-foot-long non-venomous in a statement that a “slippery and rare cus- At least 27 people, including diamond python emerged through a space in a tomer was spotted in the spice aisle” on Mon- five firefighters, have suffered shelf above the spice jars in the Sydney store. day morning at its store in the suburb of Gleno- smoke inhalation or minor inju- “I was in the spice aisle just looking for rie on Sydney’s northwest outskirts. ries from the blaze. something to put on my chicken that night so I Alati retrieved a snake-catching bag from didn’t initially see it because it was curled up her nearby home and caught the snake, which HELAINA ALATI / AP

From The Associated Press way back behind the little jars of spices,” Alati had by then retreated back into the shelf. She A snake protrudes from a grocery store said Wednesday. “I kind of turned to my right then released it into nearby woodlands. spices shelf Monday in Sydney, Australia. PAGE 14 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, August 19, 2021 OPINION

Max D. Lederer Jr., Publisher Lt. Col. Marci Hoffman, Europe commander Lt. Col. Michael Kerschbaum, Pacific commander Presidents’ gullibility problem on foreign affairs Michael Ryan, Pacific chief of staff BY KATHLEEN PARKER The Taliban is a terrorist organization run the country. What women potentially face Washington Post Writers Group by a pre-modern Islamist cleric. Since when freezes the veins of the warm-blooded. ecent American presidents, do we take the word of terrorists? Have we for- Criticism of the withdrawal, meanwhile, EDITORIAL whether Democrat or Republican, gotten that 20 years ago the Taliban provided has been fast and furious — from pundits to Terry Leonard, Editor seem to have a gullibility problem. haven to al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden’s op- former President Donald Trump, who signed [email protected] R Recall when the George W. erations? Does no one recall that women were the withdrawal agreement before leaving of- Bush administration was convinced by advice confined to their homes, denied an education fice, to Afghans on the run. What this all means Robert H. Reid, Senior Managing Editor from CIA agents in Iraq and “friendly” Iraqi and forbidden to walk on public streets with- politically for Biden and the Democratic Party [email protected] operators that U.S. troops would be greeted as out a male family escort? That they were rou- likely will trouble the political class through Sean Moores, Managing Editor for Presentation liberators by Iraqis offering flowers and tinely punished in the public square for break- the holidays. But such obsession obscures the [email protected] candy. Vice President Dick Cheney said as ing such archaic rules? more compelling question of why we keep much to Tim Russert on NBC’s “Meet the These are rhetorical questions, obviously. making such mistakes. BUREAU STAFF Press” in 2003. The trope was so often repeat- The current administration is well aware of Do we lack the toughness of past genera- ed that one CIA agent suggested delivering ti- Afghanistan’s history and our place in it. But tions? Has our national attention to sensitivity Europe/Mideast ny U.S. flags to the Iraqi people so they could that fact makes recent events all the more con- made us vulnerable to the not-so-sensitive? Erik Slavin, Europe & Mideast Bureau Chief wave them when we shocked the country into founding. Has the cumulative effect of four consecutive [email protected] +49(0)631.3615.9350; DSN (314)583.9350 astate of awe. Taliban leaders today say they’re not the baby-boomer presidents, companions to the Either White House officials had watched same group as before. They say they want peace-love-flower generation, been to pull the Pacific too many westerns and war movies, where he- women to be educated and to work alongside pin on the grenade in our own hand? Biden, Aaron Kidd, Pacific Bureau Chief roes swagger into town after blasting the occu- men. This could be true or false, but toward born in 1942, was seen as an antidote to his [email protected] pying enemy — or they were projecting onto which answer would you lean? Maybe the Ta- predecessors — the elder statesman with dec- +81.42.552.2511 ext. 88380; DSN (315)227.7380 others their own sentiments and attitudes. liban don’t plan to confine or execute disobedi- ades of experience. But his kinder-gentler it- Perhaps they were merely embracing an ap- ent women — not this week, anyway. But cul- eration and his sometimes-faltering perform- Washington pealing narrative that supported their inten- tures immersed in religious dogma, willing to ance conveys someone who is grandfatherly Joseph Cacchioli, Washington Bureau Chief [email protected] tions. The answer could be “all of the above,” kill and be killed for their convictions, don’t rather than commanding, notwithstanding his (+1)(202)886-0033 though most of what the United States and our change their stripes in a generation. steely-eyed reading of the teleprompter dur- allies thought we knew at the time of the U.S.- Trusting an enemy is first of all a contradic- ing his remarks on Monday. Brian Bowers, Assistant Managing Editor, News [email protected] led invasion was subsequently found to be a tion in terms. This isn’t to suggest that with- The answer probably requires a psycholog- failure or lack of on-the-ground intelligence. drawal to some degree wasn’t appropriate. ical assessment, though psychological projec- CIRCULATION History has spoken to those events. But a complete withdrawal, regardless of con- tion is a relatively elementary concept. Pro- Fast-forward to our catastrophic withdraw- tingency plans — especially for “the day after” jecting onto others what we feel — whether Mideast al from Afghanistan a few days ago and the on- —has produced the horror show we’ve all wit- good intentions or a sense of injury — is both Robert Reismann, Mideast Circulation Manager [email protected] going chaos. It seems clear that President Joe nessed on TV (thanks, by the way, to coura- commonplace in human interactions and [email protected] Biden was ill-advised in accepting the Tali- geous journalists). sometimes useful. Preemptively assuming DSN (314)583-9111 ban’s word that they’d behave and cooperate Seeing armed men lining the streets of Ka- the other guy is good is both a theological as- with the U.S. military and the now-missing Af- bul and occupying the presidential palace of- sumption and a diplomatic tool, but its limita- Europe ghan government. One doesn’t need hindsight fers no solace to the Afghan people, as evi- tions are manifest in Afghanistan. At our peril Karen Lewis, Community Engagement Manager to find such an obvious lack of skepticism as- denced by the desperate crowds at Hamid —and that of nations we vow to “protect” — we [email protected] [email protected] tonishing. Karzai International Airport trying to escape forget that terrorists project, too. +49(0)631.3615.9090; DSN (314)583.9090

Pacific Mari Mori, [email protected] Biden’s miscalculation: Not thinking like an underdog +81-3 6385.3171; DSN (315)227.7333 BY DAVID VON DREHLE ban earned plenty of enthusiasm, with sup- force could have kept the Taliban at bay indef- CONTACT US The Washington Post porters apparently willing to fight on forever. initely. The feckless Ghani could have been ohn Hay and John Nicolay served to- That is the why of the present debacle. propped up at minimal cost in American Washington gether as personal secretaries to The how of it — how on earth did the United blood and treasure. A few U.S. troops, plus air tel: (+1)202.886.0003 633 3rd St. NW, Suite 116, Washington, DC 20001-3050 President Abraham Lincoln during States manage to re-create the nightmares of power, could have infused the whole demor- JAmerica’s bloodiest war. They Saigon and Mogadishu? — boils down to a dif- alized Afghan army with fighting spirit. Reader letters learned a lot from this intimate tutelage in ferent lesson. No matter how well-trained, In actuality, the Taliban have been skillful- [email protected] wartime leadership, and years later, they well-equipped and well-disciplined U.S. ly and patiently playing their upper hand for summed up those lessons in a multivolume forces may be, they are underdogs in the long years. By the end of the last fighting season, Additional contacts history of the Lincoln administration. Of su- term against a supported insurgency. Taliban forces controlled the Afghan country- stripes.com/contactus preme importance, they wrote, was this: “Ev- It is counterintuitive that the world’s most side and, as a result, the highway network. In- ery war is begun, dominated, and ended by powerful military should be at a disadvantage surgents were strategically positioned to OMBUDSMAN political considerations; without a nation, against Vietnamese peasants or Taliban fight- strangle the cities one by one when spring- Ernie Gates without a Government, without money or ers in pickup trucks. And because it makes no time came. And that’s exactly what they’ve credit, without popular enthusiasm which intuitive sense, we repeatedly fail to shape our done. The Stars and Stripes ombudsman protects the free flow of news and information, reporting any attempts by the furnishes volunteers, or public support which plans accordingly. We underestimate the dif- Further fighting was no longer a question of military or other authorities to undermine the newspaper’s endures conscription, there could be no army ficulty of bringing order to societies where or- maintaining a status quo. The status quo was a independence. The ombudsman also responds to concerns and questions from readers, and monitors coverage for and no war.” der has broken down — or where it never real- Taliban advantage. To undo that success, to fairness, accuracy, timeliness and balance. The ombudsman The lesson remains true today. America’s ly existed. And we overestimate the durability return even to a stalemate, would have re- welcomes comments from readers, and can be contacted by email at [email protected], or by phone at war in Afghanistan ended because the public of whatever order we manage to provide. quired a new U.S. infusion: new troops, new 202.886.0003. grew tired of it and political leaders turned That’s the Afghanistan War in a teacup. money, new strategy, new timetable. against it. Donald Trump was elected presi- Twenty years ago, U.S. leaders failed to plan A fresh new war, in other words, for which Stars and Stripes (USPS 0417900) is published week- days (except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) for 50 cents Monday dent in 2016 while promising to end it. Eight for the difficulty of bringing order to the coun- there was no political support. through Thursday and for $1 on Friday by Pacific Stars and years earlier, Barack Obama was elected try. They’ve failed again today by overesti- Events in Afghanistan — and the outrages Stripes, Unit 45002, APO AP 96301-5002. Periodicals postage paid at San Francisco, CA, Postmaster: Send president while promising to end it. President mating our gains. They measured the stability that most likely lie ahead under Taliban rule address changes to Pacific Stars and Stripes, Unit 45002, Joe Biden was elected last year while promis- of the Afghan government in months when — should make every American want to APO AP 96301-5002. This newspaper is authorized by the Department of Defense for members of the military services ing finally to finish the job. The American peo- they should have counted in hours. throw up. Men and women in uniform must overseas. However, the contents of Stars and Stripes are ple have wanted out for more than a decade. The U.S. has been fighting insurgencies take wars seriously; they have a right to ex- unofficial, and are not to be considered as the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government. As a DOD newspa- Moreover, the Afghan people did not sup- around the globe since the end of World War pect as much from their civilian leaders. In- per, Stars and Stripes may be distributed through official channels and use appropriated funds for distribution to port the war either, not in sufficient numbers II, and we have more draws and losses than stead: endless hubris, this underestimation of remote locations where overseas DOD personnel are located. to keep it going. They did not furnish enough outright wins. Yet we still go larking lightly in- difficulties, this carelessness about the most The appearance of advertising in this publication does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense or soldiers willing to fight it. They did not raise up to these wars and lollygag as we leave them. If urgent matters. Biden is as guilty of miscalcu- Stars and Stripes of the products or services advertised. leaders willing to sacrifice personal interests Biden had taken the Taliban more seriously, lation as any who have gone before. He wasn’t Products or services advertised shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, for a public cause. You could fit all the genuine he would not own such a shameful outcome. thinking like an underdog. religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical supporters of deposed Afghan President Ash- But it’s not just the administration that mis- handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. raf Ghani into his getaway car and still have reads the balance of power in insurgencies. Washington Post columnist David Von Drehle is the author of © Stars and Stripes 2021 room for the piles of cash the Russians say he Critics of the U.S. withdrawal make the same four books, including “Rise to Greatness: Abraham Lincoln and took with him as he fled. By contrast, the Tali- mistake. They argue that a small American America’s Most Perilous Year.” stripes.com Thursday, August 19, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 15 PAGE 16 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, August 19, 2021 Eugene Sheffer Crossword Frazz Dilbert

ACROSS 61 Roulette bet 23 Gist 1 Actress Tyler 27 Cut the lawn 4 Celestial bear DOWN 29 Parachutist 8 Miles away 1 Candy heart 30 Low-calorie

Pearls Before Swine Pearls Before 12 Multipurpose word 31 Termini truck 2 Mineral suffix 33 Tennis champ 13 “Unh-unh” 3 Wordiness Pete 14 Roman 1052 4 Not just 35 “Humbug!” 15 Authenticates 5 Marseilles 38 Swab the deck 17 Small iPod monarch 40 Kids’ card game 18 Bikini top 6 Raced 43 Combine 19 Museum guides 7 Fable writer 45 Deli loaf 21 Shriveled grape 8 Memory loss 46 Ticket half

Non Sequitur 24 Math ratios 9 Custard 47 Far (Pref.) 25 Mode lead-in recipe 48 Sea eagle 26 Pirates’ potation 10 “— She Sweet” 49 Fender 28 Bridal path 11 Ocho — bender 32 Raiments 16 Apr. addressee 53 Captain 34 Short do 20 Espionage org. Jean- — Picard 36 Related 21 “Phooey!” 54 Wife of Adam 37 Fulton’s power 22 Oodles 55 “Way cool!” 39 Witty one Answer to Previous Puzzle

Candorville 41 Since Jan. 1 42 Pop’s mate 44 Throngs 46 — up (increased) 50 Memo letters 51 Region (Abbr.) 52 Type of pitcher 56 Arm bone 57 Wildebeests

Carpe Diem 58 Actress Mendes 59 Honey bunch? 60 Leave an impression? Beetle Bailey Bizarro Thursday, August 19, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 17 PAGE 18 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, August 19, 2021 FACES

MOVIES Streisand would have preferred Beyonce-Smith ‘A Star Is Born’

BY CHRISTIE D’ZURILLA Los Angeles Times Huge fan of “A Star Is Born” with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper? Then maybe don’t talk to Barbra Streisand, who starred in the 1976 version of the much-re- made flick and has some things to say about its 2018 incarnation. Primarily, the Adam Driver 79-year-old sing- er-actor-direc- tor said it was too much like what she and Kris on singing, Kristofferson did in the 1970s. Streisand “When I did ‘A Star Is Born,’ I thought Judy Garland was so surrealism great in it, I thought, ‘Oh, my God, how am I gonna do this?’” Strei- sand said in a weekend Zoom in- terview with Australia’s “The and ‘Annette’ Sunday Project” to promote her new album. “‘I have to change it — I’ll become a guitar-playing sing- er-songwriter, and Kris Kristof- ferson is already a singer-song- writer, and we’ll change the story a bit.’” Adam Driver poses for photographers Sound familiar? Well, Gaga did at the photo call for the film “Annette” mainly play the piano in the 2018 at the 74th international film festival at movie, not the guitar, but ... Cannes, southern France, on July 6. “At first, when I heard it was go- The film debuts Friday on Amazon Prime. ing to be done again, it was sup- BRYNN ANDERSON/AP posed to be Will Smith and Beyonce, and I thought, that’s in- teresting,” Streisand revealed. BY JAKE COYLE “Annette” is in theaters now and debuts Fri- stayed with “Annette” even though it meant “Really make it different again, Associated Press day on Amazon Prime. In it, Driver plays a fa- waiting seven years — the length of his “Star different kind of music, integrated n Leos Carax’s “Annette,” an enchant- mous stand-up comedian named Henry Wars” run. Driver was particularly enamored actors, I thought that was a great ingly demented rock opera, Adam McHenry who performs a sinister, physical of Carax’s celebrated 2012 fantasy “Holy Mo- idea. So, I was surprised when I Driver sings in some very strange plac- show dubbed “The Ape of God,” while clad in a tors,” which like “Annette” is about imagina- saw how alike it was to the version es. On a motorcycle. At sea. In the mid- boxing robe. (Driver modeled his movements tion and the nature of performance. that I did in 1976.” dle of lovemaking. on a gorilla’s.) His wife is Ann Defrasnoux “In all his movies, it seems like his actors Then Babs got even more real. ISince its premiere last month at the Cannes (Marion Cotillard), an equally famous opera have such freedom — which turned out to be “I thought it was the wrong Film Festival, “Annette” has predictably singer. Each night, Henry “kills” his audience true,” Driver says. “He’s also good at balanc- idea,” she said. “And look, it was a caused a stir. As you might suspect, opinions while Ann saves them by dying at the end of ing that with incredible choreography. He big success, I can’t argue with suc- tend to differ on absurdist-yet-sincere 140- each performance. likes to cherry pick details of impulses and cess. But I don’t care so much minute musicals of elaborate melodrama The mix of Carax’s and Sparks’ sensibilities then suddenly he’s choreographing a dance. about success as I do about origi- scored by Sparks (the pop duo Ron and Russell are hard to describe, but everything in “An- When I watch his movies, they seem like free- nality.” Mael) and co-starring a glowing baby (the tit- nette” is heightened, surreal, self-aware — ex- dom.” Streisand had more to say about ular Annette) rendered in the form of a puppet. Driver sings almost the entire time in “An- Beyonce, too. And yet, if anyone can agree on anything in nette,” a performance that follows on the foot- Talking about Queen Bey’s trib- “Annette,” it’s that Driver is really good in it. “It feels very singular. steps of his Oscar-nominated turn in Baum- ute performance of “The Way We Extraordinary, even. For an actor prone to bach’s “Marriage Story,” which reached a Were” at the Kennedy Center launching himself fully into the visions of film- Like: I won’t be doing stunning climax with Driver’s character sing- Honors in 2008, the “Funny Girl” makers, it’s maybe a new pinnacle of rigorous ing “Being Alive” from Steven Sondheim’s star said the song didn’t come out commitment. In even the most out-there parts this again ... most “Company.” Before that, Driver’s musical de- right the first time Beyonce tried of “Annette,” Driver is ferociously dedicated but was more tongue-in-cheek, as part of the it. (It was unclear whether she was and intensely physical. He goes all in. And likely.” recording session of “Please Mr. Kennedy” in talking about rehearsals or the those more unusual places for song, like in the Adam Driver the Coen brothers’ “Inside Llewyn Davis.” performance itself.) middle of oral sex? Another new experience. “I don’t have any plans nor not necessarily “She first sang it once, and I “It feels very singular,” Driver said at On the absurdist-yet-sincere film “Annette” no interest to sing again in movies. I always didn’t think it was good enough, Cannes. “Like: I won’t be doing this again” — love it in movies,” says Driver. “People do sing actually — for her. And again, I al- and then he chuckles — “most likely.” cept for the performances. “Even if it feels sur- in life — I mean, burst into the song. But we ways think like a director. I want “Annette” is something different for even real, I can’t play surreal,” said Driver. don’t communicate through song. In a way, it the best for my actors or singers. the eclectic Driver. He signed on to it seven Justin Chang for The Los Angeles Times feels more appropriate. There is something So she did it over, and she did it years ago after Carax, the French filmmaker of wrote that the movie “belongs to Driver,” and more vulnerable about it.” beautifully the second time,” the blissfully bonkers “Holy Motors,” contact- that he “has rarely appeared more imposing in But Driver, who was a Marine before dedi- Streisand said. ed him having only seen him in “Girls.” his physicality, more bottomless in his capac- cating himself to acting, is aware of the more Streisand’s new album — avail- “I’ve been talking about this movie for seven ity for rage and deceit.” Eric Kohn, for Indie- bonkers dimensions of “Annette.” How has he able now for purchase and years,” Driver said. “So there is also a sense of Wire, called Driver “a deranged force of na- been describing it to friends and family? streaming — is “Release Me 2,” a relief just having someone watching it, some- ture.” He laughs. “It’s just your run-of-the-mill fan- collection of 10 songs from her where. I’m relieved it will be out.” For the first time, Driver is a producer. He tasy musical about a baby.” vault. Thursday, August 19, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 19 SCOREBOARD/GOLF

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PRO FOOTBALL COMMENTARY AP Top 25 NFL preseason Houston at Dallas Saturday, Aug. 28 The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press Indianapolis at Minnesota Green Bay at Buffalo preseason college football poll, with first- Thursday’s game Denver at Seattle Baltimore at Washington place votes in parentheses, total points New England at Philadelphia Las Vegas at L.A. Rams Chicago at Tennessee based on 25 points for a first-place vote Friday’s games Sunday’s games Arizona at New Orleans through one point for a 25th-place vote, Cincinnati at Washington N.Y. Giants at Cleveland Tampa Bay at Houston and 2020 final ranking: Kansas City at Arizona San Francisco at L.A. Chargers L.A. Rams at Denver Pressure Saturday’s games Monday’s game Record Pts Prv L.A. Chargers at Seattle Buffalo at Chicago Jacksonville at New Orleans Sunday, Aug. 29 1. Alabama (47) 0-0 1548 1 N.Y. Jets at Green Bay Friday, Aug. 27 Jacksonville at Dallas Atlanta at Miami Indianapolis at Detroit Las Vegas at San Francisco 2. Oklahoma (6) 0-0 1462 6 Baltimore at Carolina Philadelphia at N.Y. Jets Miami at Cincinnati 3. Clemson (6) 0-0 1447 3 Detroit at Pittsburgh Pittsburgh at Carolina New England at N.Y. Giants 4. Ohio St. (1) 0-0 1393 2 Tennessee at Tampa Bay Minnesota at Kansas City Cleveland at Atlanta mounting 5. Georgia (3) 0-0 1364 7 PRO SOCCER DEALS 6. Texas A&M 0-0 1223 4 7. Iowa St. 0-0 1160 9 MLS Tuesday’s transactions Placed CF Dylan Carlson on the 10-day IL, 8. Cincinnati 0-0 1014 8 retroactive to Aug. 15. 9. Notre Dame 0-0 1009 5 EASTERN CONFERENCE BASEBALL SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS — Selected the in playoff Major League Baseball contract of RHP Tyler Chatwood from Sac- 10. North Carolina 0-0 999 18 WLTPts GF GA MLB — Named Karin Timpone executive ramento (Triple-A West) and agreed to 11. Oregon 0-0 968 — terms on a major league contract. Op- New England 13 3 4 43 37 23 vice president, chief marketing officer. BY DOUG FERGUSON 12. Wisconsin 0-0 743 — American League tioned RHP Jay Jackson to Sacramento. NYCFC 9 5 4 31 34 18 Placed RHP Tyler Beede on the 60-day IL. Associated Press 13. Florida 0-0 728 13 BALTIMORE ORIOLES — Optioned CF Nashville 7 2 10 31 31 19 Ryan McKenna to Norfolk (Triple-A East). WASHINGTON NATIONALS — Sent RHP 14. Miami 0-0 663 22 Austin Voth to Rochester (Triple-A East) JERSEY CITY, N.J. — This is Orlando City 8 4 6 30 28 23 Reinstated 1B Ryan Mountcastle from the 15. Southern Cal 0-0 660 21 10-day IL. Sent RHP Hunter Harvey to Nor- on a rehab assignment. one time where winning really Philadelphia 7 5 7 28 25 19 folk on a rehab assignment. Sent RHP BASKETBALL 16. LSU 0-0 631 — D.C. United 8 8 3 27 29 26 Adam Plutko outright to Norfolk. National Basketball Association does take care of everything. 17. Indiana 0-0 549 12 BOSTON RED SOX — Reinstated LHP Josh DETROIT PISTONS — Signed C Luke Gar- CF Montréal 7 7 5 26 26 25 18. Iowa 0-0 513 16 Taylor from the COVID-19 IL. Designated za and F Chris Smith to two-way contracts. For most players, it’s all about Columbus 6 7 6 24 21 24 RHP Matt Andriese for assignment. Re- NEW YORK KNICKS — Acquired G Evan 19. Penn St. 0-0 456 — the money. Atlanta 4 6 9 21 22 25 called RHP Tanner Houck from Worcester Fournier and and two second-round draft 20. Washington 0-0 449 — (Triple-A East). Sent 2B Christian Arroyo to picks from Boston in a sign-and-trade. Chicago 5 9 5 20 21 29 And for a dozen or so Ameri- 21. Texas 0-0 350 19 Worcester on a rehab assignment. Signed G Alec Burks. New York 5 9 4 19 22 24 CHICAGO WHITE SOX — Sent C Yasmani PHILADELPHIA 76ERS — Re-signed C Joel cans, it’s about playing for no mon- 22. Coastal Carolina 0-0 232 14 Emblid to a veteran extension. Inter Miami CF 4 9 4 16 15 28 Grandal to Charlotte (Triple-A East) on a 23. Louisiana-Lafayette 0-0 208 15 rehab assignment. FOOTBALL ey at all. Cincinnati 3 7 7 16 18 30 — Sent 2B Isaac Pa- National Football League 24. Utah 0-0 176 — DETROIT TIGERS The Northern Trust not only is Toronto FC 3 10 6 15 24 40 redes and RHP Jose Urena to Toledo (Tri- ARIZONA CARDINALS — Claimed P Ryan 25. Arizona St. 0-0 125 — ple-A East) on rehab assignments. Re- Winslow from Green Bay. Released P Tyler the start of the FedEx Cup play- WESTERN CONFERENCE leased RHP Buck Farmer. Newsome. Others receiving votes: Oklahoma St. NEW YORK YANKEES — Reinstated LHP CAROLINA PANTHERS — Traded OT Greg offs, it’s the beginning of the end 107, Mississippi 106, TCU 40, Liberty 36, Au- WLTPts GF GA Jordan Montgomery and C Gary Sanchez Little to Miami in exchange for a 2022 sev- for Ryder Cup qualifying. Two burn 32, NC State 14, Michigan 12, North- from the COVID-19 IL. Returned C Rob enth-round pick. Placed CA Troy Pride on western 8, Nevada 7, Boise St. 7, Ball St. 6, Sporting KC 11 4 4 37 35 20 Brantley and RHP Stephen Ridings to IR. Released FB Rod Smith. Waived LB Nate tournaments are left before the BYU 6, UCF 5, Houston 5, Boston College 5, Seattle 10 3 6 36 32 16 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A East). Hall and C Mike Panasiuk with an injury West Virginia 3, UCLA 2, Army 2, UAB 2. Sent 3B Miguel Andujar and RHP Corey designation. top six Americans earn a spot on LA Galaxy 11 7 2 35 31 30 Kluber to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on rehab CHICAGO BEARS — Released WR Justin the team, and then Steve Stricker TENNIS Colorado 10 4 4 34 27 18 assignments. Returned RHP Luis Gil to Hardy. Waived DB Michael Joseph and LB Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Ledarius Mack with injury designations. has six captain’s picks a week lat- Chicago 125 Minnesota 7 6 6 27 22 23 OAKLAND ATHLETICS — Optioned 2B Vi- DALLAS COWBOYS — Placed CB Reggie Real Salt Lake 6 6 6 24 27 20 mael Machin to Las Vegas (Triple-A West). Robinson and RB Sewo Olonilua on IR. er. Tuesday Portland 7 9 2 23 25 35 Reinstated SS Elvis Andrus from the pater- Waived LB Anthony Hines, CB Kyron At XS Tennis Village nity list. Brown and WR Brennan Eagles. Whatever stress or pressure a Chicago LAFC 6 8 5 23 24 26 TAMPA BAY RAYS — Selected the con- DETROIT LIONS — Waived WR Chad Han- player feels depends on his posi- Purse: $115,000 San Jose 5 7 8 23 22 28 tract of RHP Shawn Armstrong from Dur- sen with an injury settlement. Waived DT Surface: Hardcourt outdoor FC Dallas 5 8 6 21 23 27 ham (Triple-A East) and agreed to terms michael Barnett. Placed LB Shaun Dion Ha- tion on each list. Women’s Singles on a major league contract. Optioned 2B milton on IR. Released LS Don Muhlbach. Round of 32 Houston 3 7 9 18 20 28 Mike Brosseau to Durham. Designated 3B GREEN BAY PACKERS — Placed TE Isaac The solution is the same for Hailey Baptiste, United States, def. Dan- Vancouver 3 7 8 17 19 28 Kevin Padlo for assignment. Sent RHP Nauta and WR DeAndre Thompkins on IR. both: Play well. ka Kovinic (2), Montenegro, 6-3, 6-4. Austin FC 4 10 4 16 13 21 Chris Archer to Durham (Triple-A East) on Released G/T Zack Johnson. Clara Tauson, Denmark, def. Harriet a rehab assignment. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS — Waived TE Gra- “I still think it’s about preparing Dart, Britain, 6-1, 6-7 (2), 6-2. Note: Three points for victory, one point TORONTO BLUE JAYS — Agreed to terms ham Adomitis, RB Darius Anderson, WR Storm Sanders, Australia, def. Caroline for tie. with C Nicholas Deschamps and C/INF Quartney Davis and CB Nick Nelson. for each individual tournament as Andres Sosa on minor league contracts. Placed DE Damontre Moore on IR. Dolehide, United States, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2. Tuesday’s games best you can,” Patrick Cantlay Zarina Diyas, Kazakhstan, def. Madison Placed OF George Springer on the 10-day JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS — Waived CB Brengle (5), United States, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (5), Colorado 2, LA Galaxy 1 IL, retraoctive to August 15. Recalled INF D.J. Daniel and TE Tim Tebow. Waived WRs said. “Because it’s so complicated, 6-4. Minnesota 1, San Jose 1, tie Otto Lopez from Buffalo (Triple-A East). Josh Imatorbhebhe and Tim Jones and DT National League Emma Raducanu, Britain, def. Alison van Wednesday’s games Daniel Ross with injury designations. there can be so much ebb and Uytvanck (1), Belgium, 7-6 (7), 6-3. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS — Signed KANSAS CITY CHIEFS — Waived TE Evan flow, it’s not worth trying to get Kateryna Kozlova, Ukraine, def. Maryna D.C. United at New England free agent OF Elijah Greene to a minor Baylis and WR Antonio Callaway with an Zanevska, Belgium, 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (2). Toronto FC at Atlanta league contract. Reinstated RHP Taylor injury designation. Waived DB Manny Pat- caught up in all that points busi- Vitalia Diatchenko, Russia, def. Ana Kon- CF Montréal at Cincinnati Widener from the 10-day IL. Optioned RHP terson and WR Chad Williams. Placed RB juh (7), Croatia, 7-6 (4), 6-3. New York City FC at Philadelphia Sean Poppen to Reno (Triple-A West). Elijah McGuire on IR. ness.” Clara Burel, France, def. Ivana Jorovic, Chicago at Miami ATLANTA BRAVES — Optioned RHP Ja- LAS VEGAS RAIDERS — Signed LB Te’von Serbia, 7-5, 3-2, ret. Columbus at New York cob Webb to Gwinnett (Triple-A East). Re- Coney. Cantlay is No. 3 in the FedEx Jule Niemeier, Germany, def. Greet Min- Orlando City at Nashville instated RHP Huascar Ynoa from the 60- LOS ANGELES CHARGERS — Signed OLB Cup. There’s not much stress nen, Belgium, 6-2, 6-2. Portland at Sporting Kansas City day IL. Davin Bellamy. Released QB K.J. Costello Oceane Dodin, France, def. CoCo Vande- Seattle at FC Dallas CHICAGO CUBS — Selected the contract and TE Matt Seybert. there, at least not yet. weghe, United States, 7-6 (3), 6-4. Vancouver at Austin FC of OF Michael Hermosillo from Iowa (Tri- MIAMI DOLPHINS — Placed WR Allen Women’s Doubles Houston at Real Salt Lake ple-A East) and agreed to terms on a major Harms on IR. Waived OTs Timon Parris and He is No. 11 in the Ryder Cup Round of 16 Friday’s game league contract. Designated RHP Dan Win- Jonathan Hubbard and G Tyler Marz. kler for assignment. Waived CB Jaytlin Askew with an injury and after his experience in the Ulrikke Eikeri, Norway, and Catherine San Jose at LA Galaxy Harrison, United States, def. Elixane Le- CINCINNATI REDS — Designated RHP designation. Presidents Cup at Royal Mel- chemia, France, and Ingrid Neel, United Saturday’s games Heath Hembree for assignment. Recalled MINNESOTA VIKINGS — Waived CB Ama- RHP Tony Santillan from Louisville (Tri- ri Henderson. bourne, making the team is a pri- States, 6-4, 6-3. Sporting Kansas City at Minnesota Peangtarn Plipuech, Thailand, and Eri Ho- ple-a East). Optioned RHP R.J. Alaniz to NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS — Waived TE Seattle at Columbus Louisville. Sent 2B Mike Freeman outright Troy Fumagalli with an injury designation. ority. zumi, Japan, def. Sara Errani, Italy, and Oksa- Chicago at Orlando City na Kalashnikova (4), Georgia, 0-6, 6-3, 10-6. to Louisville. NEW YORK GIANTS — Terminated the “The Ryder Cup, I’d love to CF Montréal at Philadelphia COLORADO ROCKIES — Recalled INF contracts of RB Alfred Morris and S Chris PRO BASKETBALL Atlanta at D.C. United Alan Trejo from Albuquerque (Triple-A Milton. Placed CB Jarren Williams and G play,” he said. “That feels totally Cincinnati at New England West). Placed LHP Austin Gomber on the Kyle Murphy on IR. Traded CB Isaac Yia- New York City FC at New York paternity list. dom to Green Bay in exchange for CB Josh different. That feels like the only WNBA Toronto FC at Miami LOS ANGELES DODGERS — Selected the Jackson. thing that’s important is the points FC Dallas at Houston contract of RHP Neftali Feliz from Oklaho- NEW YORK JETS — Waived S Bennett EASTERN CONFERENCE Portland at Austin FC ma City (Triple-A West) and agreed to Jackson, DL Michael Dwumfour and RB that are going on. But the way way Real Salt Lake at Colorado Austin Walker. Placed OL Cam Clark on IR. WLPct GB terms on a major league contract. Re- Los Angeles FC at Vancouver called RHP Andre Jackson from Oklahoma PHILADELPHIA EAGLES — Waived RB to do that is to take care of your Kerryon Johnson, C Luke Juriga and T Connecticut 16 6 .727 — Friday, Aug. 27 City. Optioned LHP Darien Nunez and RHP Edwin Uceta to Oklahoma City. Placed LHP Casey Tucker with injury designations. business.” Chicago 11 11 .500 5 Cincinnati at Columbus Cole Hamels on the 60-day IL. Sent LHP Vic- PITTSBURGH STEELERS — Waived WR Collin Morikawa is the No. 1 New York 10 12 .455 6 Toronto FC at CF Montréal tor Gonzalez to Rancho Cucamonga Isaiah McKoy, T Brandon Walton, K Sam Miami at Orlando City (Low-A West) on a rehab assignment. Op- Sloman, DT Abdullah Anderson and DB seed in the FedEx Cup and No. 1 in Washington 8 12 .400 7 tioned RHPs Conner Greene and Andre Stephen Denmark. Atlanta 6 15 .286 9½ NWSL Jackson to Oklahoma City (Triple-A West). SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS — Released TE the Ryder Cup standings, having Indiana 4 18 .182 12 Activated RHP Evan Phillips. Reinstated 2B Joshua Perkins and CB Ken Webster. Re- already clinched a spot on the U.S. WLTPts GF GA Gavin Lux from the 10-day IL. leased WR Austin Watkins with an injury WESTERN CONFERENCE MIAMI MARLINS — Selected the contract designation. Claimed DB Davontae Harris team, along with Dustin Johnson. Portland 9 3 2 29 21 8 of RHP Luis Madero from Jacksonville (Tri- off waivers from Baltimore. Waived QB WLPct GB North Carolina 7 4 3 24 18 9 ple-A East) and agreed to terms on a major Josh Rosen. The Ryder Cup points are big league contract. Optioned LHP Braxton TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS — Released Las Vegas 17 6 .739 — Gotham FC 5 2 6 21 14 9 Garrett to Jacksonville. Placed LHP Trevor WR John Franklin III with a failed physical. because the money is big — a $9.5 and OG Donell Stanley with an injury des- Seattle 16 6 .727 ½ Orlando 5 4 6 21 18 17 Rogers on the restricted list. Sen RHP Da- million purse each of the next two Chicago 6 7 2 20 15 21 vid Hess outright to Jacksonville. ignation. Minnesota 13 8 .619 3 MILWAUKEE BREWERS — Signed free TENNESSEE TITANS — Placed DL Trevon weeks. Paul Azinger, the real Phoenix 11 10 .524 5 Washington 5 5 4 19 17 17 agent OF David Dahl to a minor league con- Coley and S Tedric Thompson on IR. Reign FC 6 7 1 19 17 15 tract. Optioned 1B Keston Hiura to Nash- Waived OL Paul Adams. Signed S Jamal “Captain America” in golf, doesn’t Dallas 10 13 .435 7 Carter. Houston 5 6 3 18 17 20 ville (Triple-A East). Designated LHP Kyle get enough credit for revamping Los Angeles 8 13 .381 8 Lobstein for assignment. WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM — Re- Louisville 4 6 3 15 11 19 NEW YORK METS — Recalled RHP Trevor leased TE Nick Guggemos. Released CB the U.S. system 15 years ago to Tuesday’s games Kansas City 1 9 4 7 7 20 Williams and C Patrick Mazeika from Syra- Greg Stroman from the physically unable Connecticut 72, Minnesota 60 cuse (Triple-A East). Placed C Tomas Nido to perform (PUP) list with a settlement. base points on money. Note: Three points for victory, one point HOCKEY Dallas 80, Chicago 76 for tie. on the 10-day IL, retroactive to August 15. Xander Schauffele is holding Las Vegas 93, Washington 83 Optioned RHP Geoff Hartlieb to Syracuse. National Hockey League Phoenix 84, Indiana 80 Wednesday’s game PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES — Sent RHP OTTAWA SENATORS — Signed F Scott down the sixth spot over Jordan Los Angeles 85, Atlanta 80, OT Chicago at Louisville Vince Velasquez to Clearwater (Low-A Sabourin to a one-year, two-way contract. Wednesday’s game Souteast) on a rehab assignment. Sent SOCCER Spieth — both figure to be at Whis- Saturday’s games RHP Sam Coonrod and SS Freddy Galvis to Major League Soccer tling Straits at the end of Septem- Seattle at New York Kansas City at North Carolina Lehigh Valley (Triple-A East) on rehab as- MLS DISCPLINARY COMMITTEE — Fined Thursday’s games Gotham FC at Reign FC signments. Austin FC assistant coach Davy Arnaud for ber, even if they don’t qualify au- PITTSBURGH PIRATES — Agreed to unacceptable conduct and use of inappro- Minnesota at Connecticut Sunday’s game Washington at Phoenix terms with INF/OF Yoshi Tsutsugo on a priate language directed towards officials tomatically. Harris English and Atlanta at Los Angeles Orlando at Washington major league contract. Sent LHP Sam Ho- during the post-match of a game on Au- ward to Indianapolis (Triple-A East) on a gust 14 against Real Salt Lake. Daniel Berger are in the top 10 Friday’s games Wednesday, Aug. 25 rehab assignment. PHILADELPHIA UNION — Signed D Olivier with no Ryder Cup experience. Seattle at New York Louisville at Kansas City ST. LOUIS CARDINALS — Recalled LF Aus- Mbaizo to a multi-year contract exten- Indiana at Dallas Gotham FC at Portland tin Dean from Memphis (Triple-A East). sion. More is at stake for them. PAGE 20 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, August 19, 2021 NBA/WNBA Bird savors trips home, puts off retirement talk Seattle Storm, Bird are in New York, though she sat out Wednesday, while she recovers from Olympics

BY DOUG FEINBERG make any statements about any- Associated Press thing.” NEW YORK — Every trip to When she made the Tokyo New York is special for Sue Bird Olympics her last one, she decid- because she’s coming home. ed that a long time before the first Those trips have become more game was played. meaningful lately with her career “I’ve had some friends say ‘you MICHAEL VARAKLAS/AP coming closer to the end. better tell me so I can make Giannis Antetokounmpo, right, of the Milwaukee Bucks, adjusts the face mask of his brother Thanasis. “It’s a chance to have my plans,’ ” Bird said. “At the end of The two will get to play at home on Christmas as the Bucks will play host to the Boston Celtics. friends and family come watch,” the day, I have to do what’s right Bird told The Associated Press in for me and what I can handle. It’s an interview after practice Tues- no secret, we’re closer to the end day. “For them to watch me play than the beginning. getting closer Bucks stay home for Christmas, and for me to see them after- and closer with each season that wards. It worked out great; we goes by.” are here for two games. That ex- Bird is fortunate that her fian- Hawks return to holiday slate citement never ends.” cée Megan Rapinoe is going BY TIM REYNOLDS 1989, ending what was the longest drought in the NBA Her friends and family will through a similar discussion Associated Press among franchises with at least one Christmas ap- have to wait until Friday to see about retiring from the U.S. na- The Milwaukee Bucks are staying home for Christ- pearance. Charlotte and Memphis have yet to play on the New York native play, though. tional soccer team. The two mas, which is becoming an annual perk for reigning the holiday. She sat out the Seattle Storm’s bounce things off each other. NBA champions. For Lakers star LeBron James, though, Christmas Wednesday night game against “We’re both going through it, The NBA released the schedule for the Dec. 25 appearances are just about an annual occurrence. the Liberty as she’s still recover- which is nice,” Bird said. “There quintupleheader on Tuesday, and the Bucks will play And this year’s matchup will likely be of the history- ing from the Olympics where she are days we can dig deep or oth- host to the Boston Celtics in the second of the day’s making variety. led the U.S. to a seventh consec- ers where we’re like not today. I games. It marks the eighth consecutive season in If James plays in the Dec. 25 game against the Nets, utive gold medal and earned her don’t want to go there today.” which the reigning champion has gotten to play at it would be his 16th Christmas appearance and tie record fifth in the process. Bird doesn’t have much left to home for the holiday. Kobe Bryant for the most in NBA history. The Bucks, How many more chances peo- accomplish in her career. She’s Also set for Christmas this year: Atlanta opens the Lakers, Celtics, Nets, Warriors and Mavericks all ple will get to see her play in New the league’s all-time assist leader day at New York, Golden State visits reigning West- played on Christmas last season. Utah and New York York is still unknown as Bird and has won four championships ern Conference champion Phoenix, Brooklyn plays return for the first time since 2018, and Phoenix is doesn’t know when she’ll retire. in Seattle, including two in the at the Los Angeles Lakers, and Dallas goes to Utah in getting its first Christmas game since 2009. “When I’m in a season, it’s hard past three seasons. She’s still the day’s finale. to wrap my head around that,” playing at a very high level. The full season schedule will be released Friday af- Opening week the 40-year-old said. “My person- “That makes it harder,” Bird ternoon, the NBA said. The league is returning to an The NBA also released the schedule of nationally ality, I guess, is not going to deal said of still playing well. “I think 82-game season after playing a 72-game slate last televised games for opening week, and this season well with that. It can overwhelm it makes it harder, but also I season because of the pandemic, and it is expected will begin where last season ended — in Milwaukee, me. It’s an ongoing conversation watched Lauren (Jackson) and that the Toronto Raptors — who spent last season with the Bucks celebrating a championship. since it would be silly to not ask what Lauren went through and playing home games in Tampa, Fla. — will be allowed Ring night in Milwaukee, as expected, is Oct. 17, yourself the questions as you’re have basketball taken away from to play in their home city again this season. when the Bucks will open the season against Brook- going through it, otherwise it will her. It wasn’t her decision to re- Atlanta’s Christmas game will be its first since lyn. be a big surprise at the end and I tire. Her body made that decision don’t want to go through that. I for her. ... I feel lucky if I retired want to be prepared in a way, in the next minute it would be my Walker’s welcome: Kemba returns home mentally and emotionally. At the choice on my terms. I’m fortunate same time, I’m not in a place to that’s the case.” BY BRIAN MAHONEY ference Tuesday to announce beat Pittsburgh in the quarterfi- Associated Press the additions of Walker and nals of the 2011 Big East tour- NEW YORK — The “Welcome Evan Fournier, his teammate ney, when he led the Huskies to to New York” signs decorating last season with the Boston Cel- a stunning stretch of five wins in the outside of Madison Square tics who was ac- five days. Garden and hanging behind him quired in a sign- “That was just a special, spe- were nice, though unnecessary. and-trade deal. cial run,” Walker said. Kemba Walker needs no in- Fournier, like They followed it by winning troduction around here. many around the NCAA championship, with He’s a New York native who the NBA, called Walker the Most Outstanding was already playing at Madison Madison Player. He went on to play eight Square Garden in high school Square Garden seasons with the Charlotte and made a memorable buzzer- his favorite are- Hornets and thought there was a beater during a historic Big East na. But few Walker chance he would sign with the tournament run while playing players — Knicks in 2019 as a free agent for Connecticut. Knicks or otherwise — can before instead going to Boston. Now he gets to see what he can match Walker’s history in the Now, a decade after he lit up do while playing there for the building. the arena, the arena was lit up New York Knicks. The highlight video montage with his picture. “It’s going to be better,” Walk- that played before the start of “I think everything is perfect. MATT YORK/AP er said. “Ten times better.” the news conference included Everything,” Walker said. “Per- Sue Bird holds the champions trophy after the Commissioner’s Cup The Knicks held a news con- Walker’s step-back jumper to fect timing.” game against Connecticut on Aug. 12 in Phoenix. Thursday, August 19, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 21 COLLEGE FOOTBALL/SPORTS BRIEFS

BRIEFLY Report: NCAA looking into Nebraska football program Associated Press Thiem was hurt in June while LINCOLN, Neb. — The NCAA is playing in the Mallorca Open. investigating Nebraska coach Scott Frost and his program for Source: NHL teams to several suspected violations, in- add sponsor patches cluding analysts working in im- Jersey advertisements are com- proper roles during games and ing to the NHL. practices and unauthorized off- The league will allow teams to campus workouts, according to a put sponsor patches on jerseys be- report by The Action Network. ginning with the 2022-23 season Citing unidentified sources, the after the board of governors unan- report said Nebraska has “signif- imously approved the move, ac- icant video footage” confirming cording to a person with knowl- practice violations occurred in the edge of a memo sent this week. presence of Frost and other assist- ants. Bauer lawyer: Woman lied The NCAA has interviewed Frost, current and former staff by omission in story members, administrators and LOS ANGELES — An attorney AARON E. MARTINEZ/AP football players, and Frost has for Trevor Bauer asked a woman Texas coach Steve Sarkisian, left, is joined by former Texas quarterback Vince Young during the team’s hired an attorney. The alleged vio- Tuesday why she left out “dozens practice on Aug. 7 in Austin, Texas. lations occurred in the last 12 of key facts” in her petition for a months. five-year restraining order In a text message to The Associ- against the Los Angeles Dodgers ated Press on Wednesday, Ne- pitcher. braska athletic director Trev Al- “I don’t know,” answered the Big 12 teams face forfeits if berts said he would “comment woman, who testified that Bauer soon.” Alberts was hired as athlet- choked her until she was uncon- ic director in July after Bill Moos scious and punched her repeated- unexpectedly announced his re- ly in two sexual encounters. virus means they can’t play tirement. The exchange during lawyer USGA employee charged Shawn Holley’s cross-examin- Conference was able to play 43 of its 45 scheduled conference games last year ation of the woman came in her with embezzlement second day of testimony at the Associated Press would occur prior to the visiting PHILADELPHIA — A former hearing in Los Angeles Superior IRVING, Texas — Big 12 teams team traveling to the game site. United States Golf Association Court. unable to play a game this fall be- Both teams would be deemed to employee has been charged in a Holley challenged the 27-year- cause of COVID-19, or any other have played the game for the pur- scheme to embezzle funds from old San Diego woman on why she reasons, will have to forfeit and be poses of conference standings on- the unauthorized sale of U.S. Open omitted a text message to Bauer given a loss in the conference ly, with the team not forfeiting be- Championship tickets, Acting before their meetings saying she standings. ing credited with a win in the United States Attorney Jennifer would have her “feelings turned The Big 12 released its game standings. Arbittier Williams announced off” and joking that she would threshold policy Tuesday. A no Pac-12 officials said last week Tuesday. have a nondisclosure agreement contest would be declared only if that its teams that cannot play be- According to a statement re- “signed and sealed” when she both teams are unable to compete, cause of COVID-19 issues will leased by Williams, Robert Fryer, came to see him. and there are no plans to make up likely be forced to forfeit games, 39, of Perkasie, Pa., faces conspir- The woman said she no longer any games not played as sched- with the conference reinstituting acy, wire fraud, and mail fraud had access to those texts. uled. its forfeiture policy after it modi- charges. In other baseball news: Roster thresholds that were in SUE OGROCKI/AP fied its rules last season because of Open champion Thiem ■ Felipe Vazquez, the former effect for the Big 12 last season are Oklahoma State head coach the pandemic. SEC Commissioner major league pitcher convicted of no longer in play. Teams without Mike Gundy watches from above Greg Sankey has been clear that pulls out of tournament having sex with a 13-year-old girl, at least 53 available players, and a during a practice on Aug. 12 in forfeits — not postponements, like NEW YORK — Defending was sentenced Tuesday to 2-4 minimum number at certain posi- Stillwater, Okla. last year — were on the table in his champion Dominic Thiem has years in prison. Vazquez, 30, will tions, could get a no contest de- league. pulled out of the U.S. Open, saying get credit for 23 months of time clared last year if unable to play The Big 12 said a forfeit can hap- The Big 12 last season got 43 of Wednesday he will miss the rest of served, meaning he’ll be eligible and unable to reschedule the pen at any point before a complet- its 45 scheduled conference the year because of a right wrist for parole in one month, the Pitts- game. ed contest, and when possible games played. injury. burgh Post-Gazette reported. PAGE 22 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, August 19, 2021 MLB

ROUNDUP Scoreboard

American League East Division Cubs’ Hendricks earns 14th win WLPct GB Tampa Bay 73 47 .608 _ New York 68 52 .567 5 Associated Press Boston 69 53 .566 5 CINCINNATI — Kyle Hen­ Toronto 63 55 .534 9 dricks became the first 14­game Baltimore 38 80 .322 34 winner in the majors, Ian Happ Central Division homered and the Chicago Cubs WLPct GB snapped a 12­game losing streak Chicago 70 50 .583 _ with a 2­1 win over the Cincinnati Cleveland 58 60 .492 11 Detroit 58 63 .479 12½ Reds on Tuesday night. Minnesota 53 67 .442 17 Hendricks (14­5) gave up three Kansas City 51 67 .432 18 hits in six innings — the only big West Division one a two­out homer by Nick Cas­ WLPct GB tellanos in the sixth — as Chicago Houston 70 49 .588 _ won for the first time since Aug. 4 Oakland 68 52 .567 2½ in Colorado. The Cubs are 3­15 Seattle 64 56 .533 6½ since selling off their biggest stars Los Angeles 60 61 .496 11 Texas 42 77 .353 28 at the trade deadline last month. National League Frank Schwindel had a run­ scoring double for the Cubs in the East Division third. Happ homered to right field WLPct GB leading off the sixth, one of his Atlanta 64 56 .533 _ three hits. Philadelphia 61 58 .513 2½ Codi Heuer retired Cincinnati New York 59 60 .496 4½ Washington 51 68 .429 12½ in order in the eighth and ninth for Miami 51 69 .425 13 his second major league save and Central Division first this season. WLPct GB Reds rookie Vladimir Gutiérrez Milwaukee 73 47 .608 _ AARON DOSTER/AP (8­4) gave up nine hits while strik­ Cincinnati 65 56 .537 8½ 1 ing out seven over 6⁄3 innings. The Chicago Cubs’ Kyle Hendricks delivers during the first inning of Tuesday’s game against the Reds in St. Louis 61 57 .517 11 Giants 3, Mets 2: Tommy La Cincinnati. Hendricks’ major league­leading 14th victory helped the Cubs snap a 12­game losing streak. Chicago 53 69 .434 21 Stella hit a two­run homer in the Pittsburgh 42 78 .350 31 first inning to back Logan Webb’s and 10 of 12 overall. game losing streak. Lynch allowed one run over seven West Division sixth straight win, and host San Rays 10, Orioles 0: Nelson Angels 8, Tigers 2:Jo Adell hit innings, Hanser Alberto hit a two­ WLPct GB Francisco dealt fading New York Cruz homered twice, three pitch­ a tiebreaking grand slam in the run double in the sixth, and host San Francisco 78 42 .650 _ its fifth straight loss. ers combined on a four­hitter, and ninth inning for his first homer Kansas City beat Houston. Los Angeles 74 46 .617 4 San Diego 67 55 .549 12 Diamondbacks 3, Phillies 2: AL East­leading Tampa Bay ex­ this season and Kurt Suzuki fol­ White Sox 9, Athletics 0:Oak­ Colorado 54 66 .450 24 Josh VanMeter hit a two­run tended visiting Baltimore’s losing lowed with a solo blast, lifting vis­ land pitcher Chris Bassitt was Arizona 39 81 .325 39 homer, Taylor Widener pitched streak to 13 games. iting Los Angeles past Detroit. carted off the field after he was Tuesday’s games five quality innings and host Ari­ Cruz moved past Dave King­ Miguel Cabrera, one home run struck on the side of his head by a N.Y. Yankees 5, Boston 3, 7 innings, 1st game zona beat slumping Philadelphia. man into 42nd place on the all­ away from No. 500, was 0­for­2 line drive, casting a shadow over N.Y. Yankees 2, Boston 0, 7 innings, 2nd game The Phillies lost for the fifth time home runs list with 443. with two walks. his team’s loss to José Abreu and Tampa Bay 10, Baltimore 0 time in seven games as they try to Braves 2, Marlins 0:Jorge Sol­ Brewers 2, Cardinals 0:Corbin host Chicago. L.A. Angels 8, Detroit 2 Kansas City 3, Houston 1 keep pace in the National League er snapped a scoreless tie with a Burnes took a no­hitter into the Indians 3, Twins 1:Eli Morgan Chicago White Sox 9, Oakland 0 Seattle 3, Texas 1 playoff race. two­out RBI single in the eighth sixth inning and Kolten Wong had threw six scoreless innings, Da­ Cleveland 3, Minnesota 1 Dodgers 4, Pirates 3: Matt inning, and visiting Atlanta beat three hits and was hit by a pitch niel Johnson hit a two­run homer Atlanta 2, Miami 0 Chicago Cubs 2, Cincinnati 1 Beaty hit a tiebreaking, two­run Miami. against his former team as visiting and visiting Cleveland held on to Washington 12, Toronto 6 Milwaukee 2, St. Louis 0 double with two outs in the fifth in­ Nationals 12, Blue Jays 6:Riley Milwaukee beat St. Louis. beat Minnesota. Colorado 7, San Diego 3 ning to lead host Los Angeles past Adams homered and drove in Mariners 3, Rangers 1: Tyler Rockies 7, Padres 3: Germán San Francisco 3, N.Y. Mets 2 Arizona 3, Philadelphia 2 Pittsburgh. three in his first game against his Anderson allowed one run on Márquez pitched into the seventh L.A. Dodgers 4, Pittsburgh 3 The Dodgers extended their former team, Erick Fedde won for three hits in six innings for his first inning and helped himself with Wednesday’s games Cleveland at Minnesota franchise­record winning streak the first time in more than two win with Seattle in a win over host two hits and two RBIs as host Col­ Boston at N.Y. Yankees to 15 games against the Pirates. months and host Washington Texas. orado overcame three home runs Baltimore at Tampa Bay L.A. Angels at Detroit Los Angeles has won five in a row snapped a season­high, seven­ Royals 3, Astros 1: Daniel by San Diego. Seattle at Texas Houston at Kansas City Oakland at Chicago White Sox Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati San Diego at Colorado N.Y. Mets at San Francisco Back: Boston suddenly out of postseason position Toronto at Washington Atlanta at Miami Milwaukee at St. Louis Philadelphia at Arizona FROM PAGE 24 “A lot of adrenaline tonight,” he said via The 2020 big league home run leader seem­ Pittsburgh at L.A. Dodgers games over the weekend. Now, Boston is sud­ translator. ingly lost his job at first base when the Yankees Thursday’s games Baltimore (López 3-13) at Tampa Bay denly out of postseason position after leading The 23­year­old Gil — pronounced like acquired Anthony Rizzo from the Cubs on July (McClanahan 7-4) L.A. Angels (Sandoval 3-6) at Detroit the division for much of the season. “heel” — cruised into the fifth before allowing 29, but he’s taken advantage of steady playing (Manning 3-5) “It’s not deflating,” Cora said. “I mean, it’s two singles and a walk. Wandy Peralta (4­2) re­ time with Rizzo on the COVID­19 injured list. Seattle (Flexen 10-5) at Texas (Howard 0-3) two games, we lost, whatever.” lieved and retired Rafael Devers on an inning­ Rizzo is expected back in the next couple of Houston (Garcia 9-6) at Kansas City (Mi- nor 8-11) Gil allowed three hits and four walks and ending fielder’s choice, preserving the 2­0 days. Oakland (Kaprielian 6-4) at Chicago 2 struck out four over 4 ⁄3 innings. He has yet to lead. “I was Top 10 MVP (voting) last year and I’ve White Sox (Cease 9-6) Minnesota (Maeda 6-4) at N.Y. Yankees 2 allow a run in 15⁄3 big league innings, the long­ Boston had runners at first and third in the been a great player for this organization for last (Taillon 7-4) Philadelphia (Wheeler 10-7) at Arizona est stretch to start a career by a Yankees pitch­ sixth with two outs when pinch­hitter Bobby three years,” Voit said. “I’m not going down. I (Bumgarner 6-7) er since at least 1961, according to Elias. The Dalbec ripped a comebacker that appeared to want to play. Obviously, I know it’s going to be Miami (Thompson 2-5) at Cincinnati (Castillo 6-12) 1 previous best was Joba Chamberlain at 15⁄3 in­ hit Peralta in the shoulder. Peralta scrambled tougher with Rizzo, but I deserve to play just as Milwaukee (Woodruff 7-6) at St. Louis (TBD) nings in 2007. for the ball near the third­base line and fired to much as he does.” N.Y. Mets (Walker 7-7) at L.A. Dodgers “That’s a big game out there,” Boone said. first just in time to retire Dalbec. Asked about divvying up their playing time, (Buehler 12-2) “Red Sox­Yankees in August, playing for a lot, Chad Green closed out the ninth for his fifth Boone said, “We’re day by day, man.” Calendar and I thought he was unflappable.” save and second in two days. Stanton led off the fourth with his 19th home Aug. 22 — Los Angeles Angels vs. Cleve- land at Williamsport, Pa. Gil is the only major league pitcher since at Voit poked a 98 mph fastball from Nathan run. Dec. 1 — Collective bargaining agree- ment expires, 11:59 p.m. EST. least 1901 with no runs allowed and 15 or more Eovaldi (10­8) over the wall in right for a solo Eovaldi worked five innings and was Dec. 6-9 — Winter meetings, Lake Buena strikeouts through his first three games, ac­ homer in the second. It was Voit’s sixth homer charged with two runs, seven hits and a walk Vista, Fla. Dec. 8 — Winter meeting draft, Lake Bue- cording to YES Network. of the season and second in three days. with six strikeouts. na Vista, Fla. Thursday, August 19, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 23 NFL Giants’ Mara: Everyone is on the hot seat Team hasn’t had a winning season since it went 11-5 in 2016

BY TOM CANAVAN Associated Press EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Giants owner John Ma- PHOTOS BY NAM HUH/AP ra is sick of losing and expects it to Above: Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton looks to pass during practice in Lake Forest, Ill. Below: change. Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields throws out a ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Giving his annual preseason New York Yankees and the White Sox in Chicago on Sunday. state of the team talk on Tuesday, Mara said the team made pro- gress in Joe Judge’s first season and it looks better — at least on pa- Fields’ Day? Dalton deals per — heading into 2021. Now it COREY SIPKIN/AP needs to prove it by winning. New York Giants president and The Giants have not had a win- CEO John Mara looks on at the ning season since 2016, when they team’s training camp in East with hype of Bears rookie Rutherford, N.J. went 11-5. It’s the only time they made the postseason since win- BY GENE CHAMBERLAIN ning the Super Bowl in February right guy at the helm,” Mara said. Associated Press 2012. Over the past four seasons Mara spoke on a number of oth- LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Quarterback Andy Dalton has they have won 18 games, including er topics, including possible up- the support of Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy even if a 6-10 mark last season. coming negotiations with quarter- it’s apparent the allegiance of fans at Soldier Field rests “We’re all on the hot seat, with back Daniel Jones and running elsewhere. our fans in particular,” Mara said back Saquon Barkley, who is re- The Bears have a unique quarterback situation with when asked if general manager turning after missing most of last popular rookie Justin Fields not expected to win the Dave Gettleman was facing a season with an ACL injury. starting spot away from Dalton for opening day despite must-win season after winning 15 Jones will be entering his third eye-opening play in the first preseason game, a 20-13 games in his three seasons. season and many people are hop- win over the Miami Dolphins on Saturday. “We’ve given them too many los- ing he starts playing like a quar- At least judging from fan reaction against Miami, it ing seasons. It’s time for us to start terback capable of leading a team could be Dalton fighting an uphill battle even though he winning.” to a title. owns the job. Gettleman and Mara see a bet- While the No. 6 pick in the 2019 “That’s not easy being on that sideline for that game ter team in training camp, but the draft has been inconsistent, he has and hearing when Justin runs out, all the cheers,” Nagy end product needs to be there. more skill players on offense to said. “I mean, let’s just face it, if that was any of us, that’s Gettleman said he believes New help him, including big free agent not easy.” everything we’re asking him to do. And I think that’s the York is a legitimate playoff con- signee Kenny Golladay at wide re- It’s not as if Dalton is being booed — although No. 3 only thing that we can worry about right now is just, tender. ceiver. quarterback Nick Foles was when he replaced Fields. again, coming out here and practice hard, man, do ev- Somewhat echoing his state- Mara said the coaches love Booing this week likely will be reserved for former erything you can. ments of a year ago, Mara said he Jones’ work ethic and leadership, Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky when he returns “We know it’s not easy. But if you just worry about be- wants to walk off the field after the He just wants to see that translate Saturday to play for Buffalo in a preseason game at Sol- ing the best Bears quarterback you can be, help every- last game having a positive feeling to more wins. dier Field. body else out, you help us out, and in the end it’s a win for about the team. He added one cor- Barkley simply needs to get Dalton merely shrugs off the Fields mania and main- everybody.” ollary. He wants to walk off the back on the field and play like his tains his focus on the Sept. 12 opener against the Los An- Bears teammates are trying to be cautious with field at that last game feeling this first two seasons, when he gained geles Rams, all while also helping Fields to learn the throwing too much credit Fields’ way. is a team that is capable of winning at least 1,000 yards rushing. ways of the NFL. “Obviously from the time he stepped on the field, the afifth Super Bowl in franchise his- “Our medical people feel very Dalton knows Fields is the future, but is trying to crowd went crazy,” Bears safety Tashaun Gipson said. tory. good about where he’s at right make it a more distant future. Fields’ 10-for-14 effort for “That atmosphere, you could imagine it being packed “I’m not issuing a playoff man- now,” Mara said of Barkley. “I like 142 yards against Miami was solid, but Dalton might be out (in the regular season).” date,” Mara said. “I don’t think what I’ve seen from him out on the most impressed with Fields’ speed. However, Gipson balanced out his praise. those ever do you any good. I don’t field and hopefully that’ll be an “I think when he first got here, I asked him, ‘What is it “Andy Dalton doesn’t get enough credit I think,” Gip- think I need to say or do anything easy decision for us as well.” like to run 4.4?’ ” Dalton said of Fields’ 40-yard time. son said. “Andy Dalton has had a super fine camp, man, to motivate the people in this Gettleman and Mara agreed the “He’s special. and obviously I’m seeing it up close, and it’s a good prob- building any more than they’re al- offensive line has the talent to be “If he’s got that room in front of him, that’s a part of his lem to have when you have two quarterbacks that ready motivated. They all want to good but only time will tell. game that he can definitely use. With his speed that he’s you’re super comfortable with going and playing in a win.” The Giants open the season on got, definitely a thing that he can use in his game.” game on Sundays, man.” The 66-year-old chief executive Sept. 12 at home against the Den- With the Bears’ offensive line an issue — neither The type of praise that Fields has received can turn a also said things will have to be ree- ver Broncos. starting tackle has practiced and guard James Daniels young head in the NFL. valuated if the team takes a step While COVID-19 numbers are is sidelined with a groin injury — it might require a Teammate Khalil Mack knows a good deal about fan back in this 17-game season. on the rise in New Jersey, Mara quarterback who can run out of a collapsing pocket. adoration himself and thinks Fields can cope. Mara continues to show unwa- said he still expects fans will be al- Nagy is resisting this temptation and will stick by his “He can handle it,” Mack said. “You can kind of tell it vering belief in Judge, noting the lowed to fill the stadium. promise to Dalton about the opener, even though Fields doesn’t get to him, if that makes sense, because I’ve 39-year-old coach exudes confi- Mara said well over 90% of the gets an occasional snap at practice with first-team play- been around him and heard a few calls for him. dence, the players respond to him players are vaccinated along with ers. Saturday’s game didn’t change this approach. “You can kind of tell that he’s a humble guy, and won’t and he sees the big picture. everyone working for the organi- “He’s a true pro,” Nagy said of Dalton. “He’s doing really let none of that kind of get to his head.” “I’m convinced that we have the zation. PAGE 24 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, August 19, 2021 Homecoming SPORTS Walker back in Big Apple after signing with Knicks ›› NBA, Page 20

MLB Yanks back in the thick of it

The Yankees’ Rougned Odor gestures to teammates after a double as the Boston Red Sox’s Xander Bogaerts gets up during the second game of a doubleheader Tuesday in New York.

PHOTOS BY FRANK FRANKLIN II/AP New York sweeps doubleheader, takes wild-card lead from Boston

BY JAKE SEINER Associated Press Inside: NEW YORK — It took the New Hendricks earns 14th victory, Page 22 York Yankees just over six weeks to erase a 10½-game gap between In the opener, Jonathan Loaisi- dent group, and I think they know them and the Boston Red Sox. ga stranded the bases loaded in what they’re capable of,” Yankees With roughly six more weeks Boston’s final at-bat for a gutsy manager Aaron Boone said. left in the regular season, the long- two-inning save after the Yankees New York is in a playoff position time rivals are practically in a capitalized on a wild outing by for the first time since May 30. dead heat — although it sure feels Red Sox relievers for a 5-3 victory. “That’s a different team than like the Yankees are getting a run- New York has won five straight early in the season,” Red Sox man- ning start going into the home and 12 of 15 to narrowly overtake ager Alex Cora said. “They’re stretch. Boston for second in the AL East more agile, more versatile, more Luis Gil posted his third straight — the Yankees are 68-52 and the athletic and one thing they’ve scoreless start to begin his career, Red Sox 69-53, a difference of .001 done throughout the season is they Luke Voit and Giancarlo Stanton percentage points. New York was can pitch.” homered, and New York beat Bos- 10½ games behind first-place Bos- Boston had seemingly snapped ton 2-0 Tuesday night to sweep a ton on July 5 but has gone 26-11 out of a 3-11 slump when it swept doubleheader and move percent- since. last-place Baltimore for three The Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton runs to first base after hitting an RBI age points ahead of the Red Sox “It’s going to be a tough road single during the first game. Stanton homered in the second game. for an AL wild-card spot. ahead still, but the group is a confi- SEE BACK ON PAGE 22

Big 12: Virus outbreak may result in forfeits ›› Page 21