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Texas National Guard unveils military’s 1st 3D-printed barracks ›› Page 3

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Volume 80 Edition 88 ©SS 2021 WEDNESDAY,AUGUST 18, 2021 50¢/Free to Deployed Areas Taliban claim to seek calm after blitz Air Force Insurgents say C-17 rescues they will respect more than women’s rights Associated Press KABUL, Afghanistan — The 600 Afghans Taliban vowed Tuesday to respect women’s rights, forgive those who resisted them and ensure a secure BY CHAD GARLAND Afghanistan as part of a publicity Stars and Stripes blitz aimed at convincing world An Air Force cargo jet safely powers and a fearful population airlifted over 600 Afghans from that they have changed. Kabul as the United States scram- Following a lightning offensive bles to evacuate thousands follow- across Afghanistan that saw many ing the Taliban’s takeover. cities fall to the insurgents without A crowded C-17 Globemaster a fight, the Taliban have sought to III whisked away the evacuees portray them- from Hamid Karzai International selves as more Airport late Sunday, according to moderate than the caption on a photo released by when they im- Air Mobility Command on Tues- posed a brutal day. rule in the late “This speaks to the humanity of 1990s. But many our troops in this mission,” Maj. Afghans remain Gen. Hank Taylor, director of cur- skeptical — and Mujahid rent operations on the Joint Staff, thousands raced told reporters Tuesday at the Pen- to the airport on Monday, desper- tagon. ate to flee the country. The photo and the details of the Older generations remember flight were first reported Monday the Taliban’s ultraconservative Is- by Defense One, citing unidenti- lamic views, which included se- fied defense officials. vere restrictions on women as The U.S. began evacuating gov- well as public stonings and ampu- ernment personnel, American ci- tations before they were ousted by tizens and vulnerable Afghans the U.S.-led invasion following the over the weekend. The 600-plus Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. from Sunday might be among the As others have in recent days, most people ever flown on the 174- spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid foot-long aircraft, Defense One re- addressed these concerns head on ported. in his first news conference Tues- Flight tracking software day. Mujahid, who had been a shad- SEE RESCUE ON PAGE 8 owy figure for years, promised the Taliban would honor women’s RELATED rights, but within the norms of Is- lamic law, though he gave few de- Pentagon increases tails. He said the group wanted private media to “remain inde- estimates for pendent,” but stressed journalists U.S. Air Force “should not work against national Afghan evacuations A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III safely transported approximately 640 Afghan citizens from Hamid Page 9 Karzai International Airport in Kabul on Sunday. SEE TALIBAN ON PAGE 8 PAGE 2 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, August 18, 2021 BUSINESS/WEATHER Spirit Air says canceled flights cost $50M EXCHANGE RATES Military rates South Korea (Won) 1,177.86 Associated Press flights — it called the moves that recovering from the crisis Switzerland (Franc) 0.9119 Euro costs (Aug. 18) $1.15 Thailand (Baht) 33.28 Spirit Airlines said Monday “tactical schedule reductions” caused expenses to climb. Dollar buys (Aug. 18) 0.8283 Turkey (NewLira) 8.4363 British pound (Aug. 18) $1.34 the cancellation of more than — for the rest of the quarter, The airline said it paid to put Japanese yen (Aug. 18) 107.00 (Military exchange rates are those available 2,800 flights over an 11-day which ends Sept. 30. some stranded passengers on South Korean won (Aug. 18) 1,144.00 to customers at military banking facilities in the Commercial rates country of issuance for Japan, South Korea, Ger­ stretch this summer cost the With all the cancellations, and flights operated by other air- many, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Bahrain (Dinar) 0.3770 For nonlocal currency exchange rates (i.e., pur­ budget airline about $50 million now fewer flights for the next six lines, and covered their hotel Britain (Pound) 1.3756 chasing British pounds in Germany), check with Canada (Dollar) 1.2613 your local military banking facility. Commercial in lost revenue and caused weeks, Spirit estimated that its stays. It also incurred higher la- China (Yuan) 6.4852 rates are interbank rates provided for reference Denmark (Krone) 6.3353 spending to soar. third-quarter revenue will bor costs, such as overtime. Egypt (Pound) 15.6901 when buying currency. All figures are foreign The airline said the service range between $885 million and Spirit said it canceled 2,826 Euro 0.8519 currencies to one dollar, except for the British Hong Kong (Dollar) 7.7974 pound, which is represented in dollars­to­ meltdown that started in late Ju- $955 million, or 4% to 11% below flights from July 30 through Hungary (Forint) 299.40 pound, and the euro, which is dollars­to­euro.) Israel (Shekel) 3.2301 ly and a rise in COVID-19 cases the same quarter in pre-pan- Aug. 9 as it dealt with “overlap- Japan (Yen) 109.43 INTEREST RATES are causing more last-minute demic 2019. ping challenges” including bad Kuwait (Dinar) 0.3008 Norway (Krone) 8.8596 Prime rate 3.25 cancellations and softer book- Spirit’s cancellation numbers weather, airport staffing short- Philippines (Peso) 50.46 Interest Rates Discount rate 0.75 Poland (Zloty) 3.89 Federal funds market rate 0.09 ings. have returned to more normal ages, and crews being stranded Saudi Arabia (Riyal) 3.7505 3­month bill 0.06 Spirit said that it will reduce levels. However, the airline said far from their assigned flights. Singapore (Dollar) 1.3612 30­year bond 1.92 WEATHER OUTLOOK WEDNESDAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST WEDNESDAY IN EUROPE THURSDAY IN THE PACIFIC

Misawa 75/70

Kabul Seoul 82/66 Baghdad 104/74 Drawsko Osan Tokyo Kandahar Mildenhall/ 89/72 86/70 Pomorskie Busan Lakenheath 62/55 70/57 79/74 Iwakuni Kuwait City 81/76 Bahrain Zagan Sasebo Guam 105/85 95/90 Brussels Ramstein 65/53 64/59 67/55 82/75 84/81 Riyadh Lajes, Stuttgart 107/80 Doha Azores Pápa 73/70 66/56 103/86 Aviano/ 70/58 Vicenza 94/61

Naples 86/75 Okinawa Morón 82/79 94/70 Sigonella Rota 95/73 The weather is provided by the Djibouti 80/68 Souda Bay American Forces Network Weather Center, 103/85 83/76 2nd Weather Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. TODAY IN STRIPES American Roundup ...... 11 Classified ...... 13 Comics ...... 16 Crossword ...... 16 Faces ...... 18 Opinion ...... 14 Sports ...... 19-24 Wednesday, August 18, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 3 MILITARY Military’s first 3D-printed barracks unveiled BY ROSE L. THAYER topped the structure with a roof in Stars and Stripes May, and officials claimed it is the CAMP SWIFT, Texas — Texas largest 3D-printed structure in National Guard members will be North America. the first in the military to sleep in “Giving our soldiers a safe and barracks constructed through 3D secure place to lay their heads at printing at a training base near night is part of military readin- Bastrop. ess,” Cornyn said. “We’ve got The 3,800-square-foot building some old stuff, and we need to re- was constructed in less than a year place it with newer, more modern at one-third of the cost of tradition- and more efficient facilities. This al construction barracks, and it technology that ICON has demon- will soon house up 72 Guard mem- strated here will provide our mil- bers at a time, said Maj. Gen. Tra- itary with the ability to quickly cy Norris, adjutant general of the build resilient and energy effi- Texas Military Department. cient structures, while saving tax- “It’s rapid deployment, flexibil- payer money.” ity, affordability and sustainabili- The senator said he would like ty,” she said during a ribbon-cut- to see how the technology could ting ceremony Monday morning, evolve to build larger facilities and speaking alongside Sen. John Cor- potentially long-term housing on nyn, R-Texas, and Evan Loomis, military bases where the facilities the co-founder of ICON, the com- are outdated or overcrowded. pany that constructed the bar- The new barracks at Camp racks. Swift will be used for troops visit- Neither the National Guard nor ing the base for training. ICON would say what it cost to The construction materials and PHOTOS BY ROSE L. THAYER/Stars and Stripes build the barracks. However, the design of the building make it Sen. John Cornyn speaks Monday with leadership of the Texas Military Department about a new barracks Guard said Monday that a 7,200- much more capable of withstand- at Camp Swift, Texas, that was built using 3D printing construction. square-foot barracks built with ing significant weather and less traditional construction methods likely to succumb to some of the at Camp Swift, Camp Bowie, at Camp Bowie cost about $3 mil- conditions seen in traditional bar- Camp Maxey and potentially lion to design, collect bids and racks buildings, such as mold, Camp Mabry, where the Guard is build. Loomis said. headquartered in Austin, Norris A 3D printer uses a digital de- “One of the wonderful opportu- said. sign to deposit thin layers of mate- nities that you’re given when you Loomis didn’t offer an exact rial over and over until it forms a design something in the digital lifespan for the building, but he physical object. In this case, a world, and you deliver it with said concrete has been used in massive printer deposited layers technology, is you can control the construction for thousands of and layers of concrete to create dimensions, you can control the years. The company’s oldest walls on a concrete slab that were materials, you can control the in- building was constructed in 2018. later filled with insulation to form ternal walls and structures,” he The concrete used for the bar- the barracks building. said. “A lot of the issues that are racks is ICON’s proprietary blend The bay-style structure at associated with mold or water in- that is adjusted through on-board Camp Swift, complete with com- trusion or poor air quality is just computers that monitor the munal bathrooms and showers, bad design. When you can control weather conditions while printing bore the horizontal lines created the design digitally, you can deliv- the structure. The Texas National Guard on Monday unveiled a new barracks facility by the massive machine that me- er a superior structure.” at Camp Swift, Texas, constructed using 3D­printing technology. The barracks can house up to 72 soldiers and cost about one­third of the thodically printed the building be- Texas National Guard plans to [email protected] tween Dec. 10 and April 2. ICON build more 3D-printed barracks Twitter: @Rose_Lori price of a traditional barracks, officials said. Coast Guard cutter Munro arrives for patrol with 7th Fleet BY ALEX WILSON the Western Pacific previously tention by practicing search-and- U.S. Coast Guard’s unique capabil- displacement, the ship can carry a Stars and Stripes have operated alongside their Navy seizure operations near the Scarbo- ities, mission sets and longstanding crew of up to 170. YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Ja- counterparts and taken part in rough Shoal in the South China Sea, partnerships in the region allow us The cutters feature command pan — The U.S. Coast Guard cutter maritime exercises with U.S. allies, a maritime region China claims for to be exceptionally valuable in en- and control capabilities, aviation Munro arrived in the Western Pa- including the Japan Maritime Self- itself. hancing maritime governance, support facilities and a stern boat cific on Sunday to take its turn on Defense Force. The Bertholf’s relief, the cutter safety, and security in the Western launch system. patrol where three other cutters The Munro follows in the wake of Stratton, in fall 2019 took part in Pacific.” The Munro arrives just after the have come and gone since 2018. sister ships, the cutters Bertholf, training with the Navy near Pala- In 2020 the Munro patrolled the Coast Guard redesignated its base Homeported at Alameda, Calif., Stratton and Waesche. The most wan, the Philippine island closest to North Pacific Ocean for two at Guam and welcomed its third the Munro will operate in the U.S. recent was the Waesche, which be- the Spratly chain, a group of islands months in support of Operation new cutter there, the Frederick Navy’s 7th Fleet area of operations gan and concluded its patrol in claimed by China, Taiwan, Viet- North Pacific Guard, a joint fisher- Hatch. In July, the newly dubbed over the next several months, ac- 2020. nam, the Philippines and Malaysia. ies enforcement program by Pacif- Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/ cording to a Saturday news release The Coast Guard vessels some- The Bertholf also made an April ic Rim Nations, including Japan, Sector Guam commissioned three from the 7th Fleet. It’s the most re- times turn up in maritime areas 2019 port visit to Hong Kong, the China, Russia, South Korea and the new fast-response cutters, the cent cutter to take part in an ongo- fraught with international tension. Coast Guard’s first to the Chinese United States, according to a Coast Hatch, Myrtle Hazard and Oliver ing, rotational deployment to the Vice Adm. Linda Fagan, at the time territory in 17 years. Guard news release. Henry. region. commander of the Coast Guard Pa- “The U.S. Coast Guard’s deploy- Like its predecessors on the rota- Announcing their deployment in “Forward-deployed naval forces cific Area, in June 2019 described ment of resources to the region di- tional deployment, the Munro is a October 2019, Coast Guard com- routinely and seamlessly integrate the cutters’ presence as a “force rectly supports U.S. Foreign Policy Legend-class cutter, the largest mandant Adm. Karl Schultz de- as one maritime force with a proud multiplier” for the Defense De- and National Security objectives in vessels in the Coast Guard fleet. Al- scribed their placement as a re- heritage of serving and fighting to- partment. the region as outlined in the Inter- so known as national security cut- sponse to “coercive and antagonis- gether,” said Vice Adm. Karl Tho- The cutter Bertholf made history im National Security Strategy,” ters, they feature a top speed of 28 tic behavior from China.” mas, 7th Fleet commander, in the when it became the first U.S. cutter said Lt. Mark Langford, spokes- knots and can steam up to 12,000 th news release. to steam through the Taiwan Strait man for 7 Fleet, in an email to nautical miles over 90 days. At 418- [email protected] Coast Guard cutters deployed to in March 2019. It drew China’s at- Stars and Stripes on Monday. “The feet long and with a 4,600 long-ton Twitter: @AlexMNWilson PAGE 4 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, August 18, 2021 MILITARY Experts: Sexual assault trial touts shift in flawed system BY NANCY MONTGOMERY charge against Cooley reflects a creased but prosecutions have de- Stars and Stripes shift in perception. clined. In fiscal year 2020, 5,600 re- The unprecedented court-mar- Society has become more aware ports resulted in only 250 courts- tial of an Air Force general for sex of- of the extent of sexual assault and martial, and just 50 ended in a con- fenses is spurring debate among le- harassment and more willing to con- viction for a sex offense, he said. gal experts about the wider signifi- demn it, Hansen said. In the past, senior officers who cance of the case for the military. “The military is not immune from were accused of or committed sex- Maj. Gen. William Cooley, the for- the pressures of that reality,” he ual misconduct, including sexual as- mer head of the Air Force Research said. “This is evidence of a changed sault, were allowed to quietly retire, Laboratory, was referred for court- environment.” if the case was investigated at all. martial in April based on accusa- But Hansen also suggested a po- “It’s been a two-tiered justice sys- tions that he groped and kissed a ci- litical motive. tem for generals and admirals in WESLEY FARNSWORTH/U.S. Air Force vilian woman in 2018. “The Air Force is not willing to which they’re never held to ac- Maj. Gen. William Cooley speaks in April 2019 at the National Cooley will be tried on a charge of take another black eye from Con- count,” Christensen said. Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright­Patterson Air Force sexual assault. He denies the allega- gress by appearing to sweep this un- One of Hansen’s clients recently Base, Ohio. Cooley was referred for court­martial in April. tion. der the rug,” he said. returned from an Iraq deployment It is the first time in the service’s The death last year of Army Spc. with an alcohol problem and sexual- of the Air Force Materiel Command, tion decisions or lose viability. “It’s 74-year history that it has prosecut- Vanessa Guillen, who was sexually ly assaulted several women, includ- also won’t forestall the 200 or so only a question of how much they’ve ed a general officer for such alleged harassed by a supervisor before be- ing a major, at a party. commanders like Bunch from soon lost. There is going to be major re- misconduct. ing killed by a fellow soldier on base “He just fell off the rails, basically losing that convening power, ex- form.” The proceedings could stem from at Fort Hood, Texas, was also a crys- groping everyone around,” Hansen perts said. VanLandingham said Cooley’s politics, a societal evolution, pro- talizing factor, experts said. said. Officials, he said, “weren’t “That ship has sailed,” VanLan- court-martial signifies that the era gress in military justice or all three, Afollow-up report on the case de- even considering a court-martial.” dingham said. of impunity is over and could deter analysts said. scribed persistent deficiencies at The half-dozen general officers The Military Justice Improve- senior officers from abusing their “It’s a recognition that sexual as- the base in pre-emption of and re- Hansen represented over two years ment and Increasing Prevention position. sault is a serious crime, and that in sponse to sexual assault and harass- in inspector general investigations Act would shift the decision to prose- Hansen doubts, however, that and of itself is an evolution,” said Ra- ment. had engaged mostly in what were cute rape, sexual assault and other much will change as a result of the chel E. VanLandingham, a former “The Fort Hood report was so deemed consensual sexual affairs felonies from the chain of command court-martial. Air Force judge advocate and pro- damning,” said Don Christensen, a with civilians, subordinates or sub- to military prosecutors. “It’s not like these folks don’t fessor at the Southwestern Law retired chief Air Force prosecutor ordinates’ spouses. It has garnered support from 66 know that this conduct is a crime School. “Twenty years ago, those who is now president of Protect Our “The dynamic I often saw, there’s Senate co-sponsors, as well as Presi- and at a minimum career-ending, so kinds of things were just dismissed Defenders, a nonprofit organization a hubris that goes along with this,” dent Joe Biden and Defense Secre- it’s hard to see how a court-martial out of hand.” working to reduce rape and sexual Hansen said. “It turns out you are tary Lloyd Austin, although there is would provide additional deter- Victor Hansen, a former Army assault in the military and support the man, and in some it creates a some dispute whether to include rence,” he said. “This court-martial lawyer who represented dozens of survivors. sense of entitlement: ‘I’ve sacri- other nonsexual felonies. is for public and congressional con- senior officers facing noncriminal Christensen said that in recent ficed. I deserve this.’ ” “They’ve lost,” Christensen said sumption.” investigations and now teaches at years, reports of sexual abuse Cooley’s court-martial, convened of commanders, who for decades in- New England Law, agreed that the throughout the military have in- by Gen. Arnold W. Bunch Jr., head sisted that they must make prosecu- [email protected]

Over 4K new virus cases reported in Tokyo; 39 for US military in Japan

BY JOSEPH DITZLER Three of the prefectures under a 684 people tested positive for the AND MARI HIGA public health emergency are loca- coronavirus Tuesday, and one per- Stars and Stripes tions for U.S. military headquar- son died. TOKYO — Japan’s capital city ters. The Army and Navy in Japan Marine Corps Air Station Iwaku- reported another 4,377 people in- are headquartered in Kanagawa, ni, 50 miles south of Hiroshima, on fected with the coronavirus Tues- the 5th Air Force and U.S. Forces Tuesday subtracted one case it said day, the first day of an expanded Japan operate from western Tokyo was mistakenly reported as positive state of emergency that lasts until and the III Marine Expeditionary Monday, according to a news re- Sept. 12, according to public broad- Force is based on Okinawa. lease from the air station. That indi- caster NHK. Yokosuka Naval Base, homeport vidual was removed from isolation, The number of new cases is 1,765 of the 7th Fleet and headquarters of according to the release. higher than a week prior, according Naval Forces Japan, on Tuesday re- Japan reported its highest one- to data from the Tokyo Metropoli- ported that 24 people have tested day new caseload Friday with tan Government. The number of se- positive for COVID-19 since Friday. 20,400 newly infected individuals, riously ill patients also increased Seven immunized individuals af- and another 14,922 on Monday, ac- for an eighth day to 276, NHK re- filiated with the Navy developed cording to the Johns Hopkins Coro- ported. symptoms of COVID-19, according navirus Resource Center. More Meanwhile, U.S. military bases AKIFUMI ISHIKAWA/Stars and Stripes to a news release from the base. An- than 37%, or 47.2 million people, of in Japan on Tuesday reported an- Pedestrians in central Tokyo wear masks as protection against the other 15 unimmunized people also the nation’s total population are ful- other 39 people infected by the cor- coronavirus on Friday. fell ill, along with two unimmunized ly vaccinated. onavirus. base employees, the release states. The nation is enduring its most The national government ex- er seven more prefectures consid- surge on the island, on Tuesday The naval base has 62 active cases. extreme phase of the pandemic, in tended the emergency in four pre- ered coronavirus hot spots: Ibaraki, called on Okinawans to celebrate a The Marine Corps on Tuesday terms of new cases of COVID-19 fectures that make up the greater Tochigi, Gunma, Shizuoka, Kyoto, virtual Obon holiday this weekend, reported another 15 new cases asso- discovered each day and the stress metro area: Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chi- Hyogo and Fukuoka, according to rather than with family gatherings. ciated with its force on Okinawa, ac- on its health care system. The fifth ba and Saitama, and also in Osaka NHK. How they spend the holiday will cording to a Facebook post by Ma- wave of the coronavirus coincided and Okinawa, The Associated Press Under the emergency, residents determine how the coronavirus rine Corps Installations Pacific. with the 17-day Tokyo Olympics, reported Monday. Emergency sta- are encouraged to travel less and spreads in the coming days, Tamaki The Marines have reported 69 new which concluded Aug. 8, and may tus was originally set to expire in work from home, and bars and res- said at a news conference. “Please cases of COVID-19, the coronavirus see the Paralympics begin Tues- those areas on Aug. 31. taurants are urged to close between utilize phone and internet and re- respiratory disease, on Okinawa so day. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga 8p.m. and 5 a.m. and curtail alcohol frain from visiting parents and rela- far this month. was expected to announce late sales, among other measures. tives,” he said. He also called on The Okinawa prefectural De- [email protected] Twitter: @JosephDitzler Tuesday that starting Friday until Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki, tourists to “refrain from visiting partment of Public Health and [email protected] Sept. 12, the emergency would cov- dealing with a record-breaking Okinawa.” Medical Care reported that another Twitter: @marihiga21 Wednesday, August 18, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 5 AFGHANISTAN Biden defends decision to withdraw US troops

BY COREY DICKSTEIN change for years of helping Amer- Stars and Stripes icans in Afghanistan. President Joe Biden said Mon- “This mishandled and haphaz- day that the complete collapse of ard withdrawal executed by this the Afghan government and mili- president caused so much of the tary in recent days proved his de- collapse and panic we are witness- cision to withdraw American ing now and is an international forces from Afghanistan is cor- embarrassment and a black-eye rect. for our country that will put more Biden said during his first pub- Americans and allies in harm’s lic remarks since the Taliban’s way while emboldening our ad- sudden return to power that he versaries,” Ernst, an Army veter- could not risk more American an, said in a statement after Bi- lives in a civil war in Afghanistan den’s speech. “The president if Afghan troops trained by the failed to give any specifics on how United States for the last two dec- he plans to get our Afghan friends ades would not fight for them- to safety or to expedite the Special selves. The U.S. military could Immigrant Visa program — some- provide Afghan troops weapons thing I’ve long pushed for on a bi- and tactical knowledge, the presi- partisan basis.” dent said, but it could not provide Biden said Ghani’s government them “the will to fight for their fu- was responsible for the slow ef- ture.” forts to evacuate those Afghans. “Here’s what I believe to my He said Ghani’s government had core: It is wrong to order Ameri- urged against a mass exodus of can troops to step up when Af- U.S.-allied Afghans for fears of ghanistan’s own armed forces sparking a “crisis of confidence” would not,” Biden said during his in the Kabul government. speech to the nation from the EVAN VUCCI/AP Biden pledged Monday to evac- White House’s East Room. President Joe Biden speaks about Afghanistan from the East Room of the White House on Monday. uate the Americans remaining in The president admitted his ad- Afghanistan and thousands of the ministration had not expected the the country Sunday before the Ta- in Afghanistan, lurching into the country. Chaotic scenes, including Afghans and their families who Taliban would grasp power so liban took Kabul — and on former third decade of conflict. I stand Afghans clinging desperately to have helped the U.S. during the quickly. By Monday, the Islamist President Donald Trump’s ad- squarely behind my decision.” moving U.S. Air Force jets trying past 20 years. group was in control of virtually ministration. Trump forged an ac- Biden had long opposed the war to take off, have been posted to so- Pentagon officials said Monday the entire country for the first cord last year with Taliban lead- in Afghanistan, especially since cial media. At least seven people that they could soon remove some time since it was toppled by Amer- ers that promised U.S. troops the Navy’s SEAL Team 6 in 2011 have died amid the tumult at the 5,000 people from Kabul each day, ican forces just months after the would fully withdraw by May 2021 killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin airport, U.S. defense officials said. but they did not provide an esti- Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. in exchange for assurances, in- Laden in the Pakistan hideout Biden has approved flowing in mate of how many Afghans they The group at the beginning of last cluding that the Taliban would cut where he had holed up since flee- some 6,000 U.S. Marines and sol- would evacuate. week controlled roughly half the ties with terrorist groups such as ing Afghanistan years earlier. As diers during the coming days to Biden said he knew his decision country, but rapidly took control al-Qaida. vice president, Biden even op- help evacuate thousands of Amer- to continue the U.S. drawdown of Afghanistan’s key cities in a Biden said the agreement and posed former President Barack icans and Afghans from the Kabul from Afghanistan, which he or- blitz over the weekend that culmi- Trump’s order last fall to draw- Obama’s 2009 surge of troops in airport, Pentagon officials said. dered completed by the end of Au- nated in the near violence-free down American troops in Afghan- Afghanistan. The airport was shut down for gust, would be criticized more in capture of Kabul on Sunday amid istan from about 5,500 to some Ending the 20-year war was much of Monday as Afghan civil- the coming days. He said he would the collapse of the U.S.-backed 2,500 ahead of Biden’s inaugura- among Biden’s top campaign ians flooded the runway, but Pen- not change his mind. government. tion left him with few options. pledges. Unlike his two immediate tagon officials said it had reo- “I would rather take all that crit- “I’m left to ask again of those “The choice I had to make, as predecessors, who made similar pened by late Monday and flights icism then to pass this decision on who argue that we should stay, your president, was either to fol- promises, Biden will have fulfilled had resumed. to another president of the United ‘How many more generations of low through on that agreement or that promise when the last U.S. Biden’s handling of the evacua- States — yet another one, a fifth American daughters and sons be prepared to go back to fighting troops leave Kabul’s Hamid Kar- tions of U.S.-allied Afghans and one,” Biden said. “Because it’s the would you have me send to fight the Taliban in the middle of the zai International Airport by Aug. their families is among the most right decision for our people, the Afghanistan’s civil war, when Af- spring fighting season,” Biden 31. criticized aspects of the ending of right one for our brave service ghan troops will not? How many said. “There was only the cold re- They will leave with the Taliban the war. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, members who risk their life serv- more lives, American lives, is it ality of either following through on in control of the country and many was among a chorus of Republi- ing our nation and it’s the right one worth?’ ” he asked. the agreement to withdraw our Afghans fearful of their rule. cans on Monday blasting Biden for America.” Biden placed blame on poor Af- forces or escalating the conflict Thousands of Afghans rushed to for not doing more for Afghans ghan leadership — including on its and sending thousands more the Kabul airport in recent days in seeking special immigrant visas to [email protected] President Ashraf Ghani, who fled American troops back into combat a desperate attempt to escape the be evacuated to the U.S. in ex- Twitter: @CDicksteinDC GOP hits Biden despite internal divides over Afghan War Assocaited Press nents of a with- sion for a party that has been di- paigns, said of Republicans poten- Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., WASHINGTON — When Presi- drawal argued vided between an old guard that tially staying on the political offen- who served in the Air Force in Af- dent Joe Biden announced he Monday that the long pushed for U.S. military ag- sive. “Not in a total surrender and ghanistan, faulted “Donald would stick to his predecessor’s president should gression and supporters of former not letting the Taliban just waltz in Trump’s terrible deal he negotiat- plan to withdraw U.S. troops from have seen the di- President Donald Trump who pri- and take over everything, hurting ed” but also Biden’s “terrible exe- Afghanistan, Republican reaction saster coming. oritized “America First.” As Re- women and taking the clock back cution of a deal he never should was mixed and largely muted. Even those who publicans moved Monday to turn to the 1400s.” have followed through on.” Foreign policy had become so con- cheered his deci- the chaos into a political opportu- The Taliban’s entering Kabul “At this moment, people are su- McConnell tentious that the party’s own lead- sion to pull out nity, it was unclear how long doesn’t change the fact that Re- per excited about, or super fo- ers had no single position on the troops turned to slamming him for they’d be able to paper over that publicans have essentially at- cused on, how can they blame the end of the nation’s longest war. doing it badly. split. tempted a U-turn on foreign poli- other side. How can they win this But the fall of the Afghan gov- “An embarrassing spectacle, a “If they’re smart and say, ‘Look, cy — the kind of about-face that political back and forth,” Kinzin- ernment and the Taliban’s swift diplomatic humiliation and a na- Iwanted us out of Afghanistan, but likely muddles any case they can ger said. “I think Donald Trump return to power have, at least for tional security catastrophe,” said not this way,’ ” Glen Bolger, a vet- make for blaming Biden without bears huge blame and Joe Biden now, reunited Republicans in crit- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. eran GOP pollster who’s worked drawing some political blowback will ultimately bear the ultimate icism of Biden. Longtime oppo- It was a rare moment of cohe- on numerous congressional cam- themselves. blame.” PAGE 6 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, August 18, 2021 AFGHANISTAN

Stars and Stripes reporter tells of final days before Goodbye to Kabul being evacuated, worries for an Afghan colleague BY J.P. LAWRENCE of Kabul’s airport, a place separat- Stars and Stripes ed from the civilian passengers. Three days before Kabul fell, I We slept on the floor of a waiting walked with my Afghan co-work- room. When we got up, we saw er through the city’s zoo, where we plumes of black smoke where peo- peered through cages to see mon- ple were burning flags and sensi- keys, flamingos and a single white tive documents — anything that lion. Families strolled through the could be used as propaganda if exhibits as if all were normal, and captured. Soldiers and contrac- children ate ice cream under a tors did the same when the U.S. clear blue sky. closed down Bagram Airfield, but But my colleague’s face was there, they had more time. Here, grim with worry. the burning seemed panicked. He told me that day he wanted A U.S. Embassy staffer saw I me and another American Stars had taken notes about the burning and Stripes reporter to leave as in my notebook. He opened up his soon as possible. backpack. He showed me a flag he He said he had never felt so had saved from the flames. He felt scared before. This is someone it was meaningful to keep the flag, who has reported on the war in his even if he knew it was a cheap and homeland since 2004, and who has small one. lost friends in suicide bombings. Other staffers from the embas- We had been planning to leave sy waited for the flight out as well, around early September, so we with nothing to do but watch the could cover the formal end of J.P LAWRENCE/Stars and Stripes parade of military transports tak- America’s longest war and per- People board a plane chartered by the U.S. government at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul as ing off, and scrolling on their haps photograph any sort of final they prepare to evacuate Afghanistan on Sunday. phones through all the harrowing ceremony. news. We wondered if the Taliban But in just a week, the Taliban would take the airport before we went from controlling no provin- could leave. cial capitals to half the country. We finally boarded our plane as Like many, we had assumed from the afternoon sun saturated every- U.S. estimates that the Afghan thing with orange light. I recall military could hold off the Tali- seeing a plume of black smoke ban, at least for a while. nearby and Kabul in the distance We came home from the zoo un- as I walked up the ramp into the derstanding that we needed to go. commercial jetliner contracted to That night, the Taliban took Kan- bring us away. A formation of dahar and Herat, the second- and bomb sniffing dogs with their han- third-largest cities in the country. dlers approached the plane as a I tried to book a ticket out of Kabul military transport took off behind and saw flights bought up whenev- them. Some of the dogs would sit er I refreshed the page. in the cabin, with one sitting in the We contacted the U.S. Embassy, seat in front of me. who said we could leave on one of PHILLIP WALTER WELLMAN/Stars and Stripes From time to time over the 13- their flights. Stars and Stripes reporter J.P. J.P LAWRENCE/Stars and Stripes hour flight, I would walk to the Sad farewells after living in Ka- Lawrence prepares to board a Stars and Stripes reporter Phillip Walter Wellman boards a helicopter back of the plane and talk to others bul for years peppered our final helicopter and go to the airport. at the airport. about how crazy the last few days days. Goodbyes that didn’t feel had been. good afterward. The week that After we landed, I felt like I was Kabul fell, people’s faces revealed drowning in bad news. We had left not only sadness and worry, but al- just before the chaos on the run- so hopelessness. They couldn’t ways, when desperate Afghans leave by land because the Taliban stormed the departing U.S. jets. had taken all the border crossings. Some held on to the cargo planes And leaving by air cost more mon- even as they took off, and appar- ey than most could afford. They ently fell to their deaths. were trapped. The Taliban have completely On a phone call with the woman taken over Kabul now. They ar- who taught me Dari, the local lan- rived at the Stars and Stripes of- guage, I thanked her for slowly fice on Monday, to look around. teaching me over the course of Our Afghan colleague is still in three years. I told her I felt lucky J.P LAWRENCE/Stars and Stripes PHILLIP WALTER WELLMAN/Stars and Stripes Afghanistan, and he needs help. to be able to say goodbye to my Children enjoy ice cream cones at the Kabul Zoo in A working dog that supported the U.S. mission in He’s worked with Stars and friends in their own language. In Afghanistan on Aug. 12, just days before the city Afghanistan sits on a government­chartered plane Stripes for years, helping the pa- the back of my mind, I knew that if fell to the Taliban. about to leave Kabul. per’s reporters cover America’s the Taliban ruled in the same war and protecting their lives. A harsh way they did in the 1990s, in the back seat that my American lite, professional and completely called off names for who would get few years ago, he didn’t panic she would probably be prevented co-worker wanted to give to some- stressed out. into which helicopter. We loaded even when mountain bandits fired from teaching again. one before saying goodbye. The situation was changing by into Chinooks, forming an aerial on our car as we came back from “I hope things will be OK,” I Every road on the way to the the hour. We were told that we bridge of helicopters from the em- interviews we did outside Kabul. said. But all I could offer was hope. U.S. Embassy was jammed with would fly out in the morning. In bassy to the city’s airport just a I feel lucky to have left Afghan- I felt shame, knowing there wasn’t cars, with many of their license my hotel room, I waited. I called few miles away. As we flew over istan at the right time due to his much else I could do. plates bearing the names of con- people on the phone, and I did the capital, I imagined how left be- concern for our well-being. And On Saturday, we loaded a car quered provinces. Inside the cars pushups out of nervousness. hind the city’s people must have now, I want him and others in dan- with our suitcases. In the car were you could see beds, cookware and Then the message came: You’re felt, to constantly hear the beating ger to have their rescue as well. some local clothes that one of my other items hurriedly gathered. leaving tonight, get ready. Leave rotors of the foreigners leaving as friends wanted me to give to his When we got into the embassy, your keys in the door. fast as possible. [email protected] sister in Germany, and two birds the American greeting us was po- We gathered as men in uniform We arrived at a military section Twitter: @jplawrence3 Wednesday, August 18, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 7 AFGHANISTAN Billions spent on Afghan army benefited Taliban

BY ROBERT BURNS but steadily losing the war, he ghanistan War analyst at the Cen- Associated Press said. When they learned that ter for Strategic and International WASHINGTON — Built and their American partners were go- Studies. trained at a two-decade cost of ing home, an impulse to give up The Afghan force-building ex- $83 billion, Afghan security without a fight “spread like wild- ercise was so completely depend- forces collapsed so quickly and fire.” ent on American largesse that the completely — in some cases with- The failures, however, go back Pentagon even paid the Afghan out a shot fired — that the ulti- much further and run much troops’ salaries. Too often that mate beneficiary of the American deeper. The United States tried to money, and untold amounts of investment turned out to be the develop a credible Afghan de- fuel, were siphoned off by cor- Taliban. They grabbed not only fense establishment on the fly, rupt officers and government political power but also U.S.-sup- even as it was fighting the Tali- overseers who cooked the books, plied firepower — guns, ammuni- ban, attempting to widen the po- creating “ghost soldiers” to keep tion, helicopters and more. litical foundations of the govern- the misspent dollars coming. The Taliban captured an array ment in Kabul and seeking to es- Of the approximately $145 bil- of modern military equipment tablish democracy in a country lion the U.S. government spent when they overran Afghan forces rife with corruption and crony- trying to rebuild Afghanistan, who failed to defend district cen- ism. about $83 billion went to devel- ters. Bigger gains followed, in- RAHMAT GUL/AP Year after year, U.S. military oping and sustaining its army and cluding combat aircraft, when Taliban fighters stand guard in front of Hamid Karzai International leaders downplayed the prob- police forces, according to the Of- the Taliban rolled up provincial Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Monday. lems and insisted success was fice of the Special Inspector Gen- capitals and military bases with coming. Others saw the hand- eral for Afghanistan Reconstruct- stunning speed, topped by cap- “Money can’t buy will. You dent Joe Biden announced in writing on the wall. In 2015, a pro- ion, a congressionally created turing the biggest prize, Kabul, cannot purchase leadership,” April he was withdrawing all U.S. fessor at the Army War College’s watchdog that has tracked the over the weekend. John Kirby, chief spokesman for troops, the intelligence agencies Strategic Studies Institute wrote war since 2008. The $145 billion A U.S. defense official on Mon- Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, did not foresee a Taliban final of- about the military’s failure to is in addition to $837 billion the day confirmed that the Taliban’s said Monday. fensive that would succeed so learn lessons from past wars; he U.S. spent fighting the war, which sudden accumulation of U.S.-sup- Doug Lute, a retired Army lieu- spectacularly. subtitled his book, “Why the Af- began with an invasion in Octo- plied Afghan equipment is enor- tenant general who help direct “If we wouldn’t have used hope ghan National Security Forces ber 2001. mous. The official was not autho- Afghanistan War strategy during as a course of action ... we would Will Not Hold.” The $83 billion invested in Af- rized to discuss the matter publi- the George W. Bush and Barack have realized the rapid draw- “Regarding the future of Af- ghan forces over 20 years is near- cly and so spoke on condition of Obama administrations, said that down of U.S. forces sent a signal ghanistan, in blunt terms, the ly double last year’s budget for anonymity. The reversal is an what the Afghans received in tan- to the Afghan national forces that United States has been down this the entire U.S. Marine Corps and embarrassing consequence of gible resources they lacked in the they were being abandoned,” road at the strategic level twice is slightly more than what Wash- misjudging the viability of Af- more important intangibles. said Chris Miller, who saw com- before, in Vietnam and Iraq, and ington budgeted last year for food ghan government forces — by the “The principle of war stands — bat in Afghanistan in 2001 and there is no viable rationale for stamp assistance for about 40 U.S. military as well as intelli- moral factors dominate material was acting secretary of defense at why the results will be any differ- million Americans. gence agencies — which in some factors,” he said. “Morale, disci- the end of President Donald ent in Afghanistan,” Chris Mason In his book, “The Afghanistan cases chose to surrender their ve- pline, leadership, unit cohesion Trump’s term. wrote. He added, presciently: Papers,” journalist Craig Whit- hicles and weapons rather than are more decisive than numbers Stephen Biddle, a professor of “Slow decay is inevitable, and lock wrote that U.S. trainers tried fight. of forces and equipment. As out- international and public affairs at state failure is a matter of time.” to force Western ways on Afghan The U.S. failure to produce a siders in Afghanistan, we can Columbia University and a for- Some elements of the Afghan recruits and gave scant thought sustainable Afghan army and po- provide material, but only Af- mer adviser to U.S. commanders army did fight hard, including to whether U.S. taxpayer dollars lice force, and the reasons for ghans can provide the intangible in Afghanistan, said Biden’s an- commandos whose heroic efforts were investing in a truly viable their collapse, will be studied for moral factors.” nouncement set the final collapse are yet to be fully documented. army. years by military analysts. The By contrast, Afghanistan’s Tali- in motion. But as a whole, the security “Given that the U.S. war strate- basic dimensions, however, are ban insurgents, with smaller “The problem of the U.S. with- forces created by the U.S. and its gy depended on the Afghan ar- clear and are not unlike what numbers, less sophisticated drawal is that it sent a nationwide NATO allies amounted to a my’s performance, however, the happened in Iraq. The forces weaponry and no air power, signal that the jig is up — a sud- “house of cards” whose collapse Pentagon paid surprisingly little turned out to be hollow, equipped proved a superior force. U.S. in- den, nationwide signal that every- was driven as much by failures of attention to the question of with superior arms but largely telligence agencies largely un- one read the same way,” Biddle U.S. civilian leaders as their mil- whether Afghans were willing to missing the crucial ingredient of derestimated the scope of that su- said. Before April, the Afghan itary partners, according to An- die for their government,” he combat motivation. periority, and even after Presi- government troops were slowly thony Cordesman, a longtime Af- wrote. PAGE 8 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, August 18, 2021 AFGHANISTAN Rescue: Additional passengers climbed onto half-open ramp FROM PAGE 1 about the evacuation flight. showed that it belongs to the 436th The airport was overrun Sun- Airlift Wing based at Dover Air day by fleeing Afghans, some with Force Base, Del., according to De- travel documents and others des- fense One. perately seeking asylum without The four-engine jet with a wing- any paperwork as the Taliban en- span of 169 feet, operating under tered Kabul. the call sign Reach 871, wasn’t ex- Several people were killed in pected to take so many people, a the ensuing chaos, including some defense official told the news site. who fell from a departing C-17 But many anxious Afghans who they were clinging to during take- were cleared to evacuate on later off. flights pulled themselves onto its A body was found in the wheel half-open ramp. The crew chose well of a C-17 that landed in a near- not to force them off. by country after flying out of Ka- “The crew made the decision to bul, Politico and The Washington go,” one defense official said. Post reported. UGC/AP Some 640 Afghan civilians dis- The U.S. rapidly deployed thou- Some hundreds of people run alongside a U.S. Air Force C­17 transport plane as it moves down a runway embarked when the plane landed, sands of troops to secure the air- of the international airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Monday. the official said. The AMC photo port in a matter of days, including caption confirmed that number. Marines and 82nd Airborne Divi- one military flight per hour to 22,000 refugees to sites in Virgin- uate these people. Nobody lis- The aircraft can be fitted to seat sion soldiers, Taylor said Tues- evacuate some 5,000 to 9,000 pas- ia, Texas and Wisconsin. tened to us.” over 100, but procedure allows for day. Troop numbers were expect- sengers a day. But that still leaves tens of thou- The U.S. had enough personnel the seating of larger numbers of ed to reach 4,000 by the end of the Nine C-17s brought in 1,000 sands more eligible Afghans be- and equipment in the country to people on the floor. day. troops and equipment overnight, hind, Army veteran Matt Zeller begin bringing them out months The crew apparently believed Since the killing of two armed with seven departing jets taking said Monday on MSNBC after Bi- ago, before its drawdown, he said, that there were as many as 800 on Afghans at the airport by U.S. 700 passengers back out, includ- den made televised remarks about but officials feared the “optics” of board. A recording of radio com- troops Monday, there have been ing about 165 Americans, Taylor the crisis. Zeller is co-founder of a hasty evacuation. munications spread online Sun- “no hostile interactions, no threat” said. The rest were applicants for No One Left Behind, a nonprofit “They got exactly what they day in which one official ex- and “no additional security inci- a special immigrant visa and other that helps resettle Afghans in the were most concerned of by failing pressed surprise at that estimate. dents,” he said. foreign nationals. U.S. to do what was right when we “American heroes all,” retired The airport has reopened to mil- Since late last month, the U.S. “I’ve been trying to tell our gov- could have done it,” he said. Adm. James Stavridis, former Su- itary and limited commercial has evacuated over 2,000 SIV ap- ernment for years that this was preme Allied Commander of NA- flights, he said, and the goal is to plicants, and President Joe Biden coming,” he said. “We sent them [email protected] TO, tweeted Monday morning ramp up in the next 24 hours to is preparing to bring a total of plan after plan about how to evac- Twitter: @chadgarland Taliban: Afghan citizens remain skeptical of insurgents’ promises FROM PAGE 1 ing them out. A broadcaster in Af- en” from public life. uation flights under the watch of board due to continued chaos. An- values.” ghanistan said she was hiding at a Rupert Colville, a spokesman American troops. other left later with 125 people. And he promised the insurgents relative’s house, too frightened to for the United Nations’ high com- All flights were suspended on Across Afghanistan, the Inter- would secure Afghanistan, but return home much less return to missioner for human rights, noted Monday when thousands of peo- national Committee of the Red seek no revenge against those who work following reports the insur- both the Taliban’s vows and the ple rushed the airport. In shocking Cross said thousands had been worked with the former govern- gents are also looking for journal- fears of everyday Afghans. scenes captured on video, some wounded in fighting as the Taliban ment or with foreign governments ists. She said she and other women “Such promises will need to be clung to a plane as it took off and swept across the country in recent or forces. didn’t believe the Taliban had honored, and for the time being — then fell to their deaths. At least days, ahead of the planned with- “We assure you that nobody will changed their ways. She spoke on again understandably, given past seven people died in chaos at the drawal of the last American troops go to their doors to ask why they condition of anonymity because history — these declarations have airport, U.S. officials said. at the end of the month. helped,” he said. she feared for her safety. been greeted with some skepti- By late Tuesday, the Taliban en- As U.S. President Joe Biden did, Earlier, Enamullah Samangani, Samangani addressed the con- cism,” he said in a statement. tered the civilian half of the air- NATO Secretary-General Jens amember of the Taliban’s cultural cerns of women, saying the Tali- “There have been many hard-won port, firing into the air to drive out Stoltenberg blamed the swift col- commission, made similar prom- ban were ready to “provide wom- advances in human rights over the around 500 people there, said an lapse of the country on a failure of ises, saying the Taliban would ex- en with environment to work and past two decades. The rights of all Afghan official who spoke on con- Afghan leadership. But he added tend an “amnesty” without giving study, and the presence of women Afghans must be defended.” dition of anonymity because he that the alliance must also uncov- details and encouraging women to in different (government) struc- Germany, meanwhile, suspend- wasn’t authorized to brief journal- er flaws in its effort to train the Af- join the government. tures according to Islamic law and ed development aid to Afghanis- ists. ghan military. The capital of Kabul remained in accordance with our cultural tan, estimated at $294 million for Pentagon spokesman John Kir- Talks continued Tuesday be- quiet for another day as the Tali- values.” 2021. Other funding separately by said U.S. commanders at the tween the Taliban and several Af- ban patrolled its streets and many That would be a marked depar- goes to security services and hu- airport are communicating with ghan government officials, includ- residents stayed home, fearful af- ture from the last time the Taliban manitarian aid. Sweden indicated Taliban leaders to keep the airlift ing former President Hamid Kar- ter the insurgents’ takeover saw were in power, when women were it would slow aid, but Britain com- going, adding that there have been zai and Abdullah Abdullah, who prisons emptied and armories largely confined to their homes. mitted to an increase. no hostile actions by the Taliban. once headed the country’s nego- looted. Many women have ex- In another sign of the Taliban’s British Foreign Secretary Do- Still, there were indications that tiating council. pressed dread that the two-decade efforts to portray a new image, a minic Raab said humanitarian aid the situation remained tenuous. Discussions focused on how a Western experiment to expand female television anchor on the could rise by 10%. He said the aid The U.S. Embassy in Kabul, now Taliban-dominated government their rights and remake Afghanis- private broadcaster Tolo inter- budget would be reconfigured for operating from the airport, urged would operate given the changes tan would not survive the resur- viewed a Taliban official on cam- development and humanitarian Americans to register online for in Afghanistan over the last 20 gent Taliban. era Tuesday in a studio — an inter- purposes, and that the Taliban evacuations but not come to the years, rather than just dividing up While the Taliban pledged not action that once would have been would not get any money previ- airport before being contacted. who controlled what ministries, to go after their enemies, some in unthinkable. Meanwhile, women ously earmarked for security. The German Foreign Ministry officials with knowledge of the ne- Kabul alleged the fighters have in hijabs demonstrated briefly in Meanwhile, Kabul’s interna- said a first German military trans- gotiations said. They spoke on lists of people who cooperated Kabul, holding signs demanding tional airport, the only way out for port plane landed in Kabul, but it condition of anonymity to discuss with the government and are seek- the Taliban not “eliminate wom- many, reopened to military evac- took off with only seven people on confidential details of the talks. Wednesday, August 18, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 9 AFGHANISTAN Pentagon boosts evacuation estimates

mand of security operations at the Military jets flying in, airport, Kirby said. Army Maj. Gen. Chris Donahue out of Kabul after had left Fort Bragg, N.C., en route to Kabul by Tuesday morning. He troops restore order will take responsibility for airport security, while Navy Rear Adm. BY COREY DICKSTEIN Peter Vasely, the top U.S. com- Stars and Stripes mander on the ground in Afghan- Top defense officials said Tues- istan, manages other aspects of the day that they estimate ongoing op- American efforts there. erations at Kabul’s international In addition to the 6,000 U.S. airport can increase evacuations to troops, Turkish forces and some some 5,000 and 9,000 people from 700 Afghan security forces are Afghanistan each day. helping secure the airport, Kirby “[The airport] remains secure,” said. They will report to Donahue. Army Maj. Gen. Hank Taylor, the “This is what the 82nd Airborne Joint Staff’s deputy director for re- does really well,” Kirby told re- gional operations, told reporters at porters. “The task of securing and the Pentagon. “It is currently open operating an airfield is a unique for military flight operations as task the 82nd can do.” well as limited commercial flight Taylor said the Taliban had not operations.” interfered with U.S. operations at American troops had restored SHEKIB RAHMANI / AP the Kabul airport. The general said order at Hamid Karzai Interna- U.S soldiers take a position to guard along a perimeter at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Taliban fighters had established tional Airport by Tuesday morn- Afghanistan, on Monday. positions near the airport, but they ing, and U.S. military cargo jets had not overtly threatened U.S. were flying in and out of the air- Taylor said. war effort. Kirby said the United States had troops or others. field in Kabul, bringing in troops The estimated 5,000 to 9,000 The U.S. had evacuated some a “sacred obligation” to protect The U.S. commanders at the air- and gear and evacuating people, evacuees per day was based on 2,000 Afghans by Monday. Kirby those Afghans who worked for port had established some level of Taylor said. It came after a chaotic flight operations running smooth- said the Defense Department years with Americans and others. communication with Taliban com- Monday at the airport — the last ly, he said. It would require more would soon be able to host another The U.S. military is still under manders, Kirby said. He declined ground in Afghanistan held by the than two dozen flights coming and 22,000 at two U.S. Army bases — orders to leave Afghanistan by to characterize those discussions U.S. and its allies — where oper- going each day, added John Kirby, one in Texas and another in Wis- Aug. 31. Kirby said that had not or say if the two sides had forged ations shuttered for hours as the Pentagon’s top spokesman. consin. He said a third country had changed as of Tuesday. any security agreement. troops worked to clear the airfield Neither Kirby nor Taylor pro- also agreed to take in some Af- Taylor said more than 3,000 U.S. “There [have] been no hostile in- of thousands of desperate Afghans vided estimates of the number of ghans seeking to settle eventually troops were at Kabul’s internation- teractions from the Taliban to our trying to flee the Taliban. people the U.S. intends to evacuate in the United States. al airport by Tuesday morning, operations at the airport,” Kirby Overnight, nine U.S. Air Force from Afghanistan. In addition to “I can’t guarantee a certain and about 4,000 were expected by said. “I would just let the results C-17 cargo jets arrived at the air- American citizens, the U.S. is also number [of evacuations] by a cer- the end of the day. That will grow to speak for themselves, so far. And port delivering some 1,000 Ameri- helping evacuate citizens of other tain day. I wouldn’t do that,” Kirby about 6,000 this week, as members we’re not taking anything for can troops and their equipment. nations who have worked with said. “Weather can play a factor … of the 82nd Airborne Division’s granted.” Seven C-17s also departed the air- Americans during the 20-year war [but] conditions permitting, we are Immediate Response Force arrive. port evacuating 700 to 800 passen- and certain Afghans and their fam- going to do … as much as we can for The Pentagon also tapped the [email protected] gers, including 165 Americans, ilies who have supported the U.S. as long as we can.” 82nd’s top general to take com- Twitter: @CDicksteinDC Residents worried about scarcity of cash; fears linger in Herat BY ZUBAIR BABAKARKHAIL right now; banks are closed. People will There are still safety concerns about downfall of the militia of Ismail Khan, Stars and Stripes starve in a few days because everyone is what the Taliban will do once they are bet- known as the “Lion of Herat” and for his KABUL, Afghanistan — The closures of running out of money.” ter settled. role in the anti-Soviet uprising in 1979, sur- banks and currency exchanges following The electricity in the city is actually “Taliban are new in the city now,” Khan prised many observers. the Taliban’s seizure of power have some working better, but mainly because big us- said. “They are busy with collecting govern- Reuters reported last week that the Tali- residents worried about paying for basic ers like factories and government facilities ment arms, vehicles and going through of- ban captured Khan, while Afghanistan’s needs, tribal leaders in the capital said aren’t functioning. fices. They will start questioning people af- Tolo News said Monday that Khan was in Tuesday. People in the city were seen trying to ap- ter they are done with that. I’m worried.” Iran. Elsewhere in Afghanistan, residents of proach the Taliban fighters whenever they The Taliban have said they will call all the On Tuesday, the Taliban governor for Herat, Afghanistan’s third-largest city, said stop on the road. They often asked the fight- security forces back to work at an appropri- Herat province asked all district governors conditions still resembled a battle zone and ers what was going to happen next. ate time. and their forces from outlying areas to leave fears remained for many, though a few They asked the same question of fighters In Herat, many businesses and services the city and return home, Yazdani said. glimmers of hope for the freedoms they had who showed up at a city mosque to pray remained shuttered Tuesday as residents One potential bright spot in an otherwise gained in recent decades were seen. Monday evening. waited to see how the Taliban will assert tense city was the opening of schools for Most shops in Kabul are open, but finan- Things will be fine — you will know us their rule. both boys and girls yesterday, said Ghulam cial institutions, jewelry stores, factories better after we spend some time here, and “The situation in Herat city isn’t back to Sediq, another Herat tribal leader. and government offices were closed. Some no one has to be worried, they answered. normal so far,” Abdul Hakim Yazdani, a “I was so happy to see that girls were go- schools were open, as were private and gov- One of the fighters was clean and well- tribal elder and resident of Herat, told Stars ing to school yesterday,” he said. “I remem- ernment hospitals. dressed. The others had scary looks on their and Stripes over the phone. “Today is the ber the Taliban’s regime last time and I was Purchases are usually made with cash, so faces and appeared as if they had just come fifth day since the Taliban took the city. It’s worried about girls’ education.” the scarcity of currency could have serious out of a jungle, attendees told Stars and looked like a military city in the last five Access to education for women has been effects if the situation doesn’t change soon, Stripes. days.” hailed by the U.S. and its partners as one of residents said. The Taliban are going door to door in the All domestic flights in Herat have stop- the success stories of the past 20 years, “It is a big uncertainty right now. People city and checking parking lots for govern- ped, Yazdani said. Flightradar24.com along with the establishment of free media are just waiting to see what happens next,” ment vehicles. showed no air traffic over the city Tuesday and return of music. Sardarwali Khan, a tribal elder in eastern They are taking them for their own use afternoon. It remains unclear whether the Taliban Kabul, said in a phone call. “We need the and giving receipts that specify the person Herat is a city of roughly 600,000 people will continue to allow those freedoms after Taliban to start providing public services as who handed over the vehicle. They are pro- in Afghanistan’s west and a key trading banning them when they last took power in soon as possible. No one is going to their job viding contact numbers, too. point with nearby Iran. Last week’s swift the 1990s. PAGE 10 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, August 18, 2021 VIRUS OUTBREAK Boosters eyed for everyone after 8 months

BY ZEKE MILLER Associated Press “There is a WASHINGTON — U.S. health experts are expected to recom- concern that the mend COVID-19 vaccine boost- ers for all Americans, regardless vaccine may start of age, eight months after they to wane in its received their second dose of the DARIN OSWALD, IDAHO STATESMAN/AP shot, to ensure lasting protection effectiveness.” Cher Situm, principal at Morley Nelson Elementary in Boise, Idaho, gives fifth grade student Anthony against the coronavirus as the Ngyen, 10, a hug as he gets ready to join his friends in class on the first day back to school, on Monday. delta variant spreads across the Dr. Francis Collins country. National Institutes of Health director Federal health officials have been actively looking at whether surge of virus cases due to the Mask disputes, outbreaks make extra shots for the vaccinated more transmissible delta varia- would be needed as early as this nt, which is spreading aggres- fall, reviewing case numbers in sively through unvaccinated for rocky start of school year the U.S. as well as the situation communities but is also respon- BY JAMES ANDERSON Dallas school officials said Mon- break, but said no remote learning in other countries such as Israel, sible for an increasing number Associated Press day that masks were still required would be available and urged stu- where preliminary studies sug- of so-called “breakthrough in- The summer surge of the highly on district property and that visitors dents and staff to stay at home. gest the vaccine’s protection fections” of fully vaccinated peo- infectious delta variant of the coro- weren’t allowed in schools. The Mask wearing was optional in the against serious illness dropped ple. navirus made for a disruptive start Austin school district and Harris district. among those vaccinated in Janu- Israel, which exclusively ad- of the school year in many parts of County, which includes Houston, Yellow school buses and parents ary. ministered the Pfizer shot, has the country Monday as hundreds of also said their mask mandates for snapping back-to-school pictures An announcement on the U.S. been offering a coronavirus thousands of children returned to schools remained in place. made the first day of school seem al- booster recommendation was booster to people over 60 who classrooms and parents, adminis- The top elected official in Dallas most normal in Los Angeles, where expected as soon as this week, were already vaccinated more trators and governors clashed over County said in a tweet that the Su- many schools reopened Monday in according to two people familiar than five months ago in an effort whether masks should be required. preme Court ruling did not strike the nation’s second-largest school with the matter who spoke to The to control its own surge in cases Confusion reigned in several down his mask order, and that it re- district. Associated Press on the condi- from the delta variant. Texas school districts after the state mained in effect. In Los Angeles, like the rest of the tion of anonymity to discuss in- For months, officials had said Supreme Court stopped mask man- “We’re at war on behalf of moms state, students and teachers are re- ternal deliberations. data still indicated that people dates in two of the state's largest dis- and dads and kids against a deadly quired to wear masks in indoor set- Doses would only begin to be remain highly protected from tricts, the day before the first day of virus. I sure wish the Governor tings, and teachers must show proof administered widely once the COVID-19, including the delta school in Dallas. An Arizona judge would join our side in the battle,” of vaccination or submit to weekly Food and Drug Administration variant, after receiving the two- upheld, at least temporarily, a mask said Dallas county Judge Clay Jen- COVID-19 testing. formally approves the vaccines. dose Pfizer or Moderna regimen mandate in a Phoenix district de- kins. In South Carolina, one district has That action is expected for the or the one-shot Johnson & John- spite a new state law prohibiting Republican Gov. Greg Abbott already moved to all-virtual classes Pfizer shot in the coming weeks. son vaccine. such restrictions. One Colorado strongly opposes public school after a rash of cases led to hundreds Last week, U.S. health officials But U.S. health officials made county posted sheriff’s deputies in mask mandates, and students and of students quarantined within the recommended boosters for some clear Sunday they are preparing schools on the first day of classes as parents gathered outside the gover- first two weeks of the fall semester. with weakened immune sys- for the possibility that the time aprecaution after parents protested nor’s mansion in Austin to urge him That decision has led to protests tems, citing their higher risk of for boosters may come sooner a last-minute mask mandate. to drop that opposition. among parents in Pickens County. catching the virus and evidence than later. Public school authorities are The start of the school year comes In Eagle County, Colo., sheriff’s that the vaccines’ effectiveness “There is a concern that the committed to making up lost as the country is averaging more deputies were posted to elementary waned over time. vaccine may start to wane in its ground after frequent disruptions, than 130,000 new infections a day and middle schools on the first day The director of the National effectiveness,” Collins said. including on- and-off remote learn- and the number of people hospital- of class Monday after parents ob- Institutes of Health, Dr. Francis “And delta is a nasty one for us to ing, in the pandemic’s first year left ized with COVID-19 has soared to jected to a last-minute decision Fri- Collins, said Sunday the U.S. try to deal with. The combination millions of children behind in their levels last seen in mid-February. day by the county school district to could decide in the next couple of those two means we may need studies, especially those of commu- The death toll has also risen to near- require universal masking. No weeks whether to offer coronavi- boosters, maybe beginning first nities of color. The U.S. Centers for ly 700 a day. problems were immediately re- rus booster shots to Americans with health care providers, as Disease Control and Prevention Hospitals in several virus hot ported, but the potential for trouble this fall. well as people in nursing homes, recommends masks in schools for spots say they are seeing an in- is real. Among the first to receive and then gradually moving for- students, staff and teachers. crease in infections and hospitaliza- In Los Angeles, a man was re- them could be health care work- ward” with others, such as older Nowhere did Monday's battles tions in children, bringing anxiety leased from a hospital after being ers, nursing home residents and Americans who were among the play out greater than in Texas, to families starting school. A hand- stabbed when an anti-vaccine pro- other older Americans, who first to get vaccinations. where some counties and school ful of Republican-led states ban test turned violent Saturday. Doz- were some of the first Americans He said because the delta vari- districts kept in place mask man- schools from requiring masks but ens of people have protested outside to be vaccinated once the shots ant only started hitting the U.S. dates and others rescinded them as many have defied the laws and are the home of Jenkins, the Dallas received emergency use autho- hard in July, the “next couple of schools reopened after Sunday’s fighting them in the courts. County judge, over his emergency rization last December. weeks” of case data will help the court ruling. In West Texas, the Iraan-Shef- order requiring masks. Protesters Since then, more than 198 mil- U.S. make a decision. The order by the state’s highest field Independent School District also showed up over the weekend lion Americans have received at Officials were continuing to court — entirely comprised of elect- district, which began its school year outside the home of Hawaii’s lieu- least one dose of a COVID-19 collect information as well about ed Republican justices — halts Aug. 10, said Monday it was shutting tenant governor, an emergency vaccine according to the Centers the J&J vaccine, which was only mask requirements that county down for two weeks so students and room doctor who has warned that for Disease Control and Preven- approved in the U.S. in late Feb- leaders in Dallas and San Antonio, staff could quarantine. The district, increasing hospitalizations, partic- tion, with more than 168 million ruary, to determine when to rec- which are run by Democrats, put in which has about 380 students, pro- ularly among the unvaccinated, fully vaccinated. Still, the coun- ommend boosters, one of the of- place as new infections soared. vided no data about a virus out- could lead to another lockdown. try is experiencing a fourth ficials said. Wednesday, August 18, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 11 AMERICAN ROUNDUP

Man climbs radio tower, starts 2½-hour standoff PHOENIX — A man AZ who climbed to the top of a Phoenix radio tower came down uninjured after a 2½ hour standoff, authorities said. Phoenix Fire Department offi- cials said the man descended on his own thanks to negotiations by police. Multiple technical rescue teams, firefighters, paramedics, police officers and special assign- ment crews worked together to ensure a successful outcome and the safety of everyone involved, authorities said. Police said when officers initial- ly responded, the man made some statements indicating he wanted to hurt himself. Man charged for weapons possession, bomb-making FRESNO — A Califor- CA nia man was charged with making 10 shrapnel bombs, including one that was thrown at a home and burned a fence, author- ities said. A federal grand jury indicted Wes Parker McDaniel, 52, of Merced in the San Joaquin Valley, on charges of making and possess- RUSS DILLINGHAM, SUN JOURNAL (LEWISTON, MAINE)/AP ing unregistered destructive de- vices, destroying property with an explosive, impersonating a feder- Admiring nature al agent and being a felon illegally Salem Taylor, foreground, and her mother, Magy Taylor, watch a bee at Jillson’s farm stand at the Lewiston Farmers’ Market in Lewiston, possessing a rifle and ammunition Maine. Her sister Summer Taylor is not sure about the bee as she snuggles with their father, Mike Hubble. Local farmers and vendors bring that were found at his home, ac- their produce and wares to the market in the lot on Main Street every Sunday until the end of November. cording to a statement from the U.S. attorney’s office. seum to raffle it off in an effort to THE CENSUS County Emergency Management. McDaniel was arrested two raise money for the Cystic Fibro- The driver of the spay/neuter days after police said the back- sis Foundation. The amount in dollars of a settlement approved for a man who transport vehicle was seriously in- yard fence of a Merced home The collection consists of five 50K said he was unjustly attacked by a police dog in Cedar Rap- jured and five dogs died, three at caught fire and metal shrapnel limited-edition bottles of Pappy ids, Iowa. The lawsuit was filed by Howard Cones, who said he was sleeping on the scene and two at an emergen- damaged the outside of the home. Van Winkle bourbon, which are a park bench in June 2018 when the dog, unprovoked, viciously attacked him, cy clinic, according to the Amer- A bomb squad found five addi- valued at $18,250, the Kentucky causing multiple bite wounds and blood loss. The dog had been taken to the ican Society for the Prevention of tional explosive devices around Derby Museum said in a state- park by its handler for a training exercise when Cones was randomly attacked, Cruelty to Animals. When some of the home. ment. The winner of the raffle will the lawsuit said. The lawsuit accused the city and police officers of negligence the animal enclosures were dam- in the training and handling of the dog. also receive a VIP Kentucky Der- aged, several animals fled the Small plane makes quick by Museum experience and a one- scene and six dogs and one cat landing on highway night stay at Hotel Distil. dune vegetation approximately 50 paintball gun. were still missing, according to Nathan Perdue of Carmel, Ind., yards from where it had been shot. Several people and vehicles the ASPCA. More than two dozen TOPEKA — A small teamed up with the museum to The body will be tested for possi- were struck by paintball projec- pets have been reunited with their KS airplane had to make raise the funds in an effort to help ble rabies. tiles throughout Hampton be- families. an emergency landing on a high- his 2-year-old son, Wyatt, and oth- tween Aug. 6 and Aug. 8, but police way in northeastern Kansas. ers who have cystic fibrosis, a ge- Rain, clogged drain flood said none of the incidents resulted Man pleads guilty to Jackson County Sheriff Tim netic lung disease. Capitol atrium, corridor in serious injuries or damage. The going on racial tirade Morse said a 1961 Bonanza V-35 victims were all walking or stand- airplane made an emergency Small child bitten by AUSTIN — Torrential ing near roadways, news outlets MINNEAPOLIS — A landing on U.S. Highway 75 after coyote on beach TX rain and a clogged report. MN Burnsville man it lost engine power after taking storm drain combined to flood an Eyewitnesses have described pleaded guilty to embarking on a off in Topeka. PROVINCETOWN — atrium and back corridor at the the suspect vehicles as a white violent, racially-fueled tirade. No injuries were reported from MA A coyote bit a small Texas Capitol, officials said. Ford Explorer, a white Dodge The Minneapolis Star Tribune the landing, according to televi- child on a Cape Cod beach, author- Gov. Greg Abbott revealed the Charger, and a yellow Ford Mus- reported that Jason Gerardy, 40, sion station WIBW. Morse said ities said. flooding in an urgent Twitter tang. entered his plea in Hennepin four people were on the plane The child was bitten on North message saying his office was County District Court to first-de- when it encountered engine trou- Herring Cove Beach in Province- working with affected state agen- Pets missing after gree property damage. ble shortly after takeoff. The plane town, which is within the Cape cies and the State Preservation transport truck crashes According to the charges, Ge- was headed north to Omaha, Neb., Cod National Seashore, according Board, which maintains the build- rardy told officers he smashed and eventually to Sioux Falls, S.D. to a statement from seashore Dep- ing, to get the leak stopped and the OLD FORT — Several windows on two of his father’s cars Both northbound lanes were uty Superintendent Leslie Rey- ankle-deep water mopped up. NC pets are missing days after an argument and broke the closed for a time while the plane nolds. “It’s all hands on deck,” Ab- after they ran off when a transport window of a Muslim man’s car in was removed. The child was bitten in the face/ bott’s message said. truck crashed in western North November 2019 because “he’s a neck/shoulder area, Reynolds Carolina, officials said. (racial slur) and doesn’t pay tax- Man raffling rare bourbon said in a telephone interview. Police investigate string The N.C. State Highway Patrol es.” to raise money for charity The child was taken to Cape Cod of paintball assaults said the truck crashed into a con- Gerardy also threatened to kill a Hospital in Barnstable with inju- crete barrier on eastbound Inter- bystander, punctuating the threat LOUISVILLE. — An ries not considered life threaten- HAMPTON — Hamp- state 40, news outlets reported. with a profanity and another ra- KY Indiana man with a col- ing, she said. VA ton Police are asking The crash happened in the Old cial slur. lection of rare bourbon is teaming Park rangers shot the coyote the public for help as they investi- Fort area, roughly 25 miles east of up with the Kentucky Derby Mu- and found the carcass in thick gate a series of assaults using a Asheville, according to McDowell From The Associated Press PAGE 12 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, August 18, 2021 NATION Weakening Fred spawns twisters and flooding

Associated Press 1:30 a.m., knocking over trees, with Tropical Storm Fred weakened some falling on houses, and down- to a depression and produced sev- ing power lines, WRBL-TV report- eral apparent tornadoes in Georgia ed. on Tuesday as it dumped heavy An Academy Sports warehouse rains into the Appalachian Moun- near Jeffersonville was hit by an- tains along a path that could cause other likely tornado before 6 a.m., flash floods as far north as upstate with metal siding torn off the build- New York. ing, a semi truck trailer tipped over NOAH BERGER/AP One death was reported — a Las and Twiggs County Sheriff Darren A firefighter battles the Dixie Fire along Highway 89 in Lassen National Forest, Calif., on Monday. Vegas man whose car hydroplaned Mitchum told WMAZ-TV that near Panama City, Fla., Monday eight boats were scattered around night and overturned into a water- by the storm. Weather officials filled ditch, the Florida Highway warned of a tornado in the Jeffer- Winds drive nation’s largest Patrol said. sonville area as well. Fewer than 30,000 customers Heavy rains drenched parts of were without power in Florida and metro Atlanta just before dawn wildfire closer to Calif. city Georgia after the storm crashed Tuesday, snarling commutes. ashore late Monday afternoon near About 2 inches of rain was record- Associated Press former Sierra Nevada logging and years, including the Dixie Fire. Cape San Blas in the Florida Pan- ed in Atlanta and Macon, with SUSANVILLE, Calif. — Fire- mining town has two state prisons, The Dixie Fire has scorched handle. Emergency crews were re- more than an inch falling overnight fighters faced more dangerously anearby federal lockup and a casi- more than 900 square miles in the pairing downed power lines and in Augusta and Columbus. windy weather Tuesday as they no. northern Sierra Nevada and south- clearing toppled trees in Fred’s af- Meanwhile, reconnaissance air- struggled to keep the nation’s Ash fell from the advancing fire ern Cascades since it ignited on Ju- termath. Some schools and colleg- craft found Grace regained tropi- largest wildfire from moving to- and a Police Department state- ly 13 and eventually merged with a es in Florida, Alabama and Georgia cal cyclone strength early Tues- ward a Northern California county ment urged residents “to be alert smaller blaze called the Fly Fire. canceled Tuesday’s in-person day. Grace lashed earthquake- seat and other small mountain and be ready to evacuate” if the It’s less than a third contained.. classes due to the storm. damaged Haiti as a tropical de- communities. fire threatens the city, although no Investigations are continuing, The National Hurricane Center pression on Monday, dumping up Forecasters issued red flag formal evacuation warning had but PG&E has notified utility regu- said Fred had top sustained winds to 10 inches of rain that pelted peo- warnings of critical fire weather been issued. lators that the Dixie and Fly fires of 35 mph as it crossed southeast ple huddling under improvised conditions including gusts up to 40 Bulldozers had cut fire lines in may have been caused by trees Alabama into western and north shelters in the aftermath of Satur- mph from late morning to near the path of the northward-trend- falling into its power lines. The Georgia. Senior hurricane special- day’s 7.2 magnitude earthquake, midnight. ing blaze. Dixie Fire began near the town of ist Stacy Stewart said Tuesday that now blamed for more than 1,400 Winds spawned by a new weath- “We really had our fire lines Paradise, which was devastated it could dump 5 to 7 inches of rain deaths. er system arrived Monday after- challenged,” Janssen said. “This is by a 2018 wildfire ignited by PG&E into parts of Alabama, Georgia and Grace’s sustained winds grew to noon and pushed the Dixie Fire a really big fire. It’s really hard to equipment during strong winds. the Carolinas — and possibly up to 45 mph as it left Haiti on a west- within a few miles of Susanville, button up the perimeters.” Eighty-five people died. 10 inches of rain in isolated spots, ward path between southeastern population about 18,000, and The weather forecast prompted Ongoing damage surveys have causing flash flooding in mountain- Cuba and Jamaica. Forecasters prompted evacuation orders for Pacific Gas & Electric to warn that counted more than 1,100 buildings ous areas. said it could be near hurricane the small nearby mountain com- it might cut off power to 48,000 cus- destroyed, including 627 homes, At least three apparent torna- strength as it approaches Mexico’s munity of Janesville, fire officials tomers in portions of 18 California and more than 14,000 structures does touched down in Georgia: One Yucatan peninsula late Wednes- said. counties from Tuesday evening remained threatened. Numerous hit Americus, in the southwestern day or early Thursday. “The fire moved fast last night,” through Wednesday afternoon to evacuation orders were in effect. part of the state, one hit a rural area Tropical Storm Henri, mean- fire spokesman David Janssen prevent winds from knocking California was dealing with sev- of Meriwether County, between while, was about 135 miles south- said early Tuesday. down or hurling debris into power eral other massive fires, including Atlanta and Columbus, and one hit southeast of Bermuda. The small Susanville is the seat of Lassen lines and sparking new wildfires. one called the Caldor Fire that Jeffersonville, near Macon, ac- tropical cyclone had 50 mph winds County and the largest city that the Most of those customers are in started on Saturday southeast of cording to the National Weather and was expected to circle widely Dixie Fire, named for the road Butte and Shasta counties, which the Dixie Fire in El Dorado County Service. around the island, the hurricane where it started, has approached have seen a number of deadly and that has grown to about 10 square The storm hit Americus around center said. since it broke out last month. The devastating wildfires in recent miles. Pelosi takes step to quell moderates’ budget rebellion BY ALAN FRAM gate for Congress to later consider a sep- short of saying they’d oppose Pelosi’s plan Democratic leaders are hoping to build Associated Press arate, $3.5 trillion, 10-year bill for health, to initially move both measures forward pressure on moderates to join the rest of WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nan- education and environment programs. together, suggesting the speaker’s move the party in edging its economic and social cy Pelosi has proposed a procedural vote Nine centrist Democrats said Friday had bought some time, yet left the battle agenda toward eventual final passage. this month that would set up future pas- they would oppose the budget resolution unresolved. Bolstering the social safety net, combat- sage of two economic measures crucial to until the House first approves their top pri- “As Democrats, we remain committed to ing climate change and creating jobs rank President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda, a ority: a $1 trillion package of road, railway working with our colleagues to advance atop Biden’s and Democrats’ priorities. A move Democratic leaders hope will win and other infrastructure projects. In the the President’s agenda,” they wrote. defeat, especially at this early stage, would must-have votes from unhappy party mod- face of solid Republican opposition, Demo- The Senate approved the infrastructure be deeply wounding to the party’s legisla- erates. crats can lose no more than three defectors measure last week with bipartisan support, tive goals and a political blow ahead of In a letter Sunday to Democratic law- to pass legislation through the closely split and the moderates want to bank a quick next year’s elections for congressional con- makers, Pelosi, D-Calif., suggested that the chamber. win by sending it to Biden for his signa- trol. House will take a single vote that would Late Sunday, the moderates issued a ture. Democrats are calling the House “These bills will be the biggest and most clear an initial hurdle for both a budget statement saying they still wanted a vote back from summer recess on Aug. 23. consequential initiatives that any of us resolution and a separate infrastructure on final approval of the infrastructure bill By forcing the House to vote on moving have ever undertaken in our official lives,” bill. The budget blueprint would open the to come ahead of the budget. They stopped both measures a step forward together, Pelosi wrote. Wednesday, August 18, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 13 WORLD UN: Iran still producing uranium metal Associated Press Quake-stricken Haiti clear program, and is meant to prevent Tehran from BANGKOK — Iran continues to produce uranium developing a nuclear bomb. metal, which can be used in the production of a nucle- Iran insists it is not interested in developing a ar bomb, the United Nations’ atomic watchdog con- bomb, and that the uranium metal is for its civilian firmed Tuesday, in a move that further complicates nuclear program. drenched by storm the possibility of reviving a landmark 2015 deal with The European members of the JCPOA earlier this world powers on the Iranian nuclear program. year voiced “grave concern” over the production of Associated Press and the number of injured to In a report issued by the International Atomic En- uranium metal, however, saying Iran has no credible LES CAYES, Haiti — Tropical 6,000, many of whom have had to ergy Agency in Vienna to member nations, Director civilian need for it and that it is a “key step in the de- Storm Grace swept over Haiti wait for medical help lying out- General Rafael Mariano Grossi said that his inspec- velopment of a nuclear weapon.” with drenching rains just two side in the heat. tors had confirmed Saturday that Iran had now pro- The U.S. unilaterally pulled out of the nuclear deal days after a powerful earth- Grace’s rain and wind raised duced 200 grams of uranium metal enriched up to in 2018, with then-President Donald Trump saying it quake battered the impover- the threat of mudslides and flash 20%. needed to be renegotiated. ished Caribbean nation, adding flooding as it slowly passed by The production of uranium metal is prohibited by President Joe Biden has said he is open to rejoining to the misery of thousands who southwestern Haiti’s Tiburon the 2015 nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehen- the pact, but that Iran needs to return to its restric- lost loved ones, suffered injuries Peninsula before heading to- sive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, which promises Iran tions, while Iran has insisted that the U.S. must drop or found themselves homeless ward Jamaica and southeastern economic incentives in exchange for limits on its nu- all sanctions. and forcing overwhelmed hospi- Cuba on Tuesday. Forecasters tals and rescuers to act quickly. said it could be a hurricane be- Heavy rain and strong winds fore hitting Mexico’s Yucatan overnight whipped at the coun- Peninsula. 1 dead as flood brings down bridge in Germany try’s southwestern area, hit har- The quake nearly wrecked dest by Saturday’s quake, and of- some towns in the latest disaster Associated Press caught up in the same flooding in cottages higher up on the ficials warned that rainfall could to befall the Western Hemi- BERLIN — German rescue were rescued uninjured. slopes of the valley because of reach 15 inches in some areas sphere’s poorest nation. Hai- teams have recovered the body Heavy, sudden rains on Mon- the flood. before the storm moved on. Port- tians already were struggling of a woman who was swept off a day afternoon turned the Ham- Severe weather conditions al- au-Prince, the capital, also saw with the coronavirus pandemic, bridge by floods in Bavaria, the mersbach creek in the Valley of so led to a state of emergency in heavy rains. Grace regained gang violence, worsening pover- German news agency dpa re- Hell near the town of Grainau northern Germany, where a tor- tropical storm status after fall- ty and the July 7 assassination of ported Tuesday. into a torrent that tore down a nado hit the village of Gross- ing to the level of a tropical de- President Jovenel Moïse. They are still searching for a wooden bridge, dpa reported. heide late Monday and de- pression. Officials said the magnitude second person who was also In addition to the eight people stroyed more than 50 homes, The storm arrived on the same 7.2 earthquake destroyed more swept off the bridge by sudden rescued from the floods Mon- according to dpa. Police said day that the country’s Civil Pro- than 7,000 homes and damaged floods in southern Germany on day, authorities helped 108 oth- nobody was injured, but several tection Agency raised the death nearly 5,000, leaving some Monday. Eight other people ers who had to spend the night homes were destroyed. toll from the earthquake to 1,419 30,000 families homeless. PAGE 14 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, August 18, 2021 OPINION

Max D. Lederer Jr., Publisher Lt. Col. Marci Hoffman, Europe commander Lt. Col. Michael Kerschbaum, Pacific commander A hawkish approach wouldn’t have worked, either Michael Ryan, Pacific chief of staff BY TYLER COWEN America has made some successful long- rule about 38 million people, without con- Bloomberg Opinion term foreign policy commitments, for in- straint, and has damaged America’s credibil- s the Taliban seize control of Kabul stance to Germany and South Korea. Those ity. The Afghan future never looked promis- EDITORIAL and indeed all of Afghanistan, it is typically date from the Cold War and immedi- ing, but sudden reversals of fortune do occur Terry Leonard, Editor worth pondering the less obvious ate post-World War II eras, and they are held in world affairs — for instance the Irish peace [email protected] Alessons of this 20-year episode. It is in place partly by inertia. They also seem to be process of the 1990s or the cessation of war in areminder of why I cannot bring myself to be a slowly crumbling. American voters are hard- South America. Hoping for such a reversal, Robert H. Reid, Senior Managing Editor foreign policy hawk, even though I largely ac- ly calling for more such commitments. and extending the previous American com- [email protected] cept the hawks’ worldview and underlying The hawks I know, especially those with a mitment, seemed a better option. Perhaps the Sean Moores, Managing Editor for Presentation values. politically conservative bent, typically will ad- best chance for credibility was, from the be- [email protected] Let’s put aside whether or not you favor mit or perhaps even emphasize that the Amer- ginning, to sell the American public on the no- President Joe Biden’s withdrawal, and note ican electorate lacks the stomach for long- tion of a permanent garrison, to forestall disas- BUREAU STAFF that sooner or later it was likely to happen. For- term interventions. But rather than consider ter, rather than nation-building. mer President Donald Trump had favored the practical implications of such an admis- The U.S. never had great options in the first Europe/Mideast withdrawal, too, as had earlier Republican sion, they too quickly flip into moralizing. We place. In 2001, it was necessary to undertake Erik Slavin, Europe & Mideast Bureau Chief presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Trump hear that the American citizenry is not suffi- some form of military action because the U.S. [email protected] +49(0)631.3615.9350; DSN (314)583.9350 also negotiated toward that end. Barack Oba- ciently committed, or perhaps that non-con- had been attacked from Afghanistan, and fur- ma’s administration also toyed with the idea of servative politicians are morally bankrupt, or ther attacks were planned. But when exactly Pacific troop withdrawal. that the Biden administration has made a huge was the right time to withdraw forces? It might Aaron Kidd, Pacific Bureau Chief Whether those have been sincere views or mistake. But those moral claims, even if cor- have been some year earlier than this, but cal- [email protected] cynical posturings, U.S. leadership didn’t ex- rect, are a distraction from the main lesson at culating all of the necessary counterfactuals +81.42.552.2511 ext. 88380; DSN (315)227.7380 actly send signals of absolute, consistent sup- hand. If your own country is not morally has always been extremely difficult, and I am port for the Afghan government. And thus the strong enough to see through your preferred suspicious of those who claim to know the Washington problem with foreign policy hawkism is this: hawkish policies, maybe those policies aren’t right answers with such confidence. Joseph Cacchioli, Washington Bureau Chief [email protected] American democracy is not very good at mak- going to prove sustainable, and thus they need This debate involves a host of untenable (+1)(202)886-0033 ing long-term commitments outside our bor- to be scaled back. views. One camp condemns America’s Af- ders. It’s not like the government’s lasting sup- I still largely agree with most of the hawk ghan interventions but offers few constructive Brian Bowers, Assistant Managing Editor, News [email protected] port for, say, Social Security, which has many worldview: America can be a great force for alternatives. Another affiliates with hawkish millions of voters expecting payments. The good in the world, the notion of evil in global af- values, but cannot enforce America’s will. Yet CIRCULATION same can’t be said about Afghanistan policy. fairs as very real, America’s main rivals on the another recognizes the fragility of the current If a country can’t make long-term commit- global stage are up to no good, and there is an situation, but does not wish to turn over the Mideast ments abroad, it can’t easily reshape the world immense amount of naivete and wishful keys to evil right now and hopes to straggle to- Robert Reismann, Mideast Circulation Manager [email protected] in its image, or see through hawkish policies. thinking in most of those who do not consider ward a different set of alternatives. [email protected] And indeed, the Taliban are in it for the long themselves hawks. What I do not see is a very Very reluctantly, I’ve signed up for the last DSN (314)583-9111 run and America is not, so it is no wonder they convincing recipe for hawk policy success option. took over Afghanistan so quickly once the U.S. over time. Europe announced its departure. The Afghans on the That all said, I still think the Biden with- Bloomberg Opinion columnist Tyler Cowen is a professor of Karen Lewis, Community Engagement Manager ground understood the basic logic here much drawal from Afghanistan was a policy mis- economics at George Mason University. This column does not [email protected] necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or [email protected] better than did the Biden administration. take. The U.S. has allowed a very certain evil to Bloomberg LP and its owners. +49(0)631.3615.9090; DSN (314)583.9090

Pacific Mari Mori, [email protected] On Afghanistan, Biden stops the buck, passes the blame +81-3 6385.3171; DSN (315)227.7333 BY MICHAEL GRAHAM ica is the most powerful nation in the world make, as your president, was either to follow CONTACT US InsideSources.com with the most powerful military ever known, through on that agreement or be prepared to Washington uring a White House speech amid and we can’t conduct an orderly withdrawal in go back to fighting the Taliban in the middle of the Afghanistan evacuation fias- the face of an enemy that doesn’t even have an the spring fighting season.” tel: (+1)202.886.0003 633 3rd St. NW, Suite 116, Washington, DC 20001-3050 co, President Joe Biden looked in- air force? Where most of their heavy weapons That’s a false choice. Biden could have done Dto the camera with a cold, steely are ones our military abandoned to them nothing and kept the status quo. Or he could Reader letters eye and said, “I am President of the United while fleeing our bases? have withdrawn, but done so competently. [email protected] States of America, and the buck stops with It’s indefensible. All Biden could do was Instead, we have a humiliation of America me.” launch his own army of straw men and throw on the world stage, gloating Taliban press con- Additional contacts It’s a powerful line. Or rather, it would have blame around like farmer slinging manure. ferences — and Joe Biden claiming the fact stripes.com/contactus been, if not for the 16 minutes and 39 seconds Despite his “buck stops here” talk, Biden that he fouled it up so badly is actually proof of buck-passing that preceded it. Biden may was shameless in his attempts to shift blame to that he was right all along! OMBUDSMAN have been going for a Harry Truman moment, others. Even his declarations of culpability “If anything, the developments of the past Ernie Gates but he sounded more like Bill Clinton. It all de- were dishonest. When he pledged not to week reinforced that ending U.S. military in- pends on what your definition of “chaos” is. “shrink from my share of responsibility for volvement in Afghanistan now was the right The Stars and Stripes ombudsman protects the free flow of news and information, reporting any attempts by the Political pundits measure speeches like Bi- where we are today,” he was falsely suggesti- decision,” Biden said. military or other authorities to undermine the newspaper’s den’s on Monday by a simple standard: What ng there is someone else who needed to be cut It’s now being widely reported that Biden independence. The ombudsman also responds to concerns and questions from readers, and monitors coverage for does he need to do, and did he do it? In this case, in on the blame. had to override his military advisers and top fairness, accuracy, timeliness and balance. The ombudsman Biden’s speech was a mulligan. There was Who? Maybe invading Afghanistan was a Pentagon counterterrorism experts to exe- welcomes comments from readers, and can be contacted by email at [email protected], or by phone at nothing he really could do. In the modern era, George W. Bush mistake. Maybe not pulling cute his “bug out now” plan. As pollster David 202.886.0003. apixel is worth a thousand words, and the im- out back in 2014 was an Obama flub. Was Do- Paleologos of Suffolk University told Inside- ages on America’s phones and Facebook were nald Trump wrong to negotiate with the Tali- Sources, by going it alone, Joe Biden’s most Stars and Stripes (USPS 0417900) is published week- days (except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) for 50 cents Monday too terrible to be talked away. ban, increase their stature, and outlandishly important political partner is now a group of through Thursday and for $1 on Friday by Pacific Stars and When Biden said he had spent the past week claim those murderous thugs might become Islamist terrorists. Stripes, Unit 45002, APO AP 96301-5002. Periodicals postage paid at San Francisco, CA, Postmaster: Send “moving quickly to execute the plans we had our terrorist-fighting sidekicks? Absolutely. “Ironically, Biden’s legacy on Afghanistan address changes to Pacific Stars and Stripes, Unit 45002, put in place to respond to every constituency, But what does any of that have to do with will be determined by the Taliban,” Paleolo- APO AP 96301-5002. This newspaper is authorized by the Department of Defense for members of the military services including the rapid collapse we’re seeing turning an orderly withdrawal into a panicked gos said. “If nothing earth-shattering happens overseas. However, the contents of Stars and Stripes are now,” what were voters supposed to think? evacuation? It’s like a doctor blaming a cancer between now and 2024, Biden will be viewed unofficial, and are not to be considered as the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government. As a DOD newspa- Was watching desperate Afghans fall thou- patient’s smoking for the fact that he removed as a leader and hero, and it will be a campaign per, Stars and Stripes may be distributed through official channels and use appropriated funds for distribution to sands of feet to their deaths after clinging to the wrong lung. talking point, especially for independents. But remote locations where overseas DOD personnel are located. the outside of a U.S. transport plane really “the Biden’s bizarre, off-putting speech even if the Taliban strikes in some meaningful way, The appearance of advertising in this publication does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense or plan we had in place”? lacked internal consistency. On the one hand, independents will accelerate their evacuation Stars and Stripes of the products or services advertised. If so, somebody needs a new plan. Biden insisted his administration had it all un- from the Biden camp.” Products or services advertised shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, Then again, what can Biden say? Even der control. “We planned for every contingen- Biden’s inept withdrawal from Afghanistan religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical Americans who agree with bringing the cy,” he said again and again. On the other, Bi- could very well lead to his hurried evacuation handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. troops home are horrified by the administra- den admitted the whole thing was a mess and of the White House in 2024. © Stars and Stripes 2021 tion’s Afghanistan FUBAR (Military short- tried to say it was Trump’s fault. Because of stripes.com hand for “F’d Up Beyond All Repair”). Amer- Trump’s deal, Biden said, “The choice I had to Michael Graham is managing editor of InsideSources. Wednesday, August 18, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 15 PAGE 16 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, August 18, 2021 Eugene Sheffer Crossword Frazz Dilbert

ACROSS 61 Actor Danson 27 Pro votes 1 Lass 28 Spring meltdown 4 Magic dragon DOWN 29 Robust 8 Fall bloomers 1 Seize 30 Flair 12 MLB stat 2 “East of 31 Oil cartel Pearls Before Swine Pearls Before 13 Writer James Eden” girl 35 Tennis champ 14 Desire 3 Branch Pete 15 Pitcher’s pride 4 Security guard’s 38 Mountaineering 16 Oscar-winning assignments tool 2011 black- 5 “Gross!” 40 Opposite and-white film 6 Service charge of paleo- 18 Storybook 7 Accomplishment 42 Pajama-clad elephant 8 Grumble mag founder 20 Youngster 9 Swiss canton 45 New newts 21 London 10 Brit. sports cars 47 Shoelace snarl Non Sequitur neighborhood 11 Congeal 48 Roof overhang 24 Fake drake 17 Scepter 49 Not barefoot 28 Historic mission 19 Simile part 50 Texter’s 32 Medieval letter 22 Sentry’s cry “Enough!” 33 Actor Linden 23 D-Day beach 51 Owns 34 High-five sounds 25 It gets in 52 Compass dir. 36 Sony rival the whey 53 Small battery 37 Jai — 26 Formerly 54 Little rascal 39 South American Answer to Previous Puzzle chain Candorville 41 RenFest barmaid 43 Pinnacle 44 Shoe width 46 Jabs 50 Showtime drama starring Dominic West 55 Slangy denial 56 Tailless cat 57 Novelist Janowitz Carpe Diem 58 Ab — (from the start) 59 “Understood” 60 Easy targets Beetle Bailey Bizarro Wednesday, August 18, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 17 PAGE 18 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, August 18, 2021 FACES ‘I tried to do the right thing’ CNN’s Cuomo makes first comments since brother’s resignation

BY DAVID BAUDER “I wasn’t in control of anything,” Cuomo said on the Associated Press air. “I was there to listen and offer my take. And my Chris Cuomo told CNN viewers Monday that he advice to my brother was simple and consistent — wasn’t an adviser to outgoing New York Gov. Andrew own what you did, tell people what you’ll try to do to Cuomo, “I’m a brother.” be better, be contrite. Finally, accept that it doesn’t Then he detailed the advice he gave him — includ- matter what you intended, what matters is how your ing to resign. actions and your words are perceived.” The network and its “CNN Prime Time” host have While he never imagined he would have to do it, “I faced criticism for his interactions with his older did advise my brother to resign when the time came,” brother, who announced last week he said. that he would resign following a That advice apparently came af- RICHARD SHOTWELL, INVISION/AP state attorney general’s report de- ter the attorney general’s report. Selma Blair, 49, says she’s in remission from multiple sclerosis as a tailing sexual harassment accusa- The Post said in May that when the result of undergoing stem cell transplantation. tions against him. charges first came up, Chris Cuomo Back from vacation for his first urged his brother to take a defiant day on the air since Andrew Cuo- position and not resign. mo’s announcement, Chris Cuomo Chris Cuomo said he never re- Selma Blair says she’s addressed the issues for what he A. Cuomo C. Cuomo ported on his brother’s situation for said would be the last time. CNN and never attempted to influ- in remission from MS “I tried to do the right thing and I just want you all ence coverage of the situation by others at the net- to know that,” he said. work. He made note of his brother’s appearances on BY BETH HARRIS nerve fibers. It can cause vision Following a May report in The Washington Post his show for interviews at the beginning of the CO- Associated Press loss, pain, fatigue and impaired that Chris Cuomo had joined in strategy calls with a VID-19 pandemic last year — an exception to the pol- Selma Blair says she’s in remis- coordination. Its cause is un- group of his brother’s advisers when the harassment icy that he not report on his brother — but said they sion from multiple sclerosis as a known. allegations surfaced, CNN called it inappropriate. were “short-lived.” result of undergoing a stem cell “There’s still maintenance, Cuomo said that it was a mistake and said Monday he He said he knew there would be a time his brother transplant. treatment and glitches, and won- did not do it again. would be held to account, and “I could not do that.” The 49-year-old actor, best derful things,” said Blair, who at The network did not comment further when details “It’s never easy being in this business and coming known for such movies as “Cruel times spoke in a halting voice on of those early meetings emerged in the attorney gen- from a political family,” said Cuomo, son of the late Intentions,” “Legally Blonde” and Zoom. eral’s report, and has not disciplined him publicly. Mario Cuomo, a three-term New York governor. “Hellboy,” was diagnosed with “Cognitively, I’m very changed the disease in 2018. and that’s been the harder part,” “My prognosis is great. I’m in she added. remission,” Blair told a Television The actor reveals her fight with Goals: Megan Rapinoe launches ‘The Call In’ book club Critics Association panel on Mon- MS in “Introducing, Selma Blair,” Megan Rapinoe is such a fan of book club, spon- receive a copy Sept. 1. day. an intimate documentary directed #MeToo pioneer Tarana Burke sored by Literati, She underwent hematopoietic by Rachel Fleit. It debuts Oct. 15 in that the soccer star chose Burke’s a subscription Other news stem-cell transplantation, which theaters and begins streaming upcoming memoir, “Unbound,” for book company ■ Chelsea Clinton, the daughter uses stem cells derived from bone Oct. 21 on Discovery+. her new book club before she had that also has of former President Bill Clinton marrow, peripheral blood or um- “Selma was ready to tell this sto- even read it. teamed with and former Secretary of State Hill- bilical cord blood. ry in all of its honesty and rawness “She is such an incredible person Roxane Gay and ary Clinton, is continuing her pop- “It took about a year after stem and truth,” Fleit said. “She had a and whatever it is she’s writing will Steph Curry ular “She Persisted” children’s se- cell for the inflammation and le- few medical emergencies during Rapinoe be worth everyone reading,” Rapi- among others. ries March 1 with “She Persisted in sions to really go down, so I was re- filming. When she was like, ‘Yes, noe said during a recent telephone Rapinoe declined to name other se- Science: Brilliant Women Who luctant to talk about it because I show it all,’ I was like, ‘This is ex- interview. lections, some of which she has Made a Difference.” Chelsea Clin- felt this need to be more healed,” traordinary.’” Rapinoe is recovering from the read, but said all have similar ton will write the book, which hon- she said. “I don’t have any new le- Last week, actor Christina Ap- summer Olympics in Tokyo, where themes of equality and social jus- ors Florence Nightingale, Jane sions forming.” plegate, who is the same age as the U.S. women’s soccer team re- tice. Goodall and Greta Thunberg According to the Mayo Clinic, Blair, revealed her own MS diag- ceived a bronze medal, and under- Literati announced Monday that among others, and Alexandra Boig- multiple sclerosis is an autoim- nosis. standably has had little time or en- Rapinoe’s club will be called “The er will provide illustrations. mune disease in which the im- Blair said she had been experi- ergy for reading. She says she has Call In.” Burke’s memoir comes mune system attacks the protec- encing symptoms for years before made several choices for her online out Sept. 14 and club members will From The Associated Press tive myelin sheath that covers she was officially diagnosed. Ray Charles, The Judds to join Country Music Hall of Fame BY KRISTIN M. HALL version of “I Can’t Stop ment in time, as I am for him. Congratula- gether professionally. Their unique harmo- Associated Press Loving You” spent five tions to all the fellow inductees and as Ray nies, together with elements of acoustic mu- R&B legend Ray Charles, who helped re- weeks on top of the Bill- Charles would say, ‘That is so nice.’” sic, bluegrass and blues, made them stand define country music in the Civil Rights era, board 100 chart and re- Over the years, Charles’ impact on coun- out in the genre at the time. and Grammy-winning duo The Judds will mains one of his most pop- try music has been more widely recognized, The Judds released six studio albums and be inducted into the Country Music Hall of ular songs. with a major museum exhibition on Charles an EP between 1984 and 1991 and won nine Fame. Charles later recorded a at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Mu- CMA Awards and seven from the Academy The Country Music Association on Mon- duets album featuring seum and a 2019 Opry television special of Country Music. They earned a total of Charles day announced the new class of Hall of country legends Willie dedicated to him. five Grammy Awards together on hits like Fame members, who will be formally in- Nelson, Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash. Naomi Judd and her daughter, Wynonna, “Why Not Me” and “Give A Little Love.” ducted in a ceremony in 2022. Nelson in particular has lauded Charles’ were the most successful duo in country In 1990, Naomi Judd announced her re- Charles, who died in 2004, showed the impact on the genre, and they had a 1985 No. music in the 1980s, with more than a dozen tirement from performing due to chronic commercial potential of country music 1 duet called “Seven Spanish Angels.” No. 1 hits, including “Mama, He’s Crazy,” hepatitis. Wynonna has continued her solo when he released “Modern Sounds in Coun- “Needless to say, Ray Charles loved “Love Can Build a Bridge” and “Grandpa career and they have occasionally reunited try and Western Music” in 1962, a genre-de- country music,” said Valerie Ervin, presi- (Tell Me ’bout the Good Old Days).” for special performances. fying personal project to the Georgia-born dent of the Ray Charles Foundation, in a “We had a such a stamp of originality on The Hall of Fame also announced a tie singer and piano player. statement. “As a matter of fact, he risked a what we were trying to do,” Naomi said in this year for the category of recording musi- Charles grew up listening to the Grand lot in 1962 when he decided to record ‘Mod- an interview after the announcement. cian between drummer Eddie Bayers and Ole Opy and his record, which was consid- ern Sounds in Country and Western Music.’ Originally from Kentucky, Naomi was pedal-steel player Pete Drake. Bayers is the ered a risk at the time, became one of the I cannot express enough how happy and working as a nurse in the Nashville area first drummer to be inducted in the Country best selling country albums of the era. His honored Ray Charles would be at this mo- when she and Wynonna started singing to- Music Hall of Fame. Wednesday, August 18, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 19 SCOREBOARD/SOCCER

PRO SOCCER COLLEGE FOOTBALL PRO FOOTBALL MLS USA Today Coaches Poll Indianapolis 21, Carolina 18 NFL preseason Thursday’s game EASTERN CONFERENCE The preseason USA Today Sports AFCA New England at Philadelphia Coaches Poll with team's records from Thursday, Aug. 12 Friday’s games Lloyd’s WLTPts GF GA last season in parentheses, total points New England 22, Washington 13 Cincinnati at Washington based on 25 for first place through one Pittsburgh 24, Philadelphia 16 Kansas City at Arizona New England 13 3 4 43 37 23 point for 25th, ranking in last year's final Friday, Aug. 13 Saturday’s games poll and first-place votes received: NYCFC 9 5 4 31 34 18 Buffalo 16, Detroit 15 Buffalo at Chicago Tennessee 23, Atlanta 3 Nashville 7 2 10 31 31 19 Record Pts Pvs N.Y. Jets at Green Bay Arizona 19, Dallas 16 Atlanta at Miami Orlando City 8 4 6 30 28 23 Saturday, Aug. 14 Baltimore at Carolina 1. Alabama (63) 13-0 1621 1 Chicago 20, Miami 13 calling it Philadelphia 7 5 7 28 25 19 Detroit at Pittsburgh 2. Clemson 10-2 1508 3 Denver 33, Minnesota 6 Tennessee at Tampa Bay D.C. United 8 8 3 27 29 26 3. Oklahoma (2) 9-2 1481 6 Baltimore 17, New Orleans 14 Houston at Dallas CF Montréal 7 7 5 26 26 25 Cleveland 23, Jacksonville 13 Indianapolis at Minnesota 4. Ohio State 7-1 1435 2 Columbus 6 7 6 24 21 24 Cincinnati 19, Tampa Bay 14 Denver at Seattle 5. Georgia 8-2 1386 7 N.Y. Jets 12, N.Y. Giants 7 Las Vegas at L.A. Rams Atlanta 4 6 9 21 22 25 6. Texas A&M 9-1 1286 4 Houston 26, Green Bay 7 Sunday’s games Chicago 5 9 5 20 21 29 Kansas City 19, San Francisco 16 N.Y. Giants at Cleveland a career 7. Notre Dame 10-2 1139 5 New York 5 9 4 19 22 24 Las Vegas 20, Seattle 7 San Francisco at L.A. Chargers 8. Iowa State 9-3 1131 9 L.A. Chargers 13, L.A. Rams 6 Monday’s game Inter Miami CF 4 9 4 16 15 28 9. North Carolina 8-4 999 17 Sunday, Aug. 15 Jacksonville at New Orleans BY ANNE M. PETERSON Cincinnati 3 7 7 16 18 30 10. Cincinnati 9-1 979 8 Associated Press Toronto FC 3 10 6 15 24 40 DEALS 11. Florida 8-4 870 12 U.S. forward Carli Lloyd is re- WESTERN CONFERENCE 12. Oregon 4-3 842 — Monday’s transactions Herbert Jones. Re-signed C Willy Hernan- tiring after a decorated career that WLTPts GF GA 13. LSU 5-5 664 — gomez. 14. Southern California 5-1 655 21 BASEBALL PHOENIX SUNS — Signed C JaVale included a pair of World Cup titles Sporting KC 11 4 4 37 35 20 Major League Baseball McGee. 15. Wisconsin 4-3 654 — American League FOOTBALL and two Olympic gold medals, as Seattle 10 3 6 36 32 16 16. Miami (FL) 8-3 575 22 BALTIMORE ORIOLES — Placed 1B Ryan National Football League well as a bronze LA Galaxy 11 6 2 35 30 28 17. Indiana 6-2 573 13 Mountcastle on the 10-day IL. ARIZONA CARDINALS — Activated RB Colorado 9 4 4 31 25 17 BOSTON RED SOX — Optioned OF Fran- James Conner, TE Darrell Daniels, DL Leki medal at the To- 18. Iowa 6-2 554 15 Fotu and S Charles Washington from the Minnesota 7 6 5 26 21 22 chy Cordero and C Connor Wong to Wor- 19. Texas 7-3 427 20 cester (Triple-A East). Added INF Travis reserve/COVID-19 list. Signed LB Bryson kyo Games. Real Salt Lake 6 6 6 24 27 20 20. Penn State 4-5 422 — Shaw to the active roster. Released INF/OF Young. Waived LB Reggie Walker and T The two-time Portland 7 9 2 23 25 35 Marwin Gonzalez. William Sweet. Waived DT Xavier Williams 21. Washington 3-1 404 — CLEVELAND INDIANS — Recalled RF Da- from IR with a settlement. Waived WRs Jo- FIFA World LAFC 6 8 5 23 24 26 22. Oklahoma State 8-3 216 19 niel Johnson from Columbus (Triple-A Jo Ward and Aleva Hifo. Released DL Dari- Player of the San Jose 5 7 7 22 21 27 23. Louisiana-Lafayette 10-1 153 16 East). Optioned LHP Logan Allen to Colum- us Kilgo and RB Ito Smith. FC Dallas 5 8 6 21 23 27 bus. ATLANTA FALCONS — Placed WR J’Mon Year known for 24. Coastal Carolins 11-1 150 14 CHICAGO WHITE SOX — Placed OF Adam Moore on IR after clearing waivers. Houston 3 7 9 18 20 28 25. Mississippi 5-5 149 — Engel on the 10-day IL, retroactive to Au- Waived LB George Obinna and G Bryce her dramatic hat Vancouver 3 7 8 17 19 28 gust 13. Selected the contract of RHP Mike Hargrove. trick in the 2015 Austin FC 4 10 4 16 13 21 Dropped out: No. 10 Northwestern (7-2); Wright from Charlotte (Triple-A East) and BALTIMORE RAVENS — Signed QB Kenji Lloyd No. 11 Brigham Young (11-1); No. 18 Liberty agreed to terms on a major league con- Bahar. Waived OLB Aaron Adeoye, CB Da- World Cup final Note: Three points for victory, one point (10-1); No. 23 Ball State (7-1); No. 24 San tract. Recalled RHP Ryan Burr from Char- vontae Harris and TE Eli Wolf. Placed CBs for tie. Jose State (7-1); No. 25 Buffalo (6-1). lotte. Optioned RHP Matt Foster to Char- Iman Marshall and Khalil Dorsey on IR. will play four as-yet unannounced Tuesday’s games Others receiving votes: Utah (3-2) 145; lotte. Designated RHP Zack Burdi for as- CHICAGO BEARS — Waived OL Gage Cer- Northwestern (7-2) 120; Arizona State signment. venka, DB Dionte Ruffin and WE Jester friendly matches this fall with the Colorado at LA Galaxy (2-2) 90; Auburn (6-5) 84; Liberty (10-1) 68; KANSAS CITY ROYALS — Placed RHP Weah. Minnesota at San Jose Brigham Young (11-1) 53; TCU (6-4) 48; Mi- Greg Holland on the 10-day IL, retroactive CINCINNATI BENGALS — Waived TE Pro U.S., and finish out the season with Wednesday’s games chigan (2-4) 30; Central Florida (6-4) 29; to August 15. Recalled RHP Joel Payamps Wells, WRs Reece Horn and Riley Lees. her club team, Gotham FC. She D.C. United at New England Boise State (5-2) 27; North Carolina State from Omaha (Triple-A East). Sent RHP Ro- CLEVELAND BROWNS — Placed TE Ste- Toronto FC at Atlanta (8-4) 27; Kentucky (5-6) 20; San Jose State nald Bolanos to Arizona Complex League phen Carlson and WR Ryan Switzer on IR. hinted for more than a year that CF Montréal at Cincinnati (7-1) 18; Army (9-3) 13; Virginia Tech (5-6) (ACL) on a rehab assignment. Waived G Cordel Iwuagwu and LB Montrel she was nearing the end of her ca- New York City FC at Philadelphia 9; Missouri (5-5) 8; UCLA (3-4) 7; Boston LOS ANGELES ANGELS — Agreed to Meander. Waived CB Kiondre Thomas Chicago at Miami College (6-5) 6; Pittsburgh (6-5) 6; Tulsa terms with free agent RHP Jimmy Herget with an injury designation. reer and made it official Monday. Columbus at New York (6-3) 6; Ball State (7-1) 5; Houston (3-5) 5; on a minor league contract. DENVER BRONCOS — Activated LB Baron Orlando City at Nashville Appalachian State (9-3) 4; SMU (7-3) 4; MINNESOTA TWINS — Recalled INF/OF Browning from the physically unable to “Through all the goals, the tro- Portland at Sporting Kansas City West Virginia (6-4) 4; Alabama-Birming- Nick Gordon from St. Paul (Triple-A East). perform (PUP) list. Seattle at FC Dallas ham (6-3) 3; Arkansas (3-7) 3; Air Force Optioned OF Trevor Larnach to St. Paul. DETROIT LIONS — Placed C Evan Boehm phies, the medals and the cham- Vancouver at Austin FC (3-3) 2; Mississippi State (4-7) 2; Nevada NEW YORK YANKEES — Reinstated RHP on IR. Waived TE Charlie Taumpoepeau pionships won, what I am most Houston at Real Salt Lake (7-2) 2; California (1-3) 1; Florida State (3-6) Gerrit Cole from the COVID-19 IL. Returned with a non-footbally injury designation. Friday’s game 1; Marshall (7-3) 1; Stanford (4-2) 1. RHP Brooks Kriske to Scranton/Wilkes- Waived RB Michael Warren. proud of is that I’ve been able to Barre (Triple-A East). Returned OF Clint GREEN BAY PACKERS — Activated OLB San Jose at LA Galaxy PRO BASKETBALL Frazier from rehab assignment and trans- Za’Darius Smith and S Will Redmond from stay unapologetically me,” said NWSL ferred him to the 60-day IL. the non-football injury list. Released G/T Lloyd, whose international career WNBA SEATTLE MARINERS — Reinstated RHP Jon Dietzen and P Ryan Winslow. WLTPts GF GA Paul Sewald from the paternity list. Op- HOUSTON TEXANS — Activated CB Bra- has spanned some 16 years. “My EASTERN CONFERENCE tioned RHP Yohan Ramirez to Tacoma (Tri- dley Roby from the reserve/COVID_19 list. journey has been hard, but I can Portland 9 3 2 29 21 8 ple-A West). Waived WR Isaiah Coulter. Waived RB WLPct GB TAMPA BAY RAYS — Sent RHPs J.P. Feye- Dontrell Hilliard with an injury designa- honestly say I’ve stayed true to North Carolina 7 4 3 24 18 9 reisen and Ryan Thompson to Florida tion. Gotham FC 5 2 6 21 14 9 Connecticut 15 6 .714 — Complex League (FCL) on rehab assign- JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS — Placed S myself, to my teammates, my Orlando 5 4 6 21 18 17 ments. Transferred LHP Jeffrey Springs Josh Evans on the retired list. Chicago 11 10 .524 4 and RHP D.J. Johnson from the 10-day IL to LAS VEGAS RAIDERS — Released QB coaches, the media and the fans Chicago 6 7 2 20 15 21 New York 10 12 .455 5½ the 60-day IL. Agreed to terms with RHP Case Cookus, K Dominik Eberle, LS Liam throughout my entire career and Washington 5 5 4 19 17 17 Washington 8 11 .421 6 David Robertson on a major league con- McCullough, RB Bo Scarbrough, WR Caleb tract. Selected the contract of RHP Chris Reign FC 6 7 1 19 17 15 Scott, DB De’Vante Bausby and DT Ethan that is what I am most proud of. Atlanta 6 14 .300 8½ Ellis from Durham (Triple-A East) and Westbrooks. Activated K Daniel Carlson Houston 5 6 3 18 17 20 Indiana 4 17 .190 11 agreed to terms on a major league con- from the COVID-19 list. Everyone sees the moments of Louisville 4 6 3 15 11 19 tract. Optioned LHP Ryan Sherriff to Dur- LOS ANGELES CHARGERS — Released P WESTERN CONFERENCE ham. Lachlan Edwards, K Alex Kessman and WR glory, but I have cherished the Kansas City 1 9 4 7 7 20 National League Michael Bandy. Signed LS Matt Overton. work behind the scenes and the Note: Three points for victory, one point WLPct GB ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS — Sent RHP LOS ANGELES RAMS — Waived K Austin for tie. Noe Ramirez to ACL D-backs (Arizona MacGinnis, LB Derrick Moncrief, T Ryan adversity that I’ve had to over- Wednesday’s game Las Vegas 16 6 .727 — Complex League) on a rehab assignment. Pope, OLB Max Roberts and DL George Sil- come to get to those glorious mo- Chicago at Louisville Seattle 16 6 .727 — CINCINNATI REDS — Recalled SS Jose vanic. Waived DB Dayan Lake from IR with a settlement. Minnesota 13 7 .650 2 Barrero from Louisville (Triple-A East). ments.” Saturday’s games Placed LF Jesse Winker on the 10-day IL. MIAMI DOLPHINS — Signed WR Khalil Kansas City at North Carolina Phoenix 10 10 .500 5 LOS ANGELES DODGERS — Claimed RHP McClain. Waived TE Carson Meier. The 39-year-old Lloyd scored a Gotham FC at Reign FC Dallas 9 13 .409 7 Evan Phillips off waivers from Tampa Bay. MINNESOTA VIKINGS — Waived WR pair of goals in the United States’ Sunday’s game Optioned RHP Edwin Uceta and LHP Darien Blake Proehl and K Riley Patterson with in- Los Angeles 7 13 .350 8 Nunez to Oklahoma City (Triple-A West). jury designations. 4-3 victory over Australia in the Orlando at Washington Recalled RHP Andre Jackson from Oklaho- NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS — Released OL Wednesday, Aug. 25 Sunday’s games ma City. Selected the contract of RHP Nef- Jerald Hawkins. bronze medal game in Japan earli- Louisville at Kansas City Connecticut 80, Dallas 59 tali Feliz from Oklahoma City and agreed NEW ORLEANS SAINTS — Released K er this month. She became the first Gotham FC at Portland Chicago 87, Seattle 85, OT to terms on a major league contract. Brett Maher, RB Stevie Scott, CB Prince Phoenix 92, Atlanta 81 Placed LHP Cole Hamels on the 60-day IL. Amukamara and DE Noah Spence. Placed American to score in four differ- Saturday, Aug. 28 Las Vegas 84, Washington 83 MIAMI MARLINS — Designated 3B Deven DB KeiVarae Russell on the COVID-19 list. Kansas City at Chicago Minnesota 88, New York 78 Marrero for assignment. Reinstated RF Je- Placed OT Kyle Murphy on IR. Waived RB ent Olympics, and her 10 total Los Angeles 75, Indiana 70 sus Sanchez from the 10-day IL. Sent LHP Stevie Scott. goals in the event set a new record TENNIS Monday’s games Shawn Morimando outright to Jackson- NEW YORK GIANTS — Acquired DB Keion ville (Triple-A East). Crossen from Houston in exchange for a among U.S. players. Monday No games scheduled NEW YORK METS — Optioned RHP Geoff 2023 sixth-round draft pick. Signed QB Tuesday’s games Hartlieb to Syracuse (Triple-A East). Re- Brian Lewerke. Waived QB Clayton Thor- She ranks second on the nation- At XS Tennis Village called RHP Trevor Williams and C Patrick son with an injury designation. Placed LB Chicago Minnesota at Connecticut Mazeika from Syracuse. T.J. Brunson, G Kyle Murphy and S Joshua al team’s all-time list with 312 ap- Purse: $115,000 Dallas at Chicago PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES — Sent RHP Da- Kalu on IR. pearances, and fourth with 128 Surface: Hardcourt outdoor Indiana at Phoenix vid Paulino outright to Lehigh Valley. NEW YORK JETS — Placed K Chris Naggar Women’s Singles Washington at Las Vegas PITTSBURGH PIRATES — Returned OF on waivers. Activated DL Quinnen Wil- goals. Atlanta at Los Angeles liams off the physcially unable to perform Qualification Ka’ai Tom from rehab assignment with In- Lloyd is probably best known Maryna Zanevska (2), Belgium, def. Dal- Wednesday’s game dianapolis (Triple-A East) and reinstated (PUP) list. ma Galfi, Hungary, 6-2, 6-2. him from the 10-day IL, then designated SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS — Released CB Seattle at New York him for assignment. Designated 1B John Ken WebsterLBs James Burgess Jr., Do- for her three goals, all in the space Vitalia Diatchenko (4), Russia, def. Da- Thursday’s games Nogowski for assignment. Agreed to nald Payne and DL Eddie Vanderdoes. of 16 minutes, to lead the United layna Hewitt, United States, 7-6, 6-3. terms with free agent LF Yoshi Tsutsugo Signed LB Mychal Kendricks. Caroline Dolehide, United States, def. Minnesota at Connecticut on a major league contract. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS — Waived LB Nate States to a 5-2 victory over Japan Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove, Netherlands, Washington at Phoenix ST. LOUIS CARDINALS — Sent CF Scott Evans, OT, Lukayus McNeil, CB Jordan Mill- 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. Atlanta at Los Angeles Hurst outright to Memphis (Triple-A East). er, DT Walter Palmore, WR Anthony Ratliff- in the 2015 World Cup final. Her Harriet Dart, Britain, def. Kristina Kuco- SAN DIEGO PADRES — Agreed to terms Williams and RB Cameron Scarlett. Signed third goal in that match was a blis- va (1), Slovakia, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. AP SPORTLIGHT with RHP Jake Arrieta on a minor league DE Alex Tchangam. Round of 32 contract. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS — Placed OL tering strike from midfield. Claire Liu, United States, def. Ysaline Bo- Aug. 18 BASKETBALL Sadarius Hutcherson on IR. naventure, Belgium, 6-3, 6-2. 1923 — Helen Mills, 17, ends Molla Bjur- National Basketball Association TENNESSEE TITANS — Signed DBs Bra- At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Anna Kalinskaya, Russia, def. Anhelina stedt Mallory’s domination of the U.S. NBA — Suspended Sacramento F Chime- dley McDougald and Clayton Geathers. Lloyd scored in overtime in a 1-0 Kalinina (4), Ukraine, 6-2, 6-4. Lawn Tennis Association championships zie Metu one summer league game for Waived P James Smith, DB Reggie Floyd Sara Errani, Italy, def. Harmony Tan, and starts her own with a 6-2, 6-1 victory. punching Dallas F Eugene Omoruyi in the and TE Deon Yelder. Waived DB Maurice victory over Brazil in the final. France, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3. 1958 — Floyd Patterson knocks out Roy head during a game on August 15. Smith with an injury designation. Placed Varvara Gracheva (8), Russia, def. Mis- Harris in the 13th round at Wrigley Field in BROOKLYN NETS — Signed F Kessler Ed- DB Kevin Peterson on IR. Four years later, she scored both aki Doi, Japan, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. Los Angeles to retain his world heavy- wards to a two-way contract. HOCKEY goals in the gold-medal match Ann Li (3), United States, def. Whitney weight title. DETROIT PISTONS — Signed C Luka Gar- National Hockey League Osuigwe, United States, 6-3, 6-4. 2008 — A day after winning an Olympic za and F Chris Smith to two-way contracts. NASHVILLE PREDATORS — Signed G Ju- against Japan at Wembley Stadi- Women’s Doubles gold medal in Beijing, Rafael Nadal offi- MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES — Traded G Eric use Saros to a four-year contract. Round of 16 cially unseats Roger Federer to become Bledsoe to Los Angeles Clippers in ex- PHILADELPHIA FLYERS — Extended the um, becoming the only player to Dalma Galfi, Hungary, and Kamilla Rak- the world’s No. 1 tennis player when the change for C Daniel Oturu, Gs Patrick Be- contract affiliation with Reading Royals score winning goals in consecu- himova, Russia, def. Abigail Forbes and ATP rankings are released. Federer had verley and Rajon Rondo. (ECHL) through the 2021-22 with an option Dalayna Hewitt, United States, 6-1, 6-4. been atop the rankings for 235 weeks. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS — Signed F to renew through 2022-23. tive Olympic finals. PAGE 20 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, August 18, 2021 AUTO RACING/SPORTS BRIEFS Brickyard 200 organizers seek answers Crash-filled finish dominates discussion about drivers’ problems with Indianapolis road course Associated Press show.” INDIANAPOLIS — One by one, The entertainment value drivers sped across the deteriorat- proved costly. ing curbing in the fifth and sixth Nine of the 11 cars that didn’t fin- turns late in the Brickyard 200. ish were involved in crashes. One by one, they veered off course. Many of those running at the end When the NASCAR Cup Series looked like they had been involved race restarted after track workers in a rough-and-tumble short track removed the curbing, seven more or dirt track race rather than a cars had similar results in the road course. same section of the Indianapolis As a result, most Cup teams will road course Sunday. spend this week scrambling to re- It looked like a demolition derby pair and rebuild their cars after a and race organizers have plenty to second straight road race. They re- reconsider before next year’s turn to an oval Sunday at Michi- race. gan, and for some it can’t come “Obviously, we had our prob- soon enough. lems today,” NASCAR vice presi- Organizers will likely investi- dent of competition Scott Miller gate whether the wear and tear of said. “We’ll take a lot of learnings three days of practice, qualifying away and come back and put on a and racing on a rare crossover better event, obviously avoiding weekend with the IndyCar, NAS- RANDY CRIST/AP the problems we had today. But I CAR Xfinity and Cup series played Christopher Bell, left, and Daniel Suarez slide out during a massive crash caused by a piece of curbing think that we saw some exciting any role in the chaotic finish. during Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. action out there and I think that the “The curbing is the same style course itself puts on a really good we’ve had since we built it. It’s been replaced, repaired,” Indi- played a role in what occurred NASCAR opted to keep it in. anapolis Motor Speedway Presi- and Brickyard winner AJ All- “As we worked through putting dent Doug Boles said. “We’ve not mendinger, a former open-wheel it together for the Xfinity race last ever really had an issue with those driver, agreed. year, there was a big ask from the curbs. We looked at that section “When you hit them wrong, you drivers to have something back every session, looked at it every pay the price,” he said of the chi- there because that section was night, every morning there was no canes. “Unfortunately, it was a way too fast,” Miller said. “That indication there was ever anything huge price and we don’t need that. was not something we were going wrong with it, so it’s a little bit of a We don’t need to be tearing up to sign up for.” surprise to us.” cars like that. But at the same Then just moments after the res- Drivers were surprised, too. time, we have to drive over it the tart, the wrecking happened again William Byron, the pole winner right way. I thought the race track in the same section, bringing out a and the first to crash, prepared for had the right limitations. Unfor- second red flag. the first Brickyard on the 14-turn, tunately, the curbing was just It’s not the first time the Brick- 2.4-mile course by working on a starting to come up.” yard left town amid controversy. simulator with IndyCar driver Ri- Only 11 of the first 78 laps were Tire problems plagued the Brick- nus VeeKay. And yet, Bryon said run under yellow — two coming at yard 400 in 2008 and again in 2020. he’d never experienced anything the end of the first two stages and After a rain delay and a series of like it. two for debris on the track. late crashes, the 2017 Brickyard Others went public with their When the curbing came loose, 400 finished at sunset. complaints. things changed quickly. Series of- “I think we made the right deci- “I’m missing the oval already,” ficials debated whether to call the sion for right now and I think we playoff contender Austin Dillon race early but track workers want to have it back on the road BOB RUDDICK/AP said after being knocked out in the managed to detach the curb. Then course next year, so we’ll see Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles, second from second melee. the question was whether a sec- where we go,” Boles said. “I don’t right, helps crew members clean up the track. Dillon noted that drivers also ond chicane should be removed. think it has any impact.”

BRIEFLY Tebow’s comeback story ends with Jaguars cutting him

Associated Press posted on Twitter. “I’ve never wanted to and they confirmed Monday they reached The 27-year-old Embiid was NBA MVP JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Tim Tebow’s make decisions out of fear of failure and I’m 100%. The NFL announced the Falcons were runner-up this season to Denver’s Nikola NFL comeback is seemingly over. grateful for the chance to have pursued a the first team to reach 100%. Jokic and led the Sixers to the best regular- The Jacksonville Jaguars waived Tebow dream.” season record in the Eastern Conference. on Tuesday, parting with the 2007 Heisman Tebow opened training camp as Jackson- 76ers sign Embiid to extension The Sixers lost in the second round to the At- Trophy winner who switched from quarter- ville’s fourth- or fifth-string tight end after PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia lanta Hawks. back to tight end in hopes of rejuvenating his switching positions this year. He was trying 76ers signed All-Star center Joel Embiid to a pro football career. to return to the NFL after spending five years multiyear contract that a person familiar Padres sign Arrieta Tebow’s blocking ranged from awkward in the New York Mets’ organization. with the situation said was a four-year, $196 DENVER — Jake Arrieta caught on with a to awful in Jacksonville’s preseason opener In other NFL news: million extension, taking Embiid through the playoff contender after getting released by against Cleveland on Saturday night, his 34th ■ The Atlanta Falcons have become the 2026-27 season. the Chicago Cubs, signing a minor league birthday. He failed to get a catch and played first NFL team to have all of its players com- The person spoke on condition of anonym- deal with the San Diego Padres on Monday. no snaps on special teams. plete COVID-19 vaccinations. ity to The Associated Press because specific The former NL Cy Young Award winner is “Thankful for the highs and even the lows, The Falcons opened training camp with terms of the deal announced Tuesday were expected to make his first start for San Diego the opportunities, and the setbacks,” Tebow more than 90% of their players vaccinated, not made public. on Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies. Wednesday, August 18, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 21 MLB

Scoreboard Woman American League East Division says Bauer WLPct GB Tampa Bay 72 47 .605 _ left her Boston 69 51 .575 3½ New York 66 52 .559 5½ Toronto 63 54 .538 8 Baltimore 38 79 .325 33 terrified Central Division BY ANDREW DALTON WLPct GB Associated Press Chicago 69 50 .580 _ LOS ANGELES — A woman Cleveland 57 60 .487 11 Detroit 58 62 .483 11½ wrapped her own hair around her Minnesota 53 66 .445 16 neck as she sat on the witness stand Kansas City 50 67 .427 18 to demonstrate the way she said Los West Division Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor WLPct GB Bauer used it to choke her into un­ Houston 70 48 .593 _ consciousness. Oakland 68 51 .571 2½ “I couldn’t breathe. It almost felt Seattle 63 56 .529 7½ like I was going to gag. I was gagging Los Angeles 59 61 .492 12 Texas 42 76 .356 28 for air. Then I went unconscious,” National League the woman said, crying through one of the more dramatic moments in East Division more than three hours of testimony WLPct GB NOAH K. MURRAY/AP Monday. “It took me a while to re­ Atlanta 63 56 .529 _ 2 New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole allowed two hits over 5⁄3 innings and struck out nine in a member who was even having sex Philadelphia 61 57 .517 1½ New York 59 59 .500 3½ 2­1 win Monday against the visiting Los Angeles Angels. It was his first game back after having COVID­19.with me, or where I was.” Miami 51 68 .429 12 The 27­year­old San Diego wom­ Washington 50 68 .424 12½ an is seeking a five­year restraining Central Division ROUNDUP order against Bauer, who was WLPct GB placed on paid administrative leave Milwaukee 72 47 .605 _ on July 2 by Major League Baseball. Cincinnati 65 55 .542 7½ That leave has been extended St. Louis 61 56 .521 10 through Friday. MLB and police in Chicago 52 69 .430 21 Pasadena, Calif., are investigating Pittsburgh 42 77 .353 30 Cole sharp in return from West Division the woman’s allegations, and Bauer WLPct GB could face punishment under base­ ball’s domestic violence policy. San Francisco 77 42 .647 _ Los Angeles 73 46 .613 4 The woman said she sought the San Diego 67 54 .554 11 COVID, Yanks top Angels protective order when she realized Colorado 53 66 .445 24 how long the police investigation Arizona 38 81 .319 39 Associated Press Freeman also singled twice the inning and drove in a run with was going to take. Monday’s games N.Y. Yankees 2, L.A. Angels 1 NEW YORK — Ten or so days while Ozzie Albies had three hits another base hit during an eight­ She was granted a temporary civ­ Tampa Bay 9, Baltimore 2 ago, Gerrit Cole was playing catch and three RBIs for the NL East­ run Reds outburst. il restraining order against Bauer Kansas City 7, Houston 6 Chicago White Sox 5, Oakland 2 with his wife, Amy, hoping his leading Braves, who have won Dodgers 2, Pirates 1: Max until evidence could be heard for Minnesota 5, Cleveland 4, 10 innings Atlanta 12, Miami 2 body would bounce back from CO­ four straight and 11 of 13. Muncy hit a tiebreaking home run the five­year order she is now seek­ Cincinnati 14, Chicago Cubs 5 VID­19 quickly enough for him to “Every guy’s clicking right now in the eighth inning and host Los ing. Colorado 6, San Diego 5 L.A. Dodgers 2, Pittsburgh 1 help the Yankees soon. at the same time, right when we Angeles extended its winning Bauer’s representatives have re­ San Francisco 7, N.Y. Mets 5 Tuesday’s games Unsure how much he had in the needed it,” Freeman said. “It’s streak to four games with a victory peatedly said everything that hap­ Boston at N.Y. Yankees, 2 tank, Cole’s first pitch Monday been fun. The line’s been moving a over Pittsburgh. pened between him and the woman Toronto at Washington Baltimore at Tampa Bay night to Shohei Ohtani was 99 lot lately so that’s all you can ask Billy McKinney’s solo shot tied was consensual. He is expected to L.A. Angels at Detroit mph. The rest were plenty good, for as an offense.” the game in the seventh. give his own version of events dur­ Seattle at Texas Cleveland at Minnesota too. Twins 5, Indians 4 (10): Jorge Giants 7, Mets 5: Kris Bryant ing the hearing, which is scheduled Houston at Kansas City Oakland at Chicago White Sox Cole pitched two­hit ball into the Polanco doubled with two outs in hit two home runs, Kevin Gaus­ to last several days. The woman re­ Atlanta at Miami Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati sixth inning and struck out nine in the bottom of the 10th inning to man set a career high for wins and turns to the stand Tuesday morning. Milwaukee at St. Louis his return from the COVID­19 in­ score Max Kepler and give host host San Francisco beat New York. Bauer’s attorney Shawn Holley San Diego at Colorado Philadelphia at Arizona jured list, and Joey Gallo hit a two­ Minnesota a second straight walk­ Brandon Crawford had four said Monday the woman gave N.Y. Mets at San Francisco Pittsburgh at L.A. Dodgers run homer as New York beat the off win. hits. Brandon Belt also homered Bauer every indication she wanted Wednesday’s games Los Angeles Angels 2­1. Polanco lined a double down the and Wilmer Flores added two hits to be choked in the way she de­ Cleveland (Plesac 7-4) at Minnesota (TBD) The Yankees have won 10 of 13 right­field line off Nick Wittgren and an RBI. The Giants have won scribed, and otherwise consented to Toronto (Berríos 8-6) at Washington and pulled within two games of (2­6) to score the winning runs. 16 of 21. rough sexual treatment during the (Gray 0-1) Boston (Pivetta 9-5) at N.Y. Yankees Boston for an AL wild­card spot. Caleb Thielbar (5­0), Minneso­ White Sox 5, Athletics 2: Eloy two nights she and Bauer spent to­ (Heaney 7-8) Baltimore (Watkins 2-4) at Tampa Bay New York opens a three­game se­ ta’s fourth reliever, pitched a 1­2­3 Jiménez hit a tiebreaking RBI sin­ gether at the pitcher’s home in Pa­ (McClanahan 7-4) L.A. Angels (Ohtani 7-1) at Detroit (Sku- ries against the rival Red Sox with final inning. gle and Liam Hendriks got the sadena. bal 8-10) a day­night doubleheader Tues­ Rays 9, Orioles 2:Brett Phillips save against his former team, lead­ Holley read from private Insta­ Seattle (Gonzales 4-5) at Texas (Folty- newicz 2-11) day. had an inside­the­park homer, ing host Chicago over Oakland. gram messages the woman sent Houston (Greinke 11-3) at Kansas City 2 (Singer 3-8) Cole (11­6) went 5 ⁄3 innings, the Brandon Lowe went deep twice, Seby Zavala had two hits and Bauer in which she said she had Oakland (Irvin 8-11) at Chicago White Sox (Lynn 10-3) only damage against him coming and AL East­leading Tampa Bay two RBIs as the White Sox im­ “never been more turned on in my Chicago Cubs (TBD) at Cincinnati (Mah- on Justin Upton’s homer in the dealt visiting Baltimore its 12th proved to an AL­best 40­22 at life” than when Bauer choked her le 10-3) San Diego (Arrieta 5-11) at Colorado first. The Yankees’ ace walked just consecutive loss. home. Luis Robert homered, and out during their first encounter in (Gomber 9-7) N.Y. Mets (Megill 1-2) at San Francisco one batter and threw 90 pitches, Kevin Kiermaier and Mike Dallas Keuchel (8­6) pitched five April, and wanted more of the same (DeSclafani 11-5) Atlanta (Morton 11-4) at Miami (Luzardo reaching 100 mph in his first ap­ Brosseau also homered for the innings of two­run ball in his first when they got together again in 4-5) pearance since allowing eight runs Rays, who are 12­1 against the win since July 9. May. Holley said during her open­ Milwaukee (Peralta 9-3) at St. Louis (Fla- herty 9-1) to Tampa Bay on July 29. Orioles this season. Royals 7, Astros 6: Salvador ing statement that the woman told Philadelphia (Suárez 5-3) at Arizona (TBD) “I was a bit prepared for if I Reds 14, Cubs 5:Jonathan In­ Perez drove in the go­ahead runs Bauer in the messages to give her Pittsburgh (Brubaker 4-12) at L.A. Dodg- ers (TBD) didn’t know where the balls were dia homered and drove in five with a two­out single in the eighth “all the pain.” Thursday’s games going to go,” Cole said. “The plan runs, Wade Miley threw seven inning, helping struggling Kansas The woman testified that she in Baltimore at Tampa Bay was just to attack the strike zone in shutout innings and host Cincinna­ City to a win at home over AL no way consented to how violent L.A. Angels at Detroit Seattle at Texas the first and go from there.” ti sent Chicago to its 12th straight West­leading Houston. things got the second night when, as Houston at Kansas City Oakland at Chicago White Sox Braves 12, Marlins 2: Freddie loss. Rockies 6, Padres 5:C.J. Cron she was still reeling from being un­ Minnesota at N.Y. Yankees Philadelphia at Arizona Freeman and Adam Duvall home­ Joey Votto got the 2,000th hit of hit a solo homer in the ninth inning conscious, Bauer punched her in Miami at Cincinnati red in a seven­run fourth inning, his career, a solid single in the sev­ and host Colorado handed San the jaw, the cheekbones and the side Milwaukee at St. Louis N.Y. Mets at L.A. Dodgers and surging Atlanta won at Miami. enth. Votto came up again later in Diego its fifth loss in six games. of the head. PAGE 22 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, August 18, 2021 NFL WR Jones has caught attention of Raiders’ Gruden BY W.G. RAMIREZ Associated Press “I would say his HENDERSON, Nev. — Don’t sleep on Zay Jones. ceiling is It’s been a message Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden has untapped.” been delivering since players first Raiders coach Jon Gruden reported to team headquarters for training camp in late July. On WR Zay Jones “I don’t want anybody to forget Zay Jones,” Gruden warned that Though he should be familiar day. “I don’t think we have a better- with the fifth-year pro after Jones conditioned athlete than Zay played in 26 games for the team Jones.” over the last two seasons, Gruden Jones certainly appeared to be in said he wanted Jones on the field top shape during the first quarter of Saturday for 15 to 20 snaps. Saturday’s 20-7 preseason victory Against Seattle, Peterman tar- over the Seattle Seahawks. geted 12 players and connected TONY AVELAR/AP Jones was third-string quarter- with 11, six of whom were receiv- San Francisco wide receiver Trent Sherfield, left, is part of a much deeper receiving corps this season for back Nathan Peterman’s main tar- ers. the 49ers, who only had 25 touchdown receptions last season. get during the opening stanza, “It’s amazing just to kind of see when the two connected three where me and Zay have come in times for 57 yards, including an im- our careers,” Peterman said. “I re- pressive 28-yard go-route down the member throwing to him in the Se- 49ers hope deeper receiver sideline, which led to an eventual nior Bowl, still getting drafted to- touchdown during the game’s first gether, and then obviously coming drive. here together — it’s been amazing. corps boosts passing game “I would say his ceiling is un- I mean he just makes plays. ... He tapped,” Gruden said. “He’s taking really sparked the whole offense, BY JOSH DUBOW surprise this season after being advantage of these opportunities. ... the whole team.” Associated Press 10 drafted in the seventh round in I’m rooting for him. I’m really hap- While Gruden continues to cele- SANTA CLARA, Calif. — 2020. He started the season on the py for him because nobody has brate the wideout’s infectious per- Whoever ends up playing quarter- practice squad but hurt his Catches of 40 or more yards last worked harder than him.” sonality and energy, saying he back for San Francisco this season season by the 49ers, who were tied for hamstring and never got a chance And that’s a good thing for him, brings the type of enthusiasm that figures to have a much deeper set 10th in the league in that category. to play. considering locks to make the ros- makes him feel younger and of receivers at his disposal than But now he is showing off the SOURCE: NFL.com ter like Bryan Edwards, Henry healthier, Jones said he feeds off what the 49ers had last season. skills that helped him catch 59 pas- Ruggs and Hunter Renfrow are sit- the passion of his coach, who turns With starters Deebo Smauel and ses his final year at Tennessee ting out preseason games while 57 on Tuesday. Brandon Aiyuk dealing with inju- ses the previous two seasons in when he was also dynamic after Gruden and offensive coordinator “I generally love who he is as a ries last season that limited them to Arizona when he played mostly on the catch with the ability to break Greg Olson determine who to keep person and as a coach,” Jones said. just a handful of games when both special teams but has proven he tackles. from a deep receiving corps that al- “He’s the most consistent person were healthy and not much proven can contribute as a receiver as He caught two laterals from so includes Keelan Doss, who has I’ve seen as far as his personality depth behind them, the Niners well. Lance on Saturday that he turned stepped up throughout camp, and and what he brings to the table ev- struggled to get a consistent down- “We were hoping he could, we into gains of 11 and 12 yards for first Willie Snead, who was signed as a ery single day. Whether it’s install- field passing game going in 2020. just didn’t study him a ton on it,” downs, added a 26-yard catch and free agent during the offseason. ing plays, whether it’s around the But now with the top two targets Shanahan said. “There wasn’t a was a strong run blocker. Jones, who started his career building, he has an infectious per- healthy to start the season, the re- ton of tape on it. We liked how he “He’s a physical guy who loves with Peterman in Buffalo, had 14 sonality as well. And he generally turn of Mohamed Sanu, a strong was wired and how he could run to play football and I wanted to see receptions for 154 yards last season loves the game of football, every camp from special teams ace and stuff and how physical he it transfer over to the game and and just one touchdown. He had 20 facet of it. So that means a lot com- Trent Sherfield and the emer- played on special teams. But get- make sure he could still stay under catches for 147 yards in 12 games ing from him because I just try to gence of Jauan Jennings after sit- ting him here right in OTAs, we enough control and do his assign- with the Raiders in 2019. add to what we’re doing.” ting out his rookie season injured, saw the receiver ability.” ments also,” Shanahan said. Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance That has been evident on the “When he got his opportunities should have plenty of options. practice field and in the exhibition when the ball was thrown to him, “We don’t have 1, 2, 3 or 4 set- opener when he caught an 80-yard he came through.” tled,” coach Kyle Shanahan said TD from Lance on Saturday Sanu, a nine-year vet who Monday. “You guys know who’s against Kansas City. played three games in San Fran- probably going to make it, at least Sherfield and Lance have built a cisco last season, is back for anoth- with those groups, but those guys strong connection getting plenty of er stint and is showing he can be a have got to go out there and play. I time together as part of the second- part of the offense as well. He mean, we had a lot of young guys team offense. caught a TD pass in practice from play last year by default with the “Just building that relationship Garoppolo on Monday to end a injuries that happen and some of with him has been really, really drive. the situations we were in. I want good,” Sherfield said. “Not just Notes: DE Nick Bosa could take those guys going out there compet- with Trey, but also with Jimmy, part in team drills next week as he ing and showing they can play too. All the quarterbacks. ... All works his way back from a season- good football.” those guys and being able to work ending knee injury in 2020. ... DT While Samuel and Aiyuk both with all of them has been a really, Javon Kinlaw hurt his shoulder figure to start, it’s the performance really fun opportunity and when- last week and is week to week. ... of some of the other players that ever the ball come my way, no mat- The Niners signed LB Mychal RICK SCUTERI/AP has been most encouraging so far ter who it’s from, got to catch it and Kendricks to a one-year deal. Ken- Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Zay Jones, left, had 14 receptions this summer. make a play.” dricks has played nine seasons in for 154 yards last season and just one touchdown. Sherfield caught just nine pas- Jennings has also been a bit of a the NFL. Wednesday, August 18, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 23 COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Scoreboard

AP Top 25 Tide No. 1 in preseason AP poll The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press preseason college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, total BY RALPH D. RUSSO was little nonconference play and none among The defending AAC champion Bearcats have points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place Associated Press Power Five conference teams. the best preseason ranking for a non-Power vote, and 2020 final ranking: Another college football season will start Amid all the chaos and frustration was a fa- Five or BCS conference team since Boise State with everyone chasing the Tide. miliar ending: The season came to a close with was No. 5 to begin 2011. The Broncos out of the Record Pts Prv Alabama is No. 1 in The Associated Press Top Alabama on top. Mountain West finished that season No. 8. 1. Alabama (47) 0-0 1548 1 25 preseason poll for fourth time in the past six Last year’s Tide staked a claim as the greatest 2. Oklahoma (6) 0-0 1462 6 Rarities and firsts 3. Clemson (6) 0-0 1447 3 seasons. team of the Saban dynasty. Alabama went 13-0, 4. Ohio St. (1) 0-0 1393 2 Coming off their sixth national champion- facing 11 Southeastern Conference teams and ■ Sun Belt rivals No. 22 Coastal Carolina and 5. Georgia (3) 0-0 1364 7 ship under Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide enter playoff showdowns with Notre Dame and Ohio No. 23 Louisiana-Lafayette are ranked in the 6. Texas A&M 0-0 1223 4 the season loaded with potential replacements State. preseason poll for the first time. It’s the first 7. Iowa St. 0-0 1160 9 8. Cincinnati 0-0 1014 8 for the record-breakers and NFL Draft picks time the conference has had any teams ranked 9. Notre Dame 0-0 1009 5 who have moved on, including Heisman Tro- Poll points in the preseason. 10. North Carolina 0-0 999 18 phy winner DeVonta Smith. ■ Alabama is now tied with Ohio State for the ■ No. 7 Iowa State is ranked in the preseason 11. Oregon 0-0 968 — Alabama received 47 of 63 first-place votes second-most preseason No. 1 rankings with for the third straight season after having only 12. Wisconsin 0-0 743 — 13. Florida 0-0 728 13 from the panel of sports writers and broadcast- eight. Oklahoma has the most with 10. one previous appearance in the preseason poll 14. Miami 0-0 663 22 ers in the poll presented by Regions Bank. Okla- ■ Only two teams have gone wire-to-wire as (1978). The Cyclones had never been ranked 15. Southern Cal 0-0 660 21 homa is No. 2, just ahead of No. 3 Clemson (each the No. 1 team in the country during a season. better than 20th to begin a season. They also 16. LSU 0-0 631 — received six first-place votes). Southern California was the last in 2004, with have never been ranked higher at any point 17. Indiana 0-0 549 12 18. Iowa 0-0 513 16 Ohio State, which lost to the Tide in last sea- Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart. The than the No. 8 they reached last year on the way 19. Penn St. 0-0 456 — son’s championship game, is No. 4 after receiv- first was undefeated Florida State in 1999, pos- to finishing ninth. 20. Washington 0-0 449 — ing a first-place vote. Georgia received three sibly the best team of the Bobby Bowden era. ■ No. 10 North Carolina has its best presea- 21. Texas 0-0 350 19 first-place votes and rounds out the top five. Bowden died earlier this month at 91. son ranking since being No. 7 in 1997 during 22. Coastal Carolina 0-0 232 14 The 2020 Buckeyes were emblematic of a bi- ■ No. 8 Cincinnati of the American Athletic coach Mack Brown’s first stint with the Tar 23. Louisiana-Lafayette 0-0 208 15 24. Utah 0-0 176 — zarre season played through the pandemic, Conference is the first team from outside the Heels. 25. Arizona St. 0-0 125 — suiting up for only eight games after the Big Ten Power Five leagues to be ranked in the presea- ■ No. 17 Indiana is ranked in the preseason didn’t kickoff until late October. The season son top 10 since Louisville started ninth in 2012. poll for the first time since 1968. The Hoosiers Others receiving votes: Oklahoma St. 107, Mississippi 106, TCU 40, Liberty 36, Au- was riddled with postponements, cancella- That was the Cardinals’ final season as a mem- finished last season at No. 12, the second-best fi- burn 32, NC State 14, Michigan 12, North- tions, and players and coaches missing games ber of the AAC before joining the Atlantic Coast nal ranking in program history. Indiana has western 8, Nevada 7, Boise St. 7, Ball St. 6, BYU 6, UCF 5, Houston 5, Boston College 5, across the country because of COVID-19. There Conference. never started and finished a season ranked. West Virginia 3, UCLA 2, Army 2, UAB 2. Real: A team-by-team analysis of the AP preseason Top 25

FROM PAGE 24 been recruiting like the perennial playoff Reality check:Coach Mack Brown Reality check: Since 2010, the coach Jimmy Lake is trying to prove the How likely is your team to be teams ranked in front of them and have tries to make it two straight seasons Trojans have had four seasons that program’s slip was small. one of the disappointments? four straight top-seven finishes under with a ranked finish for the Tar Heels. started ranked and ended unranked. No. 21 Texas (7­3) Here’s a quick look: Kirby Smart. Georgia is a better bet to That hasn’t been done in Chapel Hill Coach Clay Helton could have a hard Opener: vs. No. 23 Louisiana-La- No. 1 Alabama (13­0 last year) break its four-decade national title since the final two seasons of Brown’s time surviving another season at USC fayette, Sept. 4. Opener: vs. Miami in Atlanta, Sept. drought than to tank and finish un- first stint at UNC in 1996-97. that doesn’t live up to expectations. Reality check: Former Alabama 4. ranked. No. 11 Oregon (4­3) No. 16 LSU (5­5) offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian Reality check: The Crimson Tide No. 6 Texas A&M (9­1) Opener: vs. Fresno State, Sept. 4. Opener: at UCLA, Sept. 4. takes over a program that for all the dra- have not finished ranked lower than Opener: vs. Kent State, Sept. 4. Reality check:There has been a lot Reality check:The Tigers became ma, has finished ranked three straight 10th the last 13 seasons. There is no Reality check:Heading into Jimbo of buzz around the Ducks because of the the first defending champions since Au- seasons for the first time since a 12-year reason to believe this season’s defend- Fisher’s fourth season as coach, all way coach Mario Cristobal has been burn in 2011 to finish the season out- run under Mack Brown from 1998- ing champion is vulnerable to an LSU- signs are pointing in the right direction recruiting, but Oregon has finished a side the Top 25. There is talent for a 2009. type tumble. for the Aggies. But A&M has only fin- season ranked just once in the last five bounce back in Baton Rouge. No. 22 Coastal Carolina (11­1) No. 2 Oklahoma (9­2) ished the season ranked five times this years. No. 17 Indiana (6­2) Opener: vs. The Citadel, Sept. 2. Opener: at Tulane, Sept. 4. century and hasn’t had consecutive No. 12 Wisconsin (4­3) Opener: at No. 18 Iowa, Sept. 4. Reality check: The Chanticleers Reality check: The Sooners have top-10 finishes in 27 years. Opener: vs. No. 19 Penn State, Reality check: Coach Tom Allen’s will try to follow up their magical 2020 their most balanced team in years, with No. 7 Iowa State (9­3) Sept. 4. Hoosiers will try to become the first season by becoming the first Sun Belt a quality defense to go with Lincoln Ri- Opener: vs. Northern Iowa, Sept. 4. Reality check: In two of the last team in the history of the program to team to begin and finish a season ley’s usual potent offense. For whatever Reality check: This whole ranked three seasons, Wisconsin started start and end the season ranked. ranked. it’s worth: Twice in the last 12 seasons in the top-10 thing is new and different ranked and ended unranked. It’s hap- No. 18 Iowa (6­2) No. 23 Louisiana­Lafayette (2009 and ’14) Oklahoma has been a to the Cyclones. Iowa State finished last pened a total of four times to the Badg- Opener: vs. No. 17 Indiana, Sept. (10­1) preseason top five team and finished season ranked for just third time in pro- ers in the previous 13 seasons, but the 4. Opener: at No. 21 Texas, Sept. 4. unranked. gram history. Can Matt Campbell’s pro- last time Wisconsin went two straight Reality check: In 22 seasons un- Reality check: The Ragin’ Cajuns No. 3 Clemson (10­2) gram continue to outperform its DNA? seasons finishing outside the Top 25 der Kirk Ferentz, the Hawkeyes have will try to follow up 21 victories in the Opener: vs. No. 5 Georgia in Char- No. 8 Cincinnati (9­1) was 2003. neither finished four straight seasons last two seasons by becoming, yes, the lotte, N.C., Sept. 4. Opener: vs. Miami, Ohio, Sept. 4. No. 13 Florida (8­4) ranked, nor had three straight seasons first Sun Belt team to begin and finish a Reality check:The Tigers are on a Reality check: The Bearcats have Opener: vs. Florida Atlantic, Sept. that began and ended in the AP poll. Io- season ranked. six-year run of top four finishes and finished ranked each of the last three 4. wa can accomplish both of those this No. 24 Utah (3­2) haven’t finished unranked since 2010. seasons under coach Luke Fickell, im- Reality check: Coach Dan Mullen season. Opener: vs. Weber State, Sept. 2. Coach Dabo Swinney’s team has lost proving each season. They’re loaded for has brought some consistency with No. 19 Penn State (4­5) Reality check:The Utes had a run one ACC game since October 2017 and another run in the American Athletic three straight ranked finishes, a first for Opener: at No. 12 Wisconsin, Sept. of three straight seasons from 2014-16 it’s to a team (Notre Dame) that is not in Conference, with nonconference games Florida since Urban Meyer left after the 4. in which they started the season un- the conference this season. at No. 17 Indiana and No. 9 Notre 2010 season. Reality check: The Nittany Lions ranked and finished ranked. Utah No. 4 Ohio State (8­1) Dame likely to determine just how high No. 14 Miami (8­3) had a string of four straight Top 25 fin- doesn’t get undervalued quite so much Opener: at Minnesota, Sept. 2. they can go in 2021. Opener: vs. No. 1 Alabama in At- ishes snapped last year. There is reason anymore. Like a lot of Pac-12 teams, the Reality check:The Buckeyes have No. 9 Notre Dame (10­2) lanta, Sept. 4. to believe it was just a glitch, but a tricky Utes bring back a boatload of experi- finished unranked just once since win- Opener: at Florida State, Sept. 5. Reality check: There are many early season schedule should reveal a enced players. ning the national title in 2002, and have Reality check: The Fighting Irish ways to describe how underwhelming lot. No. 25 Arizona State (2­2) 16 top-10 finishes over that span. have finished the season ranked four the Hurricanes have been since joining No. 20 Washington (3­1) Opener: vs. Southern Utah, Sept. Coach Ryan Day has yet to lose to a Big straight seasons. The last time that hap- the ACC in 2004, but how about this? Opener: vs. Montana, Sept. 4. 2. Ten opponent in 16 games. pened was when Lou Holtz’s teams Miami has finished the season ranked Reality check: The Huskies Reality check: The Sun Devils are No. 5 Georgia (8­2) ended seven straight seasons ranked just six times as a member of the ACC seemed primed to settle into a perennial ranked in the preseason for the first time Opener: vs. No. 3 Clemson, Sept. from 1987-1993. and never better than 11th. Top 25 team under coach Chris Peter- since 2015. Arizona State has only had 4. No. 10 North Carolina (8­4) No. 15 USC (5­1) sen when they had three straight ranked one season (2014) in the last 24 years Reality check: The Bulldogs have Opener: at Virginia Tech, Sept. 3. Opener: vs. San Jose State, Sept. 4. finishes from 2015-18. Second-year that began and ended ranked. PAGE 24 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, August 18, 2021 Back to form SPORTS Yankees’ Cole sharp in return from COVID-19 ›› MLB, Page 21

Nick Saban and defending national champion Alabama are No. 1 in the Associated Press preseason Top 25.

L.G. PATTERSON/AP

COMMENTARY Who’s the real deal? A quick reality check for the AP Top 25: Some will succeed while others will flop

BY RALPH D. RUSSO year, three top 10 teams — and five among Associated Press 38% the top 12 in the preseason rankings — did he preseason AP Top 25 is all not finish the season ranked, led by 2019 na- about hope and optimism. tional champion LSU, which was No. 6 go- Percentage of teams from 2010-2020 that Reality Check is all about, appeared in the preseason Top 25 but finished ing into last season. well, being realistic. Some- the season unranked, an average of 9.5 teams. As expected, most of the preseason times the truth can be painful. ranked teams that fail to make the final Top SOURCE: Associated Press TAs has become tradition, the first AP Top 25 come from the bottom of the rankings. 25 Reality Check of the season is a reminder nal Top 25 was seven in 2011; the most was Teams ranked 21-25 in the preseason make that your promising college football team, 12, in 2010. up 27% of the teams (28 total) that finished newly minted with a cool ranking as it heads Even in an anything-but-normal 2020 unranked. into the season, might turn out to be not as season played through the pandemic, the To put it another way, a little more than good as you and the poll voters thought. number of teams that started the season half the teams that started the season Alabama is No. 1, followed by Oklahoma, ranked only to finish unranked was a typical ranked between 21-25 from 2010-20, fin- Clemson and Ohio State in the poll present- 10. ished unranked. ed by Regions Bank and released Monday. What was unusual about last season was At the top of the poll? Only seven presea- From 2010-2020, on average, 9.5 teams the number of flameouts that came from the son top-five teams over that span have that appeared in the preseason Top 25 fin- upper half of the preseason Top 25. failed to be ranked somewhere in the final KEN RUINARD/AP ished the season unranked — about 38% of Over the last 11 seasons, 17 teams that Top 25. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney and the picks. During that time, the fewest pre- started the season ranked in the top 10 fin- the Tigers have finished in the top four for season ranked teams to finish outside the fi- ished unranked, just 1.5 per season. But last SEE REAL ON PAGE 23 the past six seasons.

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