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Volume 80 Edition 64 ©SS 2021 THURSDAY,JULY 15, 2021 50¢/Free to Deployed Areas US to begin evacuation of Afghans who aided effort

BY J.P. LAWRENCE Stars and Stripes KABUL, Afghanistan — Flights to evacuate Afghans who assisted the U.S. military are set to begin during the last week of July, a se- nior Biden administration official said Wednesday. Operation Allies Refuge will provide relocation flights for Af- ghan citizens and their families, said the official, who spoke on con- dition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak pub- licly. Priority will go to those who have already applied for visas to come to the U.S. through the Spe- cial Immigrant Visa program. The official declined to provide further details on when the flights will depart, or where evacuees will be sent to, citing security con- cerns. Advocates for Afghan SIV ap- JULIO CORTEZ/AP plicants in Congress and among U.S. Army veteran Andrew Brennan poses with servicemember bracelets in his home in Baltimore last month. The former Army captain who veterans groups welcomed flew combat missions in Afghanistan lost one of his closest friends, pilot Bryan Nichols, who was killed along with the entire crew in 2011. Wednesday’s announcement. Rep. Seth Moulton, a Massachu- setts Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said the U.S. needed to follow through on its promise to keep allies safe in ‘What have we ended up with?’ exchange for their help. “I’m glad to see President (Joe) Biden following through on that US veterans of Afghanistan weigh in as America’s longest war winds down promise,” Moulton said in a state- ment on Twitter. BY JULIE WATSON, ted the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. RELATED Iraq served multiple tours, some The Biden administration’s an- KEN MILLER AND More than 800,000 U.S. troops in well-secured bases in times of nouncement comes amid fears of ELLEN KNICKMEYER have served in the Central Asian Bush: Afghanistan comparative quiet, others facing retribution for Afghans who as- Associated Press country since then, in a war that improvised explosive devices on sisted the U.S. and its allies during mages of the World Trade quickly expanded to confronting withdrawal will be the roads, mortar and rocket at- the last two decades of conflict in Center towers collapsing in Afghanistan’s Taliban and to na- tacks on their positions, and fire- Afghanistan. Deadly Taliban of- New York were still fresh in tion-building. On Monday, the top ‘unbelievably bad’ fights. While the U.S. quickly suc- fensives have swept the country as Ithe minds of the first Amer- U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Page 5 ceeded in quelling the al-Qaida the U.S. drawdown from its long- ican troops arriving in Afghanis- Gen. Scott Miller, relinquished his fighters behind the 9/11 attacks, est war reaches its end. tan, as the U.S. launched an inva- command in Kabul, underscoring One-third of the roughly 4 mil- Americans leave with the Taliban More than 18,000 applicants sion targeting the Afghanistan- the winding down of America’s lion troops who served in the based al-Qaida leaders who plot- longest war. post-9/11 wars in Afghanistan and SEE VETERANS ON PAGE 5 SEE AFGHANS ON PAGE 5 PAGE 2 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, July 15, 2021 BUSINESS/WEATHER EU to unveil tough climate rules, foreign firm tax EXCHANGE RATES Military rates South Korea (Won) 1,146.79 Associated Press buildings. It will see a revamp of the Fahrenheit, and ideally no more Switzerland (Franc) .9165 Euro costs (July 15) $1.15 Thailand (Baht) 32.63 BRUSSELS — The European bloc’s emissions trading scheme un- than 2.7 F by the end of the century. Dollar buys (July 15) 0.8246 Turkey (New Lira) 8.5943 British pound (July 15) $1.35 Union on Wednesday is unveiling der which companies pay for the Scientists say both goals will be mis- Japanese yen (July 15) 108.00 (Military exchange rates are those available sweeping new legislation to help gases they send into the air. sed by a wide margin unless drastic South Korean won (July 15) 1,120.00 to customers at military banking facilities in the Commercial rates country of issuance for Japan, South Korea, Ger­ meet its pledge to cut emissions of The new legislation will involve steps are taken to begin cutting many, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Bahrain (Dinar) .3769 For nonlocal currency exchange rates (i.e., pur­ the gases that cause global warming around a dozen major proposals — greenhouse gas emissions. Britain (Pound) 1.3880 chasing British pounds in Germany), check with Canada (Dollar) 1.2462 your local military banking facility. Commercial by 55% over this decade, including a most of them building on laws al- The European Commission China (Yuan) 6.4570 rates are interbank rates provided for reference Denmark (Krone) 6.2911 controversial plan to tax foreign ready in place to meet the EU’s old wants to exploit the public mood for Egypt (Pound) 15.6848 when buying currency. All figures are foreign companies for the pollution they goal of a 40% cut in gas emissions by change provoked by the COVID-19 Euro .8459 currencies to one dollar, except for the British Hong Kong (Dollar) 7.7671 pound, which is represented in dollars­to­ cause. 2030, compared to 1990 levels — and pandemic. It’s already channeling Hungary (Forint) 303.58 pound, and the euro, which is dollars­to­euro.) Israel (Shekel) 3.2637 The proposals by the European must be endorsed by the 27 member more than a third of a massive recov- Japan (Yen) 110.09 INTEREST RATES Commission, which is the EU’s ex- countries and EU lawmakers. ery package aimed at reviving Eu- Kuwait (Dinar) .3007 Norway (Krone) 8.7347 Prime rate 3.25 ecutive branch, will cover every- World leaders agreed six years ropean economies ravaged by coro- Philippines (Peso) 50.17 Interest Rates Discount rate 0.75 Poland (Zloty) 3.87 Federal funds market rate 0.09 thing from tougher caps on car pol- ago in Paris to keep the global warm- navirus restrictions into climate- Saudi Arabia (Riyal) 3.7504 3­month bill 0.05 lution to new limits on gases from ing increase to below 3.6 degrees oriented goals. Singapore (Dollar) 1.3531 30­year bond 2.04 WEATHER OUTLOOK THURSDAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST THURSDAY IN EUROPE FRIDAY IN THE PACIFIC

Misawa 71/64

Kabul Seoul 85/60 85/76 Baghdad 108/78 Tokyo Drawsko Osan Kandahar 88/72 83/70 Mildenhall/ Pomorskie Busan 105/78 Lakenheath 77/66 70/55 78/74 Iwakuni 77/74 Kuwait City Bahrain Brussels Zagan Sasebo Guam 109/90 94/90 Ramstein 75/64 64/60 72/61 82/75 84/81 Lajes, Riyadh Stuttgart 109/80 Doha Azores Pápa 69/66 66/58 99/87 Aviano/ 81/61 Vicenza 72/58

Naples 80/67 Morón Okinawa 83/80 100/66 Sigonella Rota 90/71 Souda Bay The weather is provided by the Djibouti 86/64 American Forces Network Weather Center, 100/87 80/76 2nd Weather Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.

TODAY IN STRIPES American Roundup ...... 11 Classified ...... 13 Comics ...... 16 Crossword ...... 16 Faces ...... 14 Opinion ...... 15 Sports ...... 18-24 Thursday, July 15, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 3 MILITARY Austin touts AI to help prevent future wars BY CAITLIN DOORNBOS inant in AI by the year 2030.” He said the department is fo- formation to support joint war- Still, Austin emphasized mov- Stars and Stripes “Beijing already talks about cusing on AI development be- fighting. ing forward with AI ethically, WASHINGTON — Artificial using AI for a range of missions, cause it will be key to deter ad- “The Pathfinder project … pledging to “watch out for unin- intelligence will be key to pre- from surveillance to cyberat- versaries in “the future fight.” helps us better detect airborne tended consequences” and “im- venting future conflicts as China tacks to autonomous weapons,” “Tech advances like AI are threats by using AI to fuse data mediately adjust, improve, or increases its efforts to develop the defense secretary said. changing the face and the pace of from military, commercial and even disable any AI system that the technology, Defense Secre- The Pentagon’s proposed bud- warfare, but we believe that we government sensors in real isn’t behaving the way that we tary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday get for 2022 asked for $112 billion can responsibly use AI as a force time,” Austin said. intend.” during a summit on emerging in research, development, test- multiplier — one that helps us to The Pentagon’s use of AI also “Our development, deploy- technologies. ing and evaluation — the depart- make decisions faster and more expands beyond tactical war- ment, and use of AI must always Austin, who was speaking at a ment’s largest-ever request for rigorously, to integrate across all fare. Austin said the department be responsible, equitable, trace- summit hosted by the National such priorities. domains, and to replace old ways recently used AI to help in com- able, reliable and governable,” Security Commission on Artifi- In the request, “AI is one of the of doing business,” Austin said. bating the coronavirus pandem- Austin said. “AI is going to cial Intelligence, said the De- department’s top tech modern- In Austin’s speech, he high- ic with Project Salus, “a predic- change many things about mili- fense Department must focus on ization priorities,” Austin said. lighted some of the 600 AI efforts tive tool for finding patterns in tary operations, but nothing is incorporating AI into all aspects “Over the next five years, the de- already underway in the De- [virus] data that the department going to change America’s com- of warfare, especially as “Chi- partment will invest nearly $1.5 fense Department, including the built from scratch with some top mitment to the laws of war and na’s leaders have made clear billion in the center’s efforts to algorithm-driven Pathfinder Silicon Valley companies start- the principles of our democra- they intend to be globally dom- accelerate our adoption of AI.” project that helps synthesize in- ing last March.” cy.” Navy secretary pick backs modernization emphasis in budget

BY CAITLIN DOORNBOS vests billions of dollars toward im- Stars and Stripes proving readiness and for future WASHINGTON — President capabilities.” Joe Biden’s pick for Navy secreta- “Access to contested waters re- ry told senators on Tuesday that quires more robust capabilities he supports the emphasis on new and capacity,” Del Toro said. technologies in the Defense De- “This demands new thinking partment’s 2022 budget proposal about how we invest our defense to help challenge the expanding dollars.” Chinese military. But some lawmakers have crit- Carlos Del Toro, a Navy veteran icized the proposed 2022 budget and a CEO for an engineering and for its poor funding for shipbuild- consulting firm, told the Senate ing in favor of research and devel- Armed Services Committee that opment of new capabilities such “we can no longer take U.S. naval as hypersonic missiles, which Chi- Screenshot superiority for granted” as China na has already developed and Carlos Del Toro, President Joe Biden’s nominee for Navy secretary, speaks to the Senate Armed Services continues its rapid military travel at five times the speed of Committee on Monday during a confirmation hearing. growth. sound. “I always do believe that it's in- With more than 350 ships, Chi- top Navy leaders have said will not “numbers of platforms” to main- ty interests in the Indo Pacific the- credibly important to make the na has surpassed the United be enough to reach the 355-ship tain the Navy’s “capability and le- ater.” right investments and moderniza- States and now has the world’s goal. thality.” China, which views the self-gov- tion,” he said during his first con- largest naval fleet. The U.S. has Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said “We have to invest in missile erned Taiwan as one of its prov- firmation hearing. “We can't be about 296 ships, according to the during the hearing that he had technology, hypersonics, comput- inces, considers reunification a fighting the wars of yesterday — Navy. “real concern” about the budget ing power — all the cybersecurity, top priority, and the U.S. has said we have to fight the new wars of In the 2018 National Defense proposal’s funding priorities “in all those other technologies that it would protect the island if Beij- tomorrow. That includes cyberse- Authorization Act, an annual law terms of our ability to both main- are going to advance our ability to ing attempted to take it by force. curity and space and many other that sets policy and spending for tain our readiness and ... pursue deter China in the Indo-Pacific,” Del Toro said the U.S. “should challenges that are presented.” the Pentagon, Congress mandated the modernization that we're go- he said. “If confirmed, I’m going to be clear about our foreign affairs Del Toro, who joined the Navy the Navy attain a fleet of 355 ships ing to need to outpace the growing be exclusively focused on the Chi- intentions and our support of Tai- at 17 and served for 26 years, said as soon as possible. However, the Chinese threat." na threat and exclusively focused wan in every possible way.” he was pleased with the proposed 2022 budget proposal cut four lit- Del Toro said the 355-ship goal on moving our maritime strategy

2022 Navy budget, saying it “rec- toral combat ships and pledged to would remain, but he told Hawley forward in order to protect Tai- [email protected] ognize(d) this challenge and in- build just eight ships — an amount that it will take more than just wan and all of our national securi- Twitter: @caitlindoornbos Third Fort Hood soldier in past year drowns at lake near the base

BY ROSE L. THAYER and never resurfaced, according searched for El- under the water, said Lt. Bob Re- Hollow Lake. Stars and Stripes to police who were alerted at lis along with inhard of the sheriff’s department. On July 17, fishermen found the A Fort Hood soldier drowned about 5:30 p.m. Texas Parks and Ellis, a petroleum laboratory body of Pvt. Mejhor Morta, 26, in Saturday in a lake near the central Witnesses told police that Ellis Wildlife and the specialist, was assigned to Fort the lake. Spc. Francisco Gilberto Texas Army base where two other had attempted to retrieve a float Morgan’s Point Hood’s 13th Expeditionary Sus- Hernandez-Vargas, 24, died Aug. soldiers died nearly one year ago. that had drifted off. But when he Resort Dive tainment Command. He joined 2 in a boating accident on the lake. Pfc. Gregory Ellis, 21, was swam after it, he began to struggle Team. They lo- the Army in 2019 and arrived at Stillhouse Hollow Lake is about swimming at Dana Peak Park on and disappeared beneath the wa- cated and reco- Fort Hood in February 2020, ac- a20-minute drive from Fort Hood. Ellis Stillhouse Hollow Lake, according ter. vered his body in cording to the base. to the Bell County Sheriff’s De- The U.S Army Corps of Engi- the same area of the lake where Last year, two other Fort Hood [email protected] partment. Ellis went underwater neers, which manages the park, witnesses had observed him go soldiers drowned at Stillhouse Twitter: @Rose_Lori PAGE 4 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, July 15, 2021 MILITARY Army’s 1st Patriot missile in Australia to be fired in drill BY SETH ROBSON missile defense. Stars and Stripes Australian Sen. Jim Molan, a A combined task force of retired major general, wrote in 17,000 U.S., Australian, New The Australian newspaper on Zealand, Japanese, South Ko- May 3 that his country was rean and British troops kicked “more than likely” to experi- off the biennial Talisman Sabre ence a missile attack in any con- drills Wednesday in Australia. flict between the United States The participants include a and China. U.S. expeditionary strike group “Many ordinary Australians, from the USS America, the am- not just those who personally phibious assault ship based at experienced global conflict, are Sasebo Naval Base, Japan, awakening to the somber reality along with 70 fixed-wing air- that war is not just possible in EVAN PARKER/U.S. Navy craft and 50 helicopters, task our region, but likely,” he A CH­53E Super Stallion from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 airlifts equipment for the Posei­ force commander Australian wrote. don’s Watchtower exercise on Irisuna Island, Okinawa, on June 3. Army Maj. Gen. Jake Ellwood Talisman Sabre will also in- said in a telephone interview volve space, cyber, land, air and from Royal Australian Air sea operations, Ellwood said. Shipping container falls from Marine Force Base Amberley in Bris- U.S., Australian, British and bane. Japanese troops will operate to- Live-fire training is sched- gether from Australia’s am- helicopter into ocean off of Okinawa uled at Shoalwater Bay, Queen- phibious ship, the HMAS Can- BY MATTHEW M. BURKE wrote in an email to Stars and currences, the Okinawa Times sland, but participants will berra, he added. Stars and Stripes Stripes on Wednesday. said. The Ministry of Foreign Af- range as far afield as Darwin in Japanese forces Down Under CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — An empty Tri-Con container of fairs also asked the U.S. Embassy the Northern Territory and include the newly formed Am- The Marine Corps is investigating that size weighs 2,600 pounds, ac- in Tokyo for an investigation. Evans Head, New South Wales. phibious Rapid Deployment what caused a steel shipping con- cording to oceancontainer.com. “Objects falling from the sky is A Patriot missile defense sys- Brigade, a force modeled after tainer to fall from a heavy-lift hel- The container held tools, Meals, something that does not happen in tem will fire from Shoalwater the U.S. Marine Corps that’s icopter into the sea Tuesday off the Ready to Eat and less than 3 gal- an ordinary living environment,” Bay at a pair of drone targets on charged with defending outer western coast of Okinawa. lons of fuel in a sealed vessel and Tonaki village Mayor Suguru To- Friday. islands. The unit sent troops to The Tri-Con container — 8 feet was on its way to a beach landing baru said, according to Okinawa “This will be the first time a Talisman Sabre in 2019. long, 6 ½ feet wide and 8 feet tall — zone on the Army base Torii Sta- Times. “The villagers and fisher- Patriot has fired from Austra- Australia has developed its fell from a CH-53E Super Stallion tion in Yomitan, Kunze said. men must be worried.” lian shores,” Ellwood aid. amphibious forces in recent around 12:30 p.m. between Irisuna The contents were used in Posei- This is at least the third incident The Patriot was brought south years, Ellwood said. and Tonaki islands, according to a don’s Watchtower 21, an exercise involving objects falling from Ma- by troops from the 38th Air De- “We are capable of significant statement Tuesday from the 1st in expeditionary advanced base rine Corps aircraft at Okinawa fense Artillery Brigade out of amphibious operations,” he Marine Aircraft Wing. operations by the 3rd Marine Lo- since late 2017. Sagami General Depot, Japan, said, noting the ability of the “1st MAW takes all aviation re- gistics Group and Seabees from On Aug. 27, 2019, a Super Stal- according to deputy exercise di- Canberra and Australia’s other lated events seriously and will con- Naval Mobile Construction Battal- lion lost a cabin window over open rector U.S. Army Col. Jerry amphibious ship, the HMAS duct a thorough review to deter- ion 4 that started June 2 and con- water off the Okinawa coast. No in- Hall. Adelaide, to conduct simultane- mine the cause of the incident,” the cluded June 17. juries or property damage were The proposal to deploy the ous operations during the 2019 statement said. Expeditionary advanced base reported. missile defense system to Aus- exercise. The helicopter was returning operations is a relatively new con- In December 2017, a window fell tralia was hatched in 2009, he About 5,000 members of the from an exercise at military rang- cept that calls for Marines to move from a Super Stallion and landed said during the same interview U.S. expeditionary strike group es on Irisuna at the time. No inju- inside the range of an adversary’s on an elementary school sports from RAAF Amberley. will not go ashore during the ries resulted from the incident, ac- “long-range precision fires” and field near Marine Corps Air Sta- A key part of the exercise is training, but about 2,000 other cording to a report Wednesday by establish difficult-to-target for- tion Futenma’s fence line. More getting U.S. and Australian U.S. troops have just emerged The Okinawa Times, which cited ward bases. than 50 children were playing forces to work together with the from two weeks in quarantine, the Okinawa Defense Bureau. Okinawa Defense Bureau direc- nearby at the time. Patriot, Hall said. The U.S. Ar- Hall said. The Marines are assessing tor general Isao Ono asked Marine my coordinates its employment whether they can salvage the con- Corps Installations Pacific com- Stars and Stripes reporter Hana Kusumoto contributed to this report. of the system closely with the [email protected] tainer, whose depth is unknown, mander Brig. Gen. William Bow- [email protected] Air Force to integrate air and Twitter: @SethRobson1 wing spokesman Maj. Ken Kunze ers on Tuesday to prevent such oc- Twitter: @MatthewMBurke1 Bill would allow more overseas service members to vote electronically

BY NIKKI WENTLING state of resi- Senate on Tuesday. Reps. Andy could improve the turnout of mil- voting system for service mem- Stars and Stripes dence, some Kim, D-N.J., and Joe Wilson, R- itary voters. Since 2014, service bers, and states could choose WASHINGTON — A bill intro- service mem- S.C., introduced the House ver- members have voted at a rate whether to participate, Duck- duced in Congress on Tuesday bers voting sion earlier this year. 15% lower than the general U.S. worth’s office said. would enable all active-duty ser- overseas must “Service members face nu- population. The bill orders the Defense vice members to cast votes elec- currently print merous barriers to voting that Twenty-four states allow elec- Department to develop and im- tronically while they are sta- out their ballots make it more difficult for them to tronic ballots for overseas resi- plement the plan for electronic tioned overseas. and mail them. more fully participate in our de- dents through the Uniformed voting. The system would be test- Duckworth The bill, called the Reducing Voting by mail mocracy by exercising their and Overseas Citizens Absentee ed in the 2024 federal election Barriers for Military Voters Act, can pose challenges for overseas right to vote,” Duckworth said in Voting Act, and more state legis- with a subset of overseas service would establish an end-to-end troops, especially at remote out- a statement. “We should be doing latures are considering offering members, and it would be ex- electronic voting system for posts with limited mail service. everything we can to strengthen the option. Because elections are panded in the 2026 election. troops stationed in hazardous Sens. Tammy Duckworth, D- voting rights across the coun- run by the states, the Reducing duty zones or on rotational de- Ill., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, try.” Barriers for Military Voters Act [email protected] ployments. Depending on their introduced the legislation in the Lawmakers hope the change would establish an electronic Twitter: @nikkiwentling Thursday, July 15, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 5 WAR ON TERRORISM Afghans: Starting last Bush week in July pans FROM PAGE 1 have applied for the SIV, which al- lows those facing threats after aid- ing the military and U.S. agencies to immigrate with their families. Afghan The SIV program has suffered from yearslong application de- lays, understaffing, poor coordi- nation and outdated technology, a LEFT PHOTO: DAMIAN DOVARGANES; RIGHT PHOTO: JULIO CORTEZ/ AP State Department Inspector Gen- Left: U.S. Marine veteran Jennifer Brofer will never forget when her convoy rolled over an IED in Helmand province in 2010. Right: U.S. Army veteran Andrew Brennan, 36, lost one of his closest friends, who wasexit eral report last year said. A COVID-19 outbreak at the killed along with the entire crew when their Chinook helicopter was shot down in 2011. U.S. Embassy in Kabul also led to Associated Press the suspension in mid-June of all BERLIN — Former President visa interviews. The Interviews George W. Bush criticized the did not restart until a month later. Veterans: Service members look Western withdrawal from Af- Moving families out of Afghan- ghanistan in an interview with a istan would allow them to be German broadcaster released screened and processed for asy- back on Afghanistan deployments Wednesday, saying he fears that lum away from the violence there, Afghan women and girls will “suf- advocates have said. FROM PAGE 1 their modern day ‘legions’ that “When I was deployed it was al- fer unspeakable harm.” Some lawmakers have said that rapidly claiming fresh territory. they can do anything with our na- ready considered then the longest Asked in an interview with Ger- the U.S. territory of Guam, which Many Afghans fear the return of tion’s all-volunteer military and war and I think it’s about time that man international broadcaster has hosted refugees of America’s civil war, or strict Taliban rule, no one will pay attention or care our men and women came home.” Deutsche Welle whether the with- wars before, could be an ideal with the Western troops’ depar- enough to change it.” drawal is a mistake, Bush replied: landing spot for the applicants. ture. National Guard veteran “You know, I think it is, yeah, be- But the Biden administration The Associated Press talked to Marine veteran After the United States cause I think the consequences are has narrowed its discussions on some of the U.S. veterans of Af- Marine veteran Jennifer Brofer launched a second war, in Iraq, in going to be unbelievably bad.” potential waiting areas to the cen- ghanistan as Americans with- will never forget the loud, popping 2003, Oklahoma National Guard The war in Afghanistan began tral Asian countries of Kazakh- draw, after nearly 20 years: noise. Sgt. Eran Harrill was one of hun- under Bush after the Sept. 11, 2001, stan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, It was on a hot July afternoon in dreds of thousands of guard mem- attacks on the United States. Bloomberg reported in early July. Army veteran 2010 when her convoy rolled over bers called to duty as an all-volun- Washington gave Taliban leader Moving applicants and their For Andrew Brennan, 36, it’s an IED in Helmand province four teer U.S. military strained to fight Mullah Omar an ultimatum: hand families to central Asia would pro- the days the painful memories months into her deployment to Af- two wars simultaneously. over al-Qaida leader Osama bin vide them with fewer rights than subside that bother him. A former ghanistan. Her heart froze as she Harrill fought in 2011 as part of a Laden and dismantle militant they would have in Guam, said Su- Army captain who flew combat and her fellow Marines stopped combat unit in Afghanistan’s training camps or prepare to be at- nil Varghese, policy director for missions, Brennan lost one of his and realized what had occurred. Laghman province, as the U.S. tacked. Omar refused, and a U.S.- the legal advocacy group Interna- closest friends, pilot Bryan Ni- But what followed were only the surged troops in hopes of crip- led coalition launched an invasion tional Refugee Assistance Project. chols, when his Chinook helicop- sounds of daily life. pling Afghanistan’s Taliban. A in October. “We urge the Administration to ter was shot down in 2011, killing This was a lucky day. marketing director and business The withdrawal of U.S. and NA- relocate evacuees to a location on 30 Americans, seven Afghan sol- “For some reason it did not det- development executive in Oklaho- TO troops set in motion earlier this U.S. soil, where evacuees have ac- diers and one interpreter. It was onate,” the former staff sergeant ma City, he patrolled alongside a year by President Joe Biden is cess to U.S. courts, including im- the single deadliest day for U.S. said. mechanic, a K-9 police officer, now nearing completion. Taliban migration courts,” Varghese said. troops during the war. It was a defining moment to be students and other Oklahomans. fighters have been surging The administration is weighing Brennan spent a week helping that close to death, said Brofer, “The very first firefight we got through district after district, tak- using State Department-char- recover the bodies. one of the comparatively few fe- in was certainly an aha moment” ing control of large swaths of the tered commercial planes rather “As much as I hate admitting it, male Marines to serve in Ameri- for the citizen soldiers, Harrill country. than military aircraft to transport there are days that go by when I ca’s longest war. said. “I think we did some good In the DW interview, which the applicants, a second adminis- don’t think about Bryan, our crew, A public affairs officer, Brofer there, maybe helped some people marked outgoing German Chan- tration official, who spoke on con- and the team guys on the back of was charged with documenting and prevented some loss of life,” cellor Angela Merkel’s final offi- dition of anonymity to discuss in- that aircraft. And if I don’t think the stories of troops. said Harrill, 38, who had always cial visit to the U.S., Bush said ternal deliberations, told The As- about it and I was that close to it, “Those moments in Afghanis- wanted to serve in the military. Merkel had supported the deploy- sociated Press. But the U.S. mili- what do most Americans think?” tan really put everything into per- Back home, Harrill served in ment in Afghanistan in part “be- tary would be ready to assist if the the Baltimore man wrote in an spective for me. Because I really jobs that included leading Oklaho- cause she saw the progress that State Department made the re- email to The Associated Press. didn’t fully appreciate all of the ma City’s Black Chamber of Com- could be made for young girls and quest, the official said. Brennan has worn a Killed in luxuries that I had been afforded merce. He’s developing a directo- women in Afghanistan.” Tracey Jacobson, a veteran dip- Action bracelet in honor of Ni- prior to my deployment,” such as ry aimed at identifying which em- During the Taliban’s rule in the lomat with expertise in central chols for nearly a decade. He has hugs from loved ones, hot showers ployers are most suitable for late 1990s, women were largely Asia, will helm the initiative, the worked to get a memorial wall and driving down a road without members of the military. confined to their homes, and girls official said. Jacobson will lead a built for 9/11 veterans. fear of her vehicle exploding, she That’s after seeing guard mem- had no access to education. De- unit at the State Department that While he honors those who sac- said. bers struggle with bosses unhap- spite protestations from the U.S. will include representatives from rificed their lives, he believes it Brofer, 38, who now works in py over time away for training and and Europe, the Taliban enforced the departments of Defense and was a senseless war. the television and film industries deployment, including managers its extreme version of Islamic Sha- Homeland Security. “What have we ended up with at in Hollywood, said she feels proud who reached out to a deployed riah law. Advocacy groups for SIV appli- the end of it, other than trillions to have served “shoulder-to- guard member in the field to “I’m sad,” Bush said. “Laura cants said they are still waiting for spent, 7,000+ Americans dead, shoulder with my male Marine threaten him with firing if he (Bush) and I spent a lot of time details on who will be flown out of and more than two broken gener- counterparts” in a time of war. didn’t return. with Afghan women, and they’re the country as part of Operation ations of warriors?” Brennan Still, Brofer can’t say whether “We have a bad habit in this scared. And I think about all the in- Allies Refuge, but said the move is wrote. the war was worth it. country of putting little yellow rib- terpreters and people that helped a step in the right direction. “The only stakeholder group “War is ugly. And sometimes bons, ‘support our troops,’ in the not only U.S. troops but NATO “This effort will immediately that learned anything through this it’s necessary and it’s not like we window,” Harrill said. “But we troops, and it seems like they’re save lives,” said James Mierval- entire period were politicians: can go back and change anything. don’t really support our troops as just going to be left behind to be dis, chairman of the advocacy They learned that the American We can only change how we re- to how it affects us when the rub- slaughtered by these very brutal group No One Left Behind. population is so removed from spond in the future,” she said. ber hits the road.” people. And it breaks my heart.” PAGE 6 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, July 15, 2021 WAR/MILITARY Poland buys 250 US-made Abrams tanks

BY JOHN VANDIVER ficials said during a news confer- cal point since Russia’s 2014 mil- “These are state-of-the-art mestically built PT-91 and the ag- Stars and Stripes ence. itary intervention in Ukraine. tanks that are able to perform all ing Soviet-era T-72, the latter of STUTTGART, Germany — Po- “Of course, this is a response to Since then, U.S. tanks from units sorts of maneuvers, conduct com- which will likely be replaced by land announced Wednesday that the challenges we face in terms of rotating overseas have been a bat and fire with great precision the Abrams tanks. The M1A2 it will purchase 250 U.S.-built international security,” Defense consistent presence in Poland. and great efficiency,” said Polish tanks are produced by U.S. con- Abrams tanks, adding significant Minister Mariusz Blaszczak told NATO also has a U.S.-led multi- Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw tractor General Dynamics Land firepower to a priority area for reporters, as quoted by Reuters. national battlegroup in Poland’s Kaczynski, as quoted by Polish Systems. U.S. and NATO forces seeking to “Our task is to deter a potential northeast, roughly 50 miles from media. The acquisition will en- The tank purchase is the latest deter Russia. aggressor. We all know where the Russian military exclave of able Poland’s army to create at in a string of moves to muscle up The first deliveries of the that aggressor is.” Kaliningrad. least four tank battalions, he said. the country's military. In 2018, Po- Abrams M1A2 tanks, which will The U.S. and allies in NATO Polish leaders said the Abrams Poland already has a tank force land reached a deal to spend $4.75 come at a cost of $6 billion, could have made reinforcing Poland tanks will markedly upgrade their consisting of various models of billion to acquire the U.S.-made arrive as early as 2022, Polish of- and the nearby Baltic states a fo- ground forces. the German Leopard 2, the do- Patriot missile system. Canadian general reflects on Taliban advances

BY PHILLIP WALTER and not all have reached a final more land than they have since But along with his frank assess- WELLMAN conclusion other than time will 2001, according to Long War ment, he offered encouragement Stars and Stripes tell.” Journal, which independently to those who served, and included KABUL, Afghanistan — A U.S. and other coalition forces tracks figures. Taliban-run lands several links for support services. swift Taliban victory in a district steadily poured into Panjwai as include much of the rural territo- “Should we hang our heads in Canadian troops spent years de- the Taliban reconstituted its ry surrounding the cities. In Panj- bitterness and remorse; or should fending has led the country’s top forces in the years after its fall wai, they’ve secured a 3-mile pe- we continue to venerate the sacri- officer to openly acknowledge the from power. The Battle of Panj- rimeter around the district cen- fices of so many in our ranks and struggles of a force questioning wai, which was led by Canadian ter, Panjwai governor Hasti Mo- families, to honour the noble the worth of its fight in Afghan- FRANKIE COLBRY/U.S. Navy forces in 2006, left 16 Canadian hammad told Stars and Stripes. commitment to serve and making istan. Then­Brig. Gen. Wayne Eyre, the troops killed and dozens more “While history will be the ulti- the world a better place, and en- Canadian troops did much of Canadian army commander of wounded. Two Americans were mate judge, the current trajecto- deavour to lean from our experi- their fighting in Panjwai district, NATO Training Mission­ also killed during the operations. ry of the country leaves us with ences, grow, and become better an area considered the Taliban’s Afghanistan, in 2014. In 2012, Robert Bales, a former much pain and doubt,” Eyre said. every day?” Eyre asked. spiritual heartland in southern Army staff sergeant, murdered 16 He compared the sacrifices in Af- “While none of us can speak for Kandahar province, over a six- hit many of us particularly hard, civilians in Panjwai. He pleaded ghanistan to those endured in Eu- them, I have to believe that our year span from 2005. The Taliban and as we question our legacy, it guilty to the related charges and rope and Korea, where veterans fallen would want us to pursue took the district July 4 after two serves as a harbinger for all Can- was sentenced to life in prison a could put their service in context the latter.” nights of heavy clashes with Af- adians who served in the country, year later. as they saw nations “rise out of Twitter commenters offered ghan government forces, local of- regardless of when and where. The last Canadian troops left the rubble and ashes.” some anger and sadness over the ficials said. “Our Afghanistan experience Afghanistan seven years ago. But “At this moment in time, it is war in response. But most, like “Many of us have been watch- has left none untouched, and memories of the district are “in- difficult to envision having simi- Annalise Schamuhn, who de- ing the reports out of Afghanistan many, including families, are delibly etched into the collective lar sentiments about our war,” he scribes herself as a retired Army with dismay,” Lt. Gen. Wayne scarred physically, mentally and psyche of those who served said. officer, thanked Eyre for showing Eyre, acting head of Canada’s morally from it,” Eyre wrote. there,” Eyre said. Eyre’s comments contrast with “compassion and care.” forces,” wrote in a two-page open “Many of us have been asking, Afghan forces still hold the city those of many top U.S. military Between 2001 and 2014, 158 letter posted to Twitter late Tues- some for years, ‘was it worth it?’ of Kandahar and most other ur- leaders, who have mostly avoided Canadian soldiers were killed in day. “The fall of Panjwai … has Answers will be deeply personal ban areas, but the Taliban control discussion on the war’s legacy. Afghanistan. New DNA techniques helped Army close 34-year-old case BY CHAD GARLAND pursuit of justice finally led to a Criminal Investigation Laborato- distant relatives, then to a single Stars and Stripes successful resolution,” said CID ry in Forest Park, Ga., for DNA name that was compared against It took over three decades, but Forensic Science Officer Jessica testing not previously available. military records to identify Whyte the killer of an Army specialist in Veltri. That December, CID partnered as a suspect, CID said. Colorado has been brought to jus- Veltri’s efforts revived the with Parabon NanoLabs, a Reston, “I wasn’t sure if we would ever tice. probe when she was assigned to it Va.-based company specializing get to this point,” said Jennifer Michael Whyte was sentenced in 2014, while stationed at the 22nd in the relatively new technology of Coslin, a supervisory biologist at last month to life in prison for the Military Police Battalion at Joint DNA phenotyping, a process that the Army lab who had worked on murder of Spc. Darlene Krashoc Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., CID allowed them to develop compos- evidence in the case since 2005. in Colorado Springs, Colo., after said. She’d recently graduated CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION COMMAND ite “snapshots" of what the killer Veltri was both excited and in Army cold case investigators used from George Washington Univer- Michael Whyte and Army Spc. might have looked like at age 20 to disbelief that they “finally found new DNA techniques to identify sity’s forensic science program Darlene Krashoc. 25 and 30 years later. him,” Coslin recalled in an Army him as a suspect in the 1987 killing. and was interested in cold cases. It was the first time CID used statement. “We finally had a via- Whyte, a 19-year veteran of the Colorado Springs police had An autopsy determined she was the technique, and it released the ble lead.” Army who was stationed at Fort found Krashoc’s body early in the strangled to death somewhere composites along with an announ- Police in Colorado then sur- Carson at the time of the murder, morning of March 17, 1987, in a else before being moved to the cement of a $10,000 reward in veilled Whyte and collected a reached the rank of sergeant first parking lot behind the Korean parking lot, CID said. 2017, hoping to identify a suspect. DNA sample from a fast food cup class before retiring in 1998. Club Restaurant. It was about a But despite hundreds of inter- Then, in 2019, they got a lead from he’d used and discarded. The sam- DNA evidence collected at the mile north of where she’d last views by police and Army investi- ancestry research databases. ples matched, and he was arrested scene and genealogical databases been seen at a nightclub drinking gators, and DNA samples pulled California police had used simi- in June 2019 at his home near Den- connected Whyte to the murder, and dancing with fellow soldiers in 2003 and 2011, efforts to identify lar genetic data collections a year ver. Army Criminal Investigation after midnight. a suspect were stymied as leads earlier to identify a suspect linked “I’m so grateful they kept the Command, or CID, said in a state- She was five months shy of her went cold. to some 50 rapes and 12 murders DNA after all these years,” Krash- ment Monday. 21st birthday and had been serv- The murder was nearly 30 years in the late 1970s and early 1980s in oc’s sister, Rhonda Lilly, told Ar- “It feels satisfying to know that ing on active duty with the 73rd old in 2016 when Veltri completed the high-profile Golden State Kill- my Times after the arrest. “The the hard work and collaboration Maintenance Company, 43rd Sup- a review and submitted 27 pieces er case. Colorado Springs police and Army among multiple agencies in the port Group, based at Fort Carson. of evidence to the U.S. Army In Krashoc's case, the data led to CID never forgot about her.” Thursday, July 15, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 7 VIRUS OUTBREAK South Korea Army base sees rise in cases BY DAVID CHOI cases yet, bringing the nation’s total number Stars and Stripes of infections to 171,911. CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea — Seoul, which recorded 638 new patients Thirty-one U.S. service members from a Wednesday, accounts for the majority of lo- single Army base in South Korea tested posi- cally transmitted cases. The metropolitan tive for the coronavirus last week as the area has imposed its highest level of social- country reached a new record for daily in- distancing restrictions, clamping down on fections. gatherings and tightening public transpor- The 31 new patients, who tested positive tation schedules. between July 5 and 11, are from Camp South Korean health officials have also Casey, a military outpost near the Demilita- expressed concern over the virus’ highly rized Zone on the border with North Korea. transmissible delta variant, which account- They are among 58 people from U.S. ed for 374 cases last week and surpassed the Forces Korea who tested positive last week, 162 cases of the alpha variant within the marking the most infections reported by the same period. command during the pandemic. The previ- USFK has not publicly identified which ous record from early this year was 42 cases variants its patients have become infected recorded over a 12-day span. with. Roughly 10,000 people, including retirees Over 30% of South Korea’s population has and South Korean employees, work at Camp received the first dose of the vaccine and Casey, over 90% of which have been vacci- nearly 12% have been fully inoculated, ac- nated against the coronavirus, according to cording to KDCA data published Wednes- Denver Beaulieu-Hains, a spokeswoman AMBER SMITH/U.S. Army day. for U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan-Casey. Vehicles line up to enter Camp Casey, South Korea, last year. Since the uptick of cases on the peninsula, In contrast, Camp Humphreys, which has USFK has reimplemented its policy of limit- over 32,000 people accessing the base daily, rise of service member cases to a singular key to our mitigation strategy,” she added. ing nonessential travel. had one service member test positive last incident, Beaulieu-Hains told Stars and “The idea is to treat everyone as if they have Service members are banned from visit- week. The base, 40 miles south of Seoul, the Stripes on Wednesday. COVID and to protect yourself, which in ing Areas I and II, which includes the grea- capital city, is the largest U.S. military in- “We are taking an active approach to liv- turn protects others.” ter Seoul area, unless they are on official stallation overseas. ing our best lives, while we mitigate the South Korea’s recent COVID-19 surge has business. Masks are also required indoors Camp Casey has not announced the vacci- spread of COVID,” she said in a statement. continued to break records for more than a on military installations, regardless of nation statuses of those who recently tested “Our emphasis is to educate personnel week. The Korea Disease Control and Pre- whether a person is vaccinated. positive. that vaccination is only part of the solution, vention Agency reported 1,615 new patients Base leaders did not attribute the recent but discipline and social responsibility is Wednesday, the highest number of daily [email protected] Okinawa-based sailors, Marines won’t lose leave earned in pandemic

BY MATTHEW M. BURKE entitled to keep up to 120 days of ends. adherence to the Government of memo said. Stars and Stripes leave when the fiscal year ends on But travel bans, restricted Japan’s Coronavirus Dis- The newly accrued leave must CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Sept. 30. movements and local states of ease-2019 travel restrictions has appear on leave and earnings The Navy is allowing sailors and The change was announced by emergency brought on by the cor- significantly limited the ability of statements at the end of Septem- Marines on Okinawa to keep ex- Catherine Kessmeier, acting as- onavirus pandemic meant many sailors and Marines permanently ber. Sailors and Marines have un- cess use-or-lose leave they ac- sistant secretary of the Navy for sailors and Marines on Okinawa assigned to Okinawa, Japan, to til the end of fiscal 2024 to use crued during the coronavirus pan- manpower and reserve affairs, in accrued plenty of unused leave take leave during the national their excess leave, the memo said. demic, according to a recent Navy a memo Friday. over the past year. Many service emergency,” Kessmeier wrote. The U.S. fiscal year begins on memo. All active-duty service mem- members’ overseas tours were ex- Kessmeier altered the leave Oct. 1 and ends on Sept. 30 of the Members of the sea service with bers earn 30 days of annual leave. tended, or they were prevented policy by designating service on following calendar year. at least 180 days on Okinawa dur- Any unused leave in excess of 60 from making stateside visits. Okinawa as “other duty” for pur- ing the current fiscal year are now days is lost when the fiscal year “The Department of the Navy’s poses of special leave accrual, the [email protected] PAGE 8 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, July 15, 2021 VIRUS OUTBREAK US cases rising, doubling over 3 weeks

Associated Press ness. Vaccines are readily avail- The COVID-19 curve in the able, and I encourage folks to get United States is rising again after one. The state of emergency and months of decline, with the num- health orders have expired. We ber of new cases per day doubling are moving forward,” she said on over the past three weeks, driven social media. by the fast-spreading delta varia- Dr. James Lawler, a leader of nt, lagging vaccination rates and the Global Center for Health Se- Fourth of July gatherings. curity at the University of Ne- Confirmed infections climbed braska Medical Center in Omaha, to an average of about 23,600 a said bringing back masks and day on Monday, up from 11,300 on limiting gatherings would help. June 23, according to Johns Hop- But he acknowledged that most of kins University data. And all but the places seeing higher rates of two states — Maine and South Da- the virus “are exactly the areas of kota — reported that case num- the country that don’t want to do bers have gone up over the past any of these things.” two weeks. Lawler warned that what is “It is certainly no coincidence happening in Britain is a preview that we are looking at exactly the of what’s to come in the U.S. time that we would expect cases “The descriptions from regions to be occurring after the July of the world where the delta vari- Fourth weekend,” said Dr. Bill ant has taken hold and become Powderly, co-director of the in- the predominant virus are pic- fectious-disease division at Wash- tures of ICUs full of 30-year-olds. ington University’s School of That’s what the critical care doc- Medicine in St. Louis. tors describe and that’s what’s At the same time, parts of the coming to the U.S.,” he said. country are running up against He added: “I think people have deep vaccine resistance, while the DAMIAN DOVARGANES/AP no clue what’s about to hit us.” highly contagious mutant version Thanks to easing restrictions, maskless patrons enjoy cold tropical cocktails in the tiny interior of the President Joe Biden is putting a of the coronavirus that was first Tiki­Ti bar as it reopens on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. The number of COVID cases is rising again. dose of star power behind the ad- detected in India is accounting for ministration’s efforts to get young an ever-larger share of infections. fectively the vaccine can prevent tion” about the virus and the vac- cinated or have a negative CO- people vaccinated. Eighteen- Nationally, 55.6% of all Amer- serious illness and death in those cine. VID-19 test. State health officials year-old actress, singer and song- icans have received at least one who happen to become infected. Mississippi officials are also said cases of the coronavirus are writer Olivia Rodrigo will meet COVID-19 shot, according to the Still, amid the rise, health au- recommending that people 65 and surging, largely among nonvacci- with Biden and Dr. Anthony Fau- Centers for Disease Control and thorities in places such as Los An- older and those with chronic un- nated people. ci on Wednesday. Prevention. The five states with geles County and St. Louis are derlying conditions stay away But the political will may not be While the administration has the biggest two-week jump in begging even immunized people from large indoor gatherings be- there in many states fatigued by had success vaccinating older cases per capita all had lower vac- to resume wearing masks in pub- cause of a 150% rise in hospital- months of restrictions. Americans, young adults have cination rates: Missouri, 45.9%; lic. And Chicago officials an- izations over the past three In Michigan, Democratic Gov. shown less urgency to get the Arkansas, 43%; Nevada, 50.9%; nounced Tuesday that unvacci- weeks. Gretchen Whitmer is facing a shots. Louisiana, 39.2%; and Utah, nated travelers from Missouri In Louisiana, which also has drive to repeal a law that she used Some, at least, are heeding the 49.5%. and Arkansas must either quar- one of the nation’s lowest vaccina- to set major restrictions during call in Missouri after weeks of Even with the latest surge, antine for 10 days or have a nega- tion rates, officials in the city of the early stages of the pandemic. begging, said Erik Frederick, cases in the U.S. are nowhere tive COVID-19 test. New Orleans said Tuesday that And Republican Gov. Kay Ivey chief administrative officer of near their peak of a quarter-mil- Meanwhile, the Health Depart- they are likely to extend virus- of Alabama pushed back against Mercy Hospital Springfield. He lion per day in January. And ment in Mississippi, which ranks mitigation efforts currently in the idea that the state might need tweeted that the number of peo- deaths are running at under 260 dead last nationally for vaccina- place at large sporting and enter- to reimpose preventive measures ple getting immunized at its vac- per day on average after topping tions, began blocking posts about tainment gatherings until fall, in- as vaccinations lag and hospital- cine clinic has jumped from 150 to out at more than 3,400 over the COVID-19 on its Facebook page cluding mask mandates or re- izations rise. 250 daily. winter — a testament to how ef- because of a “rise of misinforma- quirements that attendees be vac- “Alabama is OPEN for busi- “That gives me hope,” he said. Tokyo reaches new case peak as opening of Olympics looms BY JOSEPH DITZLER For the past 25 days, Tokyo’s Neighboring Chiba, Saitama U.S. Army Japan had one per- Monday, according to the base Stars and Stripes daily case numbers have exceed- and Kanagawa prefectures, all son test positive for the coronavi- Facebook page. The naval base TOKYO — Japan’s capital city ed those from the previous week, part of the greater metro area, rus in the past week, according to last reported one new patient on has announced its highest one-day NHK reported. The number of have imposed similar measures. a news release from Army head- May 25. count of new coronavirus cases new patients Wednesday was 229 The Olympics are expected to quarters at Camp Zama, southeast U.S. case numbers have drop- since May, a troubling milestone more than July 7. go on without spectators in the of central Tokyo. The infected ped significantly with the arrival as the nation prepares to host the The newly infected individuals stands or with athletes not permit- person had recently traveled out- in December of coronavirus vac- Olympics in nine days. bring the city’s pandemic total to ted much contact with people out- side Japan and was still under 14 cines for service members, their The Tokyo Metropolitan Gov- 184,119 coronavirus patients, ac- side their respective bubbles. The days’ restricted movement. families and Defense Department ernment reported another 1,149 cording to metro data. The city al- traditional torch run has been Marine Corps Air Station Iwa- civilian employees. Yokosuka Na- new coronavirus cases Wednes- so reported four deaths Wednes- trimmed to a series of semi-public kuni, south of Hiroshima, report- val Base has no active cases, ac- day, according to public broad- day for a total of 2,262. events to avoid attracting large ed that two individuals had tested cording to a statement from the caster NHK. That’s the highest Tokyo is under its fourth state of crowds to see the Olympic flame positive there, according to an air base Tuesday. daily figure since 1,121 on May 8, emergency in hopes of curtailing pass along Tokyo streets. station news release Wednesday. The U.S. Navy in Japan, over- the peak of the previous wave of the latest viral surge. Bars and Among U.S. bases, Kadena Air Neither case is associated with the run a year ago by the coronavirus, COVID-19 cases, according to restaurants are expected to close Base on Okinawa added three U.S. women’s softball and fencing now has only three active cases, metro data online. early and refrain from selling al- more coronavirus patients to 22 teams, which are at the air station Rear Adm. Brian Fort, the outgo- Meanwhile, U.S. military bases cohol. Residents are encouraged already this month, according to a while preparing for the Olympics. ing Naval Forces Japan com- in Japan reported seven new to avoid unnecessary travel. Mask base Facebook post Tuesday eve- Sasebo Naval Base, on the is- mander, said Wednesday. cases of COVID-19, the coronavi- wearing is nearly universal on ning. All three became ill with CO- land of Kyushu, said one person rus respiratory disease, as of 6 city streets and public transporta- VID-19 symptoms before testing had fallen ill with COVID-19 [email protected] p.m. Wednesday. tion. positive, according to the air base. symptoms and tested positive on Twitter: @JosephDitzler Thursday, July 15, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 9 NATION Senate Dems’ new budget deal backs up Biden’s goals Associated Press making the most substantive po- WASHINGTON — Senate tential investments in the nation Democrats say they have reac- in years, some say on par with hed a budget agreement that en- the New Deal of the 1930s. To- visions spending an enormous gether with a slimmer, $1 trillion $3.5 trillion over the coming dec- bipartisan effort of traditional ade, paving the way for their road, highway and public works drive to pour federal resources also being negotiated, they rep- EVAN VUCCI/AP into climate change, health care resent close to the president’s President Joe Biden delivers a speech on voting rights at the National Constitution Center on Tuesday in and family service programs initial $4 trillion-plus effort that Philadelphia. sought by President Joe Biden. could reach almost every corner The accord announced Tues- of the country. day night marks a major step in The Democrats’ goal is to push the party’s push to meet Biden’s a budget resolution reflecting Biden blasts ‘un-American’ goal of bolstering an economy Tuesday’s agreement through that was ravaged by the corona- the House and the Senate before virus pandemic and setting it on lawmakers leave for their Au- voting rules, prods Congress course for long-term growth. It gust recess. The resolution sets includes a Medicare expansion only broad spending and reve- Associated Press sional proposals to override new tion to eliminating it altogether. of vision, hearing and dental nue parameters, leaving the ac- PHILADELPHIA — President state voting restrictions and to re- Some GOP-led states have benefits for older Americans, a tual funding and specific deci- Joe Biden declared preserving store parts of the Voting Rights worked to roll back the vote-by- goal of progressives. sions about which programs are voting rights an urgent national Act that were curbed in recent mail expansion that was put in But Democrats behind the affected — and by how much — “test of our time” on Tuesday but years by the Supreme Court “a na- place in the past presidential elec- agreement face possible objec- for later legislation. offered few concrete proposals to tional imperative.” tion due to COVID-19 fears. Oth- tions from rival moderate and Nonetheless, approving a bud- meet it. Yet instead of raising the possi- ers have tried to strengthen voter progressive factions, and will get will be a major boon for the Biden, who has proclaimed pro- bility of fighting the filibuster, he identification requirements and have to work hard to convert Democrats’ effort to enact their tecting ballot access the central appeared to tacitly acknowledge curtail hours and locations for their plans into legislation they subsequent funding bill. That’s cause of his presidency, has faced the fading hopes for the bills, say- early voting and ballot drop-offs. can push through the closely di- because the budget contains lan- sharp criticism from allies for not ing he would launch a nationwide Democrats on Capitol Hill have vided Congress over what could guage that would let Democrats doing more, though political head- campaign to arm voters with in- tried to respond with a sweeping be unanimous Republican oppo- move the follow-up spending winds and stubborn Senate math formation on rule changes and re- federal voting and elections bill sition. measure through the 50-50 Sen- have limited his ability to act. De- strictions ahead of the 2022 mid- that Senate Republicans have “We are very proud of this ate with just a simple majority, spite his ringing words Tuesday, term elections. united to block. Most Republicans plan,” Senate Majority Leader not the 60 votes Republicans he avoided any mention of trying “We have to prepare now,” the have similarly dismissed a sepa- Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told re- could demand by using a bill- to alter the Senate filibuster rule president said. rate bill, the John Lewis Voting porters. “We know we have a killing filibuster. that stands in the path of federal Biden’s sharp rhetoric drew Rights Advancement Act, which long road to go. We’re going to The actual spending legisla- legislation. praise from progressive groups in would restore sections of the Vot- get this done for the sake of mak- tion will likely not start moving Speaking at the National Consti- his party but did little to assuage ing Rights Act that the Supreme ing average Americans’ lives a through Congress until the fall. tution Center in Philadelphia, Bi- the mounting pressure on him to Court has weakened. whole lot better.” Separately, a bipartisan group den called state efforts to curtail throw his weight behind replacing Those roadblocks have in- Biden will attend a closed- of senators is working to flesh voting accessibility “un-Ameri- the filibuster. creased focus on Senate filibuster door lunch at the Capitol on out a measure that would spend can” and “un-democratic” and “The president believes that we rules, which, if left in place, would Wednesday with Senate Demo- around $1 trillion on roads, water launched a broadside against his have to make the filibuster work seem to provide an insurmount- crats to focus on “getting this systems and other infrastruc- predecessor, Donald Trump, who the way it used to,” said White able roadblock, requiring 60 votes wonderful plan” enacted, ture projects, another Biden pri- baselessly alleged misconduct in House deputy press secretary Ka- in the evenly split, 100-member Schumer said. ority. Biden and that group had the 2020 election after his defeat. rine Jean-Pierre, who added Bi- chamber to even bring up contro- All told, the ambitious propos- agreed to an outline of that mea- Biden called passage of congres- den has not changed his opposi- versial legislation. al reflects Biden’s vision for sure last month. House Republicans post record fundraising ahead of 2022 elections

Associated Press — its best ever for that stretch. ocrat Joe Biden. Whip Steve Scalise has sent $8.39 House Majority is to protecting our WASHINGTON — The commit- The large sums signal that excite- In its next filing, the National Re- million. democracy and delivering for tee charged with helping Republi- ment is high among donors to both publican Congressional Committee “We will take back the majority American families,” DCCC Chair- cans wrest control of the House in parties as they prepare for what is will report that it raised $79.2 mil- next fall, and voters are doing ev- man Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney 2022 raised $45.4 million over the expected to be a contentious mid- lion during the first half of the year, erything they can to help us accom- said in a statement announcing the last three months, a record quarter- term election season. Democrats besting the $44.5 million raised in plish that goal,” NRCC Chairman numbers. ly haul during a year without a na- hold a razor-thin majority in the 2019 and marking the most ever Tom Emmer said in a statement. The Democratic fundraising to- tional election. House, but Republicans have histo- raised for that period in the commit- “Every vulnerable House Demo- tals also benefited from transfers That total was bolstered by $20.1 ry on their side: The party that occu- tee’s history. The committee now crat should be eyeing the exits be- from party leadership, though they million raised in June, the highest pies the White House typically sees has $55 million cash on hand, ver- cause if they choose to run, they will were not as hefty as those from top ever monthly off-year total, accord- large losses in both the House and sus more than $44 million for the lose.” Republicans. House Speaker Nan- ing to numbers shared with The As- the Senate. DCCC. While the DCCC has lagged be- cy Pelosi’s campaign fund contrib- sociated Press before a public filing GOP fundraising has also been But this year’s numbers were al- hind, it, too, has broken records, in- uted a bit more than $2 million dur- deadline. bolstered by former President Do- so bolstered by major contributions cluding logging its best second ing the past three months, while The Democratic Congressional nald Trump, whose name continues from Republican leadership ac- quarter in committee history. Maloney’s provided just shy of Campaign Committee last week an- to dominate fundraising pleas for counts. House Republican leader “Our strong fundraising success $155,000 over the same period. An- nounced that it had raised $14.4 mil- small-dollar contributions, even as Kevin McCarthy has transferred shows American voters are reject- other $283,000 came during the lion in June, bringing its second- he continues to spread lies about the $12.76 million to the NRCC’s coffers ing Republican extremism and quarter from the campaign coffers quarter total to about $36.5 million 2020 election, which he lost to Dem- this year, while House Republican know just how critical a Democratic of New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. PAGE 10 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, July 15, 2021 NATION Western fires threaten parched tribal lands Associated Press threatening” danger as the largest winds on Wednesday into Thurs- BLY, Ore. — Fierce wildfires in of five wildfires caused by dozens day that could drive the flames. the northwest are threatening of Monday night lightning strikes In Oregon, the lightning- American Indian tribal lands that tore through grass, sagebrush and sparked Bootleg Fire that had de- already are struggling to conserve timber. stroyed at least 20 homes was rag- water and preserve traditional Seven homes burned but four ing through lands near the Califor- NATHAN HOWARD / AP hunting grounds in the face of a were vacant and the entire town nia border on Wednesday. At least Veterinarian Tawnia Shaw, with The Happy Pet Vet team, examines Western drought. evacuated safely before the fire 2,000 homes were threatened by horses Tuesday that had been left during a Level 3 evacuation during Blazes in Oregon and Washing- arrived, said Andrew Joseph Jr., the fire. the Bootleg Fire near Sprague River, Ore. ton were among some 60 large, ac- chairman of the Confederated Mark Enty, a spokesman for the tive wildfires that have destroyed Tribes of the Colville Reservation Northwest Incident Management occasionally for their safety. Complex, a combined pair of light- homes and burned through close that includes more than 9,000 de- Team 10 that is working to contain Crews were facing above-nor- ing-ignited blazes, was almost to a million acres in a dozen mostly scendants of a dozen tribes. the fire, said that since he arrived mal temperatures and bone-dry 50% contained after blackening Western states, according to the The confederation declared a to the area last week the Bootleg humidity coupled with afternoon more than 145 square miles near National Interagency Fire Center. state of emergency Tuesday and Fire has doubled in size each day. gusts that were expected to create the Nevada state line. In north-central Washington, closed the reservation to the pub- “That’s sort of like having a new dangerous fire conditions, offi- Damage was still being tallied hundreds of people in the town of lic and to industrial activity. The fire every day,” Enty said. cials said. in the small rural community of Nespelem on the Colville Indian declaration said weather fore- The blaze had spread over 315 In California, progress was re- Doyle, Calif., where flames swept Agency were ordered to leave be- casts called for possible triple-di- square miles. Firefighters for the ported on the state’s largest fire so in during the weekend and de- cause of “imminent and life- git temperatures and 25-mph third day in a row had to back off far this year. The Beckwourth stroyed several homes. Feds charge 4 in Iran plot to kidnap US-based activist Associated Press NEW YORK — An Iranian intelligence officer and three alleged members of an Iranian intelli- gence network have been charged in Manhattan with plotting to kidnap a prominent Iranian opposi- tion activist and writer in exile and take her back to Tehran, authorities said Tuesday. An indictment in Manhattan federal court alleg- es that the plot was part of a wider plan to lure three individuals in Canada and a fifth person in the United Kingdom to Iran. Victims were also target- ed in the United Arab Emirates, authorities said. The identities of the alleged victims were not re- leased but Brooklyn-based Masih Alinejad con- firmed that authorities had told her she was among the targeted victims. “I knew that this is the nature of the Islamic Re- ERIC GAY/AP public, you know, kidnapping people, arresting Protesters gather Tuesday at the Texas Capitol in Austin to rally against proposed voting bills. people, torturing people, killing people. But I couldn’t believe it that this is going to happen to me in United States of America,” Alinejad told The As- Texas Dems urge quick moves on US voting sociated Press. According to the indictment, Alireza Shavaroghi Associated Press gress and all of our federal leaders to use finding and bringing back more than 50 Farahani, 50, an Iranian intelligence official who AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Democrats that time wisely,” Democratic state Rep. lawmakers “under warrant of arrest if nec- resides in Iran, and three other defendants tried who hurriedly took off to Washington to Chris Turner said, gathered with his fellow essary.” However, because state troopers since at least June 2020 to kidnap Alinejad. If block sweeping new election laws urged quorum-breakers outside the U.S. Capitol. have no jurisdiction beyond Texas, the caught and convicted, the four could face life in Congress on Tuesday to quickly pass legis- The Democrats’ dramatic exodus was in move has little practical effect in the short prison. lation protecting voting rights, while Re- part aimed at rallying their voters on what term. Farahani and the network he led on multiple oc- publican Gov. Greg Abbott threatened they see as a priority issue ahead of the In the state Senate, where nine Demo- casions in 2020 and 2021 lied about his intentions as them with arrest the moment they return. 2022 midterms, and at pressuring Presi- crats didn’t show up — not enough to also he hired private investigators to surveil, photo- Speaking to reporters outside the Capi- dent Joe Biden to act as federal voting leg- deny quorum — Republicans passed their graph and video record Alinejad and her house- tol, the Democrats were realistic about the islation has stalled for months in the Sen- version of a voting bill even though that is hold members, the indictment alleged. It said the limits of their gambit, noting they can hold ate. But just as they began getting settled in now as far as it can go. surveillance included a live high-definition video up the GOP-backed proposals at home for Washington, Biden appeared to tacitly ac- The move was expected after Demo- feed of the activist’s home. only so long and arguing that only federal knowledge the fading hopes for the bills crats boarded private planes Monday to The indictment alleged that the government of legislation would prevent some of the new during a speech in Philadelphia. deny them the quorum necessary to con- Iran in 2018 tried to lure her to a third country so a restrictions from becoming law. In Austin, Biden called efforts to curtail voting ac- duct business — namely, passing one of capture would be possible, even offering money to House Republicans authorized state troop- cessibility “un-American” and “un-demo- America’s most restrictive voting mea- her relatives. ers to find and corral missing legislators, cratic” and launched a broadside against sures. Other lighting-rod conservative is- Alinejad’s family has been targeted for harass- while a depleted but still-working state his predecessor, Donald Trump, who base- sues that Abbott put on the agenda — in- ment by the Iranian government, a separate law- Senate passed new voting restrictions in a lessly alleged misconduct in the 2020 elec- cluding how race is taught in schools and suit filed by the activist in the U.S. alleges. show of GOP resolve. tion after his defeat. new abortion restrictions — also were The others charged in the kidnapping plot were “We can’t hold this tide back forever. Back in Texas, Republicans in the un- shelved with the Legislature now at a identified as Mahmoud Khazein, 42, Kiya Sadeghi, We’re buying some time. We need Con- usually skeletal state Capitol authorized standstill. 35, and Omid Noori, 45, all from Iran. Thursday, July 15, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 11 AMERICAN ROUNDUP

Report: Bug zapper caused vision issues DURHAM — A bug NC zapper that had the wrong kind of light bulb caused vi- sion problems for five people at a veterans medical facility in North Carolina, a spokesperson said. Yves-Marie Daley from the Durham VA Health Care System said the bulb emitted light that was too strong, impacting the vi- sion of three employees, a resident and a contractor who had a meet- ing near the device, The News & Observer reported. The people affected are healing and their vision is improving, ac- cording to Daley. She didn’t spec- ify the date of the incident or the severity of the vision loss. Owner sells salon to longtime employee for $1 NEW HAVEN — Salon CT owner Pio Imperati took a chance and hired hairstylist Kathy Moura right out of techni- cal high school 15 years ago. It has worked out so well that Imperati sold her his venerable New Haven business for $1. “She’s a good hairdresser, a good barber, she’s very nice,” Im- perati told the New Haven Regis- ter about the sale of Pio of Italy Hair Studio. While Moura will pay rent to Imperati, she avoids a charge that can run into the tens of thousands of dollars to purchase a salon for the equipment, supplies and clien- KRISTOPHER RADDER, THE BRATTLEBORO (VT.) REFORMER/AP tele. Imperati, 79, is now working there as an independent contrac- A dip at the dam tor. Sean Latvis, 13, from Hinsdale, N.H., dives into the waters of the Connecticut River near the Vernon, Vt., Hydro Dam. Deputy helps hoof been delayed. Officials said the THE CENSUS cially sensitive mascot. wayward cows home hospital is reviewing how the er- The image of the Phoenix the ror occurred to prevent similar The number of gallons of sewage that were spilled into Santa school will use has not been cho- MASON — A sheriff’s mistakes going forward. 17M Monica Bay from a treatment plant, closing several Los An- sen but the school colors will re- MI deputy hoofed it for 3 geles-area beaches to swimmers and surfers. Los Angeles County Supervisor main red and yellow. miles along a two-lane Michigan Rare historic canoe found Janice Hahn said on Twitter that an unspecified mechanical failure caused the road to help guide eight wayward in mountain river spill at the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant. About four miles of beaches Ex-teacher accused of cows back to a farm. from El Segundo to the southern end of Playa del Rey were closed indefinitely expensing gas for his car The Ingham County sheriff’s of- COLUMBIA — Con- while officials conducted tests on the water. fice transport unit responded to a SC servationists pulled a NASHVILLE — The report of cattle blocking a road historic canoe from a river at the cials said. same numbers: 0-0-0. Each beat TN Tennessee comptroll- near Mason, WLNS-TV reported. Georgia-South Carolina line and The Florida Fish & Wildlife odds of 1 in 1,000. er’s office said a former middle The deputy and two other men plan to put it on display. Conservation Commission report- Prizes will vary depending on school teacher who also was an as- spent about two hours rounding Volunteers with the Chattooga ed that 841 manatee deaths were how much people pay for a ticket. sistant baseball coach was indict- up and herding the bovine back Conservancy hauled the weath- recorded through July 2, breaking Players who paid 50 cents get $250 ed on charges that he expensed home. Part of the trek was record- ered wooden canoe out of the the previous record of 830 that before taxes. Those who paid $1 more than $10,100 in gas for his ed by a dashcam in a sheriff’s of- South Carolina side of the Chat- died in 2013 because of an out- get the top prize of $500. personal car. fice vehicle. tooga River after a group of ca- break of toxic red tide. According to the comptroller’s noeists headed downstream dis- Some biologists believe water Schools pick Phoenix to investigation, the former Unicoi Hospital: Patient got covered the craft last fall, The pollution is killing the seagrass replace former mascot County Middle School teacher and someone else’s kidney State newspaper in Columbia beds in the area. coach used the department fuel reported. Boat strikes are also a major ATCHISON — The card at least 169 times to gas up his CLEVELAND — An Archaeologists at the Universi- cause of manatee deaths, killing at KS Phoenix will be the personal car without permission OH Ohio hospital has ac- ty of South Carolina said the boat least 63 this year. new mascot for the Atchison pub- from June 2015 until early Octo- knowledged that a patient re- could be 200 to 250 years old, a dis- lic school district, replacing for- ber 2020, including in South Car- ceived a new kidney meant for covery that could shed light on life Nearly 10K winners mer mascots tied to Native Amer- olina and Florida. someone else. in the late 1700s. to split $3.6M jackpot ican imagery. The report said the former Officials at University Hospi- The Atchison School Board teacher was authorized through tals in Cleveland apologized for Record of annual CHARLOTTE — chose the new mascot by a 5-1 the coaching position at the North- the mistake and said two employ- manatee deaths broken NC Nearly 10,000 winners vote. east Tennessee school to buy die- ees have been placed on adminis- of a North Carolina lottery game The board voted in April to re- sel fuel for a school vehicle. trative leave. STUART — More ma- will split the $3.6 million jackpot. place the former mascots — “Red- The former teacher was indict- The kidney given to the wrong FL natees have died al- The Charlotte Observer men” for the high school and ed July 9 on one count of theft over patient is compatible and the per- ready this year than in any other reported that the 9,307 players “Braves” for the middle school. $10,000, the report said. son is expected to recover, offi- year in Florida’s recorded history, won the Carolina Pick 3 in a draw- That change came after Atchi- cials said. primarily from starvation due to ing last Friday. son United, a group that promotes The other patient’s surgery has the loss of seagrass beds, state offi- All of the winners chose the diversity, pushed for a more ra- From The Associated Press PAGE 12 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, July 15, 2021 NATION Cuba and Haiti stir fresh political pressure for Biden administration

BY AAMER MADHANI determined caution in response to tian Americans are becoming a AND MATTHEW LEE requests for more U.S. involve- growing political force in South Associated Press ment in Haiti. Florida. “Democrats learned in WASHINGTON — They are The administration has come 2020 that country of origin is a two Caribbean states whose in- under fire from both sides of the much more powerful voting cue in tractable problems have vexed political spectrum for its re- Florida than historical voting affil- U.S. presidents for decades. Now, sponses to each of the crises, both iation, and Trump’s hammering Haiti and Cuba are suddenly pos- unfolding less than two hours’ fly- on socialism proved to be an effec- ing a growing challenge for Presi- ing time from Miami. The trou- tive message.” dent Joe Biden that could have po- bled U.S. history in both countries Indeed, as the situations play MATIAS DELACROIX/AP litical ramifications for him in the has hardened positions, making out in Cuba and Haiti, Biden ad- A tire set on fire by supporters of former Senators Youri Latortue and battleground state of Florida. virtually any policy decision polit- ministration officials have respon- Steven Benoit burns near the courthouse in Port­au­Prince Monday. Cuban demonstrators have tak- ically unpalatable for a president ded cautiously. en to the country’s streets in re- seeking to toe a middle line. The White House on Sunday tion had rejected any request from said a review of its Cuba policy re- cent days to lash out at the com- In the background: How the Bi- dispatched representatives from Haitian officials, but said the focus mains underway. munist government and protest den administration handles the the Justice Department, the De- was on supporting the investiga- To be sure, U.S. efforts to press food shortages and high prices crises looms large in electorally partment of Homeland Security tion into the assassination rather for regime change have had their amid the coronavirus pandemic. rich Florida. and the White House National Se- than providing military assist- fair share of failures over the In Haiti, officials are asking the Biden lost the state in 2020 to curity Council to meet with Haiti’s ance. years: the 1961 Bay of Pigs inva- United States to intercede in a roil- Donald Trump, as Republicans interim Prime Minister Claude U.S. officials have also made sion, CIA-backed assassination at- ing political crisis after last week’s improved their performance Joseph, designated Prime Minis- clear that the administration re- tempts on Cuban leader Fidel Cas- assassination of President Jovenel while paying special attention to ter Ariel Henry and Joseph Lam- mains concerned about the in- tro and sanctions that inflicted Moïse in a nation where military courting the state’s large Cuban bert, the head of its dismantled fighting over who is rightfully pain but never produced the ulti- and humanitarian interventions American population and other Senate, whom supporters have Moïse’s successor in Haiti. mate goal of ending communist by U.S. presidents from Woodrow immigrant voters, noted Susan named as provisional president in The White House is coordinat- rule. Wilson to Barack Obama have MacManus, a Florida political a challenge to Joseph. ing with Joseph in his capacity as “We’re going to be taking a close proved to be politically harrowing. analyst and professor emerita at White House officials said Hai- acting prime minister, but is urg- look at what has and has not Biden is facing increased pres- the University of South Florida. ti’s request for the U.S. to deploy ing Haitian officials to work to- worked in the past, and unfortu- sure from Republican lawmakers “The caution Biden is showing troops was under review. At the gether to hold legislative and pres- nately in the case of Cuba, there for his administration to step up reflects the poor showing in 2020 State Department, spokesman idential elections as soon as feasi- may be more that has not worked support of Cuban demonstrators. and a desire not to repeat it,” said Ned Price said Tuesday that he bly possible. than what has worked,” Price And his aides have demonstrated MacManus, who added that Hai- was not aware that the administra- Meanwhile, the White House said. Thursday, July 15, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 13 WORLD

Unrest persists Cuba confirms 1 death in protests in South Africa BY ANDREA RODRIGUEZ cellphone data service continued to be dis- cause of the support of our people for the Associated Press rupted. revolution and its government." Associated Press HAVANA — Cuban authorities con- There were no reports of new protests, Cuba's Roman Catholic bishops issued a JOHANNESBURG — Rioting continued firmed Tuesday that one person has died which the government has sought to blame call to avoid violence. in parts of South Africa Wednesday, in un- during demonstrations that have shaken on Cuban Americans using social media to “We understand that the government has rest sparked by the imprisonment last week the island in recent days by protesting over instigate unrest in Cuba. responsibilities and has tried to take mea- of ex-President Jacob Zuma that has spi- food shortages, high prices and other griev- The demonstrations in several cities and sures to alleviate the aforementioned diffi- raled into days of looting in two of the coun- ances against the government. towns were some of the biggest displays of culties, but we also understand that the try’s nine provinces. The Interior Ministry said in a statement antigovernment sentiment seen in years in people have the right to express their South Africa’s police say 72 people have that Diubis Laurencio Tejeda, 36, died tightly controlled Cuba, which is facing a needs, desires and hopes,” they said in a been killed and 1,234 have been arrested in Monday during a clash between protesters surge of coronavirus cases as it struggles statement. waves of rioting that have hit the KwaZulu- and police in the Arroyo Naranjo munici- with its worst economic crisis in decades as The demonstrations were extremely un- Natal and Gauteng provinces. Many of the pality on the outskirts of Havana. It said an a consequence of U.S. sanctions imposed usual on an island where little dissent deaths were caused by chaotic stampedes as unspecified number of people were arrest- by the Trump administration. against the government is tolerated. The thousands of people stole food, electric ap- ed and there were some people injured, in- The rare outpouring of dissent led for- last major public demonstration of discon- pliances, liquor and clothing from stores, cluding some officers. mer President Raul Castro to join with oth- tent, over economic hardship, took place police Maj. Gen. Mathapelo Peters said in a The statement accused demonstrators of er top leaders Monday to discuss the situa- nearly 30 years ago in 1994. Last year, there statement. vandalizing houses, setting fires and da- tion. were small demonstrations by artists and In eastern Johannesburg, some retail maging power lines. It also alleged they at- “On July 11, there were riots, there were other groups, but nothing as big or wide- centers continued to be under attack tacked police and civilians with knives, disorders on a very limited scale, opportu- spread as what erupted this past weekend. Wednesday, while in Soweto township, stones and other objects.. nistically taking advantage of the difficult The U.S. has, so far at least, not detected south of the city, police and army units pa- Demonstrations that erupted Sunday conditions in which we Cubans are living any surge of migrants from Cuba, Home- trolled malls and streets. Community volun- have seen thousands of Cubans in the today,” Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez land Security Secretary Alejandro Mayor- teer groups have begun cleaning up the bro- streets voicing grievances against shortag- said Tuesday, adding that government ex- kas told reporters in Washington on Tues- ken glass and debris caused by the destruc- es of goods, rising prices and power cuts, perts had found evidence of outsiders using day. tive mobs 24 hours earlier. and some protesters have called for a sophisticated equipment to widely broad- He also cautioned Cubans that any mi- The violence broke out after Zuma began change of government. cast alarmist and inciting messages over grants intercepted at sea are returned to serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of Havana still had a heavy police presence social media. their homelands or sent to other countries court last week for refusing to comply with a Tuesday, with officers particularly guard- But, Rodriguez said, “On July 11, there under long-standing agreements intended court order to testify at a state-backed inqui- ing key points such as the Malecon coastal was no social explosion in Cuba. There was to discourage people from trying to make ry investigating allegations of corruption promenade and the Capitol. Internet and not because of the will of our people and be- the dangerous crossing. while he was president from 2009 to 2018. PAGE 14 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, July 15, 2021 FACES

Baron Cohen Moore Judge tosses suit over Baron Cohen interview A federal judge on Tuesday dis- missed failed U.S. Senate candi- date Roy Moore’s $95 million law- suit targeting comedian Sacha Baron Cohen filed after Moore complained he was tricked into an interview that lampooned sexual misconduct accusations against him. Judge John Cronan wrote that Moore signed a clear disclosure agreement that prohibited any le- gal claims over the appearance. He added that the absurd segment — in which the comic demonstrat- ed a so-called pedophile detector that beeped when it got near Moore — was “clearly a joke” and no viewer would think the comedi- ALEX ANAM, PING PONG PRODUCTIONS/The Washington Post an was making factual allegations From left: “Sharknado” stars Tara Reid and Ian Ziering. Ziering took the role in the first film, which became a bonkers franchise for Syfy and a against Moore. pop­culture phenomenon, because he needed the acting credit to keep his Screen Actors Guild health insurance. “The court agrees that Judge Moore’s claims are barred by the unambiguous contractual lan- guage, which precludes the very causes of action he now brings,” Cronan wrote. A very special ‘Sharknado’ The suit centered on Moore’s unwitting appearance on the com- ic’s “Who Is America?” show. The segment ran after Moore faced Shark Week special wants to prove sharks aren’t ‘crazed lunatic man-killers’ misconduct accusations that he had pursued sexual and romantic BY EMILY YAHR to believe?” to “Can sharknados exist?” didn’t tell anyone about it, so he was shocked relationships with teens when he The Washington Post “Sharknado,” if you recall, started as a thro- by the intense social media reaction when it was a man in his 30s. He has de- hen shark expert Tristan Gut- waway joke in the 2012 Syfy film “Lepre- premiered. Syfy re-aired the film throughout nied the allegations. tridge was first approached to chaun’s Revenge.” As “Sharknado” writer the summer as viewers clamored for more. Moore, a Republican judge participate in a Discovery Chan- Thunder Levin recalled, one character said, “‘Sharknado’ is so popular [because] it’s es- known for stances opposing same- Wnel Shark Week special about “Gosh, I hope we don’t go the way of that other capism; it’s fantasy. Everyone has a healthy sex marriage and supporting the “sharknados” — the extreme weather event town. They never recovered after the sharkna- fear of sharks, because we don’t see them and public display of Ten Command- from the notoriously ridiculous Syfy movie do hit.” This cracked up the Syfy executives so there’s a tremendous amount of mystery in- ments, faced the accusations dur- franchise — his reaction was pretty much what much that they decided to make a movie about volved. We brought them to life and put them in ing his 2017 race for U.S. Senate. you might expect from a scientist. it the following summer. Though the low-bud- a different environment,” Ziering said, ticking The accusations contributed to his “I was like, ‘Uhh, I don’t know,’” Guttridge get project aired on a random Thursday night off some of the bonkers situations that oc- loss to Doug Jones, the first Demo- recalled in a Zoom interview. “I mean, ‘Shark- curred throughout the films in which he and crat to represent Alabama in the nado’ is obviously just insane ... I would like to Reid’s characters tried to save the world from Senate in a quarter-century. think that most people that watch it would not “‘Sharknado’ is so popular cyclones filled with sharks: He used a chain ■ In another legal matter, Bar- believe that this is how sharks act, but you nev- [because] it’s escapism; saw to kill a shark. There were sharks in space. on Cohen has sued a Massachu- er quite know with people these days.” Reid’s character had a baby inside a shark. setts cannabis dispensary he says Then he heard more details: Not only would it’s fantasy. Everyone has For the special, Ziering and Reid joined Gut- used an image of his character Bo- he be paired with “Sharknado” stars Tara Reid tridge near Tiger Beach in the Bahamas, rat on a billboard without his per- and Ian Ziering to debunk the wildest aspects a healthy fear of sharks, where they interacted with sharks. The first mission, according to documents of the movies and demonstrate how sharks are because we don’t see them task: Proving that humans “are not on their filed in U.S. District Court in Bos- not actually “crazed lunatic man-killers,” but menu,” as Guttridge put it. “Sharks have no in- ton. Baron Cohen and his Califor- the special would also include scientific explo- and there’s a tremendous terest in us from a food perspective.” nia-based company Please You ration of how sharks actually behave during They sent Ziering and Reid underwater to Can Touch LLC are seeking $9 storms. Plus, although the franchise was ab- amount of mystery see sharks close up, which Ziering said was million in damages from Solar surd, he had a soft spot for the mindless enter- rather tranquil — even when a 13-foot tiger Therapeutics, Inc. tainment it provided millions of viewers. involved. We brought them shark headed his way. “I didn’t feel threatened, Thus, “The Real Sharknado” was born, con- to life and put them in but my heart started to race a little bit,” he said. Other news tinuing the phenomenon that started with Then Ziering and Reid got in a glass-bottom ■ Charlie Robinson, the versa- “Sharknado” eight years ago and caused view- a different environment.” kayak with bait tied above them so Guttridge tile and prolific actor whose many ers to ask: “Am I hallucinating?” The special is could prove that sharks won’t jump extremely credits ranged from stage produc- airing Thursday on AFN-Spectrum and will Ian Ziering high in the air. (This is something that happens tions of “Driving Miss Daisy” and stream on Discovery Plus as part of the net- frequently in “Sharknado.”) “Fences” to such films as “Secret work’s hugely popular Shark Week. Over the with little promotion, it became a Twitter fren- Ziering can’t believe that the movies he was Santa” and “Miss Lettie and Me” past three decades, Hollywood stars have be- zy that turned into a phenomenon, spawning once too embarrassed to talk about fueled a to his long-running role as the come increasingly involved in Discovery’s an- six movies with a slew of celebrity cameos. franchise that people still want to discuss. court clerk Mac Robinson in the nual exploration of the animals, but this is the When Ziering was initially tapped to star in “It just taught me a lesson me not to really sitcom “Night Court,” has died. first time anyone from the “Sharknado” uni- the first movie, he only said yes because he judge a book by its cover,” he said. “Just to be He was 75. verse has converged with a Shark Week show. needed to have enough acting credits to stay on open to whatever the universe has for me, and The special asks everything from “Are sharks the Screen Actors Guild health insurance plan, don’t rush to make decisions that could have From The Associated Press as dangerous and vicious as their films lead us he said. He was so mortified by the role that he lifelong consequences.” Thursday, July 15, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 15 OPINION

Max D. Lederer Jr., Publisher Lt. Col. Marci Hoffman, Europe commander Lt. Col. Michael Kerschbaum, Pacific commander America should shift vaccine focus Michael Ryan, Pacific chief of staff BY MARTY MAKARY no evidence that boosters are needed for the dles well, historically.” Already in Kenya, Special to The Washington Post general public. legislators are investigating the misappro- EDITORIAL hile the United States is running Let me be clear: As many non-immune priation of $69 million in Covax aid. Cruse Terry Leonard, Editor lotteries and celebrity ad cam- Americans as possible should still get the added, “This kind of corruption can lead to a [email protected] Wpaigns to convince every Ameri- vaccine. But spending millions of tax dol- total breakdown in the supply chain of life- can to get vaccinated, other parts of the lars to pay people to get vaccinated — as saving medicine.” Robert H. Reid, Senior Managing Editor world are digging mass graves for their vic- California is doing — is not the answer. It is These are the problems the administra- [email protected] tims of COVID-19. Therein lies the greatest financial mismanagement and a tunnel-vi- tion should be focusing on. It can help the Tina Croley, Managing Editor for Content failure of the current U.S. pandemic re- sion approach to valuing human life. world learn from our mistakes and incorpo- [email protected] sponse: It has become fixated on the disease Biden recently announced a global vac- rate the newest scientific findings on the ef- at home while giving lip service and respon- cine sharing program to get more vaccine fectiveness of the first dose and the power of Sean Moores, Managing Editor for Presentation [email protected] ding slowly to the threat abroad. doses to other countries in need, and his ad- natural immunity. In the United States, the COVID-19 threat ministration plans to purchase an addition- The administration should also reconsid- Joe Gromelski, Managing Editor for Digital is currently low. Nearly all at-risk Ameri- al 500 million vaccine doses for donation. er requiring second vaccine doses for kids [email protected] cans are protected. The virus is now circu- But this came several months too late and under the age of 18. lating in young people for which the case- did not come with a global supply chain We know COVID-19 death in healthy kids BUREAU STAFF fatality rate is similar to seasonal flu, except plan. It’s not as simple as ordering an Ama- is extremely rare, and a recent Israeli study daily COVID-19 cases are a fraction of the zon delivery to Ghana. It takes months to es- of kids 12-15 found that a single dose of the Europe/Mideast daily influenza cases in a mild flu season tablish distribution channels and set up Pfizer vaccine was 100 percent effective af- Erik Slavin, Europe & Mideast Bureau Chief [email protected] (about 20,000 vs. 133,000 per day). vaccination sites. The United States ter three weeks. Plus, complications with +49(0)631.3615.9350; DSN (314)583.9350 But it’s a very different pandemic over- planned for six months to distribute the vac- myocarditis in kids after vaccination have Pacific seas. Hospitals around the world are over- cine domestically and still had many hic- clustered immediately after the second Aaron Kidd, Pacific Bureau Chief run, and the morgues are overflowing due cups, including nursing homes getting the dose. [email protected] to low vaccination rates. More than 70 coun- vaccine a full month after FDA approval. So why is the United States using pre- +81.42.552.2511 ext. 88380; DSN (315)227.7380 tries and territories have vaccinated less Imagine trying to do the same in a country cious vaccines on second doses for healthy Washington than 10 percent of their population, with 12 with less developed infrastructure. kids when the risk-benefit analysis for that Joseph Cacchioli, Washington Bureau Chief unable to reach even 1 percent. We need to And vaccine supply is not the only issue. second dose is not yet conclusive? [email protected] help them get vaccinated. I’ve spoken with some of the leading ex- The domestic threat of COVID-19 is (+1)(202)886-0033 Brian Bowers, Assistant Managing Editor, News President Joe Biden declared June a perts on global logistics. They describe in- markedly reduced. Given the contribution [email protected] “month of action” in an attempt to reach his credible challenges to distributing the vac- of natural immunity, the United States has ambitious goal of vaccinating 70 percent of cine around the world. There’s a lack of re- much higher levels of population immunity CIRCULATION American adults with at least one dose by frigerated vehicles and on-site cold storage. than our vaccination rates suggest, with up- Mideast July 4. That effort came up short, but in the Transportation can be unreliable and law ward of 85 percent of adults now immune. If Robert Reismann, Mideast Circulation Manager process, the government has hoarded vac- enforcement isn’t always in place to pre- the United States really wants to tackle the [email protected] cines in surplus, putting millions of vac- vent the theft of vaccines. coronavirus pandemic and reduce the risk [email protected] cines on track to expire and end up in the What’s more, systematic corruption and of new variants developing overseas, it DSN (314)583-9111 trash, by order of the Food and Drug Ad- misuse of funds notoriously cripple U.N.- should stop running vaccine ads with celeb- Europe ministration. They should be on trucks led aid efforts and could threaten Covax, the rities and politicians and start turning its at- Karen Lewis, Community Engagement Manager headed to Canada or Mexico. U.N.’s global vaccine effort. As Ron Cruse, tention to the more challenging task abroad. [email protected] [email protected] The waste is expected to continue into the founder and chief executive of the supply- +49(0)631.3615.9090; DSN (314)583.9090 fall. The United States purchased a whop- chain service company Logenix Interna- Marty Makary is a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Pacific ping 200 million additional Moderna doses tional, told me, “The scale of vaccine aid in Medicine, Bloomberg School of Public Health and Carey Mari Mori, [email protected] for boosters and child vaccinations, despite this instance is not something the U.N. han- Business School. +81-3 6385.3171; DSN (315)227.7333 CONTACT US Washington US needs to stand with Cuba’s peaceful demonstrators tel: (+1)202.886.0003 633 3rd St. NW, Suite 116, Washington, DC 20001-3050 BY JENNIFER RUBIN manding their fundamental freedoms, eco- about the outside world and their own disas- Reader letters The Washington Post nomic reforms, and the ‘end of the dictator- trously-run country. In particular, the Cu- ubans are taking to the streets to pro- ship.’ Paramilitary troops, specialized riot ban people should understand that their [email protected] test of their Communist rulers, a police, and supporters of President [Miguel country’s vaccine program is badly defi- Additional contacts Crare exception to the regime’s suc- Díaz-Canel] have injured and arbitrarily cient and that its regime refuses to join Co- stripes.com/contactus cess in suppressing dissent. How far will detained hundreds of peaceful prodemoc- vax, the World Health Organization vac- the Biden administration go to defend the racy demonstrators.” The organization also cine-distribution program that could pro- OMBUDSMAN right to protest peacefully? called on the international community to vide Cubans with vaccines. Ernie Gates The sight of Cubans demonstrating “emphatically denounce the ‘combat order’ A Freedom House spokesperson also The Stars and Stripes ombudsman protects the free flow against the incompetence and repression of issued by President Díaz-Canel,” warning suggests that, on a bipartisan basis, the of news and information, reporting any attempts by the a dictatorial government provided a rare that the regime’s rhetoric “can push the United States should call for “the release of military or other authorities to undermine the newspaper’s independence. The ombudsman also responds to concerns moment of bipartisan agreement. President country into civil war.” political prisoners in Cuba, an immediate and questions from readers, and monitors coverage for Joe Biden on Monday declared: “We stand It is unclear what the United States can do end to violence against protesters, and res- fairness, accuracy, timeliness and balance. The ombudsman welcomes comments from readers, and can be contacted by with the Cuban people and their clarion call beyond offering words of support to nurture toration of internet access.” In addition, it email at [email protected], or by phone at for freedom and relief from the tragic grip a democratic movement. Officially, our Cu- urges the Biden administration to work 202.886.0003. of the pandemic and from the decades of re- ba policy is under review. Human rights ad- with other democracies in our hemisphere Stars and Stripes (USPS 0417900) is published week- pression and economic suffering to which vocates have a number of policy shifts in to “support pro-democracy [civil society or- days (except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) for 50 cents Monday they have been subjected by Cuba’s author- mind. David Kramer, a human rights guru ganizations] and grass-roots movements, through Thursday and for $1 on Friday by Pacific Stars and Stripes, Unit 45002, APO AP 96301-5002. Periodicals itarian regime.” In a shot across the bow of currently with the McCain Institute said, calling for reforms and civil society efforts postage paid at San Francisco, CA, Postmaster: Send the island nation’s ruling class, Biden as- “We should be crystal clear in standing with to block against/counteract repression.” address changes to Pacific Stars and Stripes, Unit 45002, APO AP 96301-5002. This newspaper is authorized by the serted, “The Cuban people are bravely as- the people of Cuba, rally our democratic al- The United States can also “condemn Cu- Department of Defense for members of the military services serting fundamental and universal rights. . . lies in solidarity, impose sanctions on those ba’s actions at the United Nations and the overseas. However, the contents of Stars and Stripes are unofficial, and are not to be considered as the official views . The United States calls on the Cuban re- cracking down on the protesters, and mag- Organization of American States.” of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government. As a DOD newspa- per, Stars and Stripes may be distributed through official gime to hear their people and serve their nify messaging about the gross mismanage- It is not clear whether the demonstrations channels and use appropriated funds for distribution to needs at this vital moment rather than en- ment of the Cuban economy by the govern- will continue, but the administration should remote locations where overseas DOD personnel are located. The appearance of advertising in this publication does riching themselves.” ment and Communist Party.” complete its policy review and seize the op- not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense or Conservatives and liberals in Congress This is a perfect opportunity to reinvigor- portunity to show that it stands on the side of Stars and Stripes of the products or services advertised. Products or services advertised shall be made available for issued similar words of support. Freedom ate Radio Televisión Martí, an American democracy and is willing to provide human- purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, House likewise issued a statement support- state-run broadcaster that transmits news itarian aid to those abandoned by their own religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of ing the protesters who have been brutally to Cuba, and was a victim of Trump-era government. If not in Cuba, democracy ad- the purchaser, user or patron. attacked by police: “In a remarkable and budget cuts, right-wing politicization and vocates around the world may be embold- © Stars and Stripes 2021 unprecedented demonstration, thousands cronyism. The Cuban regime has long ened to defend rights so long as the United stripes.com of Cubans took to the streets on Sunday, de- feared its people’s access to accurate news States has their backs. PAGE 16 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, July 15, 2021 Eugene Sheffer Crossword Frazz Dilbert

ACROSS 51 Acapulco gold 21 Gore and Green 1 Wine region 52 Omelet base 23 Sizing up 5 “GMA” network 53 “I did it!” 24 Elevator name 8 Espy 54 French dia- 25 Info

Pearls Before Swine Pearls Before 12 Weaving rist Anaïs 26 K thru 12 machine 55 Obi 27 Pants part 13 Brit’s restroom 28 Bicycle type 14 Baby carriage DOWN 32 Huge number 15 Virgil or Wyatt 1 Actor Guinness 33 Tranquilizes 16 Possess 2 Fly high 35 Right angle 17 Decays 3 Rent 36 Water tester 18 Lowlife, in slang 4 Obstructs 38 Actress 20 Futile 5 Unfriendly McDonald of 22 Mötley Crüe 6 Gift topper “Carousel” Non Sequitur album of 1989 7 Change a digi- 39 Director Welles 26 Lauder of tal file format 42 Latvia’s capital cosmetics 8 Parsley piece 43 Heart charts 29 Decade parts 9 She and he, e.g. (Abbr.) (Abbr.) 10 Granola morsel 44 Platter 30 Actress Hagen 11 Corp. symbols 45 Obese 31 Cask sediment 19 Opposite of 46 Actress Mendes 32 Morsel “post-” 48 Hosp. scan 33 Tizzy Answer to Previous Puzzle

Candorville 34 Solo of “Star Wars” 35 Aachen article 36 “Selma” actress Thompson 37 “No worries” 40 Influence 41 Brought up 45 Nourish 47 Online chats,

Carpe Diem briefly 49 Polynesian carving 50 Say it’s so Beetle Bailey Bizarro Thursday, July 15, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 17 PAGE 18 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, July 15, 2021 SCOREBOARD/SPORTS BRIEFS

PRO SOCCER PRO BASKETBALL TENNIS BRIEFLY MLS WNBA Hall of Fame Open patsch, Germany, 6-2, 6-2. Dalma Galfi, Hungary, def. Aliona Bolso- EASTERN CONFERENCE EASTERN CONFERENCE Tuesday va Zadoinov, Spain, 7-6 (4), 6-3. At International Tennis Hall of Fame Bernarda Pera (3), United States, def. Ju- Olympic athletes WLTPts GF GA WLPct GB Newport, R.I. lia Grabher, Austria, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2. Purse: $466,870 Women’s Doubles New England 7 3 3 24 22 18 Connecticut 14 6 .700 — to put on own medals Surface: Grass Round of 16 Orlando City 6 3 3 21 20 12 Chicago 10 10 .500 4 Men’s Singles Sara Errani, Italy, and Irina Bara, Roma- TOKYO — Athletes at the To- Philadelphia 5 3 5 20 16 12 New York 10 11 .476 4½ Round of 32 nia, def. Ekaterine Gorgodze, Georgia, and Tereza Mihalikova, Slovakia, 4-6, 6-1, 15- kyo Olympics will put their med- CF Montréal 5 3 4 19 14 11 Washington 8 10 .444 5 Sebastian Ofner, Austria, def. Yasutaka Uchiyama, Japan, 6-4, 6-4. 13. als around their own necks to pro- Nashville 4 1 7 19 16 13 Atlanta 6 13 .316 7½ Ivo Karlovic, Croatia, def. Bernabe Zapa- Amina Anshba, Russia, and Anastasia NYCFC 5 4 2 17 19 13 Indiana 4 16 .200 10 ta Miralles, Spain, 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-4. Detiuc, Czech Republic, def. Amarissa Kia- tect against spreading the corona- ra Toth and Natalia Szabanin, Hungary, New York 5 5 2 17 17 15 Tennys Sandgren (5), United States, def. WESTERN CONFERENCE Joao Sousa, Portugal, 6-4, 7-6 (3). 6-4, 7-5. virus. Columbus 4 3 5 17 13 11 Jason Jung, Taiwan, def. Brayden The “very significant change” D.C. United 5 6 1 16 17 14 WLPct GB Schnur, Canada, 7-5, 6-7 (1), 7-6 (4). Swedish Open Peter Gojowczyk, Germany, def. Mitch- to traditional medal ceremonies in Atlanta 2 3 7 13 13 15 Seattle 16 5 .762 — Tuesday ell Krueger, United States, 6-2, 6-2. At Bastad Tennis Stadium Cincinnati 3 5 3 12 12 20 Jack Sock, United States, def. Alex Bolt, the 339 events was revealed Las Vegas 15 6 .714 1 Bastad, Sweden Chicago 3 7 2 11 13 18 Australia, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Minnesota 12 7 .632 3 Maxime Cressy, United States, def. Pao- Purse: Euro 419,470 Wednesday by International Inter Miami CF 2 7 2 8 9 17 Phoenix 9 10 .474 6 lo Lorenzi, Italy, 6-1, 6-2. Surface: Red clay Men’s Singles Olympic Committee president Toronto FC 2 8 2 8 16 29 Dallas 9 12 .429 7 Men’s Doubles Round of 16 Round of 32 Thomas Bach. Los Angeles 6 13 .316 9 WESTERN CONFERENCE Vasek Pospisil, Canada, and Austin Kraj- Arthur Rinderknech, France, def. Pedro icek, United States, def. Marcus Daniell, Sousa, Portugal, 6-1, 6-1. “The medals will not be given WLTPts GF GA Monday’s games New Zealand, and Ben Mclachlan (1), Ja- Pedro Martinez, Spain, def. Dennis No- around the neck,” Bach told inter- No games scheduled pan, 7-5, 6-3. vak, Austria, 7-5, 6-1. Seattle 8 0 5 29 23 8 Norbert Gombos, Slovakia, def. Pablo Tuesday’s games Jonathan Erlich, Israel, and Santiago national media on a conference Sporting KC 8 3 2 26 24 15 Gonzalez (2), Mexico, def. Treat Conrad Cuevas, Uruguay, 1-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2. No games scheduled Huey, Philippines, and Miguel Angel Jiri Vesely (7), Czech Republic, def. Sal- call from Tokyo. “They will be LA Galaxy 8 4 0 24 20 18 vatore Caruso, Italy, 6-3, 6-2. Wednesday’s games Reyes-Varela, Mexico, 7-6 (4), 6-3. presented to the athlete on a tray Colorado 6 3 2 20 18 12 Dennis Novikov, United States, and Alex- Roberto Carballes Baena, Spain, def. Fa- LAFC 5 4 3 18 15 12 All-Star Game: Team WNBA vs USAB ander Bublik, Kazakhstan, def. Robert Gal- cundo Bagnis, Argentina, 6-2, 6-4. and then the athlete will take the Women’s Nat. Team loway and Alex Lawson, United States, 4-6, Federico Coria, Argentina, def. Francis- Real Salt Lake 4 3 4 16 18 12 Thursday’s games 7-6 (2), 10-8. co Cerundolo, Argentina, 6-4, 6-4. medal him or herself.” Minnesota 4 5 3 15 12 16 Yasutaka Uchiyama and Yoshihito Nish- Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune, Denmark, No games scheduled Houston 3 4 6 15 16 19 ioka, Japan, def. Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, def. Radu Albot, Moldova, 4-6, 6-3, 6-0. Friday’s games Pakistan, and Ramkumar Ramanathan, In- Emil Ruusuvuori (8), Finland, def. Mikael Larson lands extension, Portland 4 6 1 13 14 19 Ymer, Sweden, 1-6, 6-4, 6-3. No games scheduled dia, 1-6, 7-5, 10-7. Austin FC 3 6 4 13 10 14 Henri Laaksonen, Switzerland, def. Lo- full sponsorship Hamburg European Open renzo Musetti (6), Italy, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. San Jose 3 7 2 11 14 22 DEALS Men’s Doubles CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Rick FC Dallas 2 5 5 11 14 20 Tuesday Round of 16 Vancouver 2 7 3 9 12 22 Tuesday’s transactions At Am Rothenbaum Rot-Weiss Tennis Markus Eriksson and Filip Bergevi, Swe- Hendrick gave Kyle Larson a sec- Club den, def. Purav Raja and Jeevan Nedun- ond chance in NASCAR because Note: Three points for victory, one point BASEBALL Hamburg, Germany chezhiyan, India, 5-7, 6-3, 10-6. for tie. Major League Baseball Purse: Euro 1,030,900 Nicholas Monroe, United States, and An- Hendrick Motorsports had want- American League Saturday’s games Surface: Red clay drei Vasilevski (4), Belarus, def. Igor Zele- CHICAGO WHITE SOX — Sent LF Eloy Ji- Men’s Singles nay, Slovakia, and Romain Arneodo, Mo- ed him in its lineup for years. Now New England at Atlanta menez to Charlotte (Triple-A East) on a re- Round of 32 naco, 7-6 (5), 6-4. that Hendrick has his man, he has Miami at New York hab assignment. Juan Pablo Varillas, Peru, def. Sumit Na- David Pel and Sander Arends, Nether- Cincinnati at CF Montréal KANSAS CITY ROYALS — Sent LHP Daniel gal, India, 6-0, 6-4. lands, def. Artem Sitak, New Zealand, and locked Larson down for two more D.C. United at Philadelphia Tillo to Northwest Arkansas (Double-A Carlos Taberner, Spain, def. Feliciano Luis David Martinez, Venezuela, 6-1, 6-4. New York City FC at Columbus Central) on a rehab assignment. Lopez, Spain, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Marco Cecchinato, Italy, and Roberto seasons with full sponsorship. Orlando City at Toronto FC MINNESOTA TWINS — Sent C Mitch Gar- Federico Delbonis, Argentina, def. Zhiz- Carballes Baena, Spain, def. Elias Ymer Chicago at Nashville ver and OF Jake Cave to St. Paul (Triple-A hen Zhang, China, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4. and Carl Soderlund, Sweden, 6-2, 6-4. Hendrick on Wednesday told San Jose at Colorado East) on rehab assignments. Signed RHP Filip Krajinovic (6), Serbia, def. Daniel Andre Begemann, Germany, and Albano his 93 dealerships that the hottest LA Galaxy at Vancouver Orlando Rodriguez to a minor league con- Altmaier, Germany, 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-1. Olivetti, France, def. Thiago Monteiro and FC Dallas at Portland tract. Alex Molcan, Slovakia, def. Gianluca Rafael Matos, Brazil, 6-3, 2-6, 10-1. driver in motorsports has signed a Real Salt Lake at Los Angeles FC SEATTLE MARINERS — Sent RHP Casey Mager, Italy, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3). Andres Molteni, Argentina, and Andrea Sadler to Everett (Triple-A West) on a re- Vavassori (1), Italy, def. Denys Molchanov, contract extension through 2023 Sunday’s game hab assignment. Laslo Djere, Serbia, def. Jan-Lennard Struff (7), Germany, 6-4, 7-5. Ukraine, and Radu Albot, Moldova, 6-1, 6-2. Seattle at Minnesota TEXAS RANGERS — Sent C Sam Huff to and Larson will be fully sponsored Frisco RoughRiders (Double-A Central) on Dominik Koepfer, Germany, def. Maxi- Tuesday, July 20 a rehab assignment. milian Marterer, Germany, 7-6 (2), 2-6, 7-6 Prague Open by HendrickCars.com. (4). Houston at Vancouver National League Tuesday ATLANTA BRAVES — Sent RHP Jay Flaa Dusan Lajovic (5), Serbia, def. Lucas Wednesday, July 21 Pouille, France, 6-4, 6-4. At TK Sparta Praha Sherman booked on outright to Gwinnett (Triple-A East). Men’s Doubles Prague Nashville at Columbus CHICAGO CUBS — Sent 3B Matt Duffy to Round of 16 Purse: $235,238 New York at Toronto FC Iowa (Triple-A East) on a rehab assign- Surface: Hardcourt outdoor domestic violence charge CF Montréal at New York City FC ment. Michael Venus, New Zealand, and Tim Puetz (2), Germany, def. Stefanos Tsitsi- Women’s Singles SEATTLE — Former Seattle New England at Miami LOS ANGELES DODGERS — Designated Round of 32 Atlanta at Cincinnati RHP Bobby Wahl for assignment. Claimed pas and Petros Tsitsipas, Greece, 7-5, 7-6 Seahawks and San Francisco D.C. United at Chicago RHP Jimmie Sherfy off waivers from San (5). Ysaline Bonaventure, Belgium, def. San Jose at Sporting Kansas City Francisco Giants. Horia Tecau, Romania, and Kevin Kra- Naiktha Bains, Britain, 6-3, 6-2. 49ers star Richard Sherman was FC Dallas at Colorado MIAMI MARLINS — Sent LHP Shawn Mo- wietz (1), Germany, def. Ruben Gonzalez, Viktoria Kuzmova, Slovakia, def. Mona LA Galaxy at Real Salt Lake rimando and RHP Preston Guilmet out- Philippines, and Hunter Johnson, United Barthel, Germany, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3. booked into a jail in Seattle on Los Angeles FC at Portland right to Jacksonville (Triple-A East). Sent States, 6-0, 6-1. Anastasia Gasanova, Russia, def. Lucie RHP John Curtiss to Beloit (High-A Central) Havlickova, Czech Republic, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4. Wednesday morning, accused of Thursday, July 22 on a rehab assignment. Optioned RHP Hungarian Grand Prix Xinyu Wang, China, def. Leonie Kung, “Burglary Domestic Violence.” Philadelphia at Orlando City Jorge Guzman to Jacksonville. Switzerland, 6-2, 6-2. Tuesday Tereza Martincova (8), Czech Republic, Seattle at Austin FC MILWAUKEE BREWERS — Sent RHP Jus- At Europe Tennis Center The King County Correctional tin Topa to Arizona Complex League (ACL) def. Samantha Murray Sharan, Britain, 6-1, Saturday, July 24 Brewers Blue on a rehab assignment. Ac- Budapest, Hungary 6-4. Facility lists Sherman as being Purse: $235,238 Columbus at Atlanta quired LHP Kyle Lobstein from Washing- En Shuo Liang, Taiwan, def. Conny Per- booked at 6:08 a.m. Online records Portland at Minnesota ton Nationals in exchange for cash and as- Surface: Red clay rin, Switzerland, 6-3, 6-4. Toronto FC at Chicago signed him to Nashville (Triple-A East). Women’s Singles Storm Sanders, Australia, def. Marie say bail was denied, though it was Cincinnati at Nashville Designated RHP Ryan Weber for assign- Round of 32 Bouzkova (4), Czech Republic, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. LA Galaxy at FC Dallas ment. Sent SS Daniel Robertson outright to Reka Luca Jani, Hungary, def. Elisabetta Nuria Parrizas-Diaz, Spain, def. Urszula unlikely Sherman would have had Colorado at Real Salt Lake Nashville. Cocciaretto, Italy, 6-4, 7-5. Radwanska, Poland, 2-6, 6-3, 6-1. Houston at San Jose NEW YORK METS — Sent OF Johneshwy Ana Bogdan (5), Romania, def. Varvara Katerina Siniakova (5), Czech Republic, a court appearance yet. Vancouver at Los Angeles FC Fargas to Binghamton (Double-A North- Lepchenko, United States, 6-4, 7-5. def. Jodie Anna Burrage, Britain, 6-0, 6-4. The incident is being investigat- east) on a rehab assignment. Ivana Jorovic, Serbia, def. Jaqueline Adi- Barbora Krejcikova (2), Czech Republic, Sunday, July 25 PITTSBURGH PIRATES — Placed LHP Sam na Cristian, Romania, 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3). def. Isabella Shinikova, Bulgaria, 6-2, 6-3. ed as a felony. It wasn’t immedi- CF Montréal at New England Howard on the 10-day IL, retroactive to Ju- Danielle Collins (2), United States, def. Women’s Doubles Orlando City at New York City FC ly 10. Martina Di Giuseppe, Italy, 6-2, 6-1. Round of 16 ately clear if Sherman had an at- Philadelphia at Miami HOCKEY Panna Udvardy, Hungary, def. Mayar Ysaline Bonaventure, Belgium, and Leo- torney and no other details were New York at D.C. United National Hockey League Sherif, Egypt, 6-3, 6-1. nie Kung, Switzerland, def. Tayisiya Mor- Sporting Kansas City at Seattle EDMONTON OILERS — Acquired C Tim Anhelina Kalinina, Ukraine, def. Anna derger and Yana Morderger, Germany, immediately available. Soderlund and D Duncan Keith from Chica- Kalinskaya, Russia, 6-4, 7-6 (5). 6-2, 6-3. NWSL go for D Caleb Jones and a 2022 third- Aliaksandra Sasnovich (6), Belarus, def. Nina Stojanovic, Serbia, and Viktoria round pick. Timea Babos, Hungary, 6-0, 2-0, ret. Kuzmova (1), Slovakia, def. Lizette Cabre- Tour de France leader WLTPts GF GA NASHVILLE PREDATORS — Announced Olga Danilovic, Serbia, def. Tamara Kor- ra and Maddison Inglis, Australia, 6-4, 6-2. the retirement of G Pekka Rinne. Pogacar wins 17th stage North Carolina 5 3 1 16 14 6 SOCCER AP SPORTLIGHT Major League Soccer SAINT-LARY-SOULAN, Orlando 4 2 4 16 13 11 MLS DISCIPLINARY — Found Cincinnati Portland 5 3 1 16 14 6 FC and Columbus Crew SC in violation of July 15 1978 — Jack Nicklaus shoots a 281 at St. France — Tadej Pogacar said it Andrews to win his third and final British Washington 4 2 3 15 10 8 the Mass Confrontation Policy in their 1912 — Jim Thorpe wins the decathlon at match on Friday, July 9 and both clubs the Stockholm Olympics and, in the clos- Open. was going to be the hardest day of Chicago 4 4 2 14 8 14 have been issued a warning for their first ing ceremony, Sweden’s King Gustav pro- 1984 — Hollis Stacy wins her third U.S. the Tour de France. Gotham FC 3 1 4 13 7 3 violation. The Independent Review Panel claims Thorpe the world’s greatest ath- Women’s Open golf title, beating Rosie has unanimously rescinded the one- Jones by one stroke. Houston 4 4 1 13 11 10 lete. He made it look easy. match suspension and accompanying 1922 — Gene Sarazen shoots a final- 1990 — Betsy King overcomes an 11-shot Louisville 3 4 2 11 7 13 fine for the red card issued to Atlanta Unit- round 68 to beat out Bobby Jones and John deficit over the final 33 holes to win her The race leader finished ahead Reign FC 3 5 1 10 7 10 ed FC’s Jake Mulraney in the match Black for the U.S. Open golf championship. second consecutive U.S. Women’s Open against Nashville SC on Thursday, July 8. as Patty Sheehan blows an eight-shot lead of his rivals and took a major step Kansas City 0 7 3 3 5 15 1923 — Amateur Bobby Jones beats Bob- FC DALLAS — Loaned M Thomas Roberts by Cruikshank by two strokes in a playoff over the final 23 holes. toward defending his title with a Note: Three points for victory, one point to SK Austria Klagenfurt in the Austrian to win the U.S. Open golf title. 1991 — Sandhi Ortiz-DelValle becomes for tie. Bundesliga for the remainder of 2021-22 the first woman to officiate a men’s pro- perfectly executed 17th-stage win season and extended his contract with a 1927 — Bobby Jones wins the British Saturday’s game Open shooting a championship record 7- fessional basketball game, working a club option for the 2023 season. United States Basketball League game be- in the Pyrenees on Wednesday. Houston at North Carolina NEW YORK FC — Named Morten Grahn A- under 285 at the Old Course in St Andrews, Scotland. It’s the second straight Open ti- tween the New Haven Skyhawks and the The 22-year-old Pogacar made cademy Director, pending receipt of his Philadelphia Spirit. Sunday’s games work visa. tle for the amateur, who goes wire-to-wire his move with 8.5 kilometers to go Gotham FC at Washington PHILADELPHIA UNION — Loaned M Matej for a six-stroke victory over Aubrey Boom- 2000 — Lennox Lewis stops Francois Reign FC at Chicago Oravec to Slovakian side FK Zeleziarne er and Fred Dobson. Botha at 2:39 of the second round to retain on Col de Portet when he powered Orlando at Portland Podbrezova on a one-year loan. 1945 — Byron Nelson defeats Sam Byrd his WBC and IBF heavyweight titles in Lon- COLLEGE in the final round of the PGA golf tourna- don. past previous leader Anthony Pe- Friday, July 23 BARUCH — Promoted Nicole Bellini to ment. 2007 — The Philadelphia Phillies lose rez on his way to victory at 2,215 North Carolina at Kansas City head softboll coach. 1961 — Arnold Palmer shoots a 284 at their 10,000 game, 10-2 to St. Louis. The EAST CAROLINA — Named Ashley Hol- Royal Birkdale to win his first British Open franchise, born in 1883 as the Philadelphia meters above sea level and Saturday, July 24 land assistant women’s soccer coach. title. Quakers and later called the Blue Jays in Portland at Houston KEENE ST. — Named Justin Blood head 1967 — Argentina’s Roberto DeVicenzo the mid-1940s, fall to 8,810-10,000. stretching his overall lead to 5 Reign FC at Orlando baseball coach. wins the British Open by two strokes over 2008 — Justin Morneau slides home just TUSCULUM — Named Trea King head defending champion Jack Nicklaus. in time on Michael Young’s sacrifice fly in minutes, 39 seconds. Sunday, July 25 spirit coordinator. 1972 — Lee Trevino wins his second con- the 15th inning, giving the American Washington at Louisville WISCONSIN — Named Kristen Simpson secutive British Open title by beating Jack League a 4-3 victory in the All-Star game at Chicago at Gotham FC assistant women’s golf coach. Nicklaus by one stroke. Yankee stadium. Associated Press Thursday, July 15, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 19 NHL/BRITISH OPEN As offseason Back: Players allowed core group of 4 people FROM PAGE 24 DID YOU KNOW? begins, clubs Off the course? That might be a different story for them. Ireland’s Shane Lowry has kept the The players will be confined to a claret jug for two years because the strict bubble, which for PGA Tour British Open wasn't played last year regulars will feel like a step back due to the pandemic. The only player make moves who has held onto it longer is Richard in time. BY STEPHEN WHYNO Under R&A protocols, players Burton, who won the British Open until 1939 and kept it until 1946 Associated Press are allowed a core group of only when World War II canceled the It’s hard for Duncan Keith to say goodbye to yester- four people. That includes the tournament for six years. day. player and caddie. The other two SOURCE: Associated Press Pekka Rinne, too. Even more difficult for Zach Parise chosen have to be a coach, a train- and Ryan Suter because it wasn’t their call. er or other physical support staff, champion Phil Mickelson said. Moving on from the past is an early theme of the NHL a family member or a translator. “It’s a major championship and offseason. Chicago traded Keith after 16 seasons that in- Family members, such as a let’s just do what it takes to be able cluded three Stanley Cup titles. Rinne retired following spouse, are not exempt from U.K. to compete.” 13 full seasons goaltending in Nashville, and Minnesota quarantine laws. The others are. There also is plenty of uncer- announced buyouts for Parise and Suter nine seasons That means Justin Thomas and tainty when it comes to Royal St. into their 13-year contracts. Jordan Spieth can’t share a house George’s, starting with a question Consider it like summer cleaning before most of the MARK HUMPHREY/AP as they often do. It means no trips that never has a reliable answer: jumbling for the 2021-22 season happens after the Seat- The Blackhawks traded 38­year­old defenseman to restaurants or grocery stores, Where exactly is the ball going to tle expansion draft next week. Duncan Keith to the Edmonton Oilers after 16 much less a pub. Players are to bounce? “These things always have to happen,” Wild general seasons in Chicago. avoid mixing with the general The fairways have so many manager Bill Guerin said Tuesday. “You see teams con- public, except for those 32,000 humps that shots landing in the stantly changing. You have to try to get better.” working the phones this week to lay some groundwork. fans behind the ropes. middle can bounce left or right. Some of the getting better means getting worse in the “It seems like more teams would prefer to wait until “I feel like a lot of the family re- That’s what led Greg Norman to short term. That’s the gamble the Wild took in buying after Seattle makes their decisions,” Fletcher said. “But strictions, each player’s team re- say ahead of the 1993 British out Parise and Suter. Same for the Blackhawks in trad- there is a lot of dialogue. Teams are, I think, trying to get strictions, it’s a little too much,” Open, “I’d swear the Royal Air ing Keith to Edmonton for defenseman Caleb Jones and a read of the room right now and see who’s available, U.S. Open champion Jon Rahm Force used a couple of the fair- a third-round pick. what other teams are trying to do and what options we all said. “But I understand why they ways for bombing runs.” The Predators hope they have their Rinne replace- may have once we get closer to the draft and free agen- want us to stay at home and why And then he shot all rounds in ment in Juuse Saros, who got 35 games to the elder cy.” they want to keep the players as the 60s to win and changed his Finn’s 21 this past season and was the playoff starter. The busiest GM in the league is Seattle’s Ron Francis, safe as possible. tune, describing a British Open at “We’re really happy we have Juuse,” GM David Poile who will get to pick one player from the unprotected lists “It’s the rules they put up, and Royal St. George’s as the “world said. “He’s played really well behind Pekka, played ex- of 30 other teams. Vegas is exempt after the Golden we just have to deal with it and fol- championship of imagination.” ceptional this year. I think ‘the torch has been passed’ is Knights rode their 2017 expansion draft to the Stanley low them.” Royal St. George’s was the first the expression here. But who’s not going to miss Pekka?” Cup Final in their inaugural season. It’s a big change for the top play- course in England to host the Brit- Keith will miss Chicago and vice versa after he was Like George McPhee then, Francis is listening in case ers who have spent most of their ish Open in 1894, and this will be one of the most important players of this championship colleagues want to sweeten the deal to save or get rid of a time in America. COVID-19 test- the 15th time it has hosted the era. But at almost 38 and after going long stretches with- certain player. ing on the PGA Tour is no longer Open. out seeing his 8-year-old son, Colton, Keith asked for a “My sense right now is unless you’re probably talking required for fully vaccinated play- The terrain is so lumpy that Jus- trade to Western Canada and landed with the Oilers. to Ron Francis, there’s probably not a lot of chatter,” Oil- ers, and testing at tournaments tin Rose once referred to it as “al- “It’s a sad day on one end to be leaving Chicago but al- ers GM Ken Holland said. “It’s teams that might be in a will end by the time they get home. most playing on the surface of the so an exciting time to be moving to a new team with new difficult spot (and) are maybe trying to figure out ways “It seems like us as players, moon.” It can get aggravating, and teammates,” Keith said Monday night. “I want to be at to do a deal with Seattle.” we’re jumping through some hur- it’s like that for everyone. my best. In Edmonton, it’s going to be a competitive en- The back-to-back champion Tampa Bay Lightning dles and dodging bullets and “You just pack your patience vironment and I’m going to do everything I can to earn are absolutely involved in those conversations. Fresh off they’re having 32,000 fans a day at and understand that it’s the same the respect of my new teammates and the coaching staff another boat parade that ended with the Stanley Cup the tournament, so I don’t know,” for everyone, and the good and the and the organization.” dented and sent off for repairs, GM Julien BriseBois Rickie Fowler said. “I can’t really bad bounces should all level out Parise and Suter will get that chance somewhere once said “a lot of that work going on right now” is preparing answer questions clearly with all over 72 holes,” Rory McIlroy said. free agency opens July 28. Before then, expect a flurry for expansion. that going on.” At least it’s being played, and of moves after the Seattle Kraken’s expansion draft “This Seattle situation, it’s adds a nice wrinkle to our Kevin Na withdrew because of even Lowry is eager for that, even picks are revealed July 21 leading up to the July 23-24 challenge this offseason,” BriseBois said. “Will there be international travel require- if it means giving back the jug. He draft and beyond. deals before that? I would think there might be. We may ments. Three players from Asian kept it for two years, the longest of Plenty of conversations are ongoing this week to set be one of those teams, maybe not.” countries have withdrawn to con- any British Open champion since the table for that potential frenzy. Philadelphia GM centrate on the Olympics at the Richard Burton. He won in 1939,

Chuck Fletcher — who was with the Wild when they AP sports writer Teresa M. Walker in Nashville, Tenn., and freelance writer end of the month. and then World War II canceled signed Parise and Suter in 2012 — said he has been busy Mark Didtler in Tampa, Fla., contributed. “Look, it’s one week,” PGA the Open until 1946. PAGE 20 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, July 15, 2021 OLYMPICS

SWIMMING There’s still plenty of star power in pool Dressel, Ledecky seem At a glance Highlights from Rio: Michael Phelps won ready to step up with five golds and a silver to close out his career as the winningest Olympian in history. Amer- Phelps now retired ican Simone Manuel became the first Black woman to win an individual swimming gold in the 100-meter freestyle. The U.S. topped BY PAUL NEWBERRY the medals table, winning 33 overall, includ- Associated Press ing 16 gold. Australia was second with 10 ichael Phelps medals (three gold) and Japan was fourth loomed over the pool with seven medals (two gold). at the past four Sum- What’s new: The men’s 800-meter frees- tyle is back in the Olympics for the first time Mmer Olympics, a fig- since 1904. Emil Rausch of Germany set the ure so transcendent it was hard for Olympic record of 13 minutes, 11.4 seconds anyone else to get their proper due. over 880 yards at the St. Louis Games. By He’s retired now, leaving a giant contrast, the world record of 7:32.12 was set void in his wake. by Zhang Lin of China in meters at the 2009 world championships during the height of Not to worry. the rubber suit era. The women’s 1,500 free Even without Phelps, plenty of will be contested at the Olympics for the first star power will be on display at the time. Katie Ledecky of the U.S. owns the $515 million, 15,000-seat Tokyo world mark of 15:20.48 set in 2018. The Aquatics Centre. new mixed 4x100 medley relay features From Caeleb Dressel to Katie teams of four — two men and two women — racing against each other doing each of the Ledecky, from Adam Peaty to four strokes: backstroke, breaststroke, but- Ariarne Titmus, from Katinka terfly and freestyle. The tactics and strategies Hosszu to home-country favorite involved make it an exciting event. The Tokyo Daiya Seto, myriad swimmers are Aquatics Centre is newly built in a seaside capable of playing a leading role in park for the games. Tokyo expectations: Finals will be at the post-Phelps era. 10:30 a.m. in Tokyo so NBC can show “Obviously, losing Michael was swimming live at night in the U.S. Prelimin- huge for this team, but we haven’t JEFF ROBERSON/AP aries will be at 7 p.m. in Tokyo. It’s a similar had him since 2016,” said Ameri- Caeleb Dressel of Florida has qualfied in three individual events (50 and 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly) format to the 2008 Beijing Games. can breaststroke star Lilly King. and might get to swim in four relays. Athletes to watch: American Caeleb Dres- sel has been tabbed as the potential succes- “We always do great, so I don’t sor to Phelps. Dressel won a record eight know why we would think it wasn’t she plans to challenge Ledecky’s Things to watch for at the pool one beating Britain’s Peaty. medals at the 2019 world meet and is the going to be great just because Mi- dominance in the freestyle with during the pandemic-delayed To- He’s held the men’s world re- one to beat in his sprint events in Tokyo. Le- chael’s not there.” the second-fastest times ever in kyo Games: cord in the 100 breaststroke since decky tries to equal or better the four golds King stirred up the already heat- both the 200 and 400 freestyles. 2015, becoming the first swimmer and one silver she won in Rio. Adam Peaty of Dressel’s moment Britain defends his title in the 100 breast- ed rivalry with the Australians by “She’s not going to have it all her to break both 58 and 57 seconds. stroke. He’s the first man to swim the event making a bold prediction for the own way,” Titmus told Australian The 24-year-old Floridian has He’s the reigning three-time under both 58 and 57 seconds. Sarah Sjos- U.S. women. media. “I can’t control what she emerged as the world’s best male world champion and defending trom of Sweden will be a threat in the butter- “I think the women, if we have does. If I do the best I can and put swimmer since Phelps retired. gold medalist from the Rio Games. fly and freestyle events depending on her the meet we can have, can win ev- myself in the position to win a gold Dressel really broke out at the There’s room to go even faster, conditioning after breaking her elbow in Feb- ery single individual gold,” she medal, it’s going to be a tough 2017 world championships in Bu- Peaty insisted. ruary. Daiya Seto of Japan will be the home- town favorite in the 200 and 400 individual said. “That would be pretty cool, race.” dapest, where he won seven gold “I’ve got a lot of learning to do, a medley events. Katinka Hosszu of Hungary right?” Ledecky qualified to swim four medals. He followed up with six lot of pacing to do,” he said in South has not been the dominant swimmer she Not so cool for the Aussies, who individual freestyle races at the golds and two silvers at the 2019 Korea. “We’ve always said, do it was in winning three golds at Rio, and it re- are eager to shine after failing to Olympics — ranging from 200 to worlds in South Korea, joining once, do it twice, do it better.” mains to be seen if she can retain her titles at capture an individual women’s 1,500 meters — but her times at the Phelps as the only swimmers to The biggest question is not her fifth Olympics. Gold medal moments: July 26, Ledecky gold at the 2016 Rio Games. U.S. trials were a bit underwhelm- win eight medals at a major inter- whether Peaty can win another in- and world champion Ariarne Titmus of Aus- They turned in some brilliant ing. national meet. dividual gold, but can he lead Bri- tralia face off in the 400 free final. At night, performances at their country’s “I have big goals for myself, and Dressel qualified in three indi- tain to an upset of the American Ledecky returns for the heats of the 200 free Olympic trials, led by Kaylee those goals are the ones that mat- vidual events, the 50 and 100 frees- men in the 4x100 medley relay? and 1,500 free. July 28, Ledecky could swim McKeown setting a world record ter,” said Ledecky, who won four tyle as well as the 100 butterfly, The U.S. has never lost the event in the finals of the 200 and 1,500 in the morning and the 4x200 free relay heats at in the 100-meter backstroke. golds and a silver at the last Olym- and he might get a chance to swim since it was added to the Olympic night. July 31, mixed 4x100 medley relay fi- But really keep an eye on Tit- pics. “I stay focused on those, and I on four relays. If he won them all, program in 1960, but a Peaty-led nal could pit Peaty against American star Lilly mus, a 20-year-old known as “The don’t let any outside kind of expec- he would come up just shy of foursome knocked off the Ameri- King in the breaststroke leg. Terminator.” She made it clear tations enter my mind.” Phelps’ iconic record of eight gold cans at the last world champion- medals at the 2008 Beijing Olym- ships. pics. “I would like to seriously face Despite his staggering accom- Home team swimming with determination to plishments, Dressel doesn’t see It’s not unusual for the Olympic start over so that I can regain the himself as a one-man team, and host to get a boost in its perform- trust of my family who have been he’s quick to point out that Phelps ance, and the Japanese team cer- deeply hurt by my irresponsible always got plenty of help from his tainly has plenty of medal conten- behavior and be recognized as a American teammates. ders. swimmer by both my family and “I don’t think that falls on my Seto swept the men’s individual everyone,” Seto said. shoulders alone,” Dressel said. medley races at the last world “Michael was one guy within USA championships (while also captur- Race of champions Swimming, but he wasn’t USA ing a silver in the 200 butterfly), For the first time, a swimming Swimming, I think that’s what setting himself up as his country’s event will feature its last three makes USA Swimming so strong is top contender heading into Tokyo. Olympic champions. the team and as a collective Seto also has something to prove The women’s 200 freestyle in- whole.” after being suspended last year be- cludes 2016 winner Ledecky; fel- cause of an extramarital affair, low American Allison Schmitt, CHARLIE NEIBERGALL/AP Unbeatable Adam which also led to him resigning as who took gold at the 2012 London Katie Ledecky, who won four golds and a silver at the last Olympics, There are no sure things at the captain of the national team and Games; and 2008 gold medalist Fe- has qualified in four individual events at the Tokyo Olympics. Olympics, but it’s hard to see any- cutting ties with a major sponsor. derica Pellegrini of Italy. Thursday, July 15, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 21 OLYMPICS

WATER POLO ARTISTIC SWIMMING

HIGHLIGHTS FROM RIO: Led by Maggie Highlights From Rio: One of the biggest Steffens and Ashleigh Johnson, the U.S. issues in 2016 entailed getting rid of green- women rolled to their second straight gold tinged water in one of the pools at the Maria medal. Steffens was named MVP for the sec- Lenk Aquatics Center. Local officials eventu- ond straight Olympics, and Johnson provid- ally drained the pool and transferred nearly 1 ed a steady presence in goal. Filip Filipovic million gallons of clear water from a nearby and Dusan Mandic helped Serbia win the practice pool in time for the start of what was men’s tournament for the first time after fin- then known as synchronized swimming. ishing third in each of the previous two Once the competition started, it was the usu- games. Mandic scored four times and Fil- al golden procession for Russia, with Natalia ipovic had two goals during an 11-7 victory Ishchenko and Svetlana Romashina winning over Croatia in the final. the duet and also taking part in the team title. WHAT’S New: The women’s tournament It marked the fifth consecutive Olympics that includes 10 countries, up from eight in Rio. Russia swept gold in the sport. Tokyo EXPECTATIONS: Anyone other What’s new: Aquatics’ governing body FI- than the U.S. taking the women’s gold would NA changed the name of the sport from syn- be a major surprise. Steffens and Johnson are chronized swimming to artistic swimming in back, surrounded by a talented roster that ri- 2017. The move was met with criticism from vals the United States’ loaded 2016 team. athletes who decried the new name as de- When it comes to potential challengers, meaning and, while many national federa- check out Rita Keszthelyi and Hungary and tions quickly assumed the new name, USA Australia, led by captain Rowie Webster and Bronwen Knox. The men’s tournament is Synchro didn’t rebrand to USA Artistic Swim- wide open, made even more uncertain by the ming until March of last year. pandemic wreaking havoc on the traditional “The rebrand globally and now in the Unit- international schedule. Italy won the world ti- ed States is rooted in a long-held misunder- tle for the fourth time in 2019, beating Spain standing of the sport,” the American feder- 10-5 in the final. But Italy lost to the United ation said. “The term ‘synchronized swim- States in the semifinals of this year’s FINA ming’ has always had a disconnect with ca- World League Super Final. Traditional pow- sual fans in that ‘synchronized’ as used here ers Serbia, Croatia and Hungary all should be refers to the swimmers’ ability to time their in the mix in Tokyo. moves to the music, not to each other. With- ATHLETES TO WATCH: U.S. attacker out that understanding, ‘synchronized’ also Maddie Musselman, the daughter of former causes confusion for those watching solo major league pitcher Jeff Musselman, is go- competitors, which is a discipline at the ing for her second straight gold medal after world championship level. she scored 12 goals and made the all-tourna- Tokyo expectations: Russia and Russia. ment team at the 2016 Olympics. Mussel- Or, actually, ROC and ROC (for Russian man, 23, was named MVP after the U.S. Olympic Committee), as Russia will be called won this year’s World League Super Final for at these games amid a doping suspension. the seventh straight time. Stephania Harala- Expect ROC to take a sixth consecutive bidis gives the already powerful U.S. team a sweep of the medals, with Romashina back rare commodity on the international water from maternity leave to aim for a third polo scene: a left-hander. She scored 13 straight gold in the duet. With Ishchenko times as the U.S. swept its six matches to im- having retired, Romashina should partner prove to 14-0 this year. On the men’s side, with Svetlana Kolesnichenko, having won Pietro Figlioli is hoping to lead Italy to its first the 2019 world title together. Romashina Olympic gold medal since 1992. Figlioli needs only one more Olympic title to become scored 14 times in Rio. Jesse Smith is in his the most successful athlete in the sport’s his- record-tying fifth Olympics. Smith matches JAE C. HONG/AP tory — but (including the team event) she’ll Tony Azevedo for most Olympic teams for a Maggie Steffens is going for a third consecutive gold medal with the U.S. women’s water polo team at the likely get two more golds to boost her Olym- U.S. water polo athlete. pic haul to seven medals — all gold. GOLD MEDAL MOMENTS: The women’s Tokyo Olympics. Steffens, who became team captain in 2014, scored 38 goals in the past two Olympics and was named the tournament MVP both times. Athletes to watch: Romashina and Koles- final is Aug. 7. The men’s final is Aug. 8. nichenko. Gold medal moment(s): Aug. 4: Duet free routine final; Aug. 7: Team free routine. TRIATHLON MARATHON SWIM DIVING Highlights from Rio: Gwen Jorgensen gave the United States its Highlights from Rio: Sharon van Rouwen- first Olympic gold medal in the sport. It was an incredible performance daal and Ferry Weertman made it a Dutch Highlights from Rio: China remains the from Jorgensen, who finished 38th at the 2012 London Olympics. sweep of the gold medals competing off hot dominant force in the sport, having won sev- Jorgensen stayed near the front in the swim and tied for first as part of and sunny Copacabana Beach. en of eight gold medals in 2016. The Chinese the lead group, held her position throughout the bike leg and battled What’s new: Start times for the two 10- followed up by taking 12 of 13 events at out the 10-kilometer run alongside 2012 gold medalist Nicola Spirig kilometer events were moved up to 6:30 worlds in 2019. of Switzerland before sprinting away for gold. The British brothers a.m. local time to avoid expected heat later in What’s new: Competition is at the new Brownlee — Alistair and Jonathan — took gold and silver in the men’s the day. Water quality at Odaiba Marine Park Tokyo Aquatics Centre located in a seaside race. Alistair defended the title he won at the London Games in 2012, has been an issue, with renewed screening park. when Jonathan took the bronze. being done. The course features a backdrop Tokyo expectations: There’s little reason What’s new: The course at Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo Bay will of the Tokyo skyline and the Rainbow Bridge. to believe the Chinese won’t dominate the host the first Olympic mixed triathlon. Like the men’s and women’s Tokyo expectations: Two hours of racing eight events — two 3-meter springboard and individual events, it will be an early-morning start to take into account typically comes down to seconds at the fin- two 10-meter platform as well as synchro- expected high temperatures and oppressive humidity in Tokyo. The ish. Strategy plays a part, with some swim- nized events in both disciplines. Men’s 3-me- mixed race starts at 7:30 a.m. local time, an hour later than the two mers choosing to sprint right from the start, ter springboard could be the most compet- individual races. Two women and two men compete in the mixed. while others conserve their energy in hopes of itive with Britain's Jack Laugher trying to get The men and women alternate during the race. Each swims 300 me- closing with a rush. Twenty-five swimmers on the podium against four-time world ters, cycles for eight kilometers and runs for two kilometers before compete in both races. Watch for kicking, champion Xie Siyi and Cao Yuan of China. tapping the hand of their teammate to extend the relay. athletes swimming on top of each other or Athletes to watch: China’s Yang Jian, the Tokyo expectations: Neither of the champions from Rio will be back knocking into each other. Those kinds of ac- current world champion, and four-time to defend their titles, and the competition is wide-open. As of the men’s tions can cause disqualifications and affect Olympian Tom Daley of Britain figure to duel rankings issued June 28, Spain’s Mario Mola, Luis Vincent of France who wins the medals. on platform. On the women’s side, two-time and Kristian Blummenfelt of Norway are the leading trio. Blummenfelt Athletes to watch: Germany’s Florian Olympic champion Shi Tingmao of China is won the first two World Triathlon Series events two months ago. Alex Wellbrock is the current world champion in favored in 3-meter. Chen Yuxi, a 15-year-old Yee of Britain and American Morgan Pearson had a one-two finish in a the 10K. He’ll be challenged by 2016 bronze from China, is the favorite on 10-meter. She World Triathlon Series event in early June in Leeds, England. The medalist Marc-Antoine Olivier, who finished won the world title two years ago. Just three Leeds race ended Alistair Brownlee’s chance of winning a third gold 0.2 seconds behind Wellbrock at worlds. Al- of the 11 American divers competed five years ago in Rio. Two-time platform medalist when he was disqualified from the race for unsportsmanlike behavior JAE C. HONG/AP so in the men’s mix are defending Olympic in the swim leg. American women lead the ITU rankings heading into champion Weertman, former world cham- David Boudia failed to make the U.S. team. Tokyo and 23-year-old Taylor Knibb is among the top-ranked trio. American Katie Zaferes competes during a triathlon pion Jordan Wilimovsky of the U.S. and Gre- Gold medal moments: July 25, women’s Athletes to watch: With Jorgensen not returning to defend her title, test event in 2019 at Odaiba Marine Park, a venue gorio Paltrinieri of Italy. In the women’s race, 3-meter synchro final; July 26, men’s 10- Americans will still be well-positioned to again win gold. Three Amer- for marathon swimming and triathlon at the Tokyo China’s Xin Xin comes in as the current world meter synchro final; July 27, women’s 10- ican women have qualified for Tokyo — Knibb, Katie Zaferes and Olympics. champion. Van Rouwendaal will be back to meter synchro final; July 28, men’s 3-meter Summer Rappaport. Pearson and Kevin McDowell on the men’s side defend her gold, while 2016 silver medalist synchro final; Aug. 1, women’s 3-meter final; give the U.S. five triathletes in Tokyo. Aug. 3, men’s 3-meter final; Aug. 5, wom- mixed event. Yee, Jonathan Brownlee, Vicky Holland, Georgia Taylor- Rachele Bruni of Italy and 2012 silver med- The American team has a combined 32 World Triathlon Cham- en’s 10-meter final; Aug. 7, men’s 10-meter Brown and Jess Learmonth are in a strong British squad. alist Haley Anderson of the U.S. are conten- pionship Series medals, 30 from the World Triathlon Cup and 12 from final. Gold medal moments: July 26: men’s race; July 27: women’s: July ders. World Triathlon mixed relays. Australia is the only country with the full 31: mixed. Gold medal moments: Aug. 4, women’s complement of six triathletes, which could give it the edge in the 10k; Aug. 5, men’s 10K Capsules by Associated Press PAGE 22 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, July 15, 2021 OLYMPICS/NBA FINALS US women’s fencers arrive for training at Marine base in Japan

BY JONATHAN SNYDER ing guidelines, but we are always Stars and Stripes close to you in our hearts.” MARINE CORPS AIR STA- The fencing team will be train- TION IWAKUNI, Japan — The ing every day from 10 a.m. to noon U.S. women’s Olympic fencing until Sunday at the Lotus Culture team arrived Tuesday evening at Center Arena inside the Atago this Marine base in Yamaguchi Sports Complex, a facility shared prefecture for training ahead of by the city and the air station, ac- the Tokyo Games this month.. cording to the Iwakuni city Sports The fencing squad joins the U.S. Promotion Division. Olympic softball team for work- Tickets to team practice ses- outs in Iwakuni.. sions have already sold out. Japan has carved out excep- “For me, personally, this is my tions for Olympic athletes that third visit here to Iwakuni, and the preclude them from the usual 14- reason we keep coming back here day quarantine expected of most is because of the city’s special at- arriving foreigners, but also pre- mosphere and the hospitality we CHASE STEVENS/AP vent them from mingling with receive here,” US coach Andrey United States forward Bam Adebayo had 12 points, five rebounds and five steals in a 108­80 exhibition most residents of Japan. Geva said.. “On behalf of our team defeat of Argentina on Tuesday in Las Vegas. Iwakuni Deputy Mayor Tadashi I would like to thank the people of Sugioka welcomed the fencing Iwakuni and thank you for your team in front of reporters at the hospitality. It makes our prepara- airport, giving his first opening re- tion much more enjoyable, and we marks in English. are happy to be here.” US men bounce back with “While the USA women’s soft- Mariel Zagunis, of Portland, ball team is already in training Ore., who competes in the saber camp, now it’s your turn to get events, won gold in individual more than ready for the Tokyo competition in 2004 and 2008 and Games and I know you’re going to bronze in the team competition in big victory over Argentina give it your best performance to 2008 and 2016,. achieve the best results,” he said. BY TIM REYNOLDS “It was better,” U.S. coach Gregg said. The Americans also will be “While you are here in Iwakuni we [email protected] Associated Press Popovich said. “Bit by bit, every without Khris Middleton, Jrue Ho- must follow COVID safe distanc- Twitter: @Jon_E_Snyder USA Basketball finally made it day, I hope.” liday and Devin Booker until at look easy again. Damian Lillard scored 13 points least this weekend because of the Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal and Bam Adebayo finished with 12 NBA Finals. each scored 17 points and the points, five assists and five re- The back-to-back losses to start Americans took control from the bounds for the U.S. the U.S. team’s stay in Las Vegas outset, beating Argentina 108-80 in “Just really locked in,” Adebayo raised the possibility that the Amer- Las Vegas on Tuesday to avoid said. icans might lose three in a row with what would have been the first Luis Scola, set to play in the NBA players for the first time. three-game losing streak in this era Olympics for a fifth time, scored 16 If those thoughts truly existed, of NBA players being able to repre- points in 19 minutes for Argentina. they didn’t last for long. sent USA Basketball on the interna- Nicolas Laprovittola scored 13, Fa- “Our biggest thing is we have to tional stage. cundo Campazzo had 12 and Ga- realize it’s not the NBA and Coach Zach LaVine scored 15 points for briel Deck added 10. Pop keeps reemphasizing that ev- the U.S., which lost its first two “It’s not a big deal,” Argentina’s ery single day,” Beal said. “It’s way games in Las Vegas to Nigeria and Luca Vildoza said. “It’s only a loss.” more physical. Guys are smarter. Australia. The Americans shot 51%, The U.S. played with only eight These guys have been playing to- scored 33 first-quarter points to get members of the Olympic team. Jay- gether for five-, 10-plus years. So off and running and beat Argentina son Tatum was held out with right they have the experience and the JONATHAN SNYDER/Stars and Stripes for the 10th consecutive time since a knee soreness and will be day-to- chemistry and we’re trying to de- Members of the U.S. women’s Olympic fencing team arrive at Marine loss at the 2004 Athens Olympics. day going forward, USA Basketball velop that in a short period of time.” Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, on Tuesday. Suns can hack Giannis, but know he’ll keep coming BY BRIAN MAHONEY And whether playing with LeBron James and Nikola Jokic Paul said the Suns will just Associated Press NBA scoreboard pain in his knee or shaking off during this first run to their first stick with their game plan. MILWAUKEE — Giannis hits to his face, Phoenix knows NBA Finals since 1993, so “We’re going to keep trying to Antetokounmpo pointed to a NBA Finals Antetokounmpo is going to keep they’ve had to figure out ways to build a wall,” he said. pair of scratches, one on his (Best-of-seven) attacking them. overcome MVP players. Antetokounmpo is used to x-if necessary forehead and the other on his Phoenix 2, Milwaukee 1 “He’s coming full speed ev- But Antetokounmpo, with his that. cheek. Phoenix 118, Milwaukee 105 ery play, like a running back end-to-end bursts that seem to He recalls it being about two Phoenix 118, Milwaukee 108 Those NBA Finals battle Milwaukee 120, Phoenix 100 coming downhill,” point guard take just two or three dribbles, years ago when teams started to Wednesday: at Milwaukee scars are proof, he figures, that Saturday: at Phoenix, AFN-Sports, 3 a.m. Chris Paul said. is a different type of challenge. employ that defensive strategy the frustrated Phoenix Suns are Sunday CET; 10 a.m. Sunday JKT Antetokounmpo had 41 points Paul said Phoenix coach Monty of packing multiple players in x-Tuesday, July 20: at Milwaukee indeed fouling him. x-Thursday, July 22: at Phoenix and 13 rebounds in Milwaukee’s Williams’ instructions are just his path to the basket. “So they’re making my pretty 120-100 victory in Game 3. That to try to get in the 6-foot-11 for- Antetokounmpo still doesn’t face ugly,” Antetokounmpo followed his 42 points and 12 re- ward’s way, but it’s difficult to enjoy playing against it — “I’m said. Coming off two straight 40- bounds in Game 2, making him give too much attention because not going to lie; I hate it,” he said The Suns may be hacking and point performances, Anteto- just the sixth player with con- the Bucks have shooters such as — but he’s come to look at it as a whacking him, but they sure kounmpo will try to help the secutive 40-point games in the Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday compliment, adding that it’s aren’t stopping the Milwaukee Bucks even the series in Game 4 NBA Finals. and Brook Lopez set up around “funny that there’s a defense out Bucks star. on Wednesday. The Suns have already faced the perimeter. there called the Giannis Wall.” Thursday, July 15, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 23 MLB

Scoreboard American League Sho-case: Ohtani gets win for AL East Division WLPct GB Boston 55 36 .604 _ Two-way star sets NL Tampa Bay 53 37 .589 1½ New York 46 43 .517 8 down in order in the first Toronto 45 42 .517 8 Baltimore 28 61 .315 26 inning of 5-2 All-Star win Central Division RONALD BLUM WLPct GB Associated Press Chicago 54 35 .607 _ DENVER — A Sho-case for Sho- Cleveland 45 42 .517 8 hei Ohtani became a grand stage for Detroit 40 51 .440 15 Minnesota 39 50 .438 15 Vladimir Guerrero Jr., too. Kansas City 36 53 .404 18 Ohtani unleashed his 100 mph West Division heat while pitching a perfect inning WLPct GB for the win in becoming baseball’s Houston 55 36 .604 _ first two-way All-Star, Guerrero Oakland 52 40 .565 3½ rocked Coors Field with a 468-foot Seattle 48 43 .527 7 home run and the American League Los Angeles 45 44 .506 9 breezed 5-2 Tuesday night for its Texas 35 55 .389 19½ eighth straight victory. National League Near and far, the sport’s entire fo- East Division cus was on Ohtani from the very WLPct GB start in this All-Star Game. New York 47 40 .540 _ Players on both sides climbed to Philadelphia 44 44 .500 3½ the dugout rails to watch him, and Atlanta 44 45 .494 4 Washington 42 47 .472 6 the Japanese sensation went 0- Miami 39 50 .438 9 for-2, grounding out twice as the Central Division AL’s leadoff man and designated DAVID ZALUBOWSKI/AP WLPct GB hitter. American League starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani threw 10 of 14 pitches for strikes while retiring Fernando Milwaukee 53 39 .576 _ Jared Walsh, Ohtani’s teammate Tatis Jr., Max Muncy and Nolan Arenado in order in the bottom of the first inning Tuesday in Denver. Cincinnati 48 42 .533 4 on the Los Angeles Angels, got a Chicago 44 46 .489 8 save — with his glove. He made a night at Coors, a hitter’s park. been the most memorable.” made a special rules tweak for Ohta- St. Louis 44 46 .489 8 sliding catch in left field on Kris A 27-year-old right-hander in his Ohtani was a double triple-digit ni, allowing him to be replaced as a Pittsburgh 34 56 .378 18 Bryant’s tricky liner with the bases fourth big league season, Ohtani has threat in Denver, hitting a 513-foot pitcher and to remain in the game as West Division loaded to end the eighth inning. dazzled. He leads the major leagues drive during Monday night’s Home the DH after he was done pitching. WLPct GB So even with the teams decked out with 33 homers and is 4-1 in 13 starts Run Derby and throwing a 100.2 He grounded out twice — Pitts- San Francisco 57 32 .640 _ in new uniforms that social media as a pitcher, a two-way performance mph pitch to Nolan Arenado. burgh second baseman Adam Fra- Los Angeles 56 35 .615 2 San Diego 53 40 .570 6 deemed a strikeout instead of a not seen since Babe Ruth in 1919 and “He was as good as advertised,” zier ranged to make a nice back- Colorado 40 51 .440 18 home run, it was a familiar result. ’20, before the Bambino largely Arenado said. “His fastball had a lit- handed pickup that prevented a hit Arizona 26 66 .283 32½ Mike Zunino also connected for the gave up the mound for slugging. tle cut and he’s a really good player. against Max Scherzer starting the Tuesday’s game AL as it improved to 46-43-2 overall “This has been the best experi- Just incredible.” night. All­Star Game: AL 5, NL 2 in the series. ence, most memorable,” Ohtani Ohtani retired Fernando Tatis Jr., Ohtani was pulled for a pinch-hit- Thursday’s game Boston at N.Y. Yankees Guerrero, at 22, became the said through translator Ippei Mi- Max Muncy and Arenado, a Colora- ter in the fifth. His shoes, mean- All-Star Game MVPs youngest MVP in All-Star Game his- zuhara. “Obviously, I’ve never do fan favorite, in order in the bot- while, were headed to the Hall of 2021 — Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Toronto, AL tory. played in the playoffs or World Se- tom half of the first, throwing 10 of Fame, which collected his cleats, 2019 — Shane Bieber, Cleveland, AL 2018 — Alex Bregman, Houston, AL J.T. Realmuto homered for the ries, so once I do that, that’s proba- 14 pitches for strikes. hand guard and foot guard for dis- 2017 — Robinson Cano, Seattle, AL 2016 — Eric Hosmer, Kansas City, AL National League on a mile-high bly going to surpass it. But this has Major League Baseball even play in Cooperstown. 2015 — Mike Trout, Los Angeles, AL 2014 — Mike Trout, Los Angeles, AL 2013 — Mariano Rivera, New York, AL 2012 — Melky Cabrera, San Francisco, NL 2011 — Prince Fielder, Milwaukee, NL Just like dad, Guerrero has blast as an All-Star 2010 — Brian McCann, Atlanta, NL 2009 — Carl Crawford, Tampa Bay, AL 2008 — J.D. Drew, Boston, AL BY ARNIE STAPLETON the All-Star Game, boy. Have fun.” 2007 — Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle, AL Associated Press 2006 — Michael Young, Texas, AL That, he did. 2005 — Miguel Tejada, Baltimore, AL DENVER — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. admired Guerrero rocketed a comebacker near NL 2004 — Alfonso Soriano, Texas, AL 2003 — Garret Anderson, Anaheim, AL his 468-foot screamer for a moment before starter Max Scherzer in the first inning, just mis- 2002 — None 2001 — Cal Ripken Jr., Baltimore, AL bouncing into his triumphant home run trot. sing the three-time Cy Young Award winner. Af- 2000 — Derek Jeter, New York, AL Quick out of the park, slow out of the box, Guer- ter he was thrown out at first, Guerrero jogged 1999 — Pedro Martinez, Boston, AL 1998 — Roberto Alomar, Baltimore, AL rero became the youngest All-Star Game MVP af- through the infield and offered Scherzer a bear 1997 — Sandy Alomar Jr., Cleveland, AL 1996 — Mike Piazza, Los Angeles, NL ter driving in a pair of runs in the American hug. 1995 — Jeff Conine, Florida, NL 1994 — Fred McGriff, Atlanta, NL League’s 5-2 win Tuesday night. “Basically at the Home Run Derby yesterday 1993 — Kirby Puckett, Minnesota, AL “Dad, this is for you,” Guerrero said in Spanish we had a conversation and he said ‘Hey take it 1992 — Ken Griffey Jr., Seattle, AL 1991 — Cal Ripken Jr., Baltimore, AL when he was presented with the Ted Williams easy on me tomorrow.’ That’s what he told me and 1990 — Julio Franco, Texas, AL 1989 — Bo Jackson, Kansas City, AL All-Star Game MVP award. after the line drive I just wanted to give him a 1988 — Terry Steinbach, Oakland, AL He kissed the trophy — a clear baseball bat — hug,” Guerrero said. 1987 — Tim Raines, Montreal, NL 1986 — Roger Clemens, Boston, AL held it up high and posed with it at home plate, He wasn’t as generous with Burnes. His homer 1985 — LaMarr Hoyt, San Diego, NL JACK DEMPSEY/AP 1984 — Gary Carter, Montreal, NL soaking in the accomplishment, much as he did was the longest at the All-Star Game since Stat- 1983 — Fred Lynn, California, AL admiring his monster home run from the batter’s cast began tracking in 2015. 1982 — Dave Concepcion, Cincinnati, NL Vladimir Guerrero Jr., of the Toronto Blue 1981 — Gary Carter, Montreal, NL box two hours earlier. Jays kisses the All­Star Game’s MVP trophy. And it’s the longest by an astounding 58 feet. 1980 — Ken Griffey Sr., Cincinnati, NL 1979 — Dave Parker, Pittsburgh, NL At 22 years, 119 days old, the Toronto Blue Jays He homered for the AL, and at 22 years and The previous best was Kris Bryant’s 410-foot shot 1978 — Steve Garvey, Los Angeles, NL slugger is 117 days younger than Ken Griffey Jr. 119 days, is the game’s youngest MVP. in 2016. It was also the 200th homer in All-Star 1977 — Don Sutton, Los Angeles, NL 1976 — George Foster, Cincinnati, NL was when he won the award in 1992. history. 1975 — Bill Madlock, Chicago, NL and Jon Matlack, New York, NL Vladimir Guerrero Sr. homered off Brad Pen- put his glove on his head and slowly turned “Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been thinking 1974 — Steve Garvey, Los Angeles, NL 1973 — Bobby Bonds, San Francisco, NL ny in the 2006 All-Star Game. The younger Guer- around to watch the ball leave the yard. about this moment,” said Guerrero, who also had 1972 — Joe Morgan, Cincinnati, NL rero’s homer marked the third father-son duo to “Wow,” Tatis said. “It was a moonshot. It was a run-scoring groundout in the fifth that made it 1971 — Frank Robinson, Baltimore, AL 1970 — Carl Yastrzemski, Boston, AL go deep in All-Star Game history, joining Griffey something impressive. He’s been doing it all year. 3-0. “All my life I’ve worked hard and thank God 1969 — Willie McCovey, San Francisco, NL 1968 — Willie Mays, San Francisco, NL and his father and Bobby and Barry Bonds. Why not show it off here?” it’s happening right now.” 1967 — Tony Perez, Cincinnati, NL Guerrero crushed a slider from Milwaukee’s The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Guerrero has 28 Asked about 45 minutes after the game if he’d 1966 — Brooks Robinson, Baltimore, AL 1965 — Juan Marichal, San Francisco, NL Corbin Burnes in the third inning that almost homers in 2021. heard from his father, Guerrero said, “I haven’t 1964 — John Callison, Philadelphia, NL 1963 — Willie Mays, San Francisco, NL cleared the left field bleachers at cavernous Coors Tatis was mic’d up for the third inning and he checked my phone yet.” 1962 — x­Maury Wills, Los Angeles, NL Field and gave the AL a 2-0 lead. marveled at the drive, saying, “That was a bomb. It was surely blowing up, just like his big homer 1962 — x­Leon Wagner, Los Angeles, AL x­two games NL shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. immediately ... He should have admired it a little bit more. It’s on baseball’s ultimate launching pad. PAGE 24 • STARS AND STRIPES • Thursday, July 15, 2021 All-Star Game SPORTS AL wins behind Guerrero’s MVP performance ›› MLB, Page 23

Spain’s Jon Rahm, the U.S. Open champion, tees off on the first tee Wednesday during a practice round for the British Open at Royal St George’s golf course in Sandwich, England.

PHOTOS BY IAN WALTON/AP

Back, but in a bubble After skipping last year, British Open returns with player restrictions

BY DOUG FERGUSON pandemic was the British Open not being Associated Press played at all. s tradition goes at the British Open, it might Now it’s back, though not quite to normal. feel as though nothing has changed. It might look that way with the British Open allow- Shane Lowry, a popular champion on Irish ing 32,000 spectators a day to roam the expansive Asoil at Royal Portrush, returned the silver clar- links off Sandwich Bay, just up the coast from the En- et upon his arrival Monday at Royal St. George’s in En- glish Channel. Major championship golf hasn’t seen a gland for a ceremonial start to the 149th edition of golf’s crowd that large since Portrush two summers ago. oldest championship. It’s like clockwork, with one excep- “I’m keen to get as many spectators in as possible tion: because I do think that’s what creates the atmo- The British Open is one year behind. sphere,” said Martin Slumbers, chief executive of Strange as it was for the Masters to be played amid au- the R&A. “And I think actually it’s what makes tumn hues of November, and for the U.S. Open to be the players play just a little bit better.” played in September for the first time in nearly a century, the biggest fallout in golf last year from the COVID-19 SEE BACK ON PAGE 19

Ireland’s Shane Lowry, the defending champion, got to hold onto the claret jug for two years after the British Open was canceled last year due to the pandemic. He returned it Monday.

US men’s basketball team rips Argentina ›› Olympics, Page 22