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Volume 80 Edition 98 ©SS 2021 WEDNESDAY,SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 50¢/Free to Deployed Areas

HURRICANE IDA Powerless Louisiana faces huge cleanup task

BY REBECCA SANTANA AND JAY REEVES Associated Press NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana communities beginning the huge task of clearing debris and repair- ing the damage inflicted by Hurri- cane Ida are facing the dispiriting prospect of weeks without elec- tricity in the oppressive, late-sum- mer heat. Ida ravaged the region’s power grid, leaving all of New Orleans and hundreds of thousands of oth- er Louisiana residents in the dark with no clear timeline on when the electricity would come back on. Some areas outside New Orleans also suffered major flooding and damage to homes and businesses. “I can’t tell you when the power is going to be restored. I can’t tell you when all the debris is going to be cleaned up and repairs made,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said Mon- day. “But what I can tell you is we are going to work hard every day to deliver as much assistance as we can.” The storm was blamed for at least four deaths in Louisiana and Mississippi, including two people killed Monday night when seven vehicles plunged into a 20-foot- deep hole near Lucedale, Miss., where a highway had collapsed af- Last boots on the ground ter torrential rains. On Monday, rescuers in boats, helicopters and high-water trucks brought more than 670 people in US officially ends 2-decade presence in Afghanistan Louisiana trapped by floodwaters Page 6 to safety. An additional 20 people were rescued in Mississippi. Department of Defense Crews planned to go door to door Maj. Gen. Chris Donahue, the last American service member to leave Afghanistan, boards a C-17 at Hamid Karzai International Airport shortly before midnight Tuesday. That final flight out of Kabul marked the end of nearly 20 years in Afghanistan. SEE CLEANUP ON PAGE 10 PAGE 2 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, September 1, 2021 BUSINESS/WEATHER PNC Bank to raise base wages to $18 an hour EXCHANGE RATES Military rates South Korea (Won) 1,158.75 Associated Press a 20% pay raise. The increase is In addition to the higher base Switzerland (Franc) .9125 Euro costs (Sept. 1) $1.15 Thailand (Baht) 32.24 NEW YORK — PNC Bank is the more substantial at BBVA, which pay, PNC and BBVA employees Dollar buys (Sept. 1) 0.8244 Turkey (New Lira) 8.3319 British pound (Sept. 1) $1.34 latest large U.S. financial services had an $11 minimum wage before making more than minimum wage Japanese yen (Sept. 1) 107.00 (Military exchange rates are those available company to increase wages in a bid PNC bought the bank. will also receive a bump up in pay, South Korean won (Sept. 1) 1,135.00 to customers at military banking facilities in the Commercial rates country of issuance for Japan, South Korea, Ger­ to keep and attract employees, rais- About 20,000 PNC and BBVA in what Demchak described as an many, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Bahrain (Dinar) .3770 For nonlocal currency exchange rates (i.e., pur­ ing its minimum wage to $18 an employees will see their base pay “accordion effect” across its Britain (Pound) 1.3782 chasing British pounds in Germany), check with Canada (Dollar) 1.2622 your local military banking facility. Commercial hour while also giving higher-paid rise to $18 an hour, the bank said. branches. China (Yuan) 6.4606 rates are interbank rates provided for reference Denmark (Krone) 6.2900 workers a bump in pay. “We want the best we can find, Pittsburgh-based PNC is now Egypt (Pound) 15.7103 when buying currency. All figures are foreign The bank said Monday that the and we can afford to do so,” said Bill one of the country’s largest banks Euro .8459 currencies to one dollar, except for the British Hong Kong (Dollar) 7.7806 pound, which is represented in dollars­to­ wage increase will apply to both Demchak, chairman and CEO of after acquiring BBVA, giving it a Hungary (Forint) 295.55 pound, and the euro, which is dollars­to­euro.) Israel (Shekel) 3.2067 PNC employees as well as those PNC Financial Services Group Inc., nationwide footprint and making it Japan (Yen) 109.71 INTEREST RATES working for BBVA USA, which in an interview. “We need to show able to compete more effectively Kuwait (Dinar) .3007 Norway (Krone) 8.6935 Prime rate 3.25 PNC acquired last year. Base-level that we can provide both a career with the large money-center banks Philippines (Peso) 49.69 Interest Rates Discount rate 0.75 Poland (Zloty) 3.83 Federal funds market rate 0.09 PNC employees will see their wag- path as well as compensation that like JPMorgan Chase and Bank of Saudi Arabia (Riyal) 3.7508 3­month bill 0.05 es increase from $15 an hour to $18, makes it us a lifetime opportunity.” America. Singapore (Dollar) 1.3436 30­year bond 1.90 WEATHER OUTLOOK WEDNESDAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST WEDNESDAY IN EUROPE THURSDAY IN THE PACIFIC

Misawa 71/64

Kabul Seoul 85/62 72/67 Baghdad 111/80 Drawsko Osan Tokyo Kandahar Mildenhall/ 71/68 68/65 Pomorskie Busan 99/68 Lakenheath 64/53 64/55 73/70 Iwakuni Kuwait City 80/77 Bahrain Brussels Zagan Sasebo 104/86 95/90 Ramstein 64/52 81/77 Guam 63/54 71/48 83/80 Riyadh Lajes, Stuttgart 107/79 Doha Azores Pápa 101/86 74/71 67/50 Aviano/ 68/57 Vicenza 75/56

Naples 83/66 Okinawa Morón 83/80 82/66 Sigonella Rota 89/62 The weather is provided by the Djibouti 77/62 Souda Bay American Forces Network Weather Center, 91/85 80/75 2nd Weather Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. TODAY IN STRIPES American Roundup ...... 11 Classified ...... 13 Comics ...... 17 Crossword ...... 17 Faces ...... 14 Opinion ...... 16 Sports ...... 18-24 Wednesday, September 1, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 3 PACIFIC N. Korea rails against US-S. Korea exercise BY DAVID CHOI lies’ military exercises and on Sat- ter the United Nations’ nuclear North Korea’s inventory of fissile South Korea’s Ministry of Uni- Stars and Stripes urday alleged the most recent drill watchdog issued a report indicat- material for nuclear weapons.” fication mentioned Pyongyang’s CAMP HUMPHREYS, South was “fueling up the instability of ing the regime restarted its Yong- President Joe Biden is aware of statement during a press briefing Korea — North Korean officials the situation.” byon nuclear reactor in July. The the UN’s report and is “closely co- Monday and said it “will thor- have railed against a recent joint The drills were “the most vivid International Atomic Energy ordinating” with allies, White oughly prepare for all possibilities military exercise between the U.S. expression of the U.S. hostile pol- Agency said North Korea’s “nu- House press secretary Jen Psaki without forejudging the attitude of and South Korea, calling it "the icy against [North Korea], which clear activities continue to be a said on Monday. the North.” most vivid expression” of a “hos- is aimed at stifling our state by cause for serious concern” and de- “This report underscores the The Unification Ministry will tile policy.” means of force,” according to the scribed the evidence as “deeply urgent need for dialogue and di- “keep trying to rebuild trust and The Aug. 16-26 drills consisted ministry statement. troubling.” plomacy so we can achieve the reinstate relations between South of computer simulations and a North Korea may “continue bol- The agency’s findings corrobo- complete denuclearization of the and North Korea as early as pos- smaller number of troops than the stering the national defensive rate an analysis from the Center Korean Peninsula,” Psaki said at a sible,” spokeswoman Lee Jong thousands of ground forces used power and preemptive strike ca- for Strategic and International press briefing. “We continue to Joo said in the briefing. in large-scale field exercises of the pabilities which can strongly con- Studies think-tank in April that seek dialogue with [North Korea] past. tain and eliminate the outside said the regime’s activity “is likely so we can address this reported Stars and Stripes reporter Yoo Kyong Chang contributed to this report. North Korea’s Foreign Ministry threats," the statement reads. an indicator of a new reprocessing activity and the full range of issues [email protected] frequently complains about the al- The statement comes a day af- campaign designed to expand related to denuclearization.” Twitter: @choibboy US war veteran wins Paralympics road cycling gold in Japan BY SETH ROBSON During the time trial, Morelli Stars and Stripes was focused on her race plan and FUJI INTERNATIONAL “staying where I needed to be,” she SPEEDWAY, Japan — A former said. U.S. Army officer who served in The speedway course, which in- Iraq and Afghanistan won Para- cluded a final straight past a mas- lympic cycling gold Tuesday on a sive grandstand and pit row, ap- track that usually hosts motor pealed to her, Morelli said. sports. “I’m not super technical but it On the first morning of road cy- had enough hills that I was able to cling at the games, Shawn Morelli hold my own,” she said. finished first in the Women’s C4 Morelli declined to talk about Time Trial, clocking 39:33.79 for her injuries. They include neck several circuits of an undulating and nerve damage and loss of vi- course of just over 8 miles that sion in her left eye, according to her AKIFUMI ISHIKAWA/Stars and Stripes starts and finishes on a track that International Paralympic Com- Army veteran Shawn Morelli competes in Paralympic road cycling at Fuji International Speedway outside has hosted Japanese Grand Prix mittee profile. Tokyo on Tuesday. Formula One races. Her Team USA biography states Morelli, who competes in a class that she was commissioned as an liam Groulx, 47, of Portland, Ore., paraplegics and amputees. the most rewarding experience to for people with lower limb impair- engineer in 1996 and served in Iraq came off the circuit with some nas- De los Santos, 51, of Hopewell compete at this level.” ments, had already won Paralym- and Afghanistan before being in- ty abrasions after a crash. The Junction, N.Y., was wounded by a Like other Afghan veterans at pic cycling gold twice at Rio de Ja- jured in 2007 and taking up cycling three-time Paralympic wheelchair rocket-propelled grenade attack the games, De los Santos is sad- neiro in 2016. Last week at Izu Ve- in 2010. rugby representative still finished on his vehicle in October 2009 dened by the news from Kabul, he lodrome in Shizuoka prefecture, The 44-year-old Saegertown, in fourth place with a time of while serving in Afghanistan. His said, but added that he hopes the near Tokyo she took home silver on Pa., native had a message for U.S. 36:17.25 in the H2 category, which right leg was amputated above the country has changed in 20 years. the first day of track cycling in the troops stationed in Japan. includes tetraplegic competitors. knee, and he sustained a traumatic “Things are not going to be the individual pursuit. “You can do anything you want if Groulx was paralyzed from the brain injury, according to his Para- same,” he said of Afghanistan’s fu- That didn’t seem to detract from you put your mind to it,” she said. chest down in a 2001 motorcycle lympic profile. ture. “There has been some kind of her effort at the speedway, where “It takes a little bit of self-disci- accident. After his race, he had a big smile influence there. They have cell- she looked like she left it all on the pline, sacrifice and some courage.” Former Army Staff Sgt. Alfredo on his face. phones and know what the outside course. Morelli was joined by five other De los Santos, riding a hand-bike, “It’s a pleasure to be here and world is doing.” “I’m glad I could perform,” she U.S. military veterans competing finished sixth with a time of represent Team USA,” he said as told Stars and Stripes shortly after in the road races. 41:37.77 in the Men’s H5 Time other competitors whizzed past on [email protected] finishing. One of them, Navy veteran Wil- Trial for competitors including the track behind him. “It has been Twitter: @SethRobson1 Colo. congressmen push measure to give Space Force part-time troops

BY TOM ROEDER eighth armed service branch, half of the number of soldiers In Colorado, hundreds of part- them in Colorado. The Gazette (Colorado Springs) which was created in December serving at Fort Carson. But the time troops with the Air Guard’s Creation of a Space National COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. 2019. National Guard troops gen- service, with troops at Buckley, 233rd Space Group and the Army Guard branch has been mulled, — The Space Force would get its erally serve one weekend a month Peterson and Schriever Space Guard’s 117th Space Battalion but proposals that would put it in- own contingent of part-time and have two weeks of summer Force bases in Colorado, has a work with satellites. The troops, to law have stalled. troops under a measure from Col- training unless called up by gov- massive mission of controlling many of whom work in the civil- The measure from Crow, a orado U.S. Reps. Jason Crow and ernors or the Defense Depart- and protecting military satellites, ian aerospace industry, have been Democrat, and Lamborn, a Re- Doug Lamborn to create a Space ment to assist in emergencies. including the Global Positioning praised for delivering expertise publican, could gain traction as National Guard. Envisioned as a “leaner” armed System. often unmatched by their full- the House Armed Services Com- The measure would move satel- service, Space Force has a tiny And while every other service time comrades. mittee, where both serve, wraps lite troops now working in Army contingent of service members. branch has a reserve component, Nationwide, National Guard up work on the National Defense or Air Force National Guard bil- At full strength, the service will the Space Force was created with units have about 2,000 satellite Authorization Act, an annual Pen- lets to under the Space Force, the have about 13,000 troops — about only full-time troops on its roster. troops, with more than a third of tagon policy bill. PAGE 4 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, September 1, 2021 MILITARY Japan eyes China with $50B defense budget request

BY HANA KUSUMOTO Stars and Stripes “I recognize that TOKYO — Japan’s Defense Ministry has requested nearly $50 the security billion for the coming fiscal year, a spending plan that includes up- environment grades to two destroyers to ac- commodate F-35B Lightning II surrounding stealth fighters along with another 12 F-35s and space-related pro- Japan is very jects. “As surrounding countries severe.” strengthen their military power significantly by increasing their Yoshihide Suga defense budget, the security envi- Japan Prime Minister ronment surrounding Japan is growing increasingly severe,” acquire space situational aware- MARK REDIKER, WABI­TV5/AP Tuesday’s budget request stated. ness laser-detecting capability A statue of U.S. Army Special Forces Master Sgt. Gary Gordon stands Monday in Lincoln, Maine. Japan’s defense budget has ris- and to establish a second squad- en each year for nine consecutive ron in its Space Operations Group, years, starting when former which works closely with U.S. Statue memorializes Delta Force Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took Space Command. office in 2012 for a second term. “Japan needs to strengthen nec- Abe expanded the role and capa- essary defense power significant- sniper for heroic act in Somalia bilities of the Japan Self-Defense ly and build multi-domain defense Forces, a trend his successor, force,” the ministry’s budget pro- Associated Press in his family and in this communi- “The pilot of the aircraft that in- Yoshihide Suga, continued with a posal states. LINCOLN, Maine — A U.S. Ar- ty.” serted him said no one in their record defense budget for fiscal The ministry requested $709 my special forces soldier who died The memorial consists of a stat- right mind would have asked to do 2021. million to purchase eight F-35As while performing a rescue of a ue of Gordon holding a rifle with a that,” said retired Col. Ron Rus- Japan faces, among many other and $474 million for four F-35B downed helicopter crew in Soma- scope atop a base engraved with sell, a veteran of the battle who challenges, assertive claims by Lightning II stealth fighters. lia was immortalized Monday his name. spoke at the memorial’s dedica- China over the Senkaku Islands The B model is capable of short with a memorial in his hometown. Gordon was a Delta Force snip- tion. northeast of Taiwan that Japan takeoffs and vertical landings, Master Sgt. Gary Gordon, a na- er. He was portrayed by Nikolaj During the rescue, Gordon and administers. North Korea, which making it suitable for Japan’s flat- tive of Lincoln, Maine, pleaded to Coster-Waldau in the 2001 movie Shughart pulled the injured pilot, has a history of test-firing ballistic top destroyers. To accommodate be allowed to protect the helicop- Black Hawk Down. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael missile tests over Japan, may have the aircraft, the ministry asked for ter crew members against a mob The day began with U.S. forces Durant, from the helicopter. Du- restarted the reactor it uses to pro- $61 million to refurbish the flight in Mogadishu in 1993. He and an- doing battle with a Somali war- rant, a native of Berlin, N.H., was duce plutonium for nuclear weap- decks on the JS Izumo and JS Ka- other soldier were killed. lord’s soldiers. During the battle, in attendance at Monday’s cere- ons, according to the International ga. The pilot who survived was two U.S. helicopters were shot mony. Atomic Energy Agency. The ministry hopes to test the among those in attendance for the down, and one of the crashed The soldiers understood the Regional powers are challeng- Izumo with U.S. Marine Corps unveiling of the memorial for the choppers was isolated from U.S. Ranger and Special Forces creed ing the status quo by eroding non- F-35Bs by March, Defense Minis- Medal of Honor recipient. forces. that “I will never fail my com- proliferation and developing mis- ter Nobuo Kishi said in July. Republican Sen. Susan Collins, Aloft in another helicopter, Gor- rades,” Russell said. siles, Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida, The budget request left blank who attended Monday’s event, don asked twice, and was turned “There were comrades in arms chief of staff for the Japanese the amount it seeks to upgrade the said the “integrity, devotion to du- down both times, to be allowed to down below them who needed Ground Self-Defense Force, told Self-Defense Force’s fleet of F-15 ty, and courage that Master Ser- help the unprotected crew. He and their help, and they were deter- reporters Monday. Yoshida spoke Eagle fighters. Japan announced geant Gordon demonstrated in So- Sgt. 1st Class Randy Shughart mined to provide it,” Russell said. during a meeting with Gen. Char- in August that it scrapped a plan to malia nearly three decades ago were granted permission after a Gordon and Shughart were both les Flynn, commander of U.S. Ar- outfit the fighters with expensive, were forged right here in Lincoln, third request. killed by enemy fire. my Pacific, at the defense minis- U.S.-made anti-ship missiles. Ne- try headquarters on Camp Ichi- gotiations with the United States gaya in Tokyo. over the amended project cost are “I recognize that the security still underway, ministry officials NAS Sigonella sets new virus restrictions environment surrounding Japan said. is very severe,” Yoshida said, The budget request did not Stars and Stripes The changes are in accordance care beds occupied by COVID-19 without mentioning any other specify the cost to realign U.S. A rising COVID-19 caseload in with Italian law, Greer said. patients makes Sicily the only Ital- states, “because there are region- forces in Japan, which include Sicily triggered tougher mask and Sicily reported 1,600 new cases ian region designated a yellow al powers and neighbors that are shifting some Marine aviation as- other restrictions this week for of COVID-19 on Monday. zone by the Health Ministry. The willing to change the status quo.” sets from Okinawa to Guam. The residents and U.S. military mem- That’s about 38% of the 4,257 remaining 19 are designated as The ministry asked for the same ministry asks $1.8 billion to sup- bers. cases reported nationwide the white zones. amount for fiscal 2022 that it re- port U.S. forces, which may Naval Air Station Sigonella per- same day, according to a Tuesday Italy classifies its 20 regions by quested for the current year — change with further negotiations sonnel must now wear masks out- report from the Italian Health color-coded zones based on a va- $49.97 billion. For fiscal 2021, it re- between the two countries. side if at least 6 feet of social dis- Ministry. riety of factors, such as the num- ceived $48.7 billion. The agreement that specified tancing cannot be maintained, The region has seen more than ber of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 Japan has focused recently on Japan’s share of that cost expired said NAS Sigonella spokesman Lt. 1,000 new cases daily since about residents and the number of hos- building up its defense in new do- in March, according to the budget Drake Greer. mid-August, the peak of Italy’s pital and intensive care beds occu- mains, including space, cyber- request. For service members who don’t summer vacation period, The As- pied. space and the electromagnetic live together, group dining at res- sociated Press reported this week. Restrictions, such as mandato- spectrum. Stars and Stripes reporter Alex Wilson contrib- taurants and food courts is limited The combination of the case- ry mask-wearing, get tougher uted to this report. For space-related projects, the [email protected] to four people. Families are not af- load increases and the rise in the when a region’s color zone is ministry requested $765 million to Twitter: @HanaKusumoto fected, he said. numbers of hospital and intensive changed. Wednesday, September 1, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 5 VIRUS OUTBREAK USFK surge of new cases: 40 in 2 days

BY DAVID CHOI statement to Stars and Stripes on Stars and Stripes Tuesday. CAMP HUMPHREYS, South All of the infected personnel AKIFUMI ISHIKAWA/Stars and Stripes Korea — U.S. Forces Korea on were moved to isolation buildings Tokyo reported another 2,909 people tested positive for COVID­19 in Japan’s capital city Tuesday. Tuesday announced the fastest at Humphreys, Osan or a South surge of new coronavirus cases Korean medical facility. among its personnel, surpassing a Osan came under scrutiny fol- US military in Japan reports 75 new record set in July. lowing a party at an enlisted club Forty people, including U.S. on Aug. 21. military family members and Video footage reviewed by Stars cases; Tokyo’s count continues to fall South Korean contractors, tested and Stripes showed dozens of mil- BY JOSEPH DITZLER base has 55 active cases. commander wrote. positive for COVID-19 on Thurs- itary personnel drinking and Stars and Stripes Nearby Naval Air Station Atsu- Adams imposed no curfew or day and Friday, the command said dancing at the club-like event TOKYO — U.S. military instal- gi had one person test positive other restrictions on off-base din- in a news release. The previous re- without masks or regard for lation across Japan announced 75 Tuesday while in restricted ing and group size, and dining and cord was 37 infections over a USFK’s social-distancing policy. new cases of the coronavirus re- movement, according to a base drinking on base are unaffected. three-day span between July 5 According to that policy, service spiratory disease on Tuesday, news release. Seven people with Adams wrote that he would re- and 7. members in indoor common areas mostly at Marine Corps bases on COVID-19 are being monitored evaluate the drinking ban on Sept. Fifty-one USFK personnel test- on military facilities are required Okinawa. there. 12. ed positive between Aug. 23 and to wear a mask. Meanwhile, Japan’s capital city Marine Corps Air Station Iwa- Yokota Air Base in western To- Friday, which is, so far, fewer than USFK on Tuesday said it “re- recorded a ninth consecutive day kuni, south of Hiroshima, has had kyo on Tuesday clarified parts of the previous record of 58 cases mains at a high level of readiness” of a comparative decline in new five people infected with CO- the base commander’s order Fri- during a weeklong period in July. with over 80% of its personnel be- cases of coronavirus, evidence the VID-19 since Monday, according day that prohibits unvaccinated USFK releases its number of ing fully vaccinated and less than city’s fifth pandemic wave may be to a news release Tuesday. Three service members from leaving COVID-19 cases at irregular inter- 1% of its active-duty force con- cresting. had been in restricted movement the installation. vals throughout the week. firmed positive. Another 2,909 people tested and two were not. The base pro- Children’s programs at Yokota The figures only represent per- The command, which is respon- positive for the virus in Tokyo, ac- vided no further information. may continue as planned, but sonnel who were already sta- sible for about 28,500 U.S. troops cording to public broadcaster Sasebo Naval Base commander children over age 2 must wear tioned in South Korea and do not in South Korea, updated its travel NHK, which cited the metropoli- Capt. David Adams ordered a ban masks and practice social dis- include recent arrivals into the guidelines Saturday. tan government. That’s 1,311 few- on off-base drinking anywhere on tancing when possible, according country. The new regulations allow er cases than a week prior, ac- Kyushu Island by the base pop- to an email to Stars and Stripes Nearly half of the recent cases troops to travel more freely cording to metro government da- ulation effective Wednesday. The from base spokesman Capt. are service members at Osan Air throughout the country but bans ta. Another 15 people died Tues- ban is in effect until the end of a Stuart Thrift. Base, roughly eight miles north of them from entering a few “hot- day, NHK reported. local state of emergency Sept. 12. Spouses with an official de- Camp Humphreys, the largest spot” districts that are defined by Forty of the U.S. military’s “COVID-19 remains a serious pendent ID are permitted on Yo- U.S. military base overseas. Nine- the number of COVID-19 cases cases were discovered since Mon- public health emergency and we kota regardless of vaccination sta- teen of the 40 positive cases orig- there over a weeklong period. day within the Marine Corps com- must continue to learn to live and tus. For an unvaccinated spouse inated at the air base, while two Meanwhile, the Korea Disease munity on Okinawa, according to thrive in this environment,” without an ID, the service mem- cases were reported at Hum- Control and Prevention Agency on a Facebook post by Marine Corps Adams wrote in a base Facebook ber must request an exception-to- phreys. Tuesday reported 1,372 new cases Installations Pacific. The com- post Tuesday. “We have made policy letter from the squadron The remaining cases include in the country, down from a daily mand provided no further infor- great progress over the last sever- commander or equivalent. The one contractor and 18 service high of about 2,221. mation. al months as we have learned how exception letters are to be used members on temporary duty in The country has been in a daily Another 29 have surfaced since to coexist with this threat.” only when conducting official South Korea. downtrend for new cases for the Friday at Yokosuka Naval Base, The active cases of COVID-19 business on base, Thrift wrote. USFK did not specify where last six days. 28 miles south of central Tokyo. on the base, nine as of Monday, those individuals are posted; the They consist of 12 unimmunized “are directly or indirectly associ- Stars and Stripes reporter Mari Higa contributed command “does not publicly dis- to this report. and 17 immunized people accord- ated” with a restaurant or bar [email protected] cuss specific details about con- [email protected] ing to a base news release. The where alcohol was served, the Twitter: @JosephDitzler firmed cases,” according to a Twitter: @choibboy CDC again urges people to avoid traveling to Guam as cases skyrocket

Stars and Stripes el three, for the past three weeks. It p.m. Tuesday, according to the in- ages 12 and older. Anyone without pected as restrictions ended. The Centers for Disease Control was last under the CDC’s “very formation center. Of those, at least proof will be denied service, ac- About 80% of the island’s 169,000 and Prevention has again raised high” designation between May 17 26 have not been vaccinated and cording to the order. people are vaccinated. Guam’s coronavirus risk level to and June 7. three are on ventilators. The CDC warning is a setback to But tens of thousands remain un- “very high,” meaning people So far during the pandemic the Starting Labor Day, Guam will a hesitant reopening. Guerrero in vaccinated, “which renders them should avoid all travel to the U.S. island has confirmed 10,559 CO- begin imposing a proof-of-vaccina- late July had lifted social distancing still vulnerable to infection, to suf- territory. VID-19 infections, 1,415 of which tion policy for myriad activities, requirements and limits on gather- fering severe symptoms once in- The designation — the highest of were active as of Tuesday, and 149 from movie theaters to ocean cruis- ings, and allowed local businesses fected and to infecting others,” the CDC’s four-tiered travel warn- deaths, according to Guam’s Joint es. to open to full capacity. A surge of Guerrero wrote in her order. “It is ing system — took effect Monday Information Center. There were Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero signed cases arrived with August, and the beyond reasonable dispute that because the island has tallied over 206 cases announced on Tuesday an executive order Aug. 21 requir- U.S. military on the island reim- these vaccines save lives.” 500 new COVID-19 cases over the evening. ing businesses and large gather- posed a mask mandate. The territo- past 28 days. Forty-five of Guam’s COVID-19 ings to check for proof of vaccina- rial government remained optimis- [email protected] Guam had been at “high,” or lev- patients were hospitalized as of 6 tion from clients and participants tic, saying some new cases were ex- Twitter: @starsandstripes PAGE 6 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, September 1, 2021 AFGHANISTAN Final US aircraft leave Afghanistan

BY CAITLIN DOORNBOS than 200 and “likely closer to 100” Stars and Stripes Americans who wanted to leave the WASHINGTON — American country were left behind. forces have flown their final flight “We did not get everybody out out of Kabul, marking the end of that we wanted to get out, but I think nearly 20 years in Afghanistan, the if we’d stayed another 10 days, we top U.S. commander in the region [still] wouldn’t have gotten every- said Monday. body out that we wanted to get out The last American troops left Ha- and there still would have been peo- mid Karzai International Airport in ple who would have been disap- Kabul shortly before midnight pointed with that,” McKenzie said. Tuesday, meeting the Aug. 31 with- “It’s a tough situation.” drawal deadline that President Joe There were no American eva- Biden set and Taliban leaders cuees on the final flights leaving Ka- threatened to enforce, said Marine bul during the last 12 hours of oper- Gen. Frank McKenzie, commander ations because none of them could KHWAJA TAWFIQ SEDIQI/AP of U.S. Central Command. get to the airport, the general said. Taliban fighters arrive inside Hamid Karzai International Airport after the U.S. military's withdrawal, in “I’m here to announce the com- The State Department will con- Kabul, Afghanistan, on Tuesday. The Taliban were in full control of Kabul's international airport on pletion of our withdrawal from Af- tinue trying to extract those Ameri- Tuesday, after the last U.S. plane left its runway, marking the end of America's longest war. ghanistan and the end of the mili- cans and “negotiate very hard and tary mission to evacuate American aggressively” to help Afghans to citizens, third-country nationals come to the U.S., McKenzie said. and vulnerable Afghans. The final U.S. withdrawal efforts began Taliban declare victory from U.S. C-17 transport aircraft left Ka- May 1 when about 2,500 troops were bul at 11:59 p.m. local time,” deployed in the country, the Penta- McKenzie said, noting the flight was gon said at the time. That number Kabul airport, promise security “now clearing the airspace above was increased to about 5,800 in the BY KATHY GANNON rated areas while overturned cars for eventually restarting airport op- Afghanistan” as he spoke to report- drawdown’s final two weeks as the AND TAMEEM AKHGAR and parked vehicles blocked routes erations. ers at the Pentagon. U.S. ramped up its evacuation ef- Associated Press around the civilian airport — a sign The airport had seen chaotic and “This withdrawal signifies both forts to remove Americans, Af- KABUL, Afghanistan — The Ta- of measures taken to protect against deadly scenes since the Taliban the end of the military component of ghans seeking special immigrant vi- liban triumphantly marched into possible suicide car bombers enter- blitzed across Afghanistan and took the evacuation, but also the end of sas and others from the country Kabul’s international airport on ing the facility. Kabul on Aug. 15. Thousands of Af- the nearly 20-year mission that be- once the Taliban took control Aug. Tuesday, hours after the final U.S. Vehicles carrying the Taliban ghans besieged the airport, some gan in Afghanistan shortly after 15. troop withdrawal that ended Amer- raced back and forth along Hamid falling to their death after desper- Sept. 11, 2001,” he said. “On average, we have evacuated ica’s longest war. Standing on the Karzai International Airport’s sole ately hanging onto the side of an Shortly after McKenzie’s an- more than 7,500 civilians per day tarmac, Taliban leaders pledged to runway on the military side of the American C-17 military cargo jet. nouncement, Taliban spokesman over the 18 days of the [evacuation] secure the country, quickly reopen airfield. Before dawn broke, heavily Last week, an Islamic State suicide Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter mission, which includes 16 full days the airport and grant amnesty to for- armed Taliban fighters walked attack at an airport gate killed at that celebratory gunfire erupted in of evacuations [and] more than mer opponents. through hangars, passing some of least 169 Afghans and 13 U.S. ser- the streets after Afghanistan 19,000 on a single day,” McKenzie In a show of control, turbaned Ta- the seven CH-46 helicopters the vice members. “gained full independence” when said. liban leaders were flanked by the in- State Department used in its evac- During the evacuation, U.S. “the last American soldier left Ka- U.S. and coalition forces ulti- surgents’ elite Badri unit as they uations before rendering them un- forces helped evacuate over 120,000 bul airport.” mately evacuated more than walked across the tarmac. The com- usable. U.S. citizens, foreigners and Af- “The sounds of gunfire in Kabul 123,000 people from Afghanistan mandos in camouflage uniforms Taliban spokesman Zabihullah ghans, according to the White are shots of joy at the withdrawal of since late July, said Army Maj. Gen. proudly posed for photos. Mujahid addressed the gathered House. Coalition forces also evac- U.S. troops, and citizens are not wor- Hank Taylor, the Joint Staff’s depu- Getting the airport running again members of the Badri unit. “I hope uated their citizens and Afghans. ried,” he said. ty director for regional operations. is just one of the sizeable challenges you be very cautious in dealing with But for all who got out, foreign na- That last soldier was Maj. Gen. The final days of the withdrawal the Taliban face in governing a na- the nation,” he said. “Our nation has tions and the U.S. acknowledged Chris Donahue, commander of the were marked by the deaths of 11 Ma- tion of 38 million people that for two suffered war and invasion and the they didn’t evacuate all who wanted 82nd Airborne Division and XVIII rines, a sailor and a soldier and doz- decades had survived on billions of people do not have more tolerance.” to go. Airborne Corps, according to a Pen- ens of Afghans when an Islamic dollars in foreign aid. At the end of his remarks, the Ba- On Tuesday, after a night that saw tagon tweet. A night-vision photo ac- State terrorist wearing an explosive “Afghanistan is finally free,” dri fighters shouted: “God is the the Taliban fire triumphantly into companying the message shows vest detonated it near the airport’s Hekmatullah Wasiq, a top Taliban greatest!” the air, guards on duty kept out the Donahue boarding a C-17. Abbey Gate and ISIS gunmen fired official, told The Associated Press In an interview with Afghan state curious and those still somehow Though all U.S. troops have with- on the crowds, the Pentagon has on the tarmac. “The military and ci- television, Mujahid also discussed hoping to catch a flight out. drawn from Afghanistan, Secretary said. In response, the U.S. on Friday vilian side (of the airport) are with restarting operations at the airport, Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. spe- of State Antony Blinken said fewer killed two ISIS-Khorasan terrorists us and in control. Hopefully, we will which remains a key way out for cial representative who oversaw and injured a third in a drone strike, be announcing our Cabinet. Every- those wanting to leave the country. America’s talks with the Taliban, defense officials reported Saturday. thing is peaceful. Everything is “Our technical team will be wrote on Twitter that “Afghans face Though the Taliban celebrated safe.” checking the technical and logisti- a moment of decision & opportuni- the U.S. withdrawal, according to Wasiq also urged people to return cal needs of the airport,” he said. “If ty” after the withdrawal. Mujahid’s tweet, McKenzie said to work and reiterated the Taliban we are able to fix everything on our “Their country’s future is in their America’s nearly 20 years in Af- pledge offering a general amnesty. own, then we won’t need any help. If hands. They will choose their path in ghanistan held meaning. “People have to be patient,” he said. there is need for technical or logis- full sovereignty,” he wrote. “This is “It’s a mission that brought [9/11 “Slowly we will get everything back tics help to repair the destruction, the chance to bring their war to an planner] Osama bin Laden to a just to normal. It will take time.” then we might ask help from Qatar end as well.” end, along with many of his al-Qaida Just hours earlier, the U.S. mili- or Turkey.” But the Taliban face what could co-conspirators. It was not a cheap tary had wrapped up its largest air- He didn’t elaborate on what was be a series of major crises. The ma- mission,” he said. “The cost was lift of non-combatants in history. destroyed. jority of the billions of dollars Af- 2,461 U.S. service members and ci- On Tuesday morning, signs of the Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, ghanistan holds in foreign reserves WALI SABAWOON/AP vilians killed and more than 20,000 chaos of recent days were still visi- the head of U.S. Central Command, is now frozen in America, pressur- A U.S military aircraft takes off who were injured.” ble. In the terminal, rifled luggage earlier said troops disabled 27 ing its now-depreciating Afghani Monday from Hamid Karzai and clothes were strewn across the Humvees and 73 aircraft so they currency. Civil servants across the International Airport in Kabul, [email protected] ground, alongside wads of docu- cannot be used again. He said troops country say they haven’t received Afghanistan. Twitter: @CaitlinDoornbos ments. Concertina wire still sepa- did not blow up equipment needed their salary in months. Wednesday, September 1, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 7 AFGHANISTAN US service members recovering after Kabul blast

BY JENNIFER H. SVAN Col. Irene Folaron, commander of Stars and Stripes the 86th Medical Squadron at All 20 U.S. service members Ramstein Air Base. who were injured in the terrorist When the service members ar- attack last week in Afghanistan rived at LRMC, doctors and nurs- and were later treated in Germa- es were preparing for the worst, ny have returned to the United Kim said. States for further care, military of- “We weren’t getting a lot of good ficials said Tuesday. information, just because of the Doctors and nurses at Land- size of what happened,” he said. stuhl Regional Medical Center, When the first patients arrived the U.S. military’s largest hospital Friday, more than 100 staff mem- overseas, stabilized the patients, bers from across all hospital de- many of whom arrived in critical partments waited with gurneys condition with a range of shrapnel and offers of support, Kim said. and gunshot wounds, officials “The energy was palpable,” he said. said. The last group to be medically Other military units in Europe evacuated to Walter Reed Nation- and German military and civilian al Military Medical Center in Be- medical officials also provided thesda, Md., left on Monday. support. The 86th Medical Group “Every single service member at Ramstein helped with supplies, that received care here left our fa- and the Army sent a team of lin- cility in much better condition guists and special forces medics to than when they arrived,” said Col. help. Andrew Landers, the LRMC com- RAF Lakenheath also sent two mander. providers to assist, and German Whether they make a full recov- trauma centers provided exper- ery depends on what “happens tise, Landers said. over the next four to six weeks in Army Col. Jodelie Schroeder, their treatment and recovery LRMC’s chief nursing officer, process,” he said. grew emotional when talking LRMC also treated about a doz- MARCY SANCHEZ/Landstuhl Regional Medical Center about the injured service mem- en Afghan evacuees who were in- Staff at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center on Friday receive casualties who were medically evacuated bers. An Army nurse corps officer jured in the Kabul airport attack from Kabul, Afghanistan, after an attack outside of Hamid Karzai International Airport a day earlier and for 24 years, Schroeder was a bri- and medically evacuated. Most of evacuated to LRMC. gade combat team nurse in Iraq. them are still receiving care at the “Those are the kind of feelings hospital, officials said. ranged from 20 to 31. A few wom- said Col. Peter Kim, an Air Force military personnel. for me that are coming back,” she Landers did not share personal en are among the injured. physician and the chief medical Some of the patients received said. “They know that from a mil- details about the injured. But offi- Most had shrapnel injuries, officer at LRMC. There were re- interventions during the 8.5-hour itary medical standpoint that cials said the U.S. military mem- fractures and penetrating wounds ports of gunfire during the attack, medical evacuation flight on mil- we’re here, we’ve got their back.” bers are young, similar to the de- “consistent with what you see in in which a suicide bomber deto- itary aircraft from Kabul that mographics of the personnel any type of blast,” Landers said. nated explosives near a check- saved “life, limb and eyesight as [email protected] killed in the attack, whose ages Some also had gunshot wounds, point that was manned by U.S. much as possible,” said Air Force Twitter: @stripesktown  US troops disabled equipment before abandoning it at Kabul airport

BY CAITLIN DOORNBOS last time, said Marine Gen. Frank ramp up withdrawal efforts as the Chief Pentagon spokesman McKenzie said the U.S. also Stars and Stripes McKenzie, commander of U.S. Taliban closed in on the city. John Kirby told CNN on Tuesday made its counter rocket, artillery WASHINGTON — U.S. troops Central Command. In the first hours after U.S. that the only equipment the U.S. and mortar system at the airport disabled 170 vehicles, aircraft and “They’ll never be able to be op- forces left the airport, Taliban left operable at the airport were “a inoperable, but waited “up until weapons systems that they aban- erated by anyone,” McKenzie said fighters entered a hangar former- couple of fire trucks and forklifts the very last minute” to do so to doned Monday at the Kabul air- of the equipment. “Most of them ly under U.S. control to examine so that the airport itself can re- protect the forces. That system port before the remaining Amer- were non-mission capable to be- abandoned equipment including main more operational going for- was used Sunday to stop an Islam- ican service members in Afghan- gin with.” four Chinook helicopters, accord- ward.” ic State rocket fired at the airport. istan boarded the last flights out of McKenzie did not say what kind ing to a video posted to Twitter by “[The Taliban] can inspect all “It’s a complex procedure and the country, the top U.S. com- of aircraft were among the 73 left Los Angeles Times reporter Na- they want. They can look at them, time-intensive procedure to break mander in the region said. behind at the airport, where U.S. bih Bulos. they can walk around, but they down those systems,” the general About 70 Mine Resistant Am- forces helped more than 123,000 “We’re here right now with the can’t fly them. They can’t operate said. “[But] we demilitarized bush Protected vehicles, 27 Hum- people evacuate the country since Taliban as they enter into what them,” Kirby told CNN. “We made those systems so that they’ll never vees and 73 aircraft were “demili- late July. Most of those evacuation was only minutes ago an Ameri- sure to demilitarize, to make unus- be used again.” tarized” by the United States at flights took place after Aug. 14 can-controlled portion of the air- able, all the gear that is at the air-

Hamid Karzai International Air- when thousands of U.S. troops de- port,” Bulos said in the video. port — all the aircraft, all the [email protected] port before they left Kabul for the ployed to the Kabul airport to “And now, they’ve taken over.” ground vehicles.” Twitter: @CaitlinDoornbos PAGE 8 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, September 1, 2021 AFGHANISTAN Veterans ‘devastated’ over allies left behind

BY J.P. LAWRENCE uation disappeared once he real- Jones and other volunteers said Stars and Stripes ized how disorganized and chaotic they still plan to try to help Afghan Veterans and civilians who the airport was. allies escape, perhaps via land worked tirelessly to help Afghans He and other volunteers de- routes to neighboring countries. escape Taliban rule are now ago- scribed a system in which people Efforts will pivot to welcoming nizing over the fates of friends and with adequate paperwork were and assisting refugees who have allies left behind in the wake of the turned away from the airport, arrived in America, and the lists of U.S. military’s withdrawal, which while some people with no docu- Afghans requesting help will be was completed Monday. mentation or connection to the offered to the U.S. government, Although the hurried efforts U.S. got in. Jason said. brought more than 123,000 civil- Chris Jones, a Marine veteran, Air Force veteran Christy Barry ians from Afghanistan on U.S. and said the process brought back me- was in basic training at the time of coalition aircraft, not everyone the mories of his time as a machine the 9/11 terrorist attacks. U.S. wanted to evacuate made it gunner in Afghanistan and the ac- She said she had believed in the out of the country, said Marine companying feelings of helpless- mission of helping Afghanistan, Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of ness and regret for not being able and she signed up for a program in U.S. Central Command. to save lives. which she learned one of the coun- “There’s a lot of heartbreak as- “There are thousands of Amer- try’s languages to better assist Af- sociated with this departure,” ican veterans who are having to ghan forces. McKenzie said. tell the guys who kept them alive “I’m heartbroken for the Af- Volunteers served as conduits NICK PALMISCIANO / Nick Palmisciano on their deployment, ‘I don’t know ghans that I couldn’t get out,” said between at-risk Afghans and the Tim Kennedy, a U.S. Army Green Beret, takes a photo of himself and what to do,’” Jones said. Barry, who deployed to Afghanis- U.S. government during the evac- evacuees inside a U.S. military cargo plane during the evacuation from Jones recalled traveling to Ar- tan as an Air Force officer and uation. Some even flew to the Ka- Afghanistan in the last two weeks of August. Kennedy traveled to lington National Cemetery last then as a civilian. “Devastated, bul airport to help. Kabul, Afghanistan, as a private citizen affiliated with an ad hoc weekend to pay respects to a just gutted, absolutely gutted.” “We knew it was going to end in volunteer group that formed to help evacuations. friend who died during their first The next few weeks will be hard tears from the very beginning,” deployment to Afghanistan in for a lot of veterans, Barry said. said Nick Palmisciano, an Army own hangar at the Kabul airport. Jason said he is worried about 2010. She had supported the with- infantry officer for six years, in a But so many people who helped the mental health of the veterans While at the gravesite, Jones re- drawal of U.S. troops from Af- Twitter direct message Tuesday. the U.S. remain in Afghanistan de- and civilians who poured their ef- ceived a text message from an Af- ghanistan but said the execution “It was a hard pill to swallow, but it spite volunteer efforts, said re- forts into evacuations. ghan man who wanted help leav- was a disaster. is the very reason we pushed so tired Col. Mike Jason, the interim Allied Airlift 21 evacuated ing the country. “There’s a part of me that has hard.” executive director of an informal around 600 to 700 people, Jason “It was surreal to tell a grave, died,” she said. “A part of me that Palmisciano said he worked to group called Allied Airlift 21. said, but this was out of a list of ‘Hey, man, I think we lost this war used to be a patriotic American bring 12,000 people out of the “Let’s face it,” Jason said. “The over 30,000 who sought their help. pretty bad,’ and to have the reality has died.” country with a large a group of vol- numbers indicate most of us failed The former battalion com- of it thrust into my face, via my unteers that had a base of oper- to get them out, most of us failed. mander in northern Afghanistan phone, and to sit there and to say, ‘I [email protected] ations in Washington, D.C., and its So how do we deal with that?” said his hopes for an orderly evac- can’t help you,’” he said. Twitter: @jplawrence3 Soldiers step up to assist vulnerable evacuees

BY KARIN ZEITVOGEL gry. Stars and Stripes After being assigned a bunk, the KAISERSLAUTERN, Germa- evacuees are taken to their sleep- ny — An Afghan woman sat alone ing quarters across a courtyard in a warehouse at Rhine Ordnance where children had drawn chalk Barracks in Kaiserslautern that images of broken hearts and the had been transformed into a proc- word “help” on the pavement. As essing center for evacuees. men played volleyball and a long It may have been hunger or pain line began forming ahead of the that caused her to double over ev- evening meal, volunteers at a Red ery once in awhile. Or it could Cross distribution point gave new- have been a mental health issue ly arrived evacuees snacks, facing many evacuees at the drinks, hygiene products and camp, which was providing tem- An Afghan woman sits alone in blankets. porary shelter for some 3,000 peo- the medical area of a warehouse “Germany tends to be cooler ple who had fled Afghanistan on Rhine Ordnance Barracks. PHOTOS BY KARIN ZEITVOGEL/Stars and Stripes than the Middle East, so blankets since the Taliban seized control A man wearing the traditional pakol hat of northern Afghanistan waits are in high demand,” Lovely said. Aug. 15. the 16th Sustainment Brigade, the with hundreds of other evacuees for dinner at Rhine Ordnance So are cellphone chargers, be- “There’s a lot of depression and officer in charge of the site. Barracks in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Monday. cause unlike Ramstein, the facili- a lot of survivor guilt where Ramstein has housed around ties for evacuees at Rhine Ord- they’ve left people behind and 24,000 evacuees since the first air- of them made it to the airport,” he for five days. Most will eventually nance Barracks have WiFi and don’t know what’s going to hap- craft carrying vulnerable Afghans said. head to the U.S., Lovely said. power. “With our WiFi capability pen,” said Maj. Karyn Kagel, a arrived at the base Aug. 17, offi- Most of those who have made it If they are housed at Rhine Ord- here, everyone wants to make physician’s assistant working at cials said. out transited via bases in the Mid- nance Barracks they go through sure they’re letting their friends the Army facility. The last transport plane left Ka- dle East before reaching Ram- medical checks and inprocessing and family know that they’re safe On-site behavioral health teams bul overnight Tuesday, ending an stein. On arrival in Germany, the in the warehouse. Most are in good in Germany with U.S. forces,” have been talking to the evacuees unprecedented airlift and nearly evacuees undergo background physical health and no cases of Lovely said. through interpreters, trying to 20 years of U.S. military oper- and document checks to “make COVID-19 have been reported, “There’s also a certain level of help them work through the men- ations in Afghanistan. But no eva- sure we know who’s going through Kagel said. “Many are dehydrat- apprehension or fear when things tal trauma they’ve been through, cuees were on that flight or any the process,” Lovely said. ed, they have low reserves, are unknown, so we’ve worked ve- she said. others during the last 12 hours of Officials then decide where to they’ve [had] many days of no ry hard to make sure everyone The Army began taking in eva- operations, said Marine Gen. house them at Ramstein, Rhine meals.” who comes through here has as cuees at the barracks last week “to Frank McKenzie, commander of Ordnance Barracks or other U.S. Nearby in the warehouse, the much information about our proc- support the operations at Ram- U.S. Central Command. installations. Some of the eva- mother of a little boy who was cry- esses, about what’s next, to ease stein and give them that pressure “[We] would have been pre- cuees have spent just six hours at ing held her fingers to her mouth their transition out of a tough sit- release,” said Capt. Alex Lovely of pared to bring them on ... but none ROB while others have been there to indicate that her son was hun- uation,” he said. Wednesday, September 1, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 9 AFGHANISTAN War is over but not Biden’s challenges

BY AAMER MADHANI left before the Americans,” McCarthy said. AND ZEKE MILLER “Every crisis he has faced so far in this ad- Associated Press ministration he has failed.” WASHINGTON — With the final stream It remains to be seen if criticism of Biden’s of U.S. cargo planes soaring over the peaks of handling of Afghanistan will resonate with the Hindu Kush, President Joe Biden ful- voters. An Associated Press-NORC poll con- filled a campaign promise to end America’s ducted earlier in August found that about 6 in longest war, one it could not win. 10 Americans said the war there was not But as the war ended with a chaotic, worth fighting. bloody evacuation that left stranded hun- An ABC News/Ipsos poll conducted Aug. dreds of U.S. citizens 27-28 found about 6 in 10 Americans disap- and thousands of Af- proving of Biden’s handling of the situation ANALYSIS ghans who had aided in Afghanistan. the American war ef- After backing the 2001 U.S. invasion, Bi- fort, the president kept notably out of sight. den became a skeptic of U.S. nation-building He left it to a senior military commander and efforts and harbored deep doubts about the his secretary of state to tell Americans about Afghan government’s ability to develop the the final moments of a conflict that ended in capacity to sustain itself. resounding American defeat. His opposition to the 2009 “surge” of U.S. Biden, for his part, issued a written state- EVAN VUCCI/AP troops deployed to Afghanistan when he was ment praising U.S. troops who oversaw the President Joe Biden listens during a virtual meeting dealing with Hurricane Ida, on vice president put him on the losing side of airlift of more than 120,000 Afghans, U.S. ci- Monday in Washington. Turning the page on Afghanistan is a crucial foreign policy conflicts with the defense establishment and tizens and allies for their “unmatched cour- objective for Biden, who repeatedly has made the case for redirecting American within the Obama administration. Biden, in age, professionalism, and resolve.” He said attention toward growing challenges posed by adversaries China and Russia. recent weeks, told aides that he viewed his he would have more to say on Tuesday. counsel against expanding the American in- “Now, our 20-year military presence in Af- American attention toward growing chal- And at the same time, the massive suicide volvement more than a decade ago to be one ghanistan has ended,” Biden said in his state- lenges posed by adversaries China and Rus- bombing in the final days of the evacuation of his proudest moments in public life. ment. sia — and for shifting America’s counterter- that killed 13 U.S. troops and more than 180 But his tendency to speak in absolutes The muted reaction was informed by a rorism focus to areas with more potent Afghans is raising fresh concern about Af- didn’t help his cause. tough reality: The war may be over, but Bi- threats. ghanistan again becoming a breeding In July, Biden pushed back at concerns den’s Afghanistan problem is not. But in his effort to end the war and reset ground for terrorists. that a Taliban takeover of the country would The president still faces daunting chal- U.S. priorities, Biden may have also under- Biden blamed his predecessor, Trump, for be inevitable. Weeks later, the group toppled lenges born of the hasty end of the war, in- cut a central premise of his 2020 White tying his hands. He repeatedly reminded the Afghan government. cluding how to help extract as many as 200 House campaign: a promise to usher in an people that he had inherited an agreement The president also expressed confidence Americans and thousands of Afghans left be- era of greater empathy and collaboration the Republican administration made with that Americans would not see images remi- hind, the resettlement of tens of thousands of with allies in America’s foreign policy after the Taliban to withdraw U.S. forces by May niscent of the U.S. evacuation from Vietnam refugees who were able to flee, and coming four years of President Donald Trump’s of this year. Reneging on the deal, Biden ar- at the end of that war in 1975, when photos of congressional scrutiny over how, despite in- “America first” approach. gued, would have put U.S. troops — who be- helicopters evacuating people from the roof creasingly fraught warnings, the adminis- “For someone who made his name as an fore Thursday had gone since February 2020 of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon became grip- tration was caught flat-footed by the rapid empathetic leader, he’s appeared ... as quite without a combat fatality in the war — in the ping symbols of U.S. failure. collapse of the Afghan government. rational, even cold-hearted, in his pursuit of Taliban’s crosshairs once again. In fact, they saw images of desperate Af- Through the withdrawal, Biden showed this goal” to end the war, said Jason Lyall, an Republicans — and even a few Democrat- ghans swarming the Kabul airport — at least himself willing to endure what his advisers associate professor of government at Dart- ic allies — have offered withering criticism one falling to his death after clinging to a de- hope will be short-term pain for resisting bi- mouth College. of the administration’s handling of the evac- parting U.S. aircraft. partisan and international pressure to ex- Allies — including lawmakers from Bri- uation, an issue that the GOP is looking to The swift military evacuation now yields tend his Aug. 31 deadline for ending the tain, France and Germany — chafed at Bi- weaponize against Biden. to a murkier diplomatic operation to press American military evacuation effort. For den’s insistence on holding fast to the Aug. 31 House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, the Taliban to allow Americans and their al- more than a decade, Biden has believed in deadline as they struggled to evacuate their R-Calif., said Monday the withdrawal date lies to depart peacefully by other means. the futility of the conflict and maintained citizens and Afghan allies. set by Biden was a political one designed for Biden believes he has some leverage over that the routing of Afghanistan’s military by At home, Republican lawmakers have a photo op. the Taliban, former U.S. enemies turned into the Taliban was a delayed, if unwelcome, called for an investigation into the Biden ad- “There was a moment in time that had this pragmatic partners, as Afghanistan faces an vindication. ministration’s handling of the evacuation, president listened to his military, there economic crisis with the freezing of most for- Turning the page on Afghanistan is a cru- and even Democrats have backed inquiries would still be terrorist prisoners inside Ba- eign aid. But U.S. commanders say the situa- cial foreign policy objective for Biden, who into what went wrong in the fateful last gram, we would be getting every single tion in Afghanistan could become even more repeatedly has made the case for redirecting months of the occupation. American out, the military would not have chaotic in the coming weeks and months. As US leaves Afghanistan, Europe sours on Biden

BY ISHAAN THAROOR European colleagues with his paeans to- nation rate that now lags behind the EU. events of the past weeks have served as a gut The Washington Post ward shared values and his renewed efforts It may also reflect widespread European check. Biden, acting on Trump’s agreement Just a few months ago, the honeymoon to help lead collective action on climate frustration at Biden’s refusal to lift punitive with the Taliban, announced a full with- seemed in full bloom. President Joe Biden change. But sources of friction remain. The pandemic-related travel bans on citizens of drawal that his NATO allies had no choice arrived in Brussels in June and was treated Biden administration, which touts its own European countries. but to follow. While European officials voice like a long-lost friend, happily home after a brand of economic populism, has yet to fully Shadowing all deliberations is the sudden concerns about the humanitarian plight in sojourn in the Trumpian wilderness. lift a slate of tariffs on European goods put Taliban takeover in Afghanistan and the the country, as well as the prospect of huge “America is back on the global scene,” Char- into place by former President Donald seemingly chaotic handling of the American new flows of Afghan refugees, they also les Michel, president of the European Coun- Trump. withdrawal, which have shaken European complain in private about a lack of genuine cil, said to Biden in front of the media. “It’s Moreover, on Monday, the European faith in Biden’s decision-making and prior- consultation with the Biden administration. great news. It’s great news for our alliance. Union removed the United States from its ities. Last week, European leaders and Brit- “We’re not islands. The decisions of our al- It’s also great news for the world.” “safe list” of nations whose residents should ish Prime Minister Boris Johnson pressed lies have consequences for their allies,” But as the summer wanes, so too has the not face travel restrictions amid the corona- Biden to delay his planned Aug. 31 deadline Constanze Stelzenmüller, an expert on Ger- trans-Atlantic romance that accompanied virus pandemic. The move, which functions for withdrawal. He didn’t budge. man affairs and a senior fellow at the Brook- Biden’s ascent to power earlier this year. Bi- as guidance for the bloc’s 27 member states, For myriad European politicians and dip- ings Institution, told Today’s WorldView. den promised a far less combustible rela- was a reaction to the worsening state of af- lomats, particularly in countries that invest- “You get this impression that people are tionship with the United States’ traditional fairs in the United States, home once more to ed a great deal in supporting the two-dec- making policy into a void when there should Western allies, and appeared to galvanize spiking infections and a coronavirus vacci- ade-long NATO mission in Afghanistan, the be coordination.” PAGE 10 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, September 1, 2021 NATION Cleanup: Ida ‘catastrophic’ to La. power grid FROM PAGE 1 gy said more than 2,000 miles of in hard-hit areas to make sure ev- transmission lines were knocked eryone got out safely. out of service along with 216 sub- Also stuck in New Orleans were stations. The storm also flattened tourists who didn’t get out before utility poles, toppled trees onto the storm. The airport canceled all power lines and caused transfor- incoming and outgoing commer- mers to explode. cial flights for a third day, saying In New Orleans, city officials the lack of power and water meant told residents without power there no air conditioning or restrooms. was no reason to stay or return, at Adding to the misery was the least for a few days. steamy weather. A heat advisory Pamela Mitchell said she was was issued for New Orleans and thinking about leaving while she the rest of the region, with fore- waited for the power to come back casters saying the combination of on, but her 14-year-old daughter, high temperatures and humidity Michelle, was determined to stay could make it feel like 105 degrees and decided to clean out the re- Fahrenheit on Tuesday and 106 on frigerator and put perishables in Wednesday. an ice chest. Power crews rushed into the re- Mitchell had already spent a hot gion. Louisiana’s governor said and frightening night at home 25,000 utility workers were on the while Ida’s winds shrieked, and ground in the state to help restore she thought the family could tough electricity, with more on the way. it out. Still, his office described dam- “We went a week before, with age to the power grid as “cata- Zeta,” she said, recalling an out- strophic,” and power officials said age during the hurricane that hit it could be weeks before electric- the city last fall. ity is restored in some spots. Hank Fanberg said both of his More than 1 million homes and neighbors had offered him access businesses in Louisiana and Mis- to their generators. He also had a DAVID J. PHILLIP/AP sissippi were left without power as plan for food: “I have a gas grill Homes are flooded in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, Monday in Lafitte, La. Ida pushed through on Sunday and charcoal grill.” with winds that reached 150 mph. Some places are also facing the 16th anniversary of Katrina, feared. 18-wheeler, injuring the driver. The wind speed tied it for the fifth- shortages of drinking water. Eigh- the 2005 storm that breached New In Mississippi’s southwestern Ida’s remnants continued to strongest hurricane ever to hit the teen water systems were out, af- Orleans’ levees, devastated the corner, entire neighborhoods bring heavy rain and flooding to mainland. fecting more than 312,000 people, city and was blamed for 1,800 were surrounded by floodwaters, parts of the Tennessee and Ohio A giant tower that carries key and an additional 14 systems serv- deaths. and many roads were impassable. valleys. transmission lines over the Mis- ing 329,000 people were under This time, New Orleans, pro- Several tornadoes were reported, Flash flooding and mudslides sissippi River to the New Orleans boil-water advisories, the gover- tected by a major overhaul of its including a suspected twister in were possible around Washington area twisted and collapsed in the nor said. levees since Katrina, escaped the Saraland, Ala., that ripped part of on Thursday and in New England storm, and power company Enter- Hurricane Ida blew ashore on catastrophic flooding some had the roof off a motel and flipped an on Friday. Nearly 5.3K National Guard troops deployed for Hurricane Ida recovery

BY ROSE L. THAYER Service members were prepared any potential damage. At Naval Stars and Stripes to protect lives and property, Air Station Joint Reserve Base Nearly 5,300 National Guard maintain communications and en- New Orleans, officials reminded troops from four states were acti- sure operations and government personnel of local government vated Monday to help with rescue continue during the storm and re- curfews and urged those who and relief efforts after Hurricane covery. Other states contributing evacuated not to return just yet. Ida caused power outages, flood- troops were Texas, Mississippi “There are extensive power ing and wind damage across Loui- and Alabama. outages, downed power lines and siana and Mississippi. Troops staged 195 high-water many hazards on the roads still,” Troops were seen arriving at ar- vehicles and 73 rescue boats the base said. eas of Louisiana where the storm across south Louisiana, as well as Keesler Air Force Base located had mainly passed to begin clear- 34 helicopters to support search on the Gulf Coast near Biloxi, ing roads for emergency respon- and rescue, evacuation and recon- Miss., reported the base would re- ders to gain access, according to naissance missions as needed, ac- sume normal operations Tuesday, news reports. More than 888,000 cording to the Guard. but asked personnel to use caution power outages are reported in the “We know that individuals are when venturing outside. state, however, including the en- out there waiting to be rescued,” “I appreciate everyone being tire city of New Orleans, accord- Edwards said. “Please know that safe and staying off the roads. ing to Entergy, the state’s power we have thousands of people out Know that your airmen, soldiers provider. right now.” and sailors are safe here on the At least four people have died as GERALD HERBERT/AP While the storm cleared Loui- base,” said Air Force Col. William a result of the storm, which made Jerilyn Collins returns to her destroyed home with the assistance of a siana by early Monday morning Hunter, commander of Keesler’s landfall as a Category 4 storm with Louisiana National Guard high­water vehicle to retrieve medicine for and had downgraded from hurri- 81st Training Wing. winds sustained at about 150 mph herself and her father, as well as a few belongings after she evacuated cane strength, Mississippi re- About 70 miles north, Camp at Port Fourchon, about 100 miles in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida in LaPlace, La., on Monday. mained under heavy rainfall with Shelby, a Mississippi National south of New Orleans. Slidell, La., wind gusts up to 65 mph, accord- Guard training center, served as a saw more than 15 inches of rain, ached 4 feet, The AP reported. in life-saving mode as a first order ing to the National Hurricane Cen- staging area for rescue boats and and New Orleans nearly 14 inches, “This is going to be a long ordeal of priority, then we will get to all ter. Forecasts predicted Ida to state highway patrol vehicles to The Associated Press reported. in terms of getting every cleaned those other things.” move into Tennessee and Alaba- assist with storm recovery efforts, Flooding closed the region’s main up and getting everything re- Louisiana National Guard had ma by evening. according to base. thoroughfare, Interstate Highway paired,” Louisiana Gov. John Bel staged about 5,000 troops prior to Military bases in the path of Ida

10. In one stretch between Baton Edwards said Monday. “Please the hurricane’s landfall Sunday, reported closures, with many still [email protected] Rouge and New Orleans water re- understand that we are going to be according to the state’s Guard. buttoned up and unable to assess Twitter: @Rose_Lori Wednesday, September 1, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 11 AMERICAN ROUNDUP

Subway breakdown sparked by power surge NEW YORK — A mo- NY mentary power surge disrupted half of the New York City subway system for several hours and stranded hundreds of passengers, Gov. Kathy Hochul said. The unprecedented breakdown affected more than 80 trains on the subway system’s numbered lines plus the L train, Hochul said. She said the outage was “mo- mentary” and a backup system was activated. “But when they tried to go back to normal, there was a surge — an unprecedented surge — that resulted in the sub- way losing signalization and com- munication ability,” Hochul said. “The confluence of events that led to this has never happened before to our knowledge,” she said. Police arrest 2 students accused of school threat PEMBROKE PINES — FL Two South Florida stu- dents are accused of making on- line threats to “terrorize” their high school, police said. Police in Pembroke Pines said they received a tip about an online TOM GRALISH, THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER/AP threat of a potential shooting at Charles W. Flanagan High School. Additional officers were deployed Wacky wedding to the school, which is located in Dylan and Jaclyn Isadore of Voorhees, N.J., find their wedding photo session at City Hall fortuitously interrupted by a vaccination parade. The western Broward County. couple were actually officially married in a small family­only ceremony in the backyard of Jaclyn’s parents home during the pandemic last Police said they arrested two summer on Aug. 30, 2020, but held their a larger version over this weekend. students, ages 15 and 16, after dis- covering the threat on Instagram. and the creation of a shoreline me- THE CENSUS whale’s thin body and empty The teens face charges includ- morial, Northam’s office said. stomach suggested it had been im- ing a second-degree felony for The number of water leaks reported to the city of Warner Rob- paired and had not eaten recently. making a written threat to do bod- Tunnel explorer dies after 876 ins, Ga., since January. The records estimate a loss of 40 mil- ily harm or commit an act of ter- storms wash him into river lion gallons of water. Officials said they’re working to fix the problems. Repair- Suspect, officer wounded rorism and a second-degree mis- ing water lines is time consuming, because city crews must first determine if a after two-state chase demeanor for knowingly causing ST. PAUL — A man leak is the responsibility of the city or the homeowner to fix. Then they have to the disruption of an educational MN who was exploring allow time for marking of underground utilities, said Joey McDuffie, Warner WASHINGTON TOWN- institution. tunnels under a bridge in St. Paul Robins’ water supervisor. “They just ended up piling over time,” McDuffie said SHIP — A man wanted of the hundreds of leaks this year, “and we’re doing the best we can.” NJ died after he and two others were on attempted murder charges fled Historic headstones of washed into the Mississippi River. police in Pennsylvania, stole a po- African Americans moved Five adults were exploring the “increased settlement rate and ed benefit of creating an environ- lice vehicle, drove to New Jersey, tunnels when a thunderstorm hit. available means of mitigating ment around your house where and was shot and wounded during KING GEORGE — Two people were able to escape, this.” you can enjoy seeing wildlife com- a gunbattle with officers, author- VA Dozens of headstones but the three others were washed Elmets said the building is safe, ing and going. It really is delight- ities said. from a historic African American into the river, according to the the San Francisco Chronicle ful.” Arthur Henry Disanto Jr., 41, cemetery in the nation’s capital Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office. reported. Jim Fregonara, a wildlife biolo- was wanted in the shooting of a that were used as erosion control Ramsey County Water Patrol, The building had sunk 16 inches gist with the division, said lan- woman in the Philadelphia suburb along the Virginia shoreline of the St. Paul police, St. Paul and Min- into the soft soil and landfill of San downers who apply, provide a of Media. Potomac River are being relocat- neapolis fighters were called to Francisco’s dense financial dis- habitat plan and demonstrate that Pennsylvania troopers attempt- ed to a memorial garden in Mary- the scene. The responders were trict. It was also leaning, creating their property meets the needs of ed to stop Disanto in Marple, au- land. able to rescue two of the three a 2-inch tilt at the base and a 6- native wildlife will be added to a thorities said. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, adults who washed into the river. inch lean at the top. register of wild yards. They also An officer caught up with him in Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and The body of the third person receive a certificate for participa- Philadelphia. Disanto reached for Washington Mayor Muriel Bows- was recovered after officials Residents can have land ting in the program and a sign post a gun in his waistband as the offi- er attended a ceremony in Cale- searched most of the night. designated ‘wild yard’ to display in the yard. cer got out of his vehicle, author- don State Park in King George to ities said. mark the transfer of the first 55 New sinking in tilting CHARLESTON — Fin whale that died had The officer retreated behind the headstones from Virginia to Ma- high-rise halts repair WV West Virginia resi- underlying conditions SUV, and Disanto got in and drove ryland, officials said. The grave dents who landscape for wildlife off, authorities said. markers will be part of a memorial SAN FRANCISCO — A use can have their land designated LEWES — A necropsy Authorities tracked the SUV to garden at National Harmony Me- CA $100 million fix to stop a a “wild yard.” DE has found that an en- Deptford Township, N.J., but Dis- morial Park in Prince George’s San Francisco luxury high-rise The program has 300 members dangered fin whale that died after anto had already exited and taken County honoring the 37,000 peo- from sinking and tilting even more around the state and is operated it became beached along the Dela- SWAT gear that had been inside, ple buried at the original cemete- is on hold while engineers try to through the West Virginia Divi- ware coast had multiple underly- including a bulletproof vest and ry. learn why the building has sunk sion of Natural Resources to cre- ing conditions. helmet, authorities said. This fall, National Guard mem- another inch during the repair. ate more natural habitat for wild- The Marine Education Re- A drone spotted Disanto on a bers from Maryland and Virginia Doug Elmets, spokesman for life around the state. search and Rehabilitation Insti- shed roof, authorities said. He ran will recover more headstones in the Millennium Tower, said in a “It’s such a wonderful program tute said its necropsy determined off and then traded gunfire in the area where the first artifacts statement that pile installation to to get involved in,” Rebecca Lin- the whale had significant parasitic front of a home in Washington were found, officials said. Virginia beef up the building’s foundation ger, who owns a certified wild infections in the liver, lungs and Township, authorities said. approved $4 million for recovery is on hold for two to four weeks as yard, said in a news release from kidneys, WDEL reported. and restoration of the gravestones they try to understand why the the agency. “And you get the add- The institute also said the From The Associated Press PAGE 12 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, September 1, 2021 NATION California wildfire nears Lake Tahoe

Associated Press Additional strike teams arrived SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. just after dark and many of the — A ferocious wildfire swept to- new firefighters were immediate- ward Lake Tahoe on Tuesday just ly dispatched to protect homes in hours after roads were clogged the Christmas Valley area about 10 with fleeing cars when the entire miles from South Lake Tahoe, said California resort city of South fire spokesman Dominic Polito. Lake Tahoe was ordered to evac- “We’re flooding the area with uate and communities just across resources,” he said. “Wherever the state line in Nevada were there are structures, there are warned to get ready to leave. firefighters on the ground.” The popular vacation haven Ken Breslin was stuck in bum- normally filled with tens of thou- per-to-bumper traffic less than a sands of summer tourists emptied mile from his home in the city of out Monday as the massive Caldor 22,000, with only a quarter-tank of Fire rapidly expanded. Vehicles gas in his Ford Escape. His son loaded with bikes and camping begged him to leave Sunday night, gear and hauling boats were in gri- but he shrugged him off, certain dlock traffic, stalled in hazy, that if an evacuation order came, it JAE C. HONG/AP brown air that smelled like a would be later in the week. Two firefighters create a fuel break as the Caldor Fire burns in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., on Monday. campfire. Police and other emer- “Before, it was, ‘No worries ... gency vehicles whizzed by. it’s not going to crest. It’s not gon- South Lake Tahoe, residents just fire raged nearby. South Lake Ta- er seen before. The critical thing “It’s more out of control than I na come down the hill. There’s over the state line in Douglas hoe’s main medical facility, Bar- for the public to know is evacuate thought,” evacuee Glen Naasz said 3,500 firefighters, all those bull- County, Nev., were under evacua- ton Memorial Hospital, proactive- early,” said Chief Thom Porter, di- of the fire that by late Monday had dozers and all the air support,’” he tion warnings. ly evacuated dozens of patients, rector of the California Depart- been pushed by strong winds said. “Until this morning, I didn’t Monday’s fresh evacuation or- and the El Dorado Sheriff’s Office ment of Forestry and Fire Protec- across California highways 50 and think there was a chance it could ders, unheard of in the city, came a transferred inmates to a neighbor- tion, or Cal Fire. “For the rest of 89, burning mountain cabins as it come into this area. Now, it’s very day after communities several ing jail. you in California: Every acre can swept down slopes into the Tahoe real.” miles south of the lake were “There is fire activity happen- and will burn someday in this Basin. As flames churned toward abruptly ordered to leave as the ing in California that we have nev- state.” Teachers Male witness describes push back abuse by singer R. Kelly

Associated Press He kept seeing Kelly after that on vaccine NEW YORK — After several because “I really wanted to make it days of testimony from women in the music industry,” he said. claiming they were groomed and The witness was testifying as mandates sexually abused by R. Kelly, a man part of a cooperation agreement Associated Press took the witness stand at Kelly’s stemming from his guilty plea in a PORTLAND, Ore. — Some of the sex-trafficking trial in New York separate case alleging he was part biggest school systems in the U.S. City on Monday to say the R&B star of a botched scheme to bribe a are taking a hard line with teachers exploited him in the same way woman to not testify against Kelly. and staff members who are not yet when he was a high school student. No charges were brought against vaccinated against COVID-19: Get a The witness, testifying in federal Kelly related to the scheme. jab or lose your job. court in Brooklyn without using his Kelly, 54, has repeatedly denied Most teachers already are vacci- TED S. WARREN/AP real name, told a jury how Kelly accusations that he preyed on vic- nated, and national teachers’ unions Protesters who oppose mask and vaccine mandates gather outside lured him to his Chicago-area tims during a 30-year career high- have endorsed vaccine mandates, the Legislative Building on Aug. 18 at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. home in 2007 with false offers of lighted by his 1996 mega hit “I Be- but the policies have sparked pro- helping him with his fledgling mu- lieve I Can Fly.” tests from educators and, in some testing for the coronavirus, but New crat, said last week. sic career. Earlier Monday, a woman testi- cases, pushback from local district York City, Philadelphia, Chicago Underscoring the risks of class- Kelly asked the alleged victim, fied that Kelly sexually assaulted leaders who fear large numbers of and St. Louis are among a growing room infections, the U.S. Centers then 17, “what I was willing to do her at age 17 following a perform- departures. list of places that are limiting ex- for Disease Control and Prevention for music,” the witness said. He re- ance in Miami in 1994. The witness, In Oregon, where school staffers emptions to bona fide medical and presented a case study in its weekly plied, “I’ll carry your bags. ... Any- also testifying without using her re- statewide are required to be fully religious reasons. Washington and report Friday detailing how an un- thing you need, I’ll be willing to al name, claimed that Kelly’s cro- vaccinated by Oct. 18, the board for Oregon have adopted similarly vaccinated teacher in Marin Coun- do.” nies took her and a friend to his the 7,500-student district of Red- strict vaccination policies state- ty, Calif., spread the virus to 22 of “That’s not it. That’s not it,” he dressing room after the show be- mond last week passed a resolution wide. the instructor’s 24 students at said Kelly responded before ask- fore he pulled down her shorts and protesting the mandate and manda- As a new school year begins, gov- school. The CDC said the teacher ing him if he ever fantasized about forced her to have unprotected sex, tory mask-wearing in schools after ernments are taking a harder line sometimes read aloud to the stu- having sex with men. He said Kelly she said. “significant” opposition. on vaccinations to ward off the high- dents while unmasked. then “crawled down on his knees “I was in complete shock,” she “This could do serious damage to ly contagious delta variant, which Some school staff members who and proceeded to give me oral said. “I didn’t know what to say at the other mandate that we have, has sent children to hospital inten- have held off on getting vaccinated sex,” even though, “I wasn’t into all. I basically went blank.” which is to provide excellent educa- sive care beds in record numbers. say they would leave their jobs be- it.” On cross-examination, defense tion to the children and the families Many students are too young to get fore taking the shots. Afterward, “he told me to keep attorney Deveraux Cannick of our district,” board member Mi- the vaccine, which is available only The U.S. Food and Drug Admin- between him and me,” he said. pressed the witness on why, after chael Summers said. “We’re at- to those 12 and over. istration last week gave full approv- In a later episode, Kelly snapped someone allegedly “raped you,” tempting to speak for people.” “This is to ensure that the chil- al to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, cit- his fingers to summon a naked girl she waited more than two decades Teachers in many school districts dren we all cherish are safe, that ing months of real-world evidence who was hiding under a boxing to contact law enforcement. with vaccine requirements can opt their families are reassured,” New that serious side effects are ex- ring to give Kelly and the witness “Because I didn’t want to feel out as long as they submit to regular York Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Demo- tremely rare. oral sex, the man told the jury. more shame and trauma,“ she said. Wednesday, September 1, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 13 WORLD

Pakistan says 11 ISIS Drone attack on Saudi airport wounds 8 militants killed in raid QUETTA — Pakistan’s counter- terrorism units raided a hideout of Associated Press men’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, sent fragments flying that punc- meni troops and marking one of the the Islamic State group in the res- DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — saying it was the second such strike tured small holes in a passenger deadliest attacks in the country’s tive southwestern Baluchistan A bomb-laden drone on Tuesday on Abha airport in 24 hours. An ear- plane, shattered glass and wounded yearslong civil war. No one claimed province before dawn on Tuesday, crashed into an airport in south- lier ballistic missile attack scattered citizens of Bangladesh, Nepal and responsibility for the strike, which setting off a shootout that killed 11 western Saudi Arabia, wounding shrapnel across the tarmac but India. One Bangladeshi man re- bore the hallmarks the Iranian-sup- militants, the police said. eight people and damaging a civil- caused no casualties. The Houthis mained in critical condition, the coa- ported rebels. The units, acting on intelli- ian plane, Saudi state television re- did not claim responsibility for the lition said, without offering further Since 2015, Yemen’s Houthi re- gence, carried out the raid in the ported, the latest assault on the king- strikes and its military spokesman details. bels battling the Saudi-led military district of Mastung, where ISIS dom amid its grinding war in neigh- did not answer calls seeking com- The attack comes just days after coalition have targeted internation- militants had recently killed two boring Yemen. ment. missiles and drones slammed into a al airports, military installations police officers. \ The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Saudi forces said they downed the key military base in Yemen’s south, and critical oil infrastructure, with- The police said suicide belts, Yemen blamed the assault on Ye- drone, and that their interception killing at least 30 Saudi-backed Ye- in Saudi Arabia. hand grenades and assault rifles were confiscated in the raid. The counterterrorism department provided no further details. China limits children to 3 hours of online gaming a week Quetta is the capital of Baluchis- tan province where ISIS has Associated Press tration. as gaming company NetEase. The gaming restrictions are claimed several attacks in recent BEIJING — China is banning That limits gaming to three Tencent’s stock price closed part of an ongoing crackdown on years. ISIS has regional affiliates children from playing online hours a week for most weeks of down 0.6% at 465.80 Hong Kong technology companies, amid con- in both Pakistan and neighboring games for more than three hours the year, down from a previous dollars on Monday ahead of the cerns that technology firms — Afghanistan. a week, the harshest restriction so restriction set in 2019 that allowed regulator’s announcement. many of which provide ubiquitous Baluchistan is also the scene of far on the gaming industry as Chi- minors play games for an hour Its market capitalization of messaging, payments and gaming a low-level insurgency by Baluch nese regulators continue cracking and a half per day and three hours $573 billion is down more than services — may have an outsized separatist groups, which have also down on the technology sector. on public holidays. $300 billion from its February influence on society. targeted non-Baluch laborers. Minors in China can only play The new regulation affects peak, a decline equal to more than In early August, Tencent said it Unlike ISIS, however, they have games between 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on some of China’s largest technolo- the total value of Nike Inc. or Pfiz- would limit gaming time for mi- no history of attacks on the minor- Fridays, weekends and on public gy companies, including gaming er Inc. nors to an hour a day and two ity Shiite community. holidays starting Sept. 1, accord- giant Tencent, whose Honor of New York-listed NetEase’s hours during holidays, as well as ing to a notice from the National Kings online multiplayer game is stock was down about 9% at the ban children under the age of 12 Press and Publication Adminis- hugely popular globally, as well market’s open. from making in-game purchases. From The Associated Press PAGE 14 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, September 1, 2021 FACES

New Clapton song appears to criticize COVID restrictions From wire reports Eric Clapton appears to lyrically lam- baste the world’s response to COVID-19 with a new song. The guitarist, who recently said he won’t perform at venues that require coronavirus vaccinations, cryptically sings “enough is enough” in “This Has Gotta Stop,” which he released late last week. “It’s gone far enough,” Clapton sings. “If you wanna claim my soul / You’ll have to come and Clapton break down this door.” The song does not specifically mention COVID-19. A music video for the song, meanwhile, features illustrations of people being con- trolled like marionette puppets and being influenced by TV and phone screens. Other images show the illustrations pro- testing with signs featuring messages such as “Liberty,” while another scene shows a band performing at a “Jam For Freedom.” “I can’t move my hands,” Clapton sings. “I break out in sweat / I wanna cry / Can’t take it anymore.” Disney+ Earlier this year, Clapton reportedly Billie Eilish and the city of LA star in the Disney+ special “Happier than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles,” debuting Friday. wrote he had a bad reaction to the AstraZe- neca vaccine — and referenced “propagan- da” preaching its safety — in a letter to Rob- in Monotti, with Rolling Stone saying it con- firmed the message’s legitimacy. “Needless to say the reactions were disas- New this week: Eilish concert film, trous, my hands and feet were either frozen, numb or burning, and pretty much useless for two weeks,” Clapton wrote at the time. Clapton and fellow rocker Van Morrison ‘Cinderella’ and Imagine Dragons released a song, “Stand and Deliver,” in De- cember that seemed to oppose the CO- VID-19 lockdowns. Associated Press Music ment enough to check out the comedy-mys- Here’s a collection curated by The Asso- tery. The premise: A trio of true-crime ad- Other news ciated Press’ entertainment journalists of ■ Imagine Dragons are releasing their dicts and neighbors in a posh Manhattan ■ Jon Stewart will launch his new show, what’s arriving on TV, streaming services fifth studio album on Friday called “Mercu- apartment building team up to solve the go- “The Problem with Jon Stewart,” on Sept. and music platforms this week. ry — Act 1” with Rick Rubin producing. One ry death of a fellow tenant. As they docu- 30, along with the com- song, “Wrecked,” was inspired by singer ment their sleuthing for a podcast, long-dor- panion podcast, Apple Movies Dan Reynolds’ late sister-in-law, Alisha mant secrets come to light and a killer gets TV+ announced Monday. ■ Michael Keaton leads the new Netflix Durtschi Reynolds, who died following a perilously closer. The 10-episode series de- The show “is a multiple- film “Worth,” available Friday, about the cancer battle. Another, “Follow You,” is a buted Tuesday. season, single-issue se- lawyer tasked with putting a dollar value on love song written by Reynolds after re-mar- ■ Billie Eilish and the city of LA star in a ries, taking a deep dive on the lives of those killed in the Sept. 11 at- rying his wife following a separation. And Disney+ special described as a cinematic the most important topics tacks. Based on a true story, Keaton’s char- there’s one of the edgiest tracks yet from the concert experience. Eilish will perform her that are currently part of acter is forced to reevaluate his priorities band — “Cutthroat,” an anthem about kill- new album, “Happier than Ever,” in “Hap- ing the critic inside of you. Stewart the national conversa- after meeting a widower played by Stanley pier than Ever: A Love Letter to Los An- tion,” according to Apple. Tucci. The cast also includes Amy Ryan and ■ If you’re looking for something harder, geles,” debuting Friday. Her performance New episodes will premiere each week. The Tate Donovan. Also on Netflix starting look no further than Iron Maiden, whose at the Hollywood Bowl is joined with anima- show is Stewart’s first official return to TV Wednesday are “Blade Runner: The Final 17th studio album “Senjutsu” drops Friday tion to take viewers on a promised “dream- since signing off from “The Daily Show” in Cut,” “Clear and Present Danger,” “Laby- and is their first in six years. Though just 10 like journey” through Eilish’s home and its 2015 after 16 years in the anchor’s chair. rinth” and “Mars Attacks!” tracks, each one is long — one song, “The landmarks. The Los Angeles Philharmonic ■ Jamaican singer and record producer ■ “Pose” star Billy Porter plays a non-bi- Parchment,” clocks in at over 12 minutes — and conductor Gustavo Dudamel, Brazilian Lee “Scratch” Perry, one of reggae’s found- nary Fairy Godparent named Fab G in the so “Senjutsu” will be a double CD, just as guitarist Romero Lubambo and singer- ing fathers, died Sunday at 85. Perry, whose latest version of “Cinderella,” streaming their last, “The Book of Souls.” This time, songwriter Finneas, Eilish’s brother, are real name is Rainford Hugh Perry, died at a Friday on Amazon Prime Video. Pop star taking a nod to the East, the band’s mascot, among those making guest appearances. hospital in Montego Bay, Jamaica, accord- Camilla Cabello stars as the glass slipper- Eddie, sports a samurai sword on the cover. ■ After a pandemic-forced production ing to a statement issued loser and Idina Menzel plays the Stepmoth- The first single, “The Writing on the Wall,” break, Showtime’s “Billions” returns for by Prime Minister An- er. Naturally, both are providing original is a metal banger with layers of guitar and the second half of season five on Sunday. drew Holness. Perry was songs for the soundtrack. It’s a stacked cast, wailing solos. It paints a bleak picture of There’s shifting alliances as the power a pioneer of dub music in too, with Minnie Driver as the Queen, life: “Now we are victorious, we’ve become struggle continues between hedge fund the 1970s and produced Pierce Brosnan as the King, and James Cor- our slaves / A land of hope and glory, build- manager Bobby Axelrod (Damian Lewis) more than 1,000 record- den and John Mulaney as the mice/foot- ing graveyards for the brave.” and his prosecutor-nemesis Chuck ings over 60 years that men. It was written and directed by Kay — AP Entertainment Writer Rhoades (Paul Giamatti). Among those earned him various nick- Cannon, who wrote the “Pitch Perfect” mo- Mark Kennedy along for the undoubtedly bumpy, five-epi- Perry names, including “Upset- vies. Also on Prime, “Apollo 13,” “Sleepless sode ride, ahead of the announced season ter” and “Mad Scientist.” in Seattle” “The Last of the Mohicans” and Television six: Corey Stoll as billionaire Mike Prince In a 2010 interview with Rolling Stone, mu- “The Social Network” are available starting ■ Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena and Janeane Garofalo as Winslow, who sician Keith Richards described Perry as Wednesday. Gomez are the odd-triplet stars of Hulu’s owns a legit cannabis enterprise. “the Salvador Dali of music.” — AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr “Only Murders in the Building” and entice- — AP Television Writer Lynn Elber Wednesday, September 1, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 15 PAGE 16 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, September 1, 2021 OPINION

Max D. Lederer Jr., Publisher Lt. Col. Marci Hoffman, Europe commander John Rodriguez, Europe chief of staff US still safer from terrorism now than after 9/11 Lt. Col. Michael Kerschbaum, Pacific commander BY MICHAEL LEITER the U.S. counterterrorism community are lated to Afghanistan. In fact, global terrorism Michael Ryan, Pacific chief of staff Special to The Washington Post likely the most integrated part of the entire related to Sunni violent extremism has been ne narrative emerging out of the U.S. government. Add to this the global na- steadily declining across the globe, most no- tragedy in Afghanistan is both ture of allied counterterrorism efforts, and tably in the United States and Western Eu- EDITORIAL wrong and potentially counter- the result is a significant, worldwide network rope, since 2014. This is attributable in part to productive: the conclusion that of allies that share information and coordi- dismantling of ISIS in Syria and Iraq, but ar- Terry Leonard, Editor O [email protected] our withdrawal represents a return to a nate operations in a manner wholly different guably it is also driven by the movement’s re- pre-9/11 situation that puts us at risk in the than in 2001. focusing on the “near” versus the “far” ene- Robert H. Reid, Senior Managing Editor same way that led to the deaths of almost The return of a potential al-Qaida or Islam- my. Although ISIS and its adherents still as- [email protected] 3,000 Americans 20 years ago. ic State haven in Afghanistan poses a clear pire to strike in Western capitals, that is not Sean Moores, Managing Editor for Presentation Little if anything about Afghanistan has challenge to Western counterterrorism capa- nearly the priority it was in 2001. [email protected] turned out as the United States had hoped bilities, but it presents a significantly less Terrorism of many sorts continues domes- when our military engagement began. But threatening problem than was once the case. tically and internationally, but the data is un- BUREAU STAFF from a purely counterterrorism perspective, The lack of a robust physical presence for mistakable that in most cases — and especial- the United States and our allies have made in- U.S. intelligence and special operations ly in the United States — it is both managea- Europe/Mideast credible strides since 9/11 — in Afghanistan forces in Afghanistan — as well as the ab- ble and not nearly of the scale feared in 2001. Erik Slavin, Europe & Mideast Bureau Chief and beyond — that make us vastly safer than sence of a moderately able and trustworthy Appreciating what has changed for the bet- [email protected] +49(0)631.3615.9350; DSN (314)583.9350 we were the last time the Taliban ruled Af- local partner — removes key capabilities and, ter since 9/11 is essential to avoid repeating ghanistan. Moreover, the global Sunni violent in turn, protections. some of the mistakes of the past two decades. Pacific extremist movement, while far from eradi- Still, the U.S. ability to monitor and disrupt We know that if U.S. national security prior- Aaron Kidd, Pacific Bureau Chief cated, has been weakened in important ways plotting in distant lands has never relied sole- ities are overly dominated by terrorism fears, [email protected] over two decades. ly on such conditions, as has been readily ap- we will make poor and unachievable choices +81.42.552.2511 ext. 88380; DSN (315)227.7380 As a result, although the Taliban’s victory is parent in Yemen and Somalia. Counterter- — such as trying to nation-build in ways that Washington ablow, we must guard against a response that rorism work will be more difficult, but it will fail to appreciate local conditions and tradi- is skewed by an un-nuanced, dated view of be far more effective than it was the last time tions, or adopting practices that endanger our Joseph Cacchioli, Washington Bureau Chief [email protected] the terrorism threats we actually face in this the Taliban controlled Afghanistan. Techni- moral standing and alienate key populations. (+1)(202)886-0033 new environment. cal intelligence, innovative local partner- In addition, we will squander scarce re- Brian Bowers, Assistant Managing Editor, News When al-Qaida launched its horrific at- ships and continued engagement with key lo- sources that are more necessary than ever to [email protected] tacks in September 2001, it operated with cal counterterrorism allies — as imperfect as address pressing strategic challenges such as near complete impunity in Afghanistan. Al- these are in the region — provide a package of the rising global influence of China and en- CIRCULATION though the Taliban and al-Qaida were not op- capabilities that can fill many gaps. hancing cybersecurity. Mideast erationally linked, the protection and haven Meantime, the threat of Sunni violent ex- The Taliban’s victory in Afghanistan is not Robert Reismann, Mideast Circulation Manager that al-Qaida enjoyed allowed it to recruit and tremism has diminished since 9/11. Thanks to good for the United States and our withdraw- [email protected] train operatives and deploy them around the U.S., Afghan and others’ efforts, al-Qaida is a al has undoubtedly — at least for now — shak- [email protected] globe. At the same time, the United States and shell of its former self — one of the true suc- en some of our allies’ faith in us. It’s fine to re- DSN (314)583-9111 its allies were poorly positioned to address cesses of our years in Afghanistan. Of course, gret what we failed to accomplish. We should Europe such threats. Both individually and as a coor- ISIS has partially filled the void, but even also recognize what we did achieve — and en- Karen Lewis, Community Engagement Manager dinated team, the U.S. counterterrorism here the dynamic has changed significantly. sure this informs our counterterrorism and [email protected] community was unable to muster the re- Unlike pre-9/11, it is abundantly clear that the broader national security policies moving [email protected] sources, capabilities and focus to stop a rela- Taliban — for all of their evil — are at least for forward. +49(0)631.3615.9090; DSN (314)583.9090 tively small group of committed plotters. now aggressively anti-ISIS in ways that they

Pacific Two decades later, this picture is dramat- were never anti-al-Qaida. Michael Leiter was director of the National Counterterrorism Mari Mori, [email protected] ically improved. The individual elements of These counterterrorism gains are not iso- Center from 2007 to 2011. +81-3 6385.3171; DSN (315)227.7333 CONTACT US Washington DeSantis probably won’t be hurt by Fla. COVID surge tel: (+1)202.886.0003 633 3rd St. NW, Suite 116, Washington, DC 20001-3050 BY HENRY OLSEN DeSantis’s stances make a lot of political average based on polls conducted in August Special to The Washington Post sense when viewed through this framework. puts DeSantis slightly ahead of potential Reader letters lorida Gov. Ron DeSantis is again A politician should never worry too much Democratic challenger Charlie Crist and [email protected] receiving national media scrutiny about the views of his staunchest opponents. well ahead of Democrat Nikki Fried. Florida as his state’s COVID-19 cases and They are likely to disagree with him or her polls tilt Democratic, overestimating Demo- Additional contacts hospitalizations soar to record lev- no matter what and are unlikely to change cratic strength by roughly four points in stripes.com/contactus F els. That is as likely to help him politically as their votes even if they occasionally agree 2018 and 2020. There is no reason, as of yet, it is to hurt him. with the leader on issues. Elected officials to think the state’s COVID-19 outbreak is OMBUDSMAN How could this be? That Florida is one of will always keep the coalition that voted for hurting DeSantis where it counts, among Ernie Gates the nation’s pandemic hot spots surely rais- them at the front of their political calcula- Republicans and Floridians open to voting The Stars and Stripes ombudsman protects the free flow es the expectation that the Republican gov- tions, and for DeSantis, that is Republican for him anyway. of news and information, reporting any attempts by the ernor’s standing with voters will take a hit. base voters and Republican-leaning inde- There’s also some reason to think Flor- military or other authorities to undermine the newspaper’s independence. The ombudsman also responds to concerns Combined with his opposition to mask man- pendents. So long as they think he’s govern- ida’s surge will begin to fall soon. The state’s and questions from readers, and monitors coverage for dates and generally pro-opening stance ing in accord with their values, the rabid op- seven-day average of new cases has been fairness, accuracy, timeliness and balance. The ombudsman welcomes comments from readers, and can be contacted by throughout the yearlong crisis, one could al- position of the other side is usually irrele- roughly level for nearly two weeks. Past out- email at [email protected], or by phone at so conclude that his positions are to blame vant. break patterns show cases rise rapidly and 202.886.0003. for many of the cases and deaths we are wit- Such intense hatred could even help De- then slowly decline. The current outbreak’s

Stars and Stripes (USPS 0417900) is published week- nessing. Santis in the current political environment. chart plot shows the same pattern, with the days (except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) for 50 cents Monday But that misreads voter sentiments, espe- Each side’s base despises the other, which state likely at the curve’s peak. Perhaps through Thursday and for $1 on Friday by Pacific Stars and Stripes, Unit 45002, APO AP 96301-5002. Periodicals cially among Republicans. Attitudes toward means that incurring opposition hatred can cases will start to rise again, but if not, De- postage paid at San Francisco, CA, Postmaster: Send measures to control the spread of the coro- increase support among his own base. Santis can reasonably argue that he kept the address changes to Pacific Stars and Stripes, Unit 45002, APO AP 96301-5002. This newspaper is authorized by the navirus have differed sharply on partisan That’s especially true of Republicans after state open while unvaccinated people unfor- Department of Defense for members of the military services lines throughout the pandemic. Indeed, a enduring four years of the media’s intensely tunately suffered because of their choices. overseas. However, the contents of Stars and Stripes are unofficial, and are not to be considered as the official views June poll from Pew Research Center found negative coverage of President Donald That message will likely resonate with Re- of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government. As a DOD newspa- per, Stars and Stripes may be distributed through official that political polarization over whether a na- Trump. When major newspapers and cable publicans. channels and use appropriated funds for distribution to tion’s COVID-19 response was good or bad television shows take aim at DeSantis, many Democrats won’t like hearing this, but remote locations where overseas DOD personnel are located. The appearance of advertising in this publication does was higher in the United States than in any Republicans take that as proof he’s on the DeSantis’ political future looks pretty not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense or other major Western country. Fifty-two per- right course. healthy. It will take a lot more than this surge Stars and Stripes of the products or services advertised. Products or services advertised shall be made available for cent of Americans on the right said there So far, the evidence shows DeSantis is to derail the man who currently looks like- purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, should have been fewer restrictions to con- coming through the surge relatively un- liest to grab Trump’s mantle as the GOP’s religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of trol the virus (far higher than right-wing vot- scathed. A July Echelon Insights poll leader. the purchaser, user or patron. ers of other countries), compared with only showed him leading the field in a hypotheti- © Stars and Stripes 2021 7% of those on the left saying the same thing. cal 2024 GOP primary without Trump. And Henry Olsen is a Washington Post columnist and a senior fellow stripes.com That’s a larger divide than anywhere else. in terms of reelection, the RealClearPolitics at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Wednesday, September 1, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 17 Eugene Sheffer Crossword Frazz Dilbert

ACROSS 58 Leary’s drug 23 Recipe abbr. 1 Scruff 59 Without 24 Obamacare 5 Prof’s degree acronym 8 Many corp. DOWN 25 Misfortune

Pearls Before Swine Pearls Before recruits 1 Pen tips 27 Before 12 One-named 2 “So be it” 29 Spanish gold supermodel 3 El —, Texas 30 Tease 13 Carnival city 4 Doorway 32 Sees the world 14 Suffix for million 5 Wise 34 Betrothed 15 Closest pals 6 Secreted 37 Montreal summer 17 Furniture brand 7 South Indian 39 Low- — diet 18 Slept loudly crepes 42 Sally Field role 19 Most competent 8 Padded 44 Enlists again

Non Sequitur 21 “— -haw!” envelopes 45 Dad (cowboy cry) 9 Hangout for 46 Taxi alternative 22 Crystal gazer hog fans? 48 March 23 Indent key 10 War god Madness gp. 26 SSW opposite 11 Pants part 49 Related 28 Viny shelter 16 Existed 50 Former polit. 31 “Shoo!” 20 Arthur of divisions 33 Three, in Rome “Maude” 53 Dog tags, e.g. 35 Mumbai dress Answer to Previous Puzzle

Candorville 36 San Diego player 38 SASE, e.g. 40 Steal from 41 Cave creatures 43 Needlefish 45 Sell 47 Sports venues 51 Busy as — 52 Lots of money

Carpe Diem 54 Bell sound 55 Chemical suffix 56 Twosome 57 Sacred chests Beetle Bailey Bizarro PAGE 18 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, September 1, 2021 SCOREBOARD

PRO SOCCER COLLEGE FOOTBALL MLS Schedule Friday’s games E. Kentucky (0-0) at W. Carolina (0-0) Missouri St. (0-0) at Oklahoma St. (0-0) EAST Virginia Union (0-0) at Hampton (0-0) Lane (0-0) at Ark.-Pine Bluff (0-0) EASTERN CONFERENCE Wednesday’s game S. Connecticut (0-0) at CCSU (0-0) Miles (0-0) at Alabama St. (0-0) Tarleton St. (0-0) at Stephen F. Austin SOUTH SOUTH Campbell (0-0) at Liberty (0-0) (0-0) WLTPts GF GA UAB (0-0) vs. Jacksonville St. (0-0) at North Carolina (0-0) at Virginia Tech Warner University (0-0) at Stetson (0-0) Texas Tech (0-0) vs. Houston (0-0) at Montgomery, Ala. (0-0) Akron (0-0) at Auburn (0-0) Houston New England 15 4 4 49 44 28 Thursday’s games Duke (0-0) at Charlotte (0-0) Monmouth (NJ) (0-0) at Middle Tennes- Baylor (0-0) at Texas State (0-0) Orlando City 9 4 8 35 30 24 EAST Old Dominion (0-0) at Wake Forest (0-0) see (0-0) Cent. Arkansas (0-0) at Arkansas St. Nashville 8 2 11 35 34 20 New Hampshire (0-0) at Stony Brook MIDWEST Nicholls (0-0) at Memphis (0-0) (0-0) (0-0) St. Francis (Pa.) (0-0) at E. Michigan (0-0) Southern U. (0-0) at Troy (0-0) Abilene Christian (0-0) at SMU (0-0) NYCFC 10 6 4 34 36 19 Temple (0-0) at Rutgers (0-0) South Dakota (0-0) at Kansas (0-0) North Alabama (0-0) at SE Louisiana Northwestern St. (0-0) at North Texas Philadelphia 8 6 8 32 28 23 Wagner (0-0) at Buffalo (0-0) Michigan St. (0-0) at Northwestern (0-0) (0-0) (0-0) CF Montréal 8 7 7 31 30 27 Delaware (0-0) at Maine (0-0) FAR WEST E. Illinois (0-1) at South Carolina (0-0) Kent St. (0-0) at Texas A&M (0-0) SOUTH N. Colorado (0-0) at Colorado (0-0) SC State (0-0) at Alabama A&M (0-0) Prairie View (0-0) at Texas Southern D.C. United 9 10 3 30 35 32 Tennessee Tech (0-0) at Samford (0-0) S. Dakota St. (0-0) at Colorado St. (0-0) N. Illinois (0-0) at Georgia Tech (0-0) (0-0) Columbus 7 9 6 27 25 29 LIU Brooklyn (0-0) at FIU (0-0) Saturday’s games FAU (0-0) at Florida (0-0) Duquesne (0-0) at TCU (0-0) Atlanta 6 7 9 27 25 28 Boise St. (0-0) at UCF (0-0) EAST Georgia (0-0) vs. Clemson (0-0) at Char- Bethune-Cookman (0-0) at UTEP (1-0) The Citadel (0-0) at Coastal Carolina Holy Cross (0-0) at Uconn (0-1) lotte, N.C. FAR WEST Chicago 6 11 5 23 24 33 (0-0) Colgate (0-0) at Boston College (0-0) William & Mary (0-0) at Virginia (0-0) Fresno St. (1-0) at Oregon (0-0) Inter Miami CF 6 9 5 23 21 31 Point (Ga.) (0-0) at Mercer (0-0) Villanova (0-0) at Lehigh (0-0) ETSU (0-0) at Vanderbilt (0-0) Lafayette (0-0) at Air Force (0-0) New York 6 10 4 22 23 25 Austin Peay (0-0) at Chattanooga (0-0) Marist (0-0) at Georgetown (0-0) Southern Miss. (0-0) at South Alabama North Dakota (0-0) at Idaho St. (0-0) South Florida (0-0) at NC State (0-0) St. Anselm (0-0) at Merrimack (0-0) (0-0) Montana St. (0-0) at Wyoming (0-0) Cincinnati 3 9 8 17 21 37 East Carolina (0-0) vs. Appalachian St. West Virginia (0-0) at Maryland (0-0) MIDWEST Simon Fraser (0-0) at Idaho (0-0) Toronto FC 3 13 6 15 26 47 (0-0) at Charlotte, N.C. Marshall (0-0) at Navy (0-0) Stanford (0-0) vs. Kansas St. (0-0) at Ar- Cal Poly (0-0) at San Diego (0-0) MVSU (0-0) at Murray St. (0-0) Towson (0-0) at Morgan St. (0-0) lington, Texas San Jose St. (1-0) at Southern Cal (0-0) Umass (0-0) at Pittsburgh (0-0) WESTERN CONFERENCE UT Martin (0-0) at W. Kentucky (0-0) W. Michigan (0-0) at Michigan (0-0) Montana (0-0) at Washington (0-0) Reinhardt (0-0) at Kennesaw St. (0-0) Bowie St. (0-0) at Delaware St. (0-0) Fordham (0-0) at Nebraska (0-1) LSU (0-0) at UCLA (1-0) Bucknell (0-0) at Sacred Heart (0-0) WLTPts GF GA Bowling Green (0-0) at Tennessee (0-0) Robert Morris (0-0) at Dayton (0-0) Sacramento St. (0-0) at Dixie St. (0-0) MIDWEST Bryant (0-0) at Rhode Island (0-0) Penn St. (0-0) at Wisconsin (0-0) New Mexico St. (0-1) at San Diego St. SOUTH Seattle 12 4 6 42 35 19 WV Wesleyan (0-0) at Drake (0-0) St. Francis (Ill.) (0-0) at St. Thomas (0-0) Louisiana-Monroe (0-0) at Kentucky Nevada (0-0) at California (0-0) Sporting KC 11 4 7 40 37 22 W. Illinois (0-0) at Ball St. (0-0) (Minn.) (0-0) Incarnate Word (0-0) at Youngstown St. (0-0) Albany (NY) (0-0) at N. Dakota St. (0-0) BYU (0-0) vs. Arizona (0-0) at Las Vegas Colorado 11 4 5 38 30 20 (0-0) Oklahoma (0-0) at Tulane (0-0) Miami (Ohio) (0-0) at Cincinnati (0-0) Utah St. (0-0) at Washington St. (0-0) Army (0-0) at Georgia St. (0-0) LA Galaxy 11 8 3 36 35 35 S. Illinois (0-0) at SE Missouri (0-0) Indiana (0-0) at Iowa (0-0) Sunday’s games West Florida (0-0) at McNeese St. (0-0) SOUTH Minnesota 8 6 7 31 24 24 Ohio St. (0-0) at Minnesota (0-0) Davidson (0-0) at VMI (0-0) Cent. Michigan (0-0) at Missouri (0-0) SOUTHWEST N. Iowa (0-0) at Iowa St. (0-0) Jackson St. (0-0) vs. Florida A&M (0-0) at Portland 8 10 3 27 29 39 NC A&T (0-0) at Furman (0-0) UC Davis (0-0) at Tulsa (0-0) Howard (0-0) at Richmond (0-0) Valparaiso (0-0) at Indiana Wesleyan Miami Gardens, Fla. Real Salt Lake 7 8 6 27 31 27 North American University (0-0) at La- Wofford (0-0) at Elon (0-0) (0-0) Grambling St. (0-0) vs. Tennessee St. (0-0) at Canton, Ohio Vancouver 6 7 8 26 27 31 mar (0-0) Alabama (0-0) vs. Miami (0-0) at Atlanta Syracuse (0-0) at Ohio (0-0) FAR WEST St. Andrews (0-0) at Presbyterian (0-0) Oregon St. (0-0) at Purdue (0-0) Notre Dame (0-0) at Florida St. (0-0) San Jose 6 7 8 26 24 29 Weber St. (0-0) at Utah (0-0) Louisiana Tech (0-0) at Mississippi St. Norfolk St. (0-0) at Toledo (0-0) FAR WEST FC Dallas 6 9 7 25 30 33 Houston Baptist (0-0) at New Mexico (0-0) UTSA (0-0) at Illinois (1-0) Portland St. (0-0) at Hawaii (0-1) Monday’s game LAFC 6 9 6 24 28 31 (0-0) Gardner-Webb (0-0) at Georgia South- Butler (0-0) at Illinois St. (0-0) Sam Houston St. (0-0) at N. Arizona (0-0) ern (0-0) SOUTHWEST SOUTH Austin FC 5 12 4 19 20 29 E. Washington (0-0) at UNLV (0-0) Morehead St. (0-0) at James Madison Rice (0-0) at Arkansas (0-0) Louisville (0-0) vs. Mississippi (0-0) at Houston 3 9 10 19 24 34 S. Utah (0-1) at Arizona St. (0-0) (0-0) Louisiana-Lafayette (0-0) at Texas (0-0) Atlanta Note: Three points for victory, one point DEALS for tie. Friday’s games Monday’s transactions CF Brett Phillips on the 10-day IL. Optioned (Triple-A West). strong with injury designations. New York City FC at Nashville LHP Josh Fleming to Durham (Triple-A WASHINGTON NATIONALS — Optioned C INDIANAPOLIS COLTS — Activated G New England at Philadelphia BASEBALL East). Recalled LHP Dietrich Enns from Tres Barrera to Rochester (Triple-A East). Quentin Nelson from the reserve/CO- Portland at Houston Major League Baseball Durham. Recalled C Keibert Ruiz from Rochester. VID-19 list. Placed T Sam Tevi on the in- Sporting Kansas City at Los Angeles FC American League TEXAS RANGERS — Recalled RHP A.J. Sent RHP Steven Fuentes to Harrisburg jured reserve. Placed C Ryan Kelly, WR BALTIMORE ORIOLES — Optioned RHP Alexy from Round Rock (Triple-A West). (Double-A Northeast) on a rehab assign- Zach Pascal and QB Carson Wentz on the Saturday’s games Spenser Watkins and LHP Paul Fry to Nor- Reinstated RHP Joe Barlow from the 10- ment. reserve/COVID-19 list. Austin FC at Vancouver folk (Triple-A East). Recalled RHP Zack day IL. Placed INF Andy Ibanez on the 10- BASKETBALL JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS — Activated DE Columbus at Orlando City Burdi and OF Ryan McKenna from Norfolk. day IL, retroactive to Aug. 29. Optioned National Basketball Association Josh Allen from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Miami at Cincinnati BOSTON RED SOX — Acquired RHP Brad LHP Jake Latz to Round Rock. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS — Signed G Grant Waived CB Corey Straughter. FC Dallas at Real Salt Lake Peacock from Cleveland in exchange for TORONTO BLUE JAYS — Reinstated OF Riller to a two-way contract. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS — Released LB Dar- Colorado at San Jose cash considerations. Placed LHP Martin George Springer from the 10-day IL. Op- FOOTBALL ron Lee with an injury settlement. Perez and RHP Matt Banres on the CO- tioned OF Josh Palacios to Buffalo (Tri- National Football League LOS ANGELES CHARGERS — Waived LB NWSL VID-19 list. Recalled RHP Phillips Valdez ple-A East). ARIZONA CARDINALS — Released OLs Davin Bellamy, TE Matt Sokol, DE Jessie from Worcester (Triple-A East). Selected National League Shaq Calhoun, Michael Menet. RB Tavien Lemonier, WR John Hurst, LB Nate Evans, the contract of RHP Raynel Espinal from ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS — Recalled WLTPts GF GA Feaster, WRs KeeSean Johnson, A.J. Ri- CB Donte Vaughn, T Darius Harper and DT Worcester and agreed to terms on a major RHP Sean Poppen from Reno (Triple-A chardson, DL Cam Murray, CB Picasso Nel- Willie Yarbary. Portland 10 4 2 32 24 11 league contract. West) . Optioned RHP Humbero Mejia to son, LBs Evan Weaver, Bryson Young and P LOS ANGELES RAMS — Waived DCs Bron- DETROIT TIGERS — Optioned RHP Jason Reno. Ryan Winslow. Activated DL Jordan Phil- North Carolina 8 4 4 28 22 9 tae Harris, Donovan Olumba, OLs Jere- Foley to Toledo (Triple-A East). Recalled CINCINNATI REDS — Traded RHP Jason lips from the reserve/COVID-19 list. miah Kolone, Jordan Meredity, WR Jere- Reign FC 8 7 1 25 22 18 LHP Miguel Del Pozo from Toledo. Sent Parker to New York Yankees as the player Placed CB Darqueze Dennard on injured miah Haydel, and DB Troy Warner. Orlando 6 5 6 24 20 19 LHP Ian Krol outright to Toledo. to be named later from July 27 trade agree- reserve. Waived LB Terrance Smith with NEW YORK JETS — Waived G Corey Levin, HOUSTON ASTROS — Recalled RHP Bran- ment. an injury settlement. Chicago 7 7 3 24 19 22 WR Lawrence Cager, LB Aaron Adeoye and don Bielak from Sugar Land (Triple-A COLORADO ROCKIES — Reinstated OF BALTIMORE RAVENS — Placed RB J.K. CB Lamar Jackson. West). Optioned RHP Bryan Abreau to Sug- Raimel Tapia from the 10-day IL. Designat- Washington 6 5 5 23 19 18 Dobbins on injured reserve. Released WRs — Activated OL ar Land. Sent LH Chas McCormick to Sugar ed INF Taylor Motter for assignment. Sent PHILADELPHIA EAGLES Gotham FC 5 5 6 21 17 15 Devin Gray, Siaosi Mariner and OL Michael Landon Dickerson from the non-football Land on a rehab assignment. RHP Jordan Sheffield to Albuquerque (Tri- Schofield. injury list and S Rodney McLeod from the Houston 6 6 3 21 18 20 LOS ANGELES ANGELS — Recalled 2B ple-A West) on a rehab assignment. BUFFALO BILLS — Released RB Kerrith Kean Wong from Salt Lake (Triple-A West). LOS ANGELES DODGERS — Reinstated Whyte, WR Brandon Powell and CB Tim physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Louisville 4 8 4 16 13 23 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS — Waived T Kansas City 2 11 4 10 9 28 MINNESOTA TWINS — Sent RHP Edgar RHP Evan Phillips from the 10-day IL. Op- Harris. Waived WR Robert Foster with an Garcia outright to St. Paul (Triple-A East). tioned RHP Mitch White to Oklahoma City injury settlement. Chidi Okeke. Note: Three points for victory, one point NEW YORK YANKEES — Optioned RHP Al- (Triple-A West). CAROLINA PANTHERS — Acquired DE TENNESSEE TITANS — Waived OL Chan- for tie. bert Abreau to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre MILWAUKEE BREWERS — Agreed to Darryl Johnson from Buffalo in exchange don Herring and G Ross Reynolds with an injury. Placed G Nate Davis on the reserve/ Wednesday’s game (Triple-A East). Reinstated RHP Corey terms with 1B Renato Nunez on a minor for a sixth-round draft pick in 2022. Kluber from the 60-day IL. Transferred LHP league contract. CINCINNATI BENGALS — Acquired DT B.J. COVID-19 list. Reign FC at Houston Zack Britton from the 10-day IL to the 60- PITTSBURGH PIRATES — Fired hitting Hill from New York Giants in exchange for HOCKEY day IL. coach Rick Eckstein. C Billy Price. National Hockey League Saturday’s games SEATTLE MARINERS — Selected the con- SAN DIEGO PADRES — Optioned RHP DETROIT LIONS — Released WRs Bresh- ARIZONA COYOTES — Signed F Dylan Chicago at Gotham FC tract of INF/OF Jose Marmolejos from Ta- Shaun Anderson to El Paso (Triple-A ad Perriman, Victor Bolden, Damion Rat- Geunther to a three-year contract. Reign FC at Louisville coma (Triple-A West) and agreed to terms West). Reinstated RHP Chris Paddack ley, G Evan Heim, S Alijah Holder, NT Miles NASHVILLE PREDATORS — Signed F Eeli Washington at Portland on a major league contract. Designated from the 10-day IL. Brown and DB Mike Ford. Waived OTs Ty- Tolvanen to a three-year contract. RHP Jimmy Yacabonis for assignment. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS — Claimed LHP rell Crosby and Dan Skipper with an injury SOCCER PRO BASKETBALL TAMPA BAY RAYS — Sent RHP Matt Wis- Jose Quintana off waivers from the Los An- designation. Major League Soccer ler to FCL Rays (Florida Complex League) geles Angels. Placed RHP Johnny Cueto on HOUSTON TEXANS — Activated LT Lare- HOUSTON DYNAMO FC — Fired senior WNBA on a rehab assignment. Reinstated RHP the 10-day IL. Recalled RHP John Brebbia my Tunsil from the reserve/COVID-19 list. vice president and general manager Matt J.P. Feyereisen from the 10-day IL. Placed and INF Jason Vosler from Sacramento Waived LB Tae Davis and CB Cornell Arm- Jordan. EASTERN CONFERENCE TENNIS WLPct GB x-Connecticut 20 6 .769 — U.S. Open Cristian Garin (16), Chile, def. Norbert 6-3, 6-4. Angelique Kerber (16), Germany, def. Gombos, Slovakia, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4). Guido Pella, Argentina, def. Filip Kraji- Dayana Yastremska, Ukraine, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 Chicago 14 12 .538 6 Monday Marcos Giron, United States, def. An- novic (32), Serbia, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. (3). New York 11 16 .407 9½ At USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis toine Hoang, France, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5. Roberto Bautista Agut (18), Spain, def. Barbora Krejcikova (8), Czech Republic, Washington 10 15 .400 9½ Center Casper Ruud (8), Norway, def. Yuichi Nick Kyrgios, Australia, 6-3, 6-4, 6-0. def. Astra Sharma, Australia, 6-0, 6-4. New York Sugita, Japan, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. Daniil Medvedev (2), Russia, def. Ri- Olga Danilovic, Serbia, def. Alycia Parks, Atlanta 6 19 .240 13½ Surface: Hardcourt outdoor Grigor Dimitrov (15), Bulgaria, def. Sam chard Gasquet, France, 6-4, 6-3, 6-1. United States, 6-3, 7-5. Indiana 5 19 .208 14 Men’s Singles Riffice, United States, 6-1, 7-6 (3), 6-3. Women’s Singles Victoria Azarenka (18), Belarus, def. Te- First Round Pedro Martinez, Spain, def. James Duck- First Round reza Martincova, Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-0. WESTERN CONFERENCE Facundo Bagnis, Argentina, def. Taro worth, Australia, 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-2, 6-2. Kristina Kucova, Slovakia, def. Ann Li, Kamilla Rakhimova, Russia, def. Kristina Daniel, Japan, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. Pablo Andujar, Spain, def. Mikhail Ku- United States, 7-5, 6-1. Mladenovic, France, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. WLPct GB Diego Schwartzman (11), Argentina, def. kushkin, Kazakhstan, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2. Simona Halep (12), Romania, def. Camila Coco Gauff (21), United States, def. Mag- Adrian Mannarino, France, def. Pierre- da Linette, Poland, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. x-Las Vegas 19 7 .731 — Ricardas Berankis, Lithuania, 7-5, 6-3, 6-3. Giorgi, Italy, 6-4, 7-6 (3). Henri Laaksonen, Switzerland, def. John Hugues Herbert, France, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, Leylah Annie Fernandez, Canada, def. Elina Svitolina (5), Ukraine, def. Rebecca x-Seattle 18 10 .643 2 Millman, Australia, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (2), 6-1. 6-3. Ana Konjuh, Croatia, 7-6 (3), 6-2. Marino, Canada, 6-2, 6-3. Minnesota 15 9 .625 3 Dusan Lajovic, Serbia, def. Benoit Paire, Alex Molcan, Slovakia, def. Cem Ilkel, Anhelina Kalinina, Ukraine, def. Mayar Christina McHale, United States, def. Turkey, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-1. Emma Navarro, United States, 6-1, 7-6 (5). Phoenix 15 10 .600 3½ France, 6-3, 7-5, 2-6, 6-4. Sherif, Egypt, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1. Peter Gojowczyk, Germany, def. Ugo Stefanos Tsitsipas (3), Greece, def. Andy Kaia Kanepi, Estonia, def. Yulia Putintse- Marketa Vondrousova, Czech Republic, Dallas 11 15 .423 8 Humbert (23), France, 1-6, 6-1, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. Murray, Britain, 2-6, 7-6 (7), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. def. Elena-Gabriela Ruse, Romania, 7-5, Emil Ruusuvuori, Finland, def. Kamil va (31), Kazakhstan, 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2. 6-0. Los Angeles 10 16 .385 9 Bernabe Zapata Miralles, Spain, def. Fel- Majchrzak, Poland, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1. Garbine Muguruza (9), Spain, def. Donna Ons Jabeur (20), Tunisia, def. Alize Cor- iciano Lopez, Spain, 5-7, 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. Vekic, Croatia, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5). Monday’s games Marco Trungelliti, Argentina, def. Ale- net, France, 7-5, 7-5. Andrey Rublev (5), Russia, def. Ivo Kar- jandro Davidovich Fokina (29), Spain, 5-7, Sloane Stephens, United States, def. Ma- Valentini Grammatikopoulou, Greece, No games scheduled lovic, Croatia, 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-3. 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (3), 6-4. dison Keys, United States, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7). def. Anna Blinkova, Russia, 6-3, 6-2. Daniel Evans (24), Britain, def. Thiago Tuesday’s games Alexei Popyrin, Australia, def. Radu Al- Ekaterina Alexandrova (32), Russia, def. Daria Kasatkina (25), Russia, def. Tsve- Monteiro, Brazil, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-1. bot, Moldova, 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-3. Sara Errani, Italy, 6-3, 6-2. tana Pironkova, Bulgaria, 6-2, 6-1. Connecticut at Washington Felix Auger-Aliassime (12), Canada, def. Botic van de Zandschulp, Netherlands, Danielle Collins (26), United States, def. Jasmine Paolini, Italy, def. Yaroslava Los Angeles at Indiana Evgeny Donskoy, Russia, 7-6 (0), 3-6, 7-6 def. Carlos Taberner, Spain, 2-6, 3-6, 6-4, Carla Suarez Navarro, Spain, 6-2, 6-4. Shvedova, Kazakhstan, 6-3, 6-4. New York at Minnesota (1), 7-6 (8). 7-5, 6-3. Elena Rybakina (19), Kazakhstan, def. Tamara Zidansek, Slovenia, def. Bernar- Chicago at Phoenix Kevin Anderson, South Africa, def. Jiri Carlos Alcaraz, Spain, def. Cameron Nor- Aliaksandra Sasnovich, Belarus, 6-2, 6-3. da Pera, United States, 6-4, 7-6 (4). Wednesday’s games Vesely, Czech Republic, 7-6 (1), 4-6, 3-6, 7-6 rie (26), Britain, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. Kaja Juvan, Slovenia, def. Heather Wat- Elise Mertens (15), Belgium, def. Rebec- No games scheduled (5), 7-6 (4). Dominik Koepfer, Germany, def. Quentin son, Britain, 6-1, 6-4. ca Peterson, Sweden, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5). Brandon Nakashima, United States, def. Halys, France, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Caroline Garcia, France, def. Harriet Rebeka Masarova, Spain, def. Ana Bog- Thursday’s games John Isner (19), United States, 7-6 (7), 7-6 Arthur Rinderknech, France, def. Miomir Dart, Britain, 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-2. dan, Romania, 6-7 (9), 7-6 (2), 7-6 (9). Atlanta at Dallas (6), 6-3. Kecmanovic, Serbia, 6-7 (10), 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, Andrea Petkovic, Germany, def. Irina- Naomi Osaka (3), Japan, def. Marie Los Angeles at Minnesota Philipp Kohlschreiber, Germany, def. 6-4. Camelia Begu, Romania, 6-2, 7-6 (3). Bouzkova, Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-1. Chicago at Las Vegas Marin Cilic (30), Croatia, 6-7 (4), 6-7 (3), 6-2, Frances Tiafoe, United States, def. Chris- Maria Camila Osorio Serrano, Colombia, Aryna Sabalenka (2), Belarus, def. Nina New York at Seattle 6-1, 2-0, ret. topher Eubanks, United States, 7-6 (8), 5-7, def. Ivana Jorovic, Serbia, 6-2, 6-2. Stojanovic, Serbia, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-0. Wednesday, September 1, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 19 MLB

Scoreboard

American League East Division Dodgers end Braves’ road run WLPct GB Tampa Bay 83 48 .634 _ Los Angeles’ Urías earns New York 76 55 .580 7 Boston 75 58 .564 9 MLB-best 15th victory Toronto 69 61 .531 13½ Baltimore 40 90 .308 42½ BY BETH HARRIS Central Division Associated Press WLPct GB LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers’ Chicago 76 56 .576 _ dormant offense reemerged in a Cleveland 64 64 .500 10 barrage of home runs, and Mookie Detroit 62 70 .470 14 Kansas City 59 71 .454 16 Betts ended his sweet swing with a Minnesota 58 73 .443 17½ blown kiss to his mother in the West Division stands. WLPct GB Julio Urías earned his major Houston 78 53 .595 _ league­leading 15th victory and Los Oakland 72 59 .550 6 Angeles beat Atlanta 5­3 Monday Seattle 70 62 .530 8½ night, stopping the Braves’ fran­ Los Angeles 65 67 .492 13½ Texas 46 85 .351 32 chise­record 13­game road winning streak. National League Betts homered on his bobblehead East Division night after catching a ceremonial WLPct GB first pitch from his mom. He blew a Atlanta 70 60 .538 _ kiss to her as he crossed the plate. Philadelphia 67 64 .511 3½ Max Muncy, Will Smith and Co­ New York 63 67 .485 7 Washington 55 75 .423 15 rey Seager also went deep to help Miami 55 76 .420 15½ the Dodgers close within 1 ½ games Central Division of first­place San Francisco in the MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ/AP WLPct GB NL West. Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urías retired his first 12 batters in a 5­3 win over the Atlanta Milwaukee 80 52 .606 _ Freddie Freeman, Jorge Soler Braves on Monday in Los Angeles, earning his MLB­leading 15th victory. Cincinnati 71 62 .534 9½ and Adam Duvall homered for NL St. Louis 67 63 .515 12 East­leading Atlanta. But Duvall took a called third Justin Turner made a diving, back­ early on,” Urías said through a Chicago 57 75 .432 23 Pittsburgh 48 83 .366 31½ The Braves brought the potential strike and pinch­hitter Stephen hand stop on Austin Riley’s shot, but translator. “I felt good all the way West Division go­ahead run to the plate in the ninth Vogt flied out to center to end it, Muncy couldn’t handle the short­ through.” WLPct GB inning. With one out, Travis d’Ar­ earning Treinen his fifth save. hop throw, giving the Braves their Urías allowed two runs and four naud singled and Dansby Swanson Urías (15­3) retired his first 12 first hit. Duvall later singled with hits in six innings. The left­hander San Francisco 84 47 .641 _ Los Angeles 83 49 .629 1½ followed with a broken­bat single batters before Atlanta finally broke two outs. struck out seven without a walk. San Diego 70 62 .530 14½ off Blake Treinen. through in the fifth. Third baseman “All three pitches were working He’s unbeaten in his last 11 starts. Colorado 60 71 .458 24 Arizona 44 89 .331 41 Monday’s games ROUNDUP Minnesota 3, Detroit 2 Toronto 7, Baltimore 3 Tampa Bay 6, Boston 1 Texas 4, Colorado 3 L.A. Angels 8, N.Y. Yankees 7 Houston 4, Seattle 3 Rays beat Red Sox, stretch win streak to 8 St. Louis 3, Cincinnati 1 Philadelphia 7, Washington 4 Associated Press Milwaukee 3, San Francisco 1 last of three singles as part of Houston’s eighth­ L.A. Dodgers 5, Atlanta 3 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Wander Franco inning rally against former teammate Joe San Diego 7, Arizona 5 Tuesday’s games extended his on­base streak to 30 games with a Smith (2­3), scoring Kyle Tucker with the go­ Baltimore at Toronto two­run single, fellow rookie Luis Patiño ahead run in a win at Seattle. Boston at Tampa Bay Oakland at Detroit pitched neatly into the sixth inning and the AL Phil Maton (4­0) walked one and struck out Colorado at Texas Chicago Cubs at Minnesota East­leading Tampa Bay Rays won their two in one inning of work. Ryan Pressly Cleveland at Kansas City eighth in a row, beating the Boston Red Sox 6­1 worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth for Pittsburgh at Chicago White Sox N.Y. Yankees at L.A. Angels Monday night. his 22nd save. Houston at Seattle Miami at N.Y. Mets, 2 Brandon Lowe hit his career­high 31st Phillies 7, Nationals 4: Bryce Harper home­ St. Louis at Cincinnati homer on the first pitch from Boston starter red in the first inning and Philadelphia won its Philadelphia at Washington San Diego at Arizona Nick Pivetta, sending the Rays on their way. fourth straight with a victory at Washington. Milwaukee at San Francisco Atlanta at L.A. Dodgers Boston, which led Tampa Bay by 1½ games Brad Miller also went deep and Ronald Tor­ Wednesday’s games entering their three­game series at Tampa Bay reyes added a bases­loaded triple for the Phil­ Colorado (Freeland 5-6) at Texas (Arih- on July 30, dropped nine game back in the divi­ lies, who improved to 7­1 at Nationals Park this ara 2-3) Houston (Odorizzi 6-6) at Seattle (Gil- sion race. season. bert 5-5) Baltimore (Harvey 6-14) at Toronto Angels 8, Yankees 7: Shohei Ohtani hit his Cardinals 3, Reds 1: Jon Lester allowed one (Matz 10-7) CHRIS O’MEARA/AP N.Y. Yankees (Cole 13-6) at L.A. Angels major­league leading 42nd home run, Jack hit while pitching into the seventh inning, Paul (Naughton 0-0) Mayfield connected for his first career grand The Tampa Bay Rays’ Wander Franco reacts Goldschmidt homered and visiting St. Louis in­ Boston (Sale 3-0) at Tampa Bay (Ras- mussen 1-1) slam and host Los Angeles dealt New York its to his two­run single in a 6­1 win over the ched closer to slumping Cincinnati in the NL Oakland (Kaprielian 7-4) at Detroit (Per- Boston Red Sox in St. Petersburg, Fla. alta 3-3) third straight loss. wild­card race. Chicago Cubs (Steele 2-2) at Minnesota The difference in the game ended up being a The Cardinals closed within 2 ½ games of (TBD) Cleveland (Hentges 1-4) at Kansas City two­out single by Juan Lagares off Clay ning cause, pitching Milwaukee to a win at San the Reds for the second wild­card spot. (TBD) Pittsburgh (Keller 4-10) at Chicago Holmes in the eighth inning that drove in Bran­ Francisco. Burnes (9­4) didn’t walk a batter Twins 3, Tigers 2: Bailey Ober pitched six White Sox (Rodón 10-5) don Marsh with the go­ahead run. and allowed four hits. Brandon Belt led off the solid innings and Josh Donaldson’s two­run San Diego (Darvish 7-8) at Arizona (Wid- ener 2-1) Blue Jays 7, Orioles 3: Vladimir Guerrero seventh with a double and Kris Bryant singled homer helped Minnesota win at Detroit. St. Louis (Happ 8-6) at Cincinnati (Miley 11-4) Jr. hit two homers and raised his season total to to end Burnes’ night. The Twins have won three of four. Philadelphia (Nola 7-7) at Washington Padres 7, Diamondbacks 5: (Espino 4-4) 38, Robbie Ray pitched seven innings for his Chris Paddack Derek Hill hit a solo homer for the Tigers. 2 Miami (Thompson 2-6) at N.Y. Mets (Car- first win in six starts, and host Toronto won its gave up one run over 4 ⁄3 innings in his return Rangers 4, Rockies 3: A.J. Alexy pitched rasco 0-2) Milwaukee (Anderson 4-8) at San Fran- third straight with a victory over Baltimore. from the injured list, Fernando Tatis Jr. added one­hit ball through five shutout inning and cisco (Gausman 12-5) Atlanta (Fried 11-7) at L.A. Dodgers Guerrero hit a solo home run off right­hand­ ahomer, double and three RBIs, and San Diego won his major league debut, DJ Peters, Leody (Scherzer 12-4) er Chris Ellis in the fourth inning and a three­ held on to win at Arizona. Taveras and Nick Solak homered in consecu­ Thursday’s games run blast off righty Marcos Diplán in the sev­ Paddack allowed just three hits in his first tive innings and host Texas beat Colorado. Oakland at Detroit Boston at Tampa Bay enth. outing since July 27. Craig Stammen (6­3) Alexy (1­0) allowed only a second­inning Cleveland at Kansas City Milwaukee at San Francisco Brewers 3, Giants 1:Corbin Burnes struck pitched a scoreless inning of relief and earned double to C.J. Cron. The 23­year­old struck out Miami at N.Y. Mets out nine while tossing scoreless ball into the the win. four and walked three while throwing 81 pitch­ Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs Atlanta at Colorado seventh and singled home a run to help his win­ Astros 4, Mariners 3:Jake Meyers had the es. PAGE 20 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, September 1, 2021 TENNIS/HIGH SCHOOL: DODEA PACIFIC After loss, Murray calls Tsitsipas breaks ‘nonsense’ Osaka rolls to easy win in her return to Grand Slams BY HOWARD FENDRICH stands at full capacity — the com- Associated Press bined attendance for the day and NEW YORK — Andy Murray is night sessions was 53,783 — a year aware that Stefanos Tsitsipas has a after all spectators were banned be- growing reputation for pushing the cause of the coronavirus pandemic. boundaries when it comes to taking “When we didn’t have a crowd,” breaks during a match. Murray ex- said reigning champion Naomi pected that to be an issue during Osaka said after beating Marie their first-round match at the U.S. Bouzkova 6-4, 6-1 at night, “I know it Open — and, when it was, that felt quite lonely for me.” didn’t sit well. Not at all. That was Osaka’s first Grand Murray figures there was Slam match since she pulled out of enough for him to deal with in Mon- the French Open in late May for a day’s high heat and humidity: He’s mental health break. She played 34. He’s got an artificial hip. He’s rather well, compiling a 34-10 edge ranked 112th after a series of health in total winners and saving all eight DONNA RHODES/SPECIAL TO STARS AND STRIPES issues. At one point, he tumbled to break points Bouzkova earned. Guam’s football team can still scrimmage and practice, but with the island’s public, private and charter the ground, losing his balance in With exits for Murray and 2014 schools shutting down due to the COVID­19 pandemic, the Panthers have no teams against which to play. sweat-soaked shoes and leaving champion Marin Cilic, who stopped splotches on the blue court from his playing because of an injury in the soggy clothing. fifth set against Philipp Kohl- So as the contest stretched to al- schreiber, the only man left in the There won’t be sports on most five hours, Murray did not ap- draw with even one Grand Slam ti- preciate that Tsitsipas took a med- tle is No. 1 Novak Djokovic. ical timeout after the third set and He was set to debut Tuesday Guam or football at Daegu made a lengthy visit to the locker night as he tries to break a tie for the room after the fourth. Following an men’s mark of 20 majors with Rog- BY DAVE ORNAUER entertaining, back-and-forth 2-6, er Federer and Rafael Nadal and Stars and Stripes 7-6 (7), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 loss to Tsitsipas, become the first man since Rod La- There won’t be football on Guam or at Daegu Murray complained about what he ver in 1969 to complete a calendar- Guam High School’s sports teams have nobody to considered unfair gamesmanship year Grand Slam. play, following the announcement Friday by Guam’s by the French Open runner-up and The last match on the Day One governor shutting down the island’s public, private announced: “I lost respect for him.” schedule didn’t get going until after and charter schools due to a spike in coronavirus “It’s nonsense. And he knows it, 11 p.m. and ended after 1 a.m. Tues- cases. as well,” said Murray, who is nearly day, with No. 2 Daniil Medvedev, a The Panthers can still scrimmage, practice and a decade — and a pair of hip oper- two-time major finalist, over- condition, which is more than can be said for other ations — removed from a U.S. Open whelming Richard Gasquet 6-4, schools in Guam. championship. 6-3, 6-1. Meanwhile, Daegu in Korea won’t field its football Told of Murray’s displeasure, the Far earlier, there were victories team this fall, the school announced Monday. Fewer just-turned-23 Tsitsipas said: “If Monday for 2017 champion Sloane than 15 students that were needed to play a nine-man there’s something that he has to tell Stephens, who edged Madison format signed up to play. DODEA Korea’s season me, we should speak, the two of us, Keys 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7) in a rematch of schedule has not been set yet, but the district’s ath- to kind of understand what went their final four years ago; multiple letics directors said the fall season is to begin Sept. wrong. I don’t think I broke any Grand Slam title winners and for- 10-11. DAVE ORNAUER/STARS AND STRIPES rules.” mer No. 1s Angelique Kerber, Si- The Panthers were set to begin the Guam Inter- Daegu's football team, beset by a lack of numbers, The whole thing lent some in- mona Halep and Garbiñe Muguru- scholastic Sports Association season Saturday at has been shuttered at least for the 2021 season. trigue to the proceedings as the za; 2020 runner-up Victoria Aza- home against George Washington. year’s last Grand Slam tournament renka and 17-year-old American DODEA Pacific leadership met by video confer- Guam’s Pacific Daily News reported Friday that got underway with fans in the Coco Gauff. ence Monday with Joint Region Marianas and the hospitalizations on the island have increased by commands at both Naval Base Guam and Andersen 300% the last two weeks. Governor Lou Leon Guer- Air Force Base, at which it was decided “schools will rero didn’t specify how long the school shutdown remain open on base,” Chief of staff Todd Schlitz told would last, the PDN reported. Stars and Stripes by phone Monday afternoon. In Daegu, athletic director and football coach Guam’s cross country, girls indoor and boys beach Blake Sims said the school had 10 sign up for football, volleyball, golf and football teams may continue to “but we only had six or seven committed” at any one condition, practice and scrimmage, Schlitz said. practice. “They won’t have anybody to play, but at least they “We weren’t even close to that,” Sims said, adding can do something,” he said. that the school’s small enrollment — 129 as of Aug. 30 The news was met with disappointment by long- — will limit Daegu to tennis, cross country, golf and time Panthers football coach Jacob Dowdell. Foot- boys and girls volleyball. ball season on Guam was canceled altogether last “It is what it is,” Sims said. “We have 60% of our year due to the pandemic. enrollment out for sports. It’s hard to create kids that “I’m really hurting for the kids,” Dowdell said. you don’t have.” “They worked so hard over the summer, they did ev- The decision leaves just two football programs in erything that was asked of them and now they’re be- DODEA Korea, Osan and Humphreys. There was no ing told no, they can’t play football.” immediate word whether Humphreys would com- Besides Guam and George Washington, five other pete as one team or split its football enrollment into SETH WENIG/AP public schools, John F. Kennedy, Okkodo, Tiyan, Si- two, as it did for volleyball and basketball last year. Stefanos Tsitsipas, of Greece, returns a shot in his 2­6, 7­6 (7), 3­6, mon Sanchez and Southern, and one private school, 6­3, 6­4 defeat of Andy Murray on Monday in New York. Father Duenas, compete in ISA football. [email protected] Wednesday, September 1, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 21 NFL Colts put Pats cut Newton, Wentz on virus list clearing way for Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS — Carson Wentz’s big week was cut short Monday when the Indianapolis Jones to start Colts put three starters, including their top quarterback, on the re- BY KYLE HIGHTOWER backer Dont’a Hightower said last serve/COVID-19 list. Associated Press week that Jones’ work ethic has Wentz, center Ryan Kelly and NAM Y. HUH/AP FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The stood out in the locker room. He al- receiver Zach Pascal join two- Bears backup quaterback Justin Fields watches as starter Andy Mac Jones era in New England be- so noted how he recently heard the time Pro Bowl left tackle Eric Dalton makes a pass before the preseason game against Miami. gins. rookie had been looking at the Pa- Fisher on the sideline because of The Patriots released quarter- triots’ defensive plays to help him health and safety protocols. Fisher back Cam Newton on Tuesday, conceptualize how opposing de- tested positive for the virus last clearing the way for the rookie to fenses might attack. week. Bears’ Dalton looks open the season as New England’s “I give him credit for that be- Three-time All-Pro Quenton quarterback, according to a per- cause not a lot of young guys Nelson was activated Monday af- son with knowledge of the move. would see that as an opportunity ter multiple negative tests. Nelson forward, knowing The person spoke to The Associ- and he did that on his own,” Hight- was deemed a close contact to ated Press on the condition of ano- ower said. “You can take that for Fisher. nymity because the decision has what it’s worth. The kid works Coach Frank Reich planned to Fields is behind him not been announced. hard. I’ll leave it at that.” use this week to test Wentz and BY ANDREW SELIGMAN velop in a way Mitchell Trubisky His release came hours before Coach Bill Belichick acknowl- Nelson, who both had foot surgery Associated Press never did after being drafted No. 2 NFL teams reduce rosters to 53 edged at the time that Newton’s to remove a bone fragment. Both LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Andy Dal- overall in 2017. They’re also count- players and brings an abrupt end recent COVID-19 protocols ab- did limited work three straight ton is embracing his opportunity ing on Dalton to perform better than to Newton’s stay in New England. sence provided an opportunity for days last week and were cleared with the Chicago Bears. He’s not too Nick Foles last season and Mike Newton went 7-8 as the starter in Jones. The rookie seized it, per- for full action this week. concerned prized rookie Justin Glennon in 2017. Glennon was his first season since Tom Brady forming well during the first of That won’t happen now — at Fields is right behind him. signed that year to be a veteran headed to the Tampa Bay Bucca- two joint practices with the Gi- least not for Wentz, who already “I’m focused on me and what I can bridge, only to be benched after four neers. New England finished 7-9 ants. missed three weeks because of the do, helping this offense and helping starts. for the year. “I’m going to be ready whenev- injured left foot. this team,” he said Monday. “So, I’m “Andy has to control Andy,” Nagy Newton started each of New En- er my time comes up,” Jones said The loss of Wentz is the toughest looking forward to Week 1.” said. “Andy can’t control something gland’s three preseason games, after Sunday’s 22-20 win over blow because of his limited The Bears are sticking with their that is out of his control, which is Jus- but he also missed five days of New York. “We got work to do and amount of work with his new plan to open the season with Dalton tin. You know what I mean?” practice leading into Sunday’s ex- we’ll get the things fixed and then teammates. Reich remains hope- as their starting quarterback. They Dalton has thrown for 33,764 hibition finale against the New we’ll just keep rolling.” ful Wentz, who was acquired from expect the three-time Pro Bowler to yards, 218 touchdowns and 126 in- York Giants after a “misunder- Though he didn’t start any exhi- Philadelphia in a March trade, be the one staring down Aaron Do- terceptions over nine seasons with standing” of NFL COVID-19 pro- bition games, Jones took 107 snaps will start the Sept. 12 season open- nald when Chicago visits the Los Cincinnati and one with Dallas. He tocols. It required him to sit out a to just 38 for Newton. He complet- er against Seattle. If he can’t, sec- Angeles Rams on Sept. 12, with led the Bengals to the playoffs his mandatory five-day waiting peri- ed 69% (36 of 52) for 389 yards, a ond-year quarterback Jacob Ea- Fields in a backup role. first five seasons after they drafted od for unvaccinated players after touchdown and no interceptions. son would likely make his NFL de- Not exactly a stunner. him out of TCU in the second round he attended an out-of-town doc- “I’ve learned at a young age to but. The Bears have said since they in 2011, but never won a postseason tor’s appointment. just prepare like the starter,” In other NFL news: signed Dalton to a one-year deal that game. Meanwhile, Jones was impres- Jones said Sunday. “You don’t ■ San Francisco 49ers rookie he is their No. 1 quarterback. It Dalton was released after Cincin- sive throughout training camp, have to be the starter, but you have quarterback Trey Lance will miss didn’t change after they traded up nati drafted Joe Burrow with the No. displaying an ability to lead the of- to prepare and get into your rou- one week of practice after injuring nine spots with the New York Giants 1 pick in 2020. Now, he has another fense down the field and bounce tine.” a finger on his throwing hand to draft Fields with the No. 11 overall prized quarterback behind him, and back from mistakes. He’s also When he was drafted in April, when he was hit by the helmet of pick. the question is how long a leash the earned the respect of the coaching Jones became the first quarter- Las Vegas Raiders linebacker That move sent a surge of excite- Bears will give the veteran, particu- staff and incumbent veterans back selected in the first round Max Richardson on Sunday. ment through Chicago, energizing larly if they struggle early on. alike. during Belichick’s time in New Shanahan said Lance is unable frustrated fans. Fields looked ready Fields is also more accomplished Fellow Alabama alum and line- England. to take snaps and needs to rest for in the preseason, showing poise, coming out of college than Trubisky about seven days before he can re- squeezing passes into tight windows was. He was a Heisman Trophy fi- turn. Lance should be back next and extending plays with his mobil- nalist in 2019 and the Big Ten Offen- Monday when the 49ers begin ity, even if he was doing it against sive Player of the Year each of his preparations for their season backups. two seasons at Ohio State after opener Sept. 12 at Detroit. “Going into OTAs we evaluated transferring from Georgia. Lance is expected to back up where they were,” coach Matt Nagy If Dalton is injured and can’t play Jimmy Garoppolo to begin the said. “Where’s Andy learning this in the opener, Nagy said Fields season but also will be used with offense? How quick can he? He aced would start. But for now, he’s lead- his own package of plays in certain that right away. Justin, where are ing the scout team. situations. you at with learning how to call the He said Fields is “trying to get bet- ■ The Minnesota Vikings were plays? That’s the start. He did a good ter and better every day,” but still dealt their first injury setback of job there. He got better when he has room to grow. the season, with knee surgery came back in training camp. So he Dalton signed with Dallas last scheduled for on-the-rise tight end grew, he got better. Andy came into year as a backup but made nine Irv Smith Jr. that will likely side- training camp, and the very first day starts after Dak Prescott suffered a line him for at least a few games. in all our practices, he’s gotten bet- season-ending ankle injury. Coach Mike Zimmer said Mon- ter.” “Knowing that I’m coming in to be day that Smith will have the proce- The Bears are hoping for better the starter, I could be more myself dure done this week by team phy- results after going 8-8 in the regular going into this one rather than last sician Dr. Christopher Larson. season for the second straight year. one, where I kinda had to find my The timetable for Smith’s return They made the playoffs for the sec- place,” Dalton said. “And it hap- won’t be known until after the sur- ond time since Nagy took over in pened a little bit later in the process NOAH K. MURRAY/AP gery on his meniscus, depending 2018, only to lose a wild-card game at last year, too. There’s a lot of things Quarterback Cam Newton throws a pass during the preseason game on how significant of a repair is re- New Orleans in convincing fashion. that I can take from it that helped me against the New York Giants on Sunday. Newton started all three of quired. They’re banking on Fields to de- transition.” the Patriots’ preseason games but was cut on Tuesday. PAGE 22 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, September 1, 2021 COLLEGE FOOTBALL Picking playoff, national champ Full season means business as usual

BY RALPH D. RUSSO der Dana Holgorsen. Associated Press Kentucky (zero points). The Wildcats At this time last year, trying to are a college football hipster pick to fin- make predictions about college ish second in the SEC East, with a viral football started with guessing video quarterback in Penn State transfer whether the season would actually Will Levis. reach a conclusion. Three teams that will start the season Only 60% of FBS conferences ranked, but finish unranked: kicked off in September — which No. 13 Florida. The Gators lost a lot explains picking UCF to make the of firepower and need a big step forward College Football Playoff in 2020. from a defense that was a mess last sea- Does it explain picking Texas? son. Oh, look, Alabama’s on the sched- There are only so many things one ule, too. JOHN BAZEMORE/AP can blame on the pandemic. (It No. 17 Indiana. The Hoosiers’ rise Can quarterback JT Daniels, above, and Georgia finally put an end to Alabama’s stranglehold on the should be noted that the if-in- has been a great story under coach Tom Southeastern Conference title? doubt-pick-Alabama strategy Allen, but last season’s milestone wins worked out great). against Michigan and Penn State will be serious case to be included in the Col- nine different teams have reached the tles before getting nudged from the top College football is trending back tough to repeat on the road. lege Football Playoff. championship game. The Broncos have of the mountain last season by Coastal toward business as usual in 2021. No. 23 Louisiana-Lafayette. A small Big 12: Oklahoma over TCU. The been close the last two seasons. Carolina and ULL. The Mountaineers Fingers crossed. That should step back after consecutive seasons of Sooners make it seven straight league ti- Mountain West: Nevada over Boise push back this season. make projecting who disappoints, double-digits victories for coach Billy tles against the surprising Horned Frogs. State. Coach Jay Norvell might have the overachieves, reaches the playoff Napier’s team is probably enough to rel- How long can a team be an outgoing Wolf Pack’s best team since Colin Kae- New Year’s six and wins the national champion- egate the Ragin’ Cajuns to unranked. If member of a conference? pernick was tearing it up in Reno. Be- Rose Bowl — Ohio State vs. Oregon. ship much easier. they start a second consecutive season Big Ten: Wisconsin over Ohio State. hind NFL prospects QB Carson Strong Sugar Bowl — Alabama vs. TCU. Right? with a victory at a Big 12 opponent — The Buckeyes have yet to lose a Big Ten and WR Romeo Doubs, Nevada wins its Fiesta Bowl — Texas A&M vs. Cin- this time vs. No. 21 Texas —- this pick game under third-year coach Ryan Day. first Mountain West title. cinnati. Going up/down goes out the window. Has to happen at some point, right? A Pac-12: Oregon over Utah. The Peach Bowl — North Carolina vs. Three teams that will start the season more explosive Badgers’ offense with Ducks make it three straight Pac-12 ti- LSU. unranked, but will finished ranked: Conference champions QB Graham Mertz breaks the Ohio State tles, with offense-wrecking pass-rusher TCU (40 points in the preseason Atlantic Coast Conference: Clemson grip on the Big Ten after four straight ti- Kayvon Thibodeaux leading the way. College Football Playoff poll): Coach Gary Patterson seems due over North Carolina. The Tigers take tles. But can they do enough to get the Wait! A playoff without Alabama and to have a surprise Big 12 contender with home a seventh straight ACC title with a Conference USA: Western Kentucky Pac-12 back in the CFP? Ohio State? breakout candidates at running back new star quarterback in D.J. Uiagalelei over UTSA. On the strength of a re- Southeastern Conference: Georgia Orange Bowl semifinal — No. 1 Ge- (Zachary Evans) and receiver (Quentin and a defensive line that brings back vamped offense — the Hilltoppers im- over Alabama. JT Daniels gives the Bull- orgia vs. No. 4 Wisconsin. Johnson). Beware five Big 12 road memories of the Christian Wilkins-led ported a quarterback, two receivers and dogs the type of dynamic offense they Cotton Bowl semifinal — No. 2 games. Power Rangers that won a national title an offensive coordinator from FCS need to break through against the Crim- Clemson vs. No. 3 Oklahoma. Houston (five points). The American in 2018. Houston Baptist —- WKU wins its first son Tide after three crushing losses in Athletic Conference is usually good for American Athletic Conference: Cin- C-USA title since 2016. the last four seasons. National title game at least one surprising team per season cinnati over Houston. The Bearcats Mid-American Conference: Western Sun Belt: Appalachian State over Georgia vs. Oklahoma. The Bulldogs (see: Tulsa in 2020, Navy in 2019). make it two straight AAC titles behind Michigan over Kent State. The MAC is Louisiana-Lafayette. App State had won win that elusive first national champion- The Cougars look the part in Year 3 un- QB Desmond Ridder and put together a all about parity. In the last five seasons, or shared the previous four Sun Belt ti- ship since 1980. Reloading: Expectations high for new starting quarterbacks

FROM PAGE 24 freshman. for Wisconsin in 2018 and 2019, before mis- Ekiyor Jr. said. “He has a lot of character Alabama coach Nick Saban doesn’t usu- sing last season following foot surgery. and he carries himself pretty well so I think ally rave about his newly anointed quarter- Coan won the competition to replace the rest of the team respects that and re- backs until they’ve got some wins under Book, whose 30 wins as starting quarter- spects him and his play. their belts. Saban, however, does like how back is a Notre Dame record. “So it’s really good to see our quarterback Young has handled the job even with a num- “He set a very high standard for the quar- take that leadership role just like how Mac ber of other new starters around him. terbacks here, and I’m looking to follow him (Jones) did last year and I think the team is “Bryce has a really good knowledge of the and be like him,” Coan said. pretty much under his wing and following offense,” Saban said. “He’s a really bright None of the contenders to replace Fields him.” guy. He makes good choices and decisions. has thrown a pass in a college game. Clemson’s Uiagalelei, successor to No. 1 He has a really good feel in the pocket. And The 6-foot-3, 218-pound Stroud from overall pick Lawrence, did nothing to di- he’s played really, really well.” Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., is a pro-style minish the buzz or expectations in his two Uiagalelei had the best chance among the quarterback with a strong arm and a quick, starting chances last season. new guys to flash his potential last season compact release. Ohio State is also going with the youth while Lawrence was sidelined with CO- He isn’t quite as mobile as Fields but movement in picking the redshirt freshman VID-19. He directed the largest comeback Buckeyes coach Ryan Day said “he’s shown Stroud to replace Justin Fields. Notre Dame in Memorial Stadium when he led the Ti- us all the things that we needed to see” lead- is turning to the more seasoned Coan, a PAUL VERNON/AP gers back from an 18-point deficit against ing up to the Minnesota game. graduate transfer from Wisconsin. C.J. Stroud, above, won a three­way Boston College in his starting debut. Winning the job is just Step 1. Now, the They all have big arms to fill. Fields and battle with Jack Miller III and Kyle Then, his 439 yards against Notre Dame trick is to hold onto it. Alabama’s Jones were also first-rounders McCord for the starting job at Ohio State. were the third-most in school history. Stroud beat out fellow second-year fresh- while the New Orleans Saints picked Notre After that, it was back to waiting his turn man Jack Miller III and true freshman Kyle Dame’s Ian Book in the fourth round. school and No. 2 overall, according to the behind Lawrence. McCord. He said competition is “just the Young was the nation’s top-rated dual 247Sports composite rankings. He was The most experienced of the foursome is culture of ‘fight’ and the culture of Ohio threat quarterback coming out of high mostly relegated to mop-up duties as a Notre Dame’s Coan. He started 18 games State.” Wednesday, September 1, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 23 COLLEGE FOOTBALL Ohio St., Badgers lead Big Ten favorites Indiana, led by Penix’s return, looks for bigger impact BY ERIC OLSON Fryfogle. Associated Press Allen said his hope is that suc- Tom Allen strung together four cess can breed success. The pro- words not usually associated with gram that hasn’t had three straight his Indiana football program. winning seasons — overall or in “A lot of expectations,” he said. conference play — since the Hoosier hype is well-founded mid-1940s. this year, though it’s hard to imag- “That’s been the challenge, to go ine anyone dethroning preseason from believing — and I believe we No. 4 Ohio State as king of the Big have a team that believes — to now Ten. The Buckeyes have won four expecting a certain outcome on straight conference titles, played game day,” he said. in the national championship The biggest question for Ohio game last season and are expected State is at quarterback, where red- to keep rolling even with an inex- shirt freshman C.J. Stroud has won perienced quarterback. the job to replace Justin Fields. But if anyone is poised to chal- Stroud, who has never thrown a lenge Ohio State in the Big Ten pass in a college game, will be sur- East, 17th-ranked Indiana is a tren- rounded by best-in-the-nation tal- dy pick with the return of quarter- ent at receiver and on the line. The back Michael Penix Jr. defense will have new starters at li- The Hoosiers were a revelation nebacker but is experienced up last season, going 6-1 before their Outback Bowl loss to Mississippi front and in the secondary. COREY SIPKIN/AP and being ranked in the top 10 for No. 19 Penn State and Michigan Indiana returns a strong defense and quarterback Michael Penix Jr., above, is one of eight returning six weeks. That one regular-sea- are looking to bounce back after offensive starters. Penix is back from a season­ending knee injury. son loss was at home to Ohio State, disappointing seasons, Maryland 42-35, after Indiana was down 35-7 and Rutgers appear to be teams on other positions. the nation’s top returning rusher. kasi’s 11.2 tackles per game led the in the third quarter. the rise and Michigan State is look- No. 18 Iowa enters the season on Indiana QB Penix passed for a Big conference and were the most by a The Hoosiers bring back the ing to find traction under second- a six-game win streak, has a sec- Ten-leading 274.2 yards per game. Scarlet Knight since 1999. core of a defense that led the Big year coach Mel Tucker. ond-year starting quarterback in Purdue WR David Bell and Ohio Ten with 25 sacks and had 17 inter- Wisconsin is the favorite in the Spencer Petras and should have State WR Chris Olave each aver- Picks ceptions. The key for the offense is West after going 4-3 and finishing another strong defense if it can res- aged 104 yards per game. East: Ohio State, Indiana, Penn keeping the dynamic, injury- third in the division last year. The tock its line. Defense: Northwestern S Bran- State, Michigan, Rutgers, Mary- prone Penix healthy. He missed No. 12 Badgers had two games can- don Joseph intercepted five passes land, Michigan State. the last two games with a torn ACL. celed because of COVID-19 issues Top players and was an AP first-team All- West: Wisconsin, Iowa, Minne- He’s among eight returning offen- and were plagued by injuries. Offense: Minnesota RB Mo- American. Indiana LB Micah sota, Northwestern, Nebraska, Illi- sive starters, a group that includes They return quarterback Graham hamed Ibrahim averaged a school- McFadden led the Big Ten with six nois, Purdue. Big Ten receiver of the year Ty Mertz and plenty of experience at record 153.7 yards per game and is sacks. Rutgers LB Olakunle Fatu- Champion: Ohio State. Who wins college football’s biggest prizes in ’21?

BY RALPH D. RUSSO And the winner is ... Uiagalelei. Trevor Lawrenc- And the winner is ... Robinson. New Longhorns Associated Press e’s predecessor becomes the first Clemson player coach Steve Sarkisian will build the offense around The last three Heisman Trophy winners to win the Heisman. the talented tailback, providing him plenty of op- include the first receiver to win the award in portunities in the running and passing game. nearly three decades, a quarterback who Bronko Nagurski Trophy was the 52nd-rated passer in the country Biletnikoff Award (Best Receiver) the season before and a first-year starting (defensive player of the year) Top contenders: Drake London, Southern Cali- QB. Top contenders: Will Anderson Jr., OLB, Alaba- fornia; Marvin Mims, Oklahoma; Garrett Wilson, The days of the Heisman winner being a ma; Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU; Kayvon Thibo- Ohio State. well-established star and/or preseason fa- deaux, DE, Oregon. And the winner is ... London. The Trojans will vorite are long gone. And the winner is ... Thibodeaux. The sack mas- throw it a lot and London’s tackle-breaking yards Heisman voters embrace the breakout ters tend to win this award. The Ducks’ junior is after the catch will make him USC’s first Biletnikoff player more than ever before, and in 2021 primed to follow recent winners Chase Young of winner since Marqise Lee in 2012. there is a good chance the winner again will Ohio State, Josh Allen of Kentucky and Bradley Jim Thorpe Award (Best be someone who enters the season without JOHN BAZEMORE/AP Chubb of North Carolina State. much of track record. LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., right, Defensive Back) The only player to finish in the top 10 of is a lead candidate for the Jim Thorpe Outland Trophy (Best Interior Top contenders: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida; Kyle last season’s Heisman voting to return to Award as best defensive back. Hamilton, S, Notre Dame; Derek Stingley Jr., CB, college football in 2021 is Iowa State’s Lineman) LSU. Breece Hall. Considering recent Heisman starter, Spencer Rattler. Makes sense. The Top contenders: Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson; And the winner is ... Stingley. Last season’s dys- trends, the seventh-ranked Cyclones’ run- last three starting quarterbacks for coach Evan Neal, OT, Alabama; Tyler Linderbaum, C, Io- functional LSU defense overshadowed another sol- ning back isn’t even the favorite on his team. Lincoln Riley’s Sooners have been Heis- wa. id season by Stingley. Tigers’ opponents can only That would be quarterback Brock Purdy. man finalists and two — Baker Mayfield And the winner is ... Neal. Alabama has dom- avoid him so much with talented sophomore Eli No. 1 Alabama, No. 3 Clemson and No. 4 and Kyler Murray — have won it. inated this award during the Nick Saban era with Ricks lining up on the other side. Ohio State all have new starting quarter- five winners, including three since 2016. Neal backs, with experience ranging from a cou- Heisman Trophy (Most makes it two Crimson Tide offensive tackles in a Extra Points ple of impressive starts (D.J Uiagalelei of row after Alex Leatherwood last season. Butkus Award (best linebacker): Will Anderson Clemson) to some mop-up work (Bryce Outstanding Player) Jr., Alabama Young of Alabama) to not one single college Top contenders (in alphabetical order): JT Da- Doak Walker Award (Best Mackey Award (best tight end): Jalen Wyder- pass (C.J. Stroud of Ohio State). niels, QB, Georgia; Spencer Rattler, QB, Oklaho- myer, Texas A&M. Even with that, some Heisman predic- ma; Desmond, Ridder, QB, Cincinnati; Kayvon Running Back) Groza Award (best kicker): Will Reichard, Ala- tions have those three among the top seven Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon; D.J. Uiagalelei, QB, Top contenders: Breece Hall, Iowa State; Bijan bama. favorites, led by Oklahoma’s returning Clemson. Robinson, Texas; Zamir White, Georgia. Ray Guy (best punter): Lou Hedley, Miami. PAGE 24 • STARS AND STRIPES • Wednesday, September 1, 2021 Patriots cut Newton SPORTS Move clears way for Jones to start at QB ›› NFL, Page 21

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

D.J. Uiagalelei takes over at quarterback for Clemson, who lost Trevor Lawrence to the NFL Draft.

MATT CASHORE/AP

Top teams reloading All 4 from last year’s playoff have new QBs

BY JOHN ZENOR cessors trying to carry their teams into the ninth-ranked Fighting Irish play at Associated Press contention again. And they’re all ranked Florida State on Sunday. ryce Young was mostly a in the preseason top 10 so it doesn’t seem The Crimson Tide have turned to the spectator for Alabama’s far-fetched heading into the foursome’s much-ballyhooed Young, whose last few march to the College Foot- first games as the full-time starter. successors have set high bars on their Bball Playoff last season. They don’t get to settle into their new way to the NFL. Not even Tua Tagovailoa Ditto for Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. roles with cupcakes, either. arrived in Tuscaloosa with as much antic- DJ Uiagalelei was a superb fill-in Defending national champion Alaba- ipation as Young, a 6-foot, 194-pounder when Clemson needed him most. ma is the preseason No. 1 heading into who’s built more like Tagovailoa and Kyl- Notre Dame’s Jack Coan was at a Saturday’s opener against No. 14 Miami er Murray than Trevor Lawrence. different school altogether. in Atlanta. No. 3 Clemson faces fifth- “Bryce is a young guy but he doesn’t act All four teams from last season’s ranked Georgia in Charlotte, N.C. like it,” Alabama offensive lineman Emil playoff sent their starting quarter- Stroud and No. 4 Ohio State are visiting backs on to the NFL, ushering in suc- Minnesota on Thursday night. Coan and SEE RELOADING ON PAGE 22

Bryce Young will step in for Mac Jones, who entered the NFL Draft after leading Alabama to the national championship last season.

VASHA HUNT/AP

Pandemic shuts down sports on Guam ›› High school, Page 20