Volume 79, No. 15B ©SS 2020 CONTINGENCY EDITION Sunday, May 10, 2020 stripes.com Free to Deployed Areas

AFGHANISTAN CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK US lawmakers: Taliban violence Dramatic steps is ‘unacceptable taken to secure violation’ of deal ‘no-fail’ missions during pandemic BY J.P. LAWRENCE Stars and Stripes BY MISSY RYAN Increased Taliban attacks in Afghani- The Washington Post stan call into question whether the militant group can be trusted to adhere to a peace n late February, Brig. plan, two high-ranking members of the Gen. Pete Fesler prepared House Foreign Affairs Committee said about 130 troops under Friday. his command to mobilize “The dramatic increase in violence in for a new mission, one Ithat would take them away from Afghanistan is an unacceptable violation of the Trump Administration’s February their families and involve exten- agreement with the Taliban,” Democratic sive precautions to keep service Rep. Eliot Engel of New York and Republi- members safe. can Rep. Michael T. McCaul of Texas said Tapping his experience from in a joint statement. deployments in Asia and the Engel, chairman of the foreign affairs Middle East, committee, and McCaul, the group’s rank- the former ing Republican, join a chorus of U.S. offi- fighter pilot RELATED cials condemning the Taliban for violating made plans More cases the deal signed in Doha, Qatar, meant to for adapting end the war. the unit’s emerge as The deal says that if the Taliban keep ter- sensitive rorists from operating in Afghanistan, stop mission to countries attacking the U.S. and its allies, and hold new haz- intra-Afghan peace talks with the Kabul ards over reopen government, foreign forces would begin a an unknown Page 5 phased withdrawal to leave the country in period of 14 months. time, as au- A wave of offensives against Afghan thorities scrambled to anticipate troops followed the signing of the deal, the moves of an unpredictable with attacks surging above “seasonal adversary. norms,” according to a report by the Spe- The difference from his pre- cial Inspector General for Afghanistan Re- vious assignments: At the end construction released last week. of the day, instead of being half- This violence must stop, or it will place way around the world, Fesler can the deal at risk, Engel and McCaul said. look out from the base where he’s “The Taliban’s continued attacks on Af- lodging and see the neighborhood ghan forces make us question whether the where his wife and kids are hun- kered down during the coronavi- SEE DEAL ON PAGE 3 rus pandemic. The general is a senior com- mander at the North American Aerospace Defense Command ‘ (NORAD) in Colorado Springs, The dramatic increase in Colorado, where he heads a team violence in Afghanistan is that is attempting to sequester it- an unacceptable violation of self to ensure that COVID-19, the the Trump Administration’s SEE SECURE ON PAGE 4 February agreement with Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station has a new mission: the Taliban. ’ protecting key personnel from Rep. Eliot Engel the coronavirus pandemic. and Rep. Michael T. McCaul DENNIS HOFFMAN/U.S. Air Force House Foreign Affairs Committee

MILITARY MUSIC VIRUS OUTBREAK DOD rolls back plan Lucinda Williams Hopes lift as sports inch to keep more fighters gets right to the point closer to return — but ready for combat on fiery 14th album many obstacles remain Page 3 Page 12 Back page

Online: Get the latest news on the virus outbreak » stripes.com/coronavirus PAGE 2 •STARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, May 10, 2020 BUSINESS/WEATHER EXCHANGE RATES

Stocks rise despite unprecedented jobs report Military rates Switzerland (Franc)...... 0.9724 Euro costs (May 11) ...... $1.06 Thailand (Baht) ...... 32.24 Dollar buys (May 11) ...... €0.8987 Turkey (Lira) ...... 7.1314 Associated Press British pound (May 11) ...... $1.21 (Military exchange rates are those million jobs last month, the gains prospect of growth resuming Japanese yen (May 11) ...... 104.00 available to customers at military banking actually accelerated. later this year. They bought stocks South Korean won (May 11) ...... 1,186.00 facilities in the country of issuance Wall Street doubled down on Commercial rates While the number is a night- of retailers that laid out plans to for Japan, South Korea, Germany, the its bet that the worst of the reces- Bahrain (Dinar) ...... 0.3781 Netherlands and the United Kingdom. For mare, it was slightly below the reopen in coming weeks, energy British pound ...... $1.2374 nonlocal currency exchange rates (i.e., sion has passed, sending stocks 21 million that economists told companies that would benefit as Canada (Dollar) ...... 1.3953 purchasing British pounds in Germany), higher again on Friday despite China (Yuan) ...... 7.0752 check with your local military banking markets to brace for. More im- people start driving again and Denmark (Krone) ...... 6.8910 facility. Commercial rates are interbank another historic, crushing report portantly, investors are betting banks that may skirt the worst- Egypt (Pound) ...... 15.7505 rates provided for reference when buying on the job market. Stocks around Euro ...... $1.0825/0.9238 currency. All figures are foreign currencies they won’t see another report that case avalanche of loan defaults. Hong Kong (Dollar) ...... 7.7518 to one dollar, except for the British pound, the world were already rising bad again because the number of The S&P 500 rose 48.61, or 1.7%, Hungary (Forint) ...... 323.21 which is represented in dollars-to-pound, Israel (Shekel) ...... 3.5111 and the euro, which is dollars-to-euro.) before the U.S. government gave workers filing for unemployment to 2,929.80 for its fourth gain in Japan (Yen) ...... 106.63 its monthly report on jobs, in Kuwait (Dinar)0 ...... 0.3094 INTEREST RATES benefits has slowly declined the the last five days . The Dow Jones Norway (Krone) ...... 10.2186 part on hopes that the U.S. and last five weeks. Industrial Average added 455.43, Philippines (Peso)...... 50.48 Prime rate ...... 3.25 China won’t restart their trade Instead of looking backward or 1.9%, to 24,331.32, and the Poland (Zloty) ...... 4.21 Discount rate ...... 0.25 Saudi Arabia (Riyal) ...... 3.7558 Federal funds market rate ...... 0.04 war. After the report showed em- at last month’s job losses, some Nasdaq composite rose 141.66, or Singapore (Dollar) ...... 1.4142 3-month bill ...... 0.10 ployers cut a record-busting 20.5 investors focused instead on the 1.6%, to 9,121.32. South Korea (Won) ...... 1220.40 30-year bond ...... 1.32 WEATHER OUTLOOK SUNDAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST SUNDAY IN EUROPE MONDAY IN THE PACIFIC

Misawa 63/54 Kabul 80/51 Seoul 66/50 Baghdad 88/70 Kandahar 95/64 Osan Tokyo Mildenhall/ Drawsko 66/51 76/64 Lakenheath Pomorskie Busan 55/49 70/48 71/56 Iwakuni 65/59 Kuwait Bahrain Zagan Sasebo City 86/81 Brussels 72/51 Guam 93/80 68/58 Ramstein 68/59 87/76 Lajes, 72/52 Riyadh Doha Azores Stuttgart Pápa 104/79 101/78 63/60 74/56 72/55 Aviano/ Vicenza 65/53

Naples 66/55 Okinawa Morón 75/71 69/56 Sigonella Rota 70/51 The weather is provided by the Djibouti Souda Bay American Forces Network Weather Center, 91/78 66/57 67/58 2nd Weather Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.

T O D A Y IN STRIPES American Roundup ..... 18 Books ...... 14 Comics/Crossword ...... 15 Lifestyle ...... 16 Music ...... 11-12 Opinion ...... 19 Sports ...... 21-24 Sunday, May 10, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 3 MILITARY Deal: Envoy DOD axes Mattis to Afghanistan urges Taliban order to improve leaders to halt

FROM FRONT PAGE Taliban will uphold its com- fighter readiness mitments, jeopardize progress towards peace, and prevent ne- gotiations from moving forward,” BY COREY DICKSTEIN cessor Defense Secretary Mark the congressmen said in the Stars and Stripes Esper’s office, Brown wrote. The statement. Mattis policy, issued in Septem- Other U.S. officials in recent WASHINGTON — Pentagon ber 2018 gave the services one days have also said Taliban at- officials have dismissed a 2018 year to reach 80% mission-ca- tacks on Afghan troops violate directive from former Defense pable rate. The policy did not in- the deal, despite such attacks not Secretary Jim Mattis ordering clude some fighter jets, including being expressly prohibited in the the military to ensure nearly 80% F-15 models and the A-10. released text of the deal. of its fighter jets were combat-ca- Under the Mattis policy, Brown On Thursday, the U.S. peace pable, according to the nominee said F-16 flyability rates jumped envoy for Afghanistan, Zal- to be the next Air Force chief. to a high of 75% in June 2019, may Khalilzad, tweeted that he Air Force Gen. Charles “CQ” up from about 70% in late 2018. pressed Taliban leaders in Qatar Brown wrote in testimony to sen- The F-35 rate climbed to a high on reducing violence in the coun- ators ahead of his confirmation of about 74% in September, up AIRMAN 1ST CLASS JANAE CAPUNO/U.S. Air Force try and on enacting a cease-fire. hearing Thursday that the Air from about 55%. The F-22 rate in- Force was no longer holding itself Capt. Nick Carballo, 391st Fighter Squadron pilot, enters an F-15E U.S. Defense Secretary Mark creased from 49% mission capa- Esper on Tuesday said both the to Mattis’ stringent policy meant ble in September 2018 to a high of Strike Eagle in 2018 at Mountain home Air Force Base, Idaho. Taliban and the Afghan govern- to drastically improve unusually 68% in April 2019. The Air Force ment were not holding up their low mission capable rates within does not fly the F/A-18s, which ongoing combat and deterrence ends of the deal. The Afghan gov- the military at the time. The Air belong to the Navy and Marine ‘ operations in the Middle East and Maintaining ernment, however, was not a sig- Force never achieved Mattis’ Corps. Afghanistan, Brown said. natory to the deal and the Taliban benchmark combat readiness Brown, a longtime F-16 pilot, aging aircraft is an “The NDS calls for hard choic- refused to allow Kabul’s direct rate across its fighter jet force, wrote that reaching the 80% extremely difficult es and adherence to priorities. Yet but it did report improvements. thresholds proved challenging participation in the negotiations. in practice, it has proven difficult, The Taliban and the Afghan “The Air Force returned to with aging Air Force jets and var- and expensive and in some cases impossible, to allowing lead commands to de- ious problems faced in the newer government were supposed to task. implement these choices,” he start peace talks two months ago, termine the required [mission F-35 program that have at times ’ wrote in his testimony. capable] rates to meet readiness grounded some of those advanced Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown but that hasn’t happened due to a U.S. Air Force Brown also endorsed the Air dispute over a prisoner exchange objectives,” Brown wrote in his stealth aircraft. Forces goal of adding new units. testimony. “We continue to bal- the U.S. promised as part of the “Maintaining aging aircraft is Air Force officials launched a ance near-term readiness recov- deal. an extremely difficult and expen- campaign last year to convince ery with investment long-term sive task, while new, technologi- A few days before Esper’s com- Defense Strategy, which directs lawmakers to allow them to ex- combat capability.” cally advanced weapons systems ments, the spokesman for U.S. the military to prioritize pre- pand to 386 operational squad- Brown, who is in charge of Pa- present their own challenges,” he military forces in Afghanistan, paring for conflict with a major rons in the coming years. The cific Air Forces, was nominated wrote. Col. Sonny Leggett, said the Tal- military power — namely China by the White House in March The service is in the process of service has 312 squadrons now. iban violated an unwritten agree- to succeed retiring Gen. David implementing a new plan aimed or Russia — over other matters, “Anything less than 386 [squad- ment to reduce violence by 80%. Goldfein, the service’s chief since at increasing aircraft combat including counterterrorism op- rons] incurs risk,” Brown told the The statement, posted on Twit- July 2016. If confirmed, Brown readiness and also reducing the erations, which had been the senators, admitting the service ter last week in an argument with would be the first African Ameri- cost to fix those airframes, he Pentagon’s focus for nearly two had yet to decide exactly how to the spokesman for the Taliban, can military service chief. also wrote. decades. expand to that size. “We may be warned the militant group there The decision to scrap Mattis’ During Brown’s hearing before But the Air Force is not yet a little bit smaller than that 386, would be consequences if they goal of 80% flight capability with- the Senate Armed Services Com- structured to fulfill that mission, but we’ll be more capable.” did not comply. in the Pentagon’s F-35, F-22, F-16 mittee on Thursday, he endorsed as it has continued to be called [email protected] [email protected] and F/A-18 jets came from his suc- the Mattis-driven 2018 National upon to deploy assets needed for Twitter: @CDicksteinDC Twitter: @jplawrence3 ISIS uses Iraq’s virus lockdown to increase attacks

BY LOUISA LOVELUCK “Corona is an important factor,” said that the coronavirus had briefly caused corded in Iraq weeks later and, by March AND MUSTAFA SALIM Brig. Gen. Tahseen al-Khafaji, a spokes- the tempo of operations against the group 15, the country was under strict lockdown. The Washington Post man for the Iraqi armed forces. “Some to drop, although that had since changed. City streets fell silent. Arterial roads were soldiers are not on active duty, and some The U.S.-led military coalition, which nearly empty. And ISIS began claiming Islamic State militants in Iraq are ex- of our operations against [ISIS] stopped. had played an instrumental role in Iraq’s more attacks. ploiting the coronavirus lockdown to step They are taking advantage to move and fight to defeat ISIS, is now in the process Militant fighters are now mostly hiding up attacks, carrying out strikes that are attack.” of withdrawing forces from Iraq, where out in small units, nestled in rugged, rural more frequent, and sometimes audacious, The nighttime ambush on Saturday, for troops have been helping Iraq’s military terrain where the government has a limited than those it has claimed in recent years. instance, occurred at a time when a fed- battle the militants. Last month, the co- foothold. They fund themselves through a In the northern city of Kirkuk, a suicide eral police unit usually stationed nearby alition closed its facilities inside bases in mix of extortion and appeals to local sym- bomber walked calmly toward an intelli- was absent, redeployed elsewhere to en- Kirkuk, al-Qaim in the west and Qayyarah pathizers, Iraqi officials say. While attacks gence headquarters last week before deto- force the public health lockdown. That at- airfield in the north. are increasingly common, they are usually nating his load in a fireball. Days later, ISIS tack, against a checkpoint in the northern Experts studying the group said the small-scale: a rudimentary explosive one militants carried out a nighttime ambush village of Mkesheefeh, killed nine Sunni militants are also exploiting gaps left by on a government-affiliated militia check- Muslim militiamen. They had no night-vi- Iraqi security forces. Iraq is controlled by day, a potshot at security forces in the des- point north of Baghdad. More attacks near sion goggles and no idea the militants were a patchwork of forces, and disputes among ert another day. Baghdad and in Kirkuk then followed. coming, the militiamen said. them — as well as a lack of coordination The difference in recent weeks, experts Although ISIS is much weaker than at U.S. officials said the recent uptick in and in some cases of adequate equipment say, is that the ISIS fighters are more often the height of its caliphate and shows no violence was a reaction to Iraqi forces be- — had created opportunities for the mili- carrying out attacks closer to cities. sign of mounting a serious comeback, the coming more aggressive in taking on ISIS. tants even before the virus arrived. Hisham al-Hashimi, who advises the group is now finding it easier to operate in “The Iraqi security forces are being quite The group first mentioned the corona- Iraqi government on security issues, said part because some Iraqi security forces active about going after them. They’re tak- virus in its propaganda in January, urging he expected “more attacks to come, espe- have been redeployed from rural areas ing the fight to them,” said Col. Myles B. supporters to take advantage of govern- cially in Kirkuk and the areas where there where it is gaining strength to police the Caggins III, a spokesman for the U.S.-led ments’ distraction to step up attacks. The is a security gap to exploit.” Kirkuk’s rocky lockdown in urban centers. military coalition. Khafaji said instead first confirmed cases of the virus were re- terrain makes it tough to police . PAGE 4 •STARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, May 10, 2020 MILITARY Secure: Dramatic steps taken for ‘no-fail’ missions

FROM FRONT PAGE center, a 24/7 operation typically disease caused by the novel coro- run out of Peterson Air Force navirus, can’t cripple NORAD’s Base in Colorado Springs. Now command center, responsible for part of that watch mission — the preventing the United States from one that Fesler’s team is respon- coming under attack from foreign sible for — has moved into Chey- missiles or other aerial threats. enne Mountain, a Cold War-era His is one of a number of U.S.- bunker complex bored into the based units taking dramatic steps granite core of a nearby peak. that officials hope will prevent NORAD officials decided to the highly contagious disease cloister command center person- from ravaging teams of specially nel under Fesler’s command two trained personnel. months ago to create a backup Even as the Pentagon dispatch- capability that could take over if es tens of thousands of troops to the disease crippled personnel at assist with the domestic response, Peterson. the novel coronavirus poses a “Once we started recogniz- major challenge to the military’s ing the trajectory change and the spread of COVID-19, that’s ability to continue its core mis- PHOTOS BY DENNIS HOFFMAN/U.S. Air Force sions. It has sidelined a deployed when we recognized the need aircraft carrier, reduced the to take measures to prepare our Soldiers and Stryker vehicles from the 4th Infantry Division, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team at Fort number of basic recruits enter- military capability and protect it Carson, Colo., conduct an exercise at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colo., in April 2016. ing the military and resulted in in the event that we had a worst- the postponement or scaling back case scenario,” Fesler said in a shop. The troops cut one another’s hair. remains despite the unit’s precau- of big international exercises. phone interview from Cheyenne While military personnel from At night, it’s a lot of video chats tions, especially because of what Almost 5,000 service members Mountain. Peterson regularly train at the with their families from their authorities say is the high preva- have tested positive for the virus; His team spends its days inside site, which made its way into pop- rooms. lence of asymptomatic spread of two have died. the mountain’s complex, a feat of ular culture via the 1980s movie “We’re treating it as if we’re the coronavirus. To blunt the impact on the 1960s engineering that was de- “WarGames,” Cheyenne Moun- deployed in the Middle East or Unlike Fesler, the members of force, the Pentagon has imposed signed to withstand a nuclear at- tain has been partially occupied anywhere else,” Fesler said. his unit are operating on a sched- a global “stop movement” order tack, manning part of the 24-hour for years as NORAD has moved If they need to bring someone ule of 28 days on, 14 days seques- that freezes most troops in place watch mission. Guarded by mas- functions to Peterson. into their Cheyenne Mountain tered at home. When they return and introduced other measures sive multi-ton doors, the complex Now Fesler’s team uses an en- workspace, to repair a computer for duty, they spend the first 14 designed to reduce risk, includ- houses more than a dozen build- trance separate from other per- for example, “we treat the facil- days separated from the person- ing physical distancing and the ings that sit on giant springs in sonnel to access the mountain ity like an airlock,” Fesler said, nel manning the watch mission use of masks. case of an earthquake or a mas- complex and operates in an area sealing off the area until that per- at Cheyenne and undergo at least The response has been differ- sive atomic blast. It was built to off-limits to other troops. Mem- son leaves, after which time they two coronavirus tests before re- ent for what the military consid- accommodate hundreds of peo- bers of the unit are also isolated enter wearing protective equip- turning to the mountain. ers “no-fail” missions, such as ple, including medical facilities from one another, separated into ment and clean. In selecting the team members, manning the NORAD command and, today, a Subway sandwich teams of about 15 troops that There are clear differences they screened out personnel with don’t have face-to-face contact. from true combat zone deploy- higher risk factors such as a fam- After their 12-hour watch shift ments. They do not have to worry ily member who works in health in the mountain, the unit returns about incoming rocket fire or care. to two cloistered sites on special sandstorms, for example. Fesler said his team was draw- “access-controlled cantonments” While the troops are not per- ing up plans to potentially con- on Peterson and the Air Force mitted to interact with others, tinue their cloistered status “for Academy. Fesler said they rarely their families sometimes “dead months and months” because no encounter anyone outside their drop” items for them in the trunk one knows when a vaccine will team. They pick up food from of their parked cars. On one re- be identified and widely admin- separate dining facilities — meals cent occasion, Fesler’s family left istered. “We’re preparing to stay are left in bags for them to pick up him a soccer ball and T-shirts. up here for all the way through — and bring it back to their indi- He saw his family members once the duration,” he said. vidual rooms. when they drove up to drop off If the outbreak worsens in Col- They wear masks in their hous- belongings — they were wearing orado or the country as a whole, ing buildings, even though clean- masks in the car, and he waved the next stage of cloistering pro- ing crews and other support staff from across a parking lot. tocol would require Fesler’s team are not permitted to enter those “We all laughed about the ab- to remain inside Cheyenne Moun- areas or work spaces. Supplies surdity of it later that night when tain 24 hours a day. But they are are dropped off once a week. we talked on FaceTime,” he said. not being asked to do so right now, The crew members get gas for “These are strange days for and they’re glad. NORAD/U.S. Northern Command their cars — which they use to everybody.” “While there’s plenty of food drive up to the mountain so they Fesler said no one on the team and water and everything, sleep- U.S. military personnel work at Cheyenne Mountain, a Cold War-era do not have to interact with bus has gotten sick, but he acknowl- ing on a cot in a cave is not the facility built into a Colorado mountain. drivers — in designated locations. edged that the risk of contagion best, I think, for your morale,” he Airman is captured in Texas after 16-day manhunt

BY CHAD GARLAND by courts-martial,” said the post, said he may have armed himself the face, but when the two other Stars and Stripes which included a image saying he before fleeing, and officials had men tried to restrain him, they all was wanted for assaulting a fed- heightened security on base “just wound up on the ground, the com- An airman who fled a Texas eral officer, evading arrest and in case” he posed a threat. plaint said. Injerd then poked the base after an altercation with po- absence without leave. The officials had visited his patrolman in the eye and kicked lice has been apprehended, Air A photo from his booking at home to order him to surrender one of the other men in a knee Force officials said, ending a 16- the Taylor County jail appears to his firearms after he’d sent a that had recently been operated day manhunt. on. Airman 1st Class Erland Injerd show cuts on his face. Jail records threatening email to his chain of was arrested Thursday and was indicate that he was arrested at a command, the FBI said in a crim- Injerd then fled into the resi- being held in a county jail near Dallas apartment, about a 205- inal complaint filed April 24. In- dence and out a basement win- Dyess Air Force Base, the Air mile drive from the base. jerd, who the military’s universal dow, scaled a perimeter fence The airman had been on the run email address list identified as a and disappeared into a wooded Force Office of Special Investiga- TAYLOR COUNTY JAIL/Courtesy photo tions said Friday on Facebook. since April 22, when he scuffled weather forecaster, was charged area of Abilene, evading a police “Injerd will be held in pre-trial with two Air Force officials and with assaulting a federal agent search. Airman 1st Class Erland Injerd confinement at the Taylor County a security forces patrolman out- during that visit. [email protected] is seen in a booking photo from Detention Center, pending trial side his home on the base. Police He’d punched the patrolman in Twitter: @chadgarland the Taylor County (Texas) Jail. Sunday, May 10, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 5 VIRUS OUTBREAK New outbreaks highlight risk of easing up

Associated Press ernment warned controls will be reimposed if the public fails to fol- ROME — Fresh coronavirus outbreaks at slaughterhouses in low social distancing guidelines. Germany and new cases reported Others imposed new restric- Saturday in South Korea linked tions: Kuwait announced a lock- to a man who had visited multiple down from Sunday through May nightclubs highlighted the chal- 30. lenges authorities face as they Spaniards learned Friday night seek to open up their economies. that health authorities will allow Meanwhile in Belarus, which regions that have demonstrated has imposed no lockdown despite their hospitals are sufficiently increasing case numbers, tens of prepared to handle a potential thousands of people turned out to second wave of infections to scale mark Victory Day. That was in back their lockdown. contrast to Russia where a muted In parts of Spain, mostly heav- event took place over an empty ily rural regions, bars and restau- Red Square. rants will be allowed to open up Germany and South Korea 50% of their outdoor seating on have both carried out extensive Monday and churches, theaters testing and contact tracing, and and museums can reopen with have been hailed for avoiding limits on attendance. the mass deaths that have over- But Madrid and Barcelona, whelmed other countries in their the country’s largest cities, both regions. But even there, authori- badly hit by the virus, will remain ties have struggled with finding locked down. the balance between saving lives and saving jobs. “The pandemic is evolving The United States, Brazil and favorably, but there is a risk of Italy also were wrestling with another outbreak that could gen- erate a serious catastrophe,” how to ease curbs on business JEFFREY D. ALLRED, THE DESERET NEWS/AP and public activity. Spanish health official Fernando Meanwhile, governments were Ruby Van Wagenen, 11, is held by her mother as she is tested for COVID-19 by medical assistant Simon said Saturday. “Personal coming under fresh scrutiny for Nicole Paepke at Utah Valley Hospital in Provo on Friday. responsibility is vital.” their handling of the pandemic. The pandemic forced Russian German Foreign Minister Heiko which was agreed Wednesday as warned that “a handful of crazy Spritz and gin & tonic to a handful President Vladimir Putin to mark Maas said that Europe must ac- part of a plan for gradually eas- people” were putting the city’s of patrons Friday, said that since Victory Day, the anniversary of knowledge that it “wasn’t well- ing restrictions and returning to economic recovery at risk, and opening this week he had been the defeat of Nazi Germany in prepared” for the coronavirus normality. threatened to shut down the threatened with a fine by the po- World War II, without the usual pandemic, though he also said In South Korea, a decline in new city’s trendy Navigli district after lice because of the crowds that pomp of a military parade at that solidarity is increasing and infections had prompted the gov- crowds of young Milanese were had formed in front of his bar. Moscow’s Red Square. that the 27-member European ernment to ease social distancing seen out at aperitivo hour ignor- “Am I supposed to send them This year’s observance had Union has “grown in the crisis.” guidelines and announce plans to ing social-distancing norms. home? They need a guard here to been expected to be especially In the United States, internal reopen schools Wednesday. In Rome, the Campo dei Fiori do that,” he said. “The laws aren’t large because it’s the 75th anni- government emails obtained by But on Saturday, the capital city flower and vegetable market was clear, the decree isn’t clear. You versary. Instead, Putin laid flow- The Associated Press show that a shut down more than 2,100 night- bustling Saturday morning, the don’t know what you can do.” ers at the tomb of the unknown decision to shelve detailed advice clubs, hostess bars and discos first weekend Italians were al- Worldwide, the virus is con- soldier and a show of military from the nation’s top disease con- after dozens of coronavirus infec- lowed outside for more than just firmed to have infected over 3.9 might was limited to 75 war- trol experts for reopening com- tions were linked to club goers work and basic necessities. Long million people and killed more planes and helicopters flying over munities during the coronavirus who went out last weekend as the a center of nightlife, the Camp than 275,000, according to a central Moscow. pandemic came from the highest country relaxed social distancing piazza has also come back to life tally by Johns Hopkins Univer- levels of the White House. guidelines. Many are linked to at the evening aperitivo hour. A sity based on data reported by Belarus took the opposite ap- Health officials in Germany the Itaewon leisure district of the few bars have opened for take- governments. proach. Tens of thousands of were scrambling to contain fresh capital, Seoul, where a 29-year- out cocktails and snacks, cater- Pakistan on Saturday allowed people turned out in the capital, outbreaks of the new coronavi- old man visited three nightclubs ing primarily to parents of kids shops, factories, construction Minsk, despite sharply rising rus that have emerged at three before testing positive. who romp around the square on sites and some other businesses coronavirus infections to watch a slaughterhouses — two in the Hard-hit Italy saw people re- bikes. to reopen, while 1,637 new cases military parade celebrating Nazi west of the country and one in the turn to the streets for their tra- But confusion about what is now and 24 deaths were reported. Germany’s defeat. Belarus has north. ditional aperitivos and revel in allowed and what is not created Prime Minister Imran Khan not imposed restrictions to halt The response is seen as a test fine weather as restrictions there frustration for business owners. said his government is rolling the virus’ spread and authoritar- for the government’s new strat- have eased — going too far for Carlo Alberto, owner of the back curbs because it can’t sup- ian President Alexander Lukash- egy of getting local authorities some authorities. TabaCafe, an Argentine empana- port millions of families that enko has dismissed concerns to tackle any surge in new cases, Milan mayor Giuseppe Sala da bar that was selling Aperol depend on daily wages. The gov- about it as a “psychosis.” Thai elephants, out of work due to virus, trudge to the greener pastures of home

Associated Press elephants’ return to the greener homeland of Mae Chaem, which pastures of home. The foundation is dotted with villages where BANGKOK — Thailand’s mil- supports fundraising appeals to members of the Karen ethnic mi- lions of unemployed due to the feed animals still housed at tour- nority live and traditionally keep coronavirus include elephants ist parks, but also believes it is elephants. which depend on the tourist in- good for them to return to their Save Elephant’s founder, Saeng- dustry to feed their voracious natural habitat where they can be duean Chailert, said the project appetites. With scant numbers more self-sufficient. to bring unemployed elephants of foreign visitors, commercial The situation is critical. Lon- home was launched in response elephant camps and sanctuar- don-based World Animal Protec- to appeals from their owners. ies lack funds for their upkeep tion says as many as 2,000 tame Her group promotes settling and have sent more than 100 of elephants are at risk of starvation elephants where they can live the animals trudging as far as 95 because their owners are unable alongside villagers in sustain- miles back to their homes. to feed them. able eco-friendly communities. It SAVE ELEPHANT FOUNDATION/AP The Save Elephant Foundation Since last month, more than believes the animals are abused in the northern province of Chi- 100 of the animals have marched at many high-profile tourist A herd of 11 elephants walk with guides during a 93-mile journey ang Mai has been promoting the from all over Chiang Mai to their attractions. from Mae Wang to Ban Huay in northern Thailand last month. PAGE 6 •STARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, May 10, 2020 VIRUS OUTBREAK Trump ‘in no rush’ to negotiate new financial rescue bill BY ZEKE MILLER one-two punch of skyrocketing AND LISA MASCARO costs from the pandemic and dis- Associated Press mal tax receipts in the shuttered economy. WASHINGTON — President The package being compiled Donald Trump says he’s in “no by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi AP rush” to negotiate another fi- — the fifth from Congress in a nancial rescue bill, even as the President Donald Trump’s White House Senior Adviser Stephen Miller, left, and Katie Waldman, now matter of weeks — draws on re- government reported that more Miller, arrive for a State Dinner at the White House Sept. 20, 2019. Katie Miller, who is now Vice quests from governors for $500 than 20 million Americans lost President Mike Pence’s spokeswoman, tested positive for the coronavirus, the White House said Friday . billion, and from cities and coun- their jobs last month due to eco- nomic upheaval caused by the ties for up to $300 billion to pre- coronavirus. vent widespread layoffs of police, Pence spokeswoman tests positive The president’s low-key ap- fire and other front-line workers proach came Friday as the Labor during the pandemic. Department reported the high- “No one could look at today’s BY DARLENE SUPERVILLE Trump said. “The tests are per- scheduled to be on the trip. est unemployment rate since the jobs report, the highest unem- AND AAMER MADHANI fect but something can happen Pence, who is tested on a regu- Great Depression and as Demo- ployment since the Great Depres- Associated Press between a test where it’s good and lar basis, was tested Friday. Mill- crats prepared to unveil what sion, and say we should hit the then something happens.” er tweeted she was “doing well” Senate Democratic leader Chuck pause button on further govern- WASHINGTON — Vice Presi- The positive test for the se- and looked forward to getting Schumer calls a “Rooseveltian- ment action,” Schumer said in a dent Mike Pence’s press secre- nior Pence aide came one day back to work. style” aid package to shore up the statement. tary has the coronavirus, the after White House officials con- White House chief of staff Mark economy and address the health He compared Trump and his White House said, making her firmed that a member of the mili- Meadows said the administration crisis. GOP allies in Congress to former the second person who works at tary serving as one of Trump’s was stepping up mitigation ef- Some congressional conserva- President Herbert Hoover, who the White House complex known valets had tested positive for forts already recommended by tives, meanwhile, who set aside is often seen as failing to respond to test positive for the virus this COVID-19. public health experts and taking long-held opposition to deficits adequately to that crisis. week. Six people who had been in other unspecified precautions to to pass more than $2 trillion in “We need a big, bold approach President Donald Trump, who contact with Miller were sched- ensure the safety of the president relief so far, have expressed res- now to support American work- publicly identified the affected uled to fly with Pence on Friday and vice president. ervations about another massive ers and families,” Schumer said. Pence aide, said he was “not wor- to Des Moines, Iowa, on Air Force The White House requires spending package. But the package has had little ried” about the virus spreading in Two. They were removed from daily temperature checks of any- “We’ve kind of paused as far input from Republicans and is the White House. Nonetheless, of- the flight just before it took off, one who enters the White House as formal negotiations go,” Larry finding scant support, even as ficials said they were stepping up according to a senior administra- complex and has encouraged Kudlow, the director of the Na- some in the party support certain safety protocols for the complex. tion official. social distancing among those tional Economic Council, told provisions, including the local Pence spokeswoman Katie None of those people were working in the building. The ad- reporters Friday. He said the ad- aid. Miller, who tested positive Friday, exhibiting symptoms but were ministration has also directed ministration wanted to let the last Pelosi acknowledged Trump had been in recent contact with asked to deplane so they could regular deep cleaning of all work round of recovery funding kick in hasn’t been a party to the nego- Pence but not with the president. be tested “out of an abundance of spaces. Anyone who comes in before committing to hundreds tiations, telling CSPAN Friday, She is married to Stephen Miller, caution,” a senior administration close proximity to the president of billions or more in additional a top Trump adviser. The White “I don’t have any idea what the official told reporters traveling and vice president is tested daily spending. “Let’s have a look at House had no immediate com- president does.” with Pence. All six later tested for COVID-19. what the latest round produces, ment on whether Stephen Miller negative, the White House said. Trump’s valet’s case marked While Trump initially indi- give it a month or so to evaluate had been tested or if he was still The official said staff in the the first known instance , where cated he’d be amenable to help- that.” working in the White House. West Wing are tested regularly a person who has come in close ing state and local governments, Kudlow added that talks were Katie Miller had tested nega- but much of Pence’s staff — which proximity to the president has in a “lull” and that administration he’s increasingly listening to tive Thursday, a day before her works next door in the Executive tested positive , since several officials and legislators would conservative voices within his positive result. Office Building — are tested less people present at his private “regroup” in the next several administration and on Capitol “This is why the whole concept frequently. Katie Miller was not Florida club were diagnosed with weeks. Hill arguing it would be an un- of tests aren’t necessarily great,” on the plane and had not been COVID-19 in early March. Still, White House aides are warranted “bailout” for “fiscally drawing up a wish list for a future irresponsible ” jurisdictions. spending bill, including a payroll Senate Majority Leader Mitch tax cut, liability protection for McConnell also said it’s time to Five companies exhorted to repay loans businesses that reopen and po- press “pause” on more spending tentially billions in infrastructure as Congress assesses the unprec- spending. edented outlays so far. Republi- BY MARY CLARE JALONICK The letters were sent to EVO “We did not intend for these Kudlow added that the White cans argue the top priority in the AND MATTHEW DALY Transportation & Energy Servic- funds to be used by large corpo- House was also considering al- next package should be approv- Associated Press es Inc., a transportation operator rations that have a substantial in- lowing businesses to immediately ing liability protections to shield in Arizona; Gulf Island Fabrica- vestor base and access to capital expense the costs of modifiying businesses that re open from what WASHINGTON — A Demo- tion Inc., a manufacturer of ma- markets,” the Democrats wrote. their facilities to accommodate he warns will be an “epidemic” of cratic-led subcommittee over- rine vessels used in the energy Almost 50 public companies seeing federal coronavirus aid is the public safety measures nec- lawsuits. sector based in Texas; MiMedx have already pledged to return demanding that five companies essary to reopen. The notion was Trump aides believe they have Group Inc., a biopharmaceuti- money to the government’s emer- return loans the panel says should brought up on a call with House bought themselves some leverage cal company based in Georgia; gency lending program as the members advising the White have gone to smaller businesses. on the state and local assistance Quantum Corporation, a video treasury secretary has threatened House on reopening plans Thurs- The subcommittee led by Rep. matter with a rule change an- streaming and storage company criminal prosecutions for violat- day evening and drew bipartisan James Clyburn, D-S.C., sent let- nounced by the Treasury Depart- based in Silicon Valley, Calif.; and ing the rules. The administration support. ters Friday to the companies as Universal Stainless & Alloy Prod- has given companies until May “We’re in no rush ; we’re in no ment last week that allows states its first official action. The House rush,” Trump told reporters Fri- to use funding they received in voted last month to create the ucts Inc., a steel manufacturer 14 to give back money without day during an event with House early relief packages to assist panel over the objections of Re- based in Pennsylvania. penalty. The Small Business Ad- Republicans. He called on the first responders. publicans who say it is partisan The letters ask the companies ministration also says it will audit Democratic-controlled House to “States can use the money for and duplicative of other over- to respond by Monday to inform every loan exceeding $2 million, return to Washington, adding, policemen, firemen, first re- sight efforts around the federal the committee whether they and if problems are found, it will “We want to see what they have.” sponders, without limits,” Trea- government. are returning the money and by withhold the program’s offer to The emerging Democratic bill sury Secretary Steven Mnuchin The panel said the companies what date. They say that the law forgive the loan. is expected to include eye-pop- told Fox Sunday. they contacted received loans of providing the aid was passed by MiMedx Group Inc. said Fri- ping sums, centered on nearly $1 He added, “But the president is $10 million or more, are all pub- Congress to be a lifeline for small day that it would be repaying its trillion that states and cities are very clear: We’re looking to help lic, have more than 600 employ- businesses who might be forced loan. None of the other four com- seeking to prevent mass layoffs states, but we’re not bailing out ees and have a stock market value to lay off employees or shut down panies immediately returned a as governments reel from the states’ finances.” of more than $25 million. entirely. request for comment. Sunday, May 10, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 7 VIRUS OUTBREAK Face masks become a political statement

Associated Press wearing one would “send the wrong mes- sage,” according to one administration and WASHINGTON — The decision to wear two campaign officials not authorized to a mask in public is becoming a political publicly discuss private conversations. The statement — a moment to pick sides in a president said doing so would make it seem brewing culture war over containing the like he is preoccupied with health instead coronavirus. of focused on reopening the nation’s econ- While not yet as loaded as a “Make omy — which his aides believe is the key to America Great Again” hat, the mask is his reelection chances in November. increasingly a visual shorthand for a de- bate pitting those willing to follow health Moreover, Trump, who is known to be officials’ guidance and cover their faces especially cognizant of his appearance on against those who feel it violates their television, has also told confidants that he freedom or buys into a threat they think is fears he would look ridiculous in a mask overblown. and the image would appear in negative That resistance is fueled by some of the ads, according to one of the officials. same people who object to other virus re- “It’s a vanity thing, I guess, with him,” strictions. The push back has been stoked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said of Trump by President Donald Trump — he didn’t on MSNBC. “You’d think, as the president wear a mask during a Tuesday appear- of the United States, you would have the ance at a facility making them — and some confidence to honor the guidance he’s giv- other Republicans, who have flouted rules ing the country.” and questioned the value of masks. It’s a That’s left those around him unsure of development that has worried experts as how to proceed. White House aides say the Americans are increasingly returning to president hasn’t told them not to wear them, public spaces. but few do. Some Republican allies have “There’s such a strong culture of indi- asked Trump’s campaign how it would be vidualism that, even if it’s going to help viewed by the White House if they were protect them, people don’t want the govern- spotted wearing a mask, according to two ment telling them what to do,” said Linsey campaign officials who spoke on condition Marr, a Virginia Tech engineering profes- of anonymity because they weren’t autho- sor with experience in airborne transmis- rized to discuss private conversations. sion of viruses. Meanwhile, Trump’s reelection cam- Inconclusive science and shifting fed- paign has ordered red Trump-branded eral guidance have no doubt muddied the masks for supporters and is considering political debate. Health officials initially giving them away at events or in return said wearing masks was unnecessary, for donations. But some advisers are con- especially amid a shortage of protective cerned the president will later sour on the materials. But last month, the Centers for idea, according to one campaign official. Disease Control and Prevention began That uncertainty was on display last recommending wearing cloth masks in week, when Vice President Mike Pence public to prevent transmitting the virus to went maskless at the Mayo Clinic in Min- others. nesota. He later acknowledged he should Whether Americans are embracing the have worn one and did use a mask during a change may depend on their political party. subsequent trip to a ventilator plant. While most other protective measures like The issue has been far less fraught for social distancing get broad bipartisan sup- Democrats, whose presumptive presiden- port, Democrats are more likely than Re- tial nominee, Joe Biden, has said he wears public