Volume 78, No. 245B ©SS 2020 CONTINGENCY EDITION SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2020 stripes.com Free to Deployed Areas US ponders CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK response to increase in Iraq attacks LOUISA LOVELUCK AND MISSY RYAN The Washington Post Iran-backed militias are be- coming more audacious in attack- ing U.S. personnel in Iraq, with rocket strikes against military bases occurring more frequently and, for the first time, in broad daylight. U.S. officials say they are re- ceiving near-daily reports of “im- minent” attacks planned against U.S.-linked military or diplomatic facilities. But the question of how to deter further militia strikes without putting troops at greater risk highlights how much Ameri- can security and influence have evaporated in Iraq. In the two weeks since the U.S. carried out bombing raids outside Baghdad to avenge a rocket attack north of the capital that killed a Briton and two Americans, the Trump administration has been wres- tling with what additional steps to take to confront the militias with- out sparking costly retaliation. Assistant Secretary of State Navy has been hit particularly hard by virus crisis for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker told reporters last week that the U.S. would “take what BY LOLITA C. BALDOR ‘ steps that we see necessary” to AND ROBERT BURNS The Navy is headed into choppy waters in terms retaliate for militia violence. But Associated Press of readiness in the months ahead. the administration remains di- ’ vided over how, or even when, to WASHINGTON — The Navy, the mili- retired Adm. James Stavridis strike back. tary service hit hardest by the coronavi- former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe “This may ultimately come rus, scrambled to contain its first at-sea down to how much risk the presi- outbreak, with at least two dozen infected dent is willing to accept in Iraq aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, one of required, but the sudden setback is seen as damental shift from fighting insurgent and before our presence there be- 11 active aircraft carriers whose mission is a harbinger of more trouble to come. extremist conflicts in the Middle East to a comes too much of a burden,” central to the Pentagon’s strategy for deter- “The Navy is headed into choppy waters return to “great power competition.” That said a U.S. official. ring war with China and Iran. in terms of readiness in the months ahead,” means, principally, a bigger focus on China, SEE RESPONSE ON PAGE 4 The Roosevelt and its contingent of war- says retired Adm. James Stavridis, a for- including its militarization of disputed areas planes may be sidelined for days, sitting mer ship commander who rose to become of the South China Sea. pier side in Guam as the entire crew — more NATO’s top commander in Europe. The carrier, like other Navy ships, is than 5,000 — is tested. Navy leaders say the In Asia, a carrier presence is central to Report: DOD carrier could return to duty at any time if what the Pentagon has identified as a fun- SEE WALLOP ON PAGE 6 needs to step up Above: Aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt sails in formation in the Pacific on Tuesday. At least two dozen sailors have reportedly housing oversight, been infected with COVID-19 aboard the carrier, potentially sidelining it for days as the entire crew — more than 5,000 — is tested. communication JOMARK A. ALMAZAN/U.S. Navy Page 3 ONLINE VIRUS OUTBREAK MOVIES For all the latest news Amid crisis, Trump Five pandemic movies on the worldwide virus signs $2.2 trillion to watch – or avoid – pandemic, check out aid bill into law while stuck in isolation stripes.com/Coronavirus Page 7 Page 12 Baseball willing to extend season as long as necessary » MLB, Page 21 PAGE 2 •STARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, March 29, 2020 BUSINESS/WEATHER EXCHANGE RATES Military rates Switzerland (Franc)............................0.9625 Stocks close lower following big 3-day rally Euro costs (March 30) ......................... $1.07 Thailand (Baht) .....................................32.60 Dollar buys (March 30) ....................€0.8852 Turkey (Lira) .........................................6.4482 British pound (March 30) ....................$1.20 (Military exchange rates are those Associated Press Japanese yen (March 30) ..................108.00 available to customers at military banking passed the House Friday afternoon and President South Korean won (March 30) ......1,186.00 Donald Trump signed it later in the day. The bill in- Commercial rates facilities in the country of issuance for Japan, South Korea, Germany, the Wall Street closed lower Friday but still notched Bahrain (Dinar) ....................................0.3767 cludes direct payments to households, aid to hard- Netherlands and the United Kingdom. For British pound .....................................$1.2242 big gains for the week as investors held out hope that nonlocal currency exchange rates (i.e., hit industries like airlines and support for small Canada (Dollar) ...................................1.4115 a $2 trillion rescue package will cushion business- businesses. Despite the help, analysts expect mar- China (Yuan) ........................................ 7.0959 purchasing British pounds in Germany), es and households from the economic devastation Denmark (Krone) ................................6.7943 check with your local military banking kets to remain turbulent until the outbreak begins Egypt (Pound) ....................................15.7526 facility. Commercial rates are interbank being caused by the coronavirus. to wane. Euro ........................................ $1.0982/0.9106 rates provided for reference when buying The S&P 500 closed 3.4% lower, but still climbed Even after the rally this week the market is still Hong Kong (Dollar) ............................. 7.7518 currency. All figures are foreign currencies 10.3% for the week, its biggest gain since March Hungary (Forint) .................................323.73 to one dollar, except for the British pound, down 25% from the peak it reached a month ago. Israel (Shekel) .....................................3.5893 which is represented in dollars-to-pound, 2009. That follows two weeks of relentless selling. The outbreak has forced widespread shutdowns that Japan (Yen) ...........................................108.48 and the euro, which is dollars-to-euro.) The Dow Jones Industrial Average’s 12.8% weekly Kuwait (Dinar) .....................................0.3090 INTEREST RATES has ground much of the U.S. economy to a halt. This Norway (Krone) .................................10.5958 gain was its biggest since 1938, thanks largely to week more than 3 million people filed for unemploy- Philippines (Peso)................................. 51.12 Prime rate ................................................3.25 Boeing, which climbed 70.5% this week. ment benefits, shattering previous records. It’s the Poland (Zloty) ..........................................4.13 Discount rate ..........................................0.25 Saudi Arabia (Riyal) ...........................3.7568 Federal funds market rate ................... 0.10 Stocks had soared over the previous three days first of what is sure to be many grim signs of the toll Singapore (Dollar) ..............................1.4343 3-month bill .............................................0.00 as the relief bill moved closer to becoming law. It the virus is taking on the economy. South Korea (Won) ..........................1,225.78 30-year bond ...........................................1.39 WEATHER OUTLOOK SUNDAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST SUNDAY IN EUROPE MONDAY IN THE PACIFIC Misawa 44/34 Kabul 64/43 Seoul 56/34 Baghdad 73/59 Kandahar 70/48 Osan Tokyo Mildenhall/ Drawsko 62/34 45/35 Lakenheath Pomorskie Busan 44/37 38/35 57/46 Iwakuni 52/47 Kuwait Bahrain Zagan Sasebo City 72/69 Brussels 43/36 Guam 79/65 44/38 Ramstein 57/49 81/78 Lajes, 43/34 Riyadh Doha Azores Stuttgart Pápa 84/66 85/71 59/56 41/37 56/43 Aviano/ Vicenza 56/44 Naples 57/50 Okinawa Morón 70/67 65/49 Sigonella Rota 58/42 The weather is provided by the Djibouti Souda Bay American Forces Network Weather Center, 86/77 62/51 59/54 2nd Weather Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. T O D A Y IN STRIPES American Roundup ..... 18 Comics ...................... 14 Crossword ................. 14 Movies ...................... 12 Music ....................15-16 Opinion ..................... 17 Sports .................. 20-24 Sunday, March 29, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 3 MILITARY GAO report says DOD needs to fix housing oversight BY ROSE L. THAYER was unreliable and potentially Stars and Stripes misleading. That included data collected The Defense Department needs from satisfaction surveys sent more home inspections on bases to residents as well as data from and stronger communication with maintenance request work orders military families to make certain obtained from the private compa- chronic complaints about issues nies — much of which was used to such as water leaks, mold and ro- report housing satisfaction rates dents are addressed, according to to Congress. a federal watchdog report. In May 2019, the Pentagon of- The Government Accountabil- ficials told Congress that priva- ity Office report was requested tized military housing scored by Congress to review ongoing an 87% satisfaction rate from TIMOTHY HAMLIN/U.S. Army military housing issues with mold residents based on a 2017 annual and pest infestations that plagued survey. But the GAO’s research some military families living on- found this statistic was calculated Into the breach base housing