ALCS MILITARY Rays top Astros Report: Trump tells Army prioritizes people to move within one Pentagon to devise a in new action plan to win of World Series plan to leave Somalia reduce stress on soldiers Back page Page 7 Page 4 Marines relieve commander following AAV training accident » Page 3 stripes.com Volume 79, No. 129 ©SS 2020 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 50¢/Free to Deployed Areas Growing threat Danger from nuclear weapons and missiles has increased since Trump entered office BY PAUL SONNE The unveiling of the untested weapon alded an era of “great power competition” with A military parade The Washington Post — which appeared to be a larger version of a China and Russia, resulting in a competitive with what appears North Korean missile that can reach the United buildup that arms-control advocates warn is to be a possible orth Korea’s new road-mobile inter- States — came less than a week after Russia test risking a full-blown arms race. new solid-fuel continental ballistic missile, paraded launched an anti-ship hypersonic cruise missile Russia is developing nuclear-armed underwa- missile is seen through the streets of Pyongyang ter drones, nuclear-powered cruise missiles and at the Kim Il this past weekend, has underscored a on President Vladimir Putin’s birthday and a N month and a half after China test fired its “car- other destabilizing weapons designed to pen- Sung Square in worrying reality: The global threat from nucle- etrate U.S. missile defenses. China is ramping Pyongyang on ar weapons and menacing missiles has grown rier killer” and “Guam killer” ballistic missiles up its missile force and building out its nuclear Saturday . since President Donald Trump entered office, into the disputed South China Sea. despite his administration’s fitful efforts to con- The situation presents a broader challenge to capabilities with new nuclear submarines. KRT/AP trol them. the United States. The administration has her- SEE THREAT ON PAGE 6 Taliban attacks in Helmand spur Afghans’ fears about a hasty US withdrawal BY PHILLIP WALTER WELLMAN troops could leave the country by next nor Mohammad Yasin Khan said in a state- attacks in Helmand, which began Sunday, AND ZUBAIR BABAKARKHAIL spring, and jeopardizing month-old peace ment Wednesday. and the U.S. launched days of airstrikes Stars and Stripes talks with the government. Peace talks between the Afghan govern- against the militant group, something The Taliban spent six months planning ment and the militants, which were called it has done sparingly since signing the KABUL, Afghanistan — A deadly Tal- the attacks targeting Helmand’s capital for in an agreement the Taliban signed agreement, which calls for the militants iban offensive in Afghanistan’s Helmand and other districts, in which hundreds of with the U.S. in February, were delayed for not to attack U.S. and other coalition forces province has drawn a crescendo of accu- militants, troops and civilians have been an equal amount of time, during which vio- but does not explicitly bar them from at- sations that the militant group is openly killed or injured, and thousands have been lence has erupted in the country. tacking Afghan troops and cities. U.S. flouting a deal under which all American forced from their homes, provincial gover- Afghan troops were deployed to quell the SEE TALIBAN ON PAGE 8 PAGE 2 F3HIJKLM •STARS AND STRIPES• Thursday, October 15, 2020 BUSINESS/WEATHER EXCHANGE RATES Walmart to spread out its Black Friday deals Military rates Switzerland (Franc)............................0.9135 Euro costs (Oct. 15) ..............................$1.15 Thailand (Baht) ..................................... 31.11 Dollar buys (Oct. 15) ........................€0.8287 Turkey (Lira) .........................................7.9157 British pound (Oct. 15) ........................$1.27 (Military exchange rates are those BY ANNE D’INNOCENZIO tonville, Ark., will kick off the said that their Black Friday deals Japanese yen (Oct. 15) ......................103.00 available to customers at military banking South Korean won (Oct. 15) ..........1,118.00 facilities in the country of issuance Associated Press deals online Nov. 4, with new deals will be spread out and will en- Commercial rates for Japan, South Korea, Germany, the Bahrain (Dinar) ....................................0.3771 in stores on Nov. 7. The second courage more online shopping, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. For British pound .....................................$1.3038 NEW YORK — Walmart says it nonlocal currency exchange rates (i.e., event will begin online Nov. 11, but none have given specific Canada (Dollar) ...................................1.3133 purchasing British pounds in Germany), will spread out its traditional one- followed by a similar sales event details. China (Yuan) ........................................6.7184 check with your local military banking Denmark (Krone) ................................6.3286 day Black Friday deals over three in stores Nov. 14. It will wrap up “If the deal is right, customers facility. Commercial rates are interbank Egypt (Pound) ....................................15.6559 weekends in November in an ef- its discounts online Nov. 25 with are willing to shop earlier,” Scott Euro ........................................ $1.1762/0.8502 rates provided for reference when buying fort to reduce crowds in its stores Hong Kong (Dollar) .............................7.7501 currency. All figures are foreign currencies new discounts in stores Nov. 27, McCall, chief merchandising of- to one dollar, except for the British pound, during a pandemic. Hungary (Forint) .................................308.74 the day after Thanksgiving and ficer at Walmart, told The Associ- Israel (Shekel) .....................................3.3762 which is represented in dollars-to-pound, The nation’s largest retailer the traditional Black Friday. ated Press. Japan (Yen) ...........................................105.20 and the euro, which is dollars-to-euro.) said Wednesday that more of its The details offer the first McCall noted that many of Kuwait (Dinar) .....................................0.3059 INTEREST RATES Norway (Krone) ...................................9.1877 doorbuster deals will be reserved glimpse from a major retailer of the holiday items destined for Philippines (Peso).................................48.64 Prime rate ................................................3.25 for online, as a way to steer more what a reinvented Black Friday the stores were rerouted to the Poland (Zloty) ..........................................3.83 Discount rate ..........................................0.25 Saudi Arabia (Riyal) ...........................3.7511 Federal funds market rate ...................0.09 shoppers away from its stores. will look like during a pandemic. e-commerce fulfillment centers Singapore (Dollar) ..............................1.3559 3-month bill ............................................. 0.11 The discounter, based in Ben- Other retailers like Macy’s have because of the pandemic. South Korea (Won) ..........................1,145.48 30-year bond ...........................................1.52 WEATHER OUTLOOK THURSDAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST THURSDAY IN EUROPE FRIDAY IN THE PACIFIC Misawa 55/47 Kabul 70/41 Seoul 67/46 Baghdad 94/61 Kandahar 76/39 Osan Tokyo Mildenhall/ Drawsko 61/46 54/51 Lakenheath Pomorskie Busan 55/46 53/49 69/56 Iwakuni 67/62 Kuwait Bahrain Zagan Sasebo City 88/83 Brussels 50/46 Guam 91/67 49/44 Ramstein 68/63 85/82 Lajes, 46/42 Riyadh Doha Azores Stuttgart Pápa 88/57 92/73 70/67 47/42 52/40 Aviano/ Vicenza 49/44 Naples 67/64 Okinawa Morón 79/76 73/48 Sigonella Rota 72/56 The weather is provided by the Djibouti Souda Bay American Forces Network Weather Center, 92/76 68/54 75/68 2nd Weather Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. T O D A Y IN STRIPES American Roundup ..... 15 Classified .................. 13 Comics ...................... 18 Crossword ................. 18 Faces ........................ 16 Opinion ..................... 17 Sports .................. 19-24 Thursday, October 15, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• F3HIJKLM PAGE 3 MILITARY Marines relieve leader of unit that lost 9 BY CAITLIN DOORNBOS deadliest involving an assault am- The assault amphibious vehicle data which formed the basis for assault amphibious vehicle is still Stars and Stripes phibious vehicle in Marine Corps began taking on water on its way Heckl’s decision, it is still ongoing in development. history, the back to the amphibious transport as the Marine Corps continues to A Marine Expeditionary Unit The Marine Corps has fired the service said. dock Somerset around 5:45 p.m., investigate, assess all relevant in- is composed of about 2,200 Ma- battalion commander whose unit Fifteen according to the Marine Corps. formation, and take appropriate rines and sailors broken into four lost nine service members when Marines and The sailor and eight Marines actions,” the statement said. elements. an assault amphibious vehicle a sailor were died; seven Marines were res- While details about the specific Its battalion landing team sank during a July training ac- aboard the cued. Two investigations into the vehicle involved in the accident cident off the Southern California 26-ton vehi- incident are underway by I MEF are not yet known, such vehicles consists of light armored recon- coast. cle on July 30 and the Naval Safety Center. have been in service since the naissance vehicles, artillery and Lt. Col. Michael J. Regner was when it sank Lt. Gen. Karsten