SPORTS: COVID aftershocks MUSIC are still being felt Page 48 Dua Lipa, nominated for 6 Grammys, is GAMES: Mario takes an icon in the making an exciting turn Page 18 Page 16 AP predictions, Page 15 BOOKS: How the US lost the Pech Valley Page 27 stripes.com Volume 79 Edition 233 ©SS 2021 FRIDAY,MARCH 12, 2021 $1.00 VIRUS OUTBREAK Vaccinations are delayed for Army in Europe as cases rise BY JENNIFER H. SVAN Stars and Stripes KAISERSLAUTERN, Germa- ny — The largest U.S. military hospital overseas might have to cancel coronavirus vaccinations as of next week, as supplies dwin- dle and new deliveries are de- layed, it said. Most appointments to get a fol- low-up shot at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center near Ramstein Air Base could be canceled start- ing Tuesday morning and patients will be “rescheduled as soon as we are resupplied,” LRMC said in a LESS post on its Facebook page Wednesday. New supplies of the vaccine might not arrive for several weeks, it said. Only second doses are available for now, LRMC said. The delay contrasts with com- LUSTER mands in the U.S., the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East, sever- al of whom have recently received large vaccine shipments. PAOLO BOVO/U.S. Army The Landstuhl holdup could put U.S. Army paratroopers participate in an Eagle Sokol 21 exercise at Pocek Range in Postonja, Slovenia, on Tuesday. The Ronald Reagan some patients who have already Institute’s “National Defense Survey” showed declining trust in the military in the past three years. had the first dose of the Moderna vaccine outside the recommended BY SARAH CAMMARATA The institute started its “Nation- four-week time frame for a second Stars and Stripes Trust in the military is declining, al Defense Survey” in 2018 to bet- dose. WASHINGTON — The number ter understand how the public While military health leaders of Americans who have trust and views defense, foreign policy and are “working hard to find a way” confidence in the U.S. military has although its reputation remains national security topics, accord- to avoid having to cancel second- declined by 14% in the last three ing to the organization’s website. dose appointments, anyone who years, according to a new survey high, according to new survey It’s designed to inform elected of- does fall outside the window for released this week by the Ronald ficials and policymakers. Reagan Institute. fidence in the military is part of an The latest survey also found SEE EUROPE ON PAGE 7 Yet, the armed forces still top overall downturn in attitudes 56% confidence in law enforcement the list of the most respected insti- among the American people, it’s similarly dropped from 50% in tutions in the nation, the survey particularly alarming as a leading 2018 to 39% in 2021. RELATED Percentage of Americans who said DOD pushes more found. indicator of a diminishing national they had a “great deal of trust and However, “the military remains People who said they have a spirit,” said Rachel Hoff, policy conficence” in the military, according the most trusted institution by a vaccines to CENTCOM “great deal of trust and confi- director at the Ronald Reagan In- to a poll released by the Ronald large margin,” the report’s au- dence” in the military dropped stitute, a nonprofit organization Reagan Institute. The figure was 70% thors wrote in a summary of the after rise in virus cases from 70% in 2018 to 56% in 2021. dedicated to promoting Ronald in 2018. The armed forces topped the Page 7 “While declining trust and con- Reagan’s legacy. list of most trusted institutions. SEE LUSTER ON PAGE 6 PAGE 2 • STARS AND STRIPES • Friday, March 12, 2021 BUSINESS/WEATHER EUROPE GAS PRICES EXCHANGE RATES Country Super E10 Super unleaded Super plus Diesel Military rates South Korea (Won) 1133.79 Germany $3.046 $3.425 $3.685 $3.418 Azores .. .. $3.585 .. Switzerland (Franc) .9266 Euro costs (March 12) $1.17 Change in price +6.0 cents +6.6 cents +6.6 cents +7.1 cents Change in price .. .. +6.6 cents .. Thailand (Baht) 30.63 Dollar buys (March 12) 0.8149 Turkey (NewLira) 7.5244 Netherlands .. $3.847 $4.143 $3.928 Belgium .. $2.721 $2.952 $2.906 British pound (March 12) $1.36 Japanese yen (March 12) 106.00 Change in price .. +1.4 cents +0.9 cents ­2.8 cents Change in price .. No change No change No change (Military exchange rates are those available South Korean won (March 12) 1111.00 to customers at military banking facilities in the U.K. .. $3.324 $3.584 $3.317 Turkey .. .. $3.470 $3.871* Commercial rates country of issuance for Japan, South Korea, Ger­ Change in price .. +6.6 cents +6.6 cents +7.1 cents Change in price .. .. +6.6 cents +18.6 cents many, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Bahrain(Dinar) .3768 For nonlocal currency exchange rates (i.e., pur­ Britain (Pound) 1.3952 chasing British pounds in Germany), check with Canada (Dollar) 1.7921 your local military banking facility. Commercial China(Yuan) 6.4937 rates are interbank rates provided for reference PACIFIC GAS PRICES Denmark (Krone) 6.2301 Egypt (Pound) 15.7050 when buying currency. All figures are foreign Country Super E10 Super unleaded Super plus Diesel Euro .8378 currencies to one dollar, except for the British Japan .. $3.479 .. $3.209 South Korea $2.849 .. $3.489 $3.219 Hong Kong (Dollar) 7.7598 pound, which is represented in dollars­to­ pound, and the euro, which is dollars­to­euro.) Change in price .. +7.0 cents .. +7.0 cents Change in price +6.0 cents .. +7.0 cents +7.0 cents Hungary (Forint) 305.58 Israel (Shekel) 3.3066 Okinawa $2.839 .. .. $3.209 Guam $2.849 $3.229 $3.489 .. Japan (Yen) 108.62 INTEREST RATES Kuwait(Dinar) .3024 Change in price +6.0 cents .. .. +7.0 cents Change in price +6.0 cents +7.0 cents +7.0 cents .. Norway (Krone) 8.4581 Prime rate 3.25 Philippines (Peso) 48.49 Interest Rates Discount rate 0.75 *DieselEFD **Midgrade Poland (Zloty) 3.84 Federal funds market rate 0.04 Saudi Arabia (Riyal) 3.7506 3­month bill 0.04 For the week of March 12­18 Singapore (Dollar) 1.3421 30­year bond 2.24 WEATHER OUTLOOK FRIDAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST FRIDAY IN EUROPE SATURDAY IN THE PACIFIC Misawa 42/33 Kabul Seoul 50/42 53/38 Baghdad 64/60 Tokyo Drawsko Osan Kandahar Mildenhall/ 53/39 49/44 77/43 Pomorskie Busan Lakenheath 43/39 54/46 48/37 Iwakuni Kuwait City Bahrain 54/50 Brussels Zagan Sasebo Guam 78/71 83/70 Ramstein 47/40 55/51 48/39 47/37 84/80 Riyadh Lajes, 95/72 Doha Azores Stuttgart 98/68 59/54 47/39 Pápa Aviano/ 52/41 Vicenza 51/38 Naples 57/49 Okinawa Morón 66/62 66/44 Sigonella Rota 61/41 The weather is provided by the Djibouti 62/46 Souda Bay American Forces Network Weather Center, 84/75 54/50 2nd Weather Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. TODAY IN STRIPES American Roundup ..... 36 Classified .................... 37 Comics ................... 38-39 Crossword ............. 38-39 Faces .......................... 35 Opinion ....................... 40 Sports .................... 41-48 Friday, March 12, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 3 PACIFIC Navy sails Taiwan Strait; command talks China plans BY CAITLIN DOORNBOS gic ambiguity has helped keep Stars and Stripes Taiwan in its current status,” he YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, said. “But you know, these things Japan — The Navy sent its third should be reconsidered routinely. warship in a little over a month I’d look forward to the conversa- through the Taiwan Strait on tion.” Wednesday, just a day after Indo- Some lawmakers have called Pacific Command’s leader for closer relations with Taiwan. warned legislators of China’s in- Late in 2020, Sen. Marco Rubio, tent on overtaking Taiwan. R-Fla., and Sen. Jeff Merkley, D- The guided-missile destroyer Ore., introduced the Taiwan Rela- USS John Finn steamed through tions Reinforcement Act to “up- the 110-mile-wide strait that sep- date U.S. policy toward Taiwan to arates China from Taiwan to better reflect the realities on the “demonstrate the U.S. commit- ground,” Rubio’s office said in a ment to a free and open Indo-Pa- statement Oct. 20. JACKIE SANDERS/U.S. Air Force cific,” 7th Fleet spokesman Lt. In a press conference Thurs- Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks with reporters aboard the USS Nimitz off the California coast last Mark Langford said in a state- day, Pentagon spokesman John month. He begins his first overseas trip Saturday with visits to key allies and partners in the Indo­Pacific. ment Thursday morning. Kirby said Defense Secretary “The United States military Lloyd Austin “believes it’s in no will continue to fly, sail and oper- one’s interest” for conflict to oc- Austin chooses Indo-Pacific region for ate anywhere international law cur over Taiwan. allows,” he said, employing a “There’s no reason for that to phrase often used by Navy offi- happen,” Kirby said. “We take 1st overseas trip as defense secretary cials following such operations. our responsibilities to Taiwan se- BY WYATT OLSON interested in aggression,” he Eui-yong and Minister of De- Beijing considers reunification riously, as has administrations bi- Stars and Stripes said. fense Suh Wook. with Taiwan a top priority and partisan and legislators biparti- Defense Secretary Lloyd Aus- Austin will first stop in Ha- The meeting is intended to regularly protests Taiwan Strait san for many, many years.” tin begins his first overseas trip waii, which is headquarters for underscore America’s “iron- transits, claiming foreign vessels Still, Kirby said Austin is Saturday with visits to key allies Indo-Pacific Command, Pacific clad commitment” to the secu- must first ask permission before “treating China as the pacing and partners in the Indo-Pacif- Fleet, Marine Forces Pacific, rity of South Korea and empha- passing through.