A5
THE ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021
US to withdraw troops from
Afghanistan by Sept. 11
By AAMER MADHANI and
MATTHEW LEE
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden
said Wednesday he will withdraw remain-
ing U.S. troops from the “forever war” in
Afghanistan, declaring that the Sept. 11,
2001, attacks cannot justify American forces
still being there 20 years after the deadliest
terror assault on the United States.
His plan is to pull out all American forces
— numbering 2,500 now — by Sept. 11, the
anniversary of the attacks, which were coor-
dinated from Afghanistan.
The U.S. cannot continue to pour
resources into an intractable war and expect
diff erent results, Biden said.
The drawdown would begin rather than
conclude by May 1, which has been the dead-
line for full withdrawal under a peace agree-
ment the Trump administration reached with
the Taliban last year.
“It is time to end America’s longest war,”
Biden said, but he added that the U.S. will
“not conduct a hasty rush to the exit.”
“We cannot continue the cycle of extend-
ing or expanding our military presence in
Afghanistan hoping to create the ideal con-
ditions for our withdrawal, expecting a dif-
ferent result,” said Biden, who delivered
his address from the White House Treaty
Room, the same location where former Pres-
ident George W. Bush announced the start of
the war. “I am now the fourth United States
president to preside over an American troop
presence in Afghanistan. Two Republicans.
Two Democrats. I will not pass this respon-
sibility to a fi fth.”
The decision marks perhaps the most sig-
nifi cant foreign policy decision for Biden in
the early going of his presidency.
He’s long been skeptical about the U.S.
presence in Afghanistan. As former Presi-
dent Barack Obama’s vice president, Biden
was a lonely voice in the administration who
advised the 44th president to tilt towards a
smaller counterterrorism role in the country
while military advisers were urging a troop
buildup to counter Taliban gains. Biden has
also made clear he wants to recalibrate U.S.
foreign policy to face bigger challenges
posed by China and Russia.
Withdrawing all U.S. troops comes with
clear risks. It could boost the Taliban’s eff ort
to claw back power and undo gains toward
democracy and women’s rights made over
the past two decades. It also opens Biden
to criticism, mostly Republicans and some
Democrats, even though former Presi-
dent Donald Trump had also wanted a full
withdrawal.
“This administration has decided to
abandon U.S. eff orts in Afghanistan which
have helped keep radical Islamic terrorism
OBITUARIES
Katelynn Renee Tamez
Warrenton
June 17, 2003 — April 9, 2021
Katelynn Renee Tamez was born on parents, aunts and uncles, as well as a large
June 17, 2003, in Granbury, Texas, and was extended family.
All are invited to join her fam-
the beloved daughter of Darla
ily for a graveside service on Fri-
Bishop and Dan Tamez, and died
day at 2 p.m. at Evergreen Cem-
in Portland on April 9, 2021.
etery on Beerman Creek Road in
She had attended Seaside
Seaside.
High School where she was a
Friends have established a
cheerleader and an awesome vol-
GoFundMe page to assist her
leyball player.
family with memorial expenses
She loved music and the
for those who would like to
outdoors. She was an amaz-
contribute.
ing mother, daughter and
Ocean View Funeral & Cre-
granddaughter.
Katelynn Tamez
mation Service of Astoria is
In addition to her parents,
in charge of the cremation and
she is survived by her precious
daughter, Aviana, her brother, sister, grand- burial arrangements.
Offi cer will be charged in
Black motorist shooting
Andrew Harnik/AP Photo
President Joe Biden visited Arlington National
Cemetery in Virginia on Wednesday after
announcing the withdrawal of the remainder
of U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11.
in check,” said Senate Republican leader
Mitch McConnell. “And bizarrely, they have
decided to do so by September 11th.”
While Biden’s decision keeps U.S. forces
in Afghanistan four months longer than
initially planned, it sets a fi rm end to two
decades of war that killed more than 2,200
U.S. troops, wounded 20,000, and cost as
much as $1 trillion.
Biden spoke with Afghanistan President
Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday ahead of his
speech. The White House said in a state-
ment that Biden told Ghani the United States
would continue to support the Afghan peo-
ple through development, humanitarian and
security assistance.
“The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
respects the U.S. decision, and we will work
with our U.S. partners to ensure a smooth
transition,” Ghani said in a Twitter posting.
Biden spoke with Bush ahead of announc-
ing his decision. He also spoke with allies,
military leaders, lawmakers and Vice Pres-
ident Kamala Harris to help make his deci-
sion, according to the White House.
He emphasized that his administration
will continue to support peace talks between
the Afghan government and the Taliban and
assist international eff orts to train the Afghan
military.
creates an unreasonable risk or consciously
takes chances to cause the death of a person.
Asked how he arrived at the charging
decision, Orput said: “I think it’ll be evident
BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. — A when you read the complaint,” which was
prosecutor said Wednesday that he will not yet available.
Potter, 48, was arrested Wednesday
charge a white former suburban Minneapo-
morning at the Bureau of Criminal
lis police offi cer with second-degree
Apprehension in St. Paul. Her attor-
manslaughter for killing 20-year-old
ney did not immediately respond to
Black motorist Daunte Wright in a
messages from the Associated Press.
shooting that ignited days of unrest
Potter and Police Chief Tim Gan-
and clashes between protesters and
non both resigned Tuesday.
police.
In Portland, police declared a
The charge against former Brook-
riot for the second night in a row
lyn Center police Offi cer Kim Potter
Kim Potter
Tuesday after a crowd of about 100
was set to be fi led Wednesday, three
people set out on a “direct action”
days after Wright was killed during
a traffi c stop and as the nearby murder trial march from Kenton Park to the Portland
progresses for the ex-offi cer charged with Police Association offi ce — where fi res
killing George Floyd last May, Washington were ignited in reaction to Wright’s death.
One person was arrested and charged with
County Attorney Pete Orput said.
The former Brooklyn Center police chief second-degree arson, Portland police said.
has said that Potter, a 26-year veteran and In Seattle, three people face charges after
training offi cer, intended to use her Taser on demonstrators gathered outside the Seat-
Wright but fi red her handgun instead. How- tle Police Department’s West Precinct for
ever, protesters and Wright’s family mem- a vigil for Wright, police said. Two people
bers say there’s no excuse for the shooting were arrested for graffi ti and another for
and it shows how the justice system is tilted obstruction, police said.
The Star Tribune reported that concrete
against Blacks, noting Wright was stopped
for expired car registration and ended up barricades and tall metal fencing had been
set up around Potter’s home in Champlin,
dead.
Intent isn’t a necessary component of sec- north of Brooklyn Center, with police cars
ond-degree manslaughter in Minnesota. The guarding the driveway. After Floyd’s death
charge — which carries a maximum penalty last year, protesters demonstrated several
of 10 years in prison — can be applied in cir- times at the home of Derek Chauvin, the
cumstances where a person is suspected of former Minneapolis offi cer now on trial in
causing a death by “culpable negligence” that Floyd’s death.
By SCOTT BAUER
and MIKE HOUSEHOLDER
Associated Press
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SEVENDAY FORECAST FOR ASTORIA
TODAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
REGIONAL FORECAST
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
Seattle
66 45
73 48
72 46
65 43
Mostly sunny
Mostly sunny
Sunny and mild Sunny and mild
and nice
and mild
62 44
57 43
58 42
High clouds;
pleasant
Showers
possible
Chance of a
shower
Aberdeen
Olympia
71/45
72/47
Wenatchee
Tacoma
Moses
Lake
72/38
ALMANAC
UNDER THE SKY
TODAY'S TIDES
Astoria through Tuesday
Tonight’s Sky: Hercules, the
Hero, emerging in the east after
sunset.
Astoria / Port Docks
Temperatures
High/low ................................ 65/48
Normal high/low .................. 56/41
Record high .................. 82 in 1926
Record low .................... 29 in 1968
Precipitation
Tuesday ................................... 0.00”
Month to date ........................ 0.34”
Normal month to date ......... 2.52”
Year to date .......................... 33.15”
Normal year to date ........... 27.36”
Forecasts and graphics provided by
AccuWeather, Inc. ©2021
Time
3:21 a.m.
4:43 p.m.
8.1 10:23 a.m. 0.1
6.5 10:07 p.m. 2.7
Cape Disappointment
3:04 a.m.
4:11 p.m.
Source: Jim Todd, OMSI
Hammond
SUN AND MOON
Sunrise today .................. 6:29 a.m.
Sunset tonight ............... 8:03 p.m.
Moonrise today .............. 8:19 a.m.
Moonset today ............ 12:00 a.m.
First
Full
Last
New
3:12 a.m.
4:27 p.m.
Warrenton
3:16 a.m.
4:38 p.m.
Knappa
3:58 a.m.
5:20 p.m.
Depoe Bay
Apr 19 Apr 26 May 3 May 11
2:15 a.m.
3:31 p.m.
7.9 9:31 a.m.
6.5 9:20 p.m.
0.1
3.1
8.2 9:51 a.m. -0.1
6.7 9:39 p.m. 2.8
8.5 10:07 a.m. 0.2
6.9 9:51 p.m. 2.8
8.4 11:24 a.m. 0.0
6.8 11:08 p.m. 2.3
8.1 9:02 a.m.
6.7 8:49 p.m.
0.0
3.2
City
Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Dallas
Denver
Honolulu
Houston
Los Angeles
Miami
New York City
Phoenix
San Francisco
Wash., DC
Today
Hi/Lo/W
Fri.
Hi/Lo/W
70/48/pc
50/42/c
54/38/pc
66/56/c
43/27/sh
82/67/pc
74/63/sh
67/54/pc
83/67/s
54/41/r
82/59/pc
63/49/s
65/45/pc
68/52/pc
46/39/r
54/39/c
63/48/t
39/23/sn
81/67/pc
75/60/t
72/56/pc
90/70/s
52/42/r
85/60/pc
63/50/pc
61/44/c
Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy,
c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms,
r-rain, sf-snow fl urries, sn-snow, i-ice.
68/40
Hermiston
The Dalles 70/35
Enterprise
Pendleton 57/27
64/38
74/41
La Grande
61/31
73/43
NATIONAL CITIES
High (ft.) Time Low (ft.)
63/37
Kennewick Walla Walla
66/41 Lewiston
72/37
76/42
Salem
Pullman
71/43
Longview
66/45 Portland
75/48
65/41
Yakima 73/45
74/40
Astoria
Spokane
72/46
Corvallis
73/41
Albany
73/41
John Day
Eugene
Bend
73/40
60/32
61/33
Ontario
67/40
Caldwell
Burns
62/29
64/35
Medford
74/42
Klamath Falls
61/29
City
Baker City
Brookings
Ilwaco
Newberg
Newport
Today
Hi/Lo/W
62/29/pc
58/43/s
64/47/s
74/46/s
61/45/s
Fri.
Hi/Lo/W
64/29/s
60/46/s
67/51/s
79/46/s
66/47/s
City
North Bend
Roseburg
Seaside
Springfi eld
Vancouver
Today
Hi/Lo/W
61/42/s
76/43/s
68/45/s
75/41/s
75/46/s
Fri.
Hi/Lo/W
63/45/s
82/45/s
74/52/s
82/44/s
81/45/s