Tuesday, August 17, 2021 View web version
Today's Headlines
Page one

Politics

‘I stand squarely behind my decision.’ Biden defends withdrawal amid deadly chaos in Afghanistan

President Biden offered a defiant defense Monday of his decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, blaming the swift collapse of the Afghan government and chaotic scenes at the Kabul airport on the refusal of the country’s military to stand and fight in the face of the Taliban advance. Continue reading →

Politics

Democrats largely back Biden on Afghanistan but press for speedy evacuation of US personnel and allies

While Republicans have leveled intense criticism at the Biden administration for the chaotic withdrawal, most Democratic lawmakers from Massachusetts and elsewhere have either been silent or defended the president for doing the best he could with a military mess he inherited. Continue reading →

Metro

‘Anger, sadness, fear’: Veterans of Afghan war react to collapse

“This has been a triggering event for a lot of people,” said Jack Hammond, a retired Army brigadier general who is executive director of Home Base, the Boston-based program that works to heal the emotional and psychiatric effects of war. “It’s now reopening the wounds of so many.” Continue reading →

THE GREAT DIVIDE

Mass. leaders hope this school year will be back to normal — with no remote learning. Is that realistic?

Amid recent closures of local summer camps and classrooms in other states due to COVID-19 outbreaks affecting kids and staff, some parents, school leaders, and experts are questioning whether the state’s ban on remote learning may be unrealistic — and possibly unsafe. Continue reading →

Spotlight Follow-up

Legislators, advocates call for Mass. prison reforms after Spotlight investigation into excessive force allegations

The calls for reforms to the Massachusetts prison system come in response to a Boston Globe Spotlight story on Sunday that highlighted a raft of excessive force allegations by prisoners at the maximum-security Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in early 2020. Continue reading →

The Nation

Nation

Western states face first federal water cuts

US officials on Monday declared the first-ever water shortage from a river that serves 40 million people in the West, triggering cuts to some Arizona farmers next year amid a gripping drought. Continue reading →

Nation

Tropical Storm Fred bears down on Florida Panhandle

Tropical Storm Fred made landfall in the Florida Panhandle on Monday afternoon, lashing the Gulf Coast with powerful winds that could cause a dangerous storm surge, the National Hurricane Center said. Continue reading →

Politics

Costs of the Afghanistan war, in lives and dollars

At just short of 20 years, the now-ending US combat mission in Afghanistan was America’s longest war. Ordinary Americans tended to forget about it, and it received measurably less oversight from Congress than the Vietnam War did. But its death toll is in the many tens of thousands. And because the United States borrowed most of the money to pay for it, generations of Americans will be burdened by the cost of paying it off. Continue reading →

The World

World

Aid trickles to quake-ravaged Haitians as deaths exceed 1,400

Haitian civil defense officials raised the earthquake death toll to 1,419 on Monday, with nearly 7,000 injured, as heavy rains threatened to complicate rescue and aid efforts. Continue reading →

World

With the Taliban in control, uncertainty and fear grip Afghanistan

The day after the Taliban installed themselves in the presidential palace in Kabul, seizing control over Afghanistan two decades after being toppled from power by the US military, fears intensified Monday about a return to the Taliban’s brutal rule and the threat of reprisal killings. Continue reading →

World

Afghan military pilots flee, keeping aircraft, and themselves, from the Taliban

The US-supplied Afghan air force took to the skies for a final flight overnight Sunday to Monday — not to attack the Taliban, as it had so many times before, but to save some of its planes and pilots from capture as the insurgents took control of the country. Continue reading →

Editorial & Opinion

EDITORIAL

Chaotic US exit from Afghanistan demands swift action

Ending a 20-year war was never going to be pretty, but America’s allies in Afghanistan deserved better planning. President Biden and Congress must now protect them. Continue reading →

OPINION

The Taliban seizure of Afghanistan was long — and invisible — in the making

How do we suppose a ragtag militia lurking in the hills — as we’ve so often heard the Taliban described — managed to execute such a sophisticated campaign plan with no international support? Continue reading →

OPINION

Boston is getting vaccinated, but there is much more work to do

With 40 percent of East Boston residents, and nearly 60 percent of Mattapan residents not yet vaccinated, we must build trust so we can expand access to vaccines. Continue reading →

Metro

Metro

‘Anger, sadness, fear’: Veterans of Afghan war react to collapse

“This has been a triggering event for a lot of people,” said Jack Hammond, a retired Army brigadier general who is executive director of Home Base, the Boston-based program that works to heal the emotional and psychiatric effects of war. “It’s now reopening the wounds of so many.” Continue reading →

Metro

Sisters of woman fatally shot by Saugus police say the officers did not have to kill her

Stephanie Gerardi, 38, was fatally shot on Saturday after she allegedly confronted police in her home while brandishing a knife. Continue reading →

Health

UMass Medical Center reopens COVID-19 command center as cases rise

The move by the Worcester hospital portends struggles that may lie ahead throughout the health care system. Continue reading →

Sports

alex speier

Nate Eovaldi’s rare five-pitch repertoire is making the Red Sox starter into an elite pitcher

“When he’s painting, it’s like a video game,” Red Sox catcher Kevin Plawecki said. “Just put the fingers down.” Continue reading →

patriots

Cam Newton says he has not been told that he is the Patriots’ starting quarterback

It has been the assumption since the draft, and he has gotten the first-string reps, but he said Bill Belichick has not made it official to him. Continue reading →

dan shaughnessy

Yes, the Yankees have looked pretty bad at times this year. But still ...

Despite injuries, slumps, underperformance, and hideous blown saves, the Yankees managed to go 23-11 from July 6-Aug. 15. Continue reading →

Business

Innovation economy

Fidelity bites on bitcoin

For six years, Fidelity Investments has been laying the foundation for a major play in the world of cryptocurrency. Continue reading →

Business

State Street says goodbye to Manhattan offices, but does not intend to bail on Boston

The financial services firm says it remains on track to occupy part of the One Congress tower under construction. Continue reading →

Business

US will investigate Tesla’s autopilot system after crashes

The US government’s top auto-safety agency has opened a formal investigation of Tesla’s Autopilot driver-assistance system because of growing concerns that it can fail to see parked emergency vehicles. Continue reading →

Obituaries
Arts & Lifestyle

ASK MATTHEW

TV shows to warm the heart

“All Creatures Great and Small” is a wholesome treat, a phrase that is in many cases oxymoronic. Continue reading →

MUSIC REVIEW

Tanglewood’s last weekend: A tale of three traditions

Two were upheld, and one was noticeable in its absence. Continue reading →

Music

The origin of the ultimate New England garage band playlist

Decades after one Bostonian's quixotic effort to catalog the region's long-forgotten garage bands, another Bostonian transformed that work into a playlist. Continue reading →