Tuesday morning news - July 27, 2021

For WORLD Radio, I'm Kent Covington. 

Biden announces end of combat mission in Iraq by year’s end » President Biden said Monday the U.S. military’s combat mission in Iraq will end this year. Speaking at the White House, Biden said U.S. troops in Iraq will officially transition into a strictly support-based role.

BIDEN: It’s just to be available, to continue to train, to assist, to help and to deal with ISIS as it arrives. But we are not going to be by the end of the year in a combat mission.

The president spoke after a White House meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.

AL-KADHIMI: It’s a great honor to be here today with our American friends.

The prime minister said he was in Washington to discuss the strategic partnership between the two nations.

About 2,500 U.S. troops remain in Iraq. It’s unclear if the Pentagon will withdraw any more troops next year.

Air Force general warns about China military buildup » Another top military commander is sounding alarms about China’s military expansion. Speaking at an event in the Washington DC area Monday, Air Force Gen. John E. Hyten said the United States must keep pace with Beijing’s buildup.

HYTEN: They’re building a military, a military capability that is enormous. And they’re building new capabilities, new capabilities in nuclear, new capabilities in space, new capabilities in missiles, hypersonic missiles, new capabilities in cyber. And they’re doing all of this to challenge the United States.

He emphasized the best way to avoid future military conflict is to maintain the strongest possible military as a deterrent.

The Pentagon this week announced that it’s sending more than two-dozen F-22 stealth fighter jets to the western Pacific region to take part in a military exercise. Analysts say the deployment is much larger than usual and could be a show of force intended to send a message to China.

Infrastructure talks hit snags » Senators ran into new problems Monday as they raced to seal a bipartisan infrastructure deal.

Disputes have surfaced over how much money should go to public transit and water projects. The two sides also disagree over spending and wage requirements for highways, and other issues.

But White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said last minute wrangling is not unusual in Washington.

PSAKI: The president worked the phones all weekend and is continuing to. We’re encouraged as we reach the final issues that need to be worked out and are confident about the path forward.

Senate Republicans are also irked by recent comments from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She suggested that her chamber won’t pass a bipartisan bill unless Democrats also approve a separate and entirely partisan $3.5 trillion spending bill.

Democrats would use the Senate reconciliation process to push that through without any Republican votes.

Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell blasted that plan on Monday.

MCCONNELL: Washington Democrats, the big idea is to borrow, print, and spend our way to even more inflation and even higher costs for American families.

Adding to political complications, former President Donald Trump issued a statement Monday disparaging Senate Republicans for dealing with the Democrats on infrastructure.

NYC to require vaccines or testing for city workers » With new COVID-19 cases spiraling upward again, New York City will require its employees to either get vaccinated or receive regular tests.

Municipal workers—including teachers and police officers—will have to get a coronavirus vaccine by mid-September or get tested weekly for COVID-19.

Mayor Bill de Blasio…

DE BLASIO: This is about our recovery. This is about what we need to do to bring back New York City. This is about keeping people safe. This is about bringing back jobs. You name it.

The rule is expected to affect about 340,000 city employees.

The Sept. 13 deadline coincides with the start of public school, when the Democratic mayor has said he expects all pupils to be in classrooms full time.

Meantime, in Missouri, a public mask mandate is back in effect this week for the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County. The state’s Republican attorney general is suing over that mandate.

Savannah, Georgia also once again requires face coverings in public citing a—quote—“steep and alarming rise” in new COVID-19 infections.

Typhoon forces Olympic schedule changes » The Tokyo Olympics, which were delayed by the pandemic and opened under oppressive heat, are now facing another challenge: a typhoon.

The storm, arriving today, is forecast to disrupt at least some parts of the Games. But Japanese hosts say it’s nothing to panic about.

Masa Takaya is a spokesman for the Tokyo Olympics Organizing Committee. He said in U.S. terms, it’s a moderate tropical storm.

TAKAYA: In the US scale it is a 3-grade out of five. So you shouldn't be too much worried about that, but of course it is a typhoon in Japan. So you still have to maintain your precautions.

But archery, rowing and sailing have already adjusted their Tuesday schedules. Takaya said no other changes were expected.

I’m Kent Covington. For more news, features, and analysis, visit us at wng.org.

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