U.S. MARINE interacting with Afghan children in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in 2011. (Defense Department photo).

Twenty years to the day of the “9/11” attack on the United States, American forces will be withdrawn from Afghanistan. According to The New York Times, the White House made that announcement Tuesday. Sept. 11, 2021 will be the 20-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington that brought U.S armed forces into that remote mountain state.

American forces invaded that country because the ruling Taliban regime there sheltered the Al Qaeda terrorist group accused of planning and carrying out the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The U.S, was joined by troops from Canada and other nations, but Americans are the last military force remaining.

Over 3,000 people were killed and America entered what’s been called the “Forever War.” Security there is being turned over to the Afghan government.

News: After incident, cop, chief resign

THE OFFICER who fatally shot a Black man Sunday in Minnesota intended to use a stun gun, instead of a firearm, according to her chief (Shutterstock).

Two days after an incident in which a Black motorist was fatally shot by a white police officer in a suburb of Minneapolis, the officer who fired the shot and the chief of police there resigned their jobs.  According to the Associated Press, Office Kim Potter, who claimed she thought she was using a Taser stun gun instead of a firearm, and Chief Tim Gannon quit their jobs with the Brooklyn Center Police Department. Killed on Sunday was Daunte Wright, 20, during a traffic stop.

Pinning of suspect justified? A use-of-force expert called by the defense in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin said that the defendant was justified in pinning George Floyd to the ground and kneeling on his neck for at least eight minutes.

Barry Brodd, a former Santa Rosa, California police officer, told the court that the use of force was “objectively reasonable” because Floyd was still moving.

Business: J & J stock takes a dip

In the face of a recommendation from federal authorities to “pause” the use of Johnson & Johnson’s one-does coronavirus vaccine because of rare but dangerous blood clots as a side effect, the company’s stock fell 1.3 percent on Tuesday. In contrast, Moderna – which makes a two-inoculation vaccine – saw its stocks rise 7.4 percent, according to USA Today.

Mixed day on Wall Street. Two of three major stock indexes rose on Tuesday, but the biggest one closed down nearly 60 points. The S&P 500 gained 13.60 points to close at 4,131.59 and Nasdaq rose by 146.10 points to finish at 13,996.10.  The Dow fell 68.13 points to 33,677.27.

Sports: Get ready to get jabbed

If you work for an NFL team, expect to get vaccinated or get left at the stadium entrance. Sports Illustrated is reporting that the league is warning that most employees other than players need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they have a “bona fide medical or religious ground for not doing so.”

Workers who fail or refuse to do so won’t be allowed access to or close proximity to players. However, there is no mandatory policy requiring players or coaches to get vaccinated at present.

Weather: Slooowwwwly warming trend

The skies will be cloudy all day, but don’t take that as a discouraging word. West Orange County weather will turn warm after grey skies that should last through Friday. Wednesday will see a daytime high of 63, followed by a 68 on Thursday. By Saturday, the sun will be back with a high of 77 and we should warm up to 85 by Sunday. In coastal Huntington Beach daytime highs will be two to four degrees cooler.