[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE LATEST ON THE RAPIDLY UNFOLDING SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN.

ON CRONKITE NEWS A CLOSER LOOK AT THE INCREASE IN COVID CASES IN ARIZONA.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN WHY SOME PARENTS ARE HESITANT TO GET THEIR CHILDREN VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19.

THAT'S ALL COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

PRESIDENT BIDEN TODAY ADDRESSED THE NATION REGARDING THE COLLAPSE OF AFGHANISTAN TO TALIBAN FORCES.

THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT HE DOESN'T REGRET HIS DECISION TO WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN AT THIS TIME.

>> I STAND SQUARELY BEHIND MY DECISION.

AFTER 20 YEARS, I HAVE LEARNED THE HARD WAY THAT THERE WAS NEVER A GOOD TIME TO WITHDRAWAL U.S.

FORCES.

OUR MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE NATION BUILDING.

IT WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE CREATING A CENTRALIZED DEMOCRACY.

OUR MISSION WAS PREVENTING A TERRORIST ATTACK ON THE AMERICAN HOMELAND.

THE TRUTH IS, THIS DID UNFOLD MORE QUICKLY THAN WE ANTICIPATED.

SO WHAT HAS HAPPENED?

AFGHANISTAN POLITICAL LEADERS GAVE UP, AND FLED THE COUNTRY.

THE AFGHAN MILITARY COLLAPSED.

AMERICAN TROOPS CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT BE FIGHTING AND DIEING IN A WAR THAT AFGHAN FORCES ARE NOT WILLING TO FIGHT FOR THEMSELVES.

I'M CLEAR IN MY ANSWER.

I WILL NOT REPEAT THE MISTAKES WE HAVE MADE IN THE PAST.

>> BIDEN ADDED IF THE TALIBAN ATTACK U.S.

PERSONNEL OR DISRUPT EVACUATION OPERATIONS, THE U.S. WILL RESPOND IN A SWIFT AND FORCEFUL SITUATION.

THERE ARE REPORTS OF PEOPLE FALLING TO THEIR DEATHS AFTER CLINGING TO PLANES AS THEY DEPART.

REACTING TO THE SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN, CONGRESSMAN RUBEN GALLEGO SAID THERE ARE TONS OF CREWS SHIPS EMPTY, AND JUST PUT THEM ON BLEEPING PLANES AND GET THEM OUT OF THERE.

DEBBIE LESKO RELEASED A STATEMENT THAT SAID IN PART: WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE ON THE SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN IN A MOMENT.

IN OTHER NEWS.

MARICOPA COUNTY COURT TODAY DENIED A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST THE MASK MANDATE?

PHOENIX.

ARIZONA LAWS DON'T TAKE EFFECT UNTIL 90 DAYS AFTER THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDS.

LAWMAKERS INCLUDED A RETROACTIVE CLAUSE IN THE NEW LAW, BUT THE JUDGE RULED SUCH A CLAUSE CAN'T BE USED TO MAKE A RULE IMMEDIATELY EFFECTIVE.

>>> OVER A DOZEN MUSIC VENUES HAVE TEAMED UP TO REQUIRE EITHER PROOF OR COVID VACCINATION OR A NEGATIVE COVID TEST BY SEPTEMBER 20TH IN ORDER TO ATTEND LOCAL CONCERTS OR EVENTS.

A NUMBER OF CLUBS IN TUCSON AND FLAGSTAFF HAVE ALSO SIGNED ON.

THE MOVE FOLLOWS LIVE NATION ANNOUNCING SIMILAR REQUIREMENTS.

>>> TODAY'S COVID REPORT COMES WITH THE CAVEAT THAT MONDAY'S REPORTS USUALLY SHOW A LAG IN NUMBERS.

AND HOSPITALIZATIONS IS AT ITS HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE MID-FEBRUARY.

AND PFIZER REPORTED THAT ITS BOOSTER SHOTTEDS WORK WELL AGAINST THE DELTA VARIANT.

THE BOOSTER SHOT SIGNIFICANTLY RAISES ANTIBODY RESPONSE AND CAN EQUALLY PROTECT AGAINST THE INITIAL STRAIN OF THE VIRUS.

PFIZER BELIEVES THE BOOSTERS WILL BE NEEDED SOON, BUT HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THEY SEE NO INDICATION THAT A THIRD DOSE IS NEEDED YET.

>>> AFGHANISTAN IS IN TURMOIL AFTER TALIBAN FORCE SEIZED CONTROL OF THE COUNTRY.

EARLIER TODAY, WE GOT A REACTION TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN AFGHANISTAN FROM THE NORTHERN DISTRICT COMMANDER FOR DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS AND SERVED DURING THE OPENING DAYS OF THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN.

DOCTOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

YOUR EXPERIENCES IN AFGHANISTAN, FIRST OF ALL.

TALK TO US ABOUT IT.

>> MY EXPERIENCE IN AFGHANISTAN STARTED THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

WE HAD SIX HOURS PRIOR TO THE 9/11 ATTACKS HAPPENING ROUNDING THE TIP OF INDIA, AND WE WERE RUDELY AWAKENED BY A POUNDING ON THE DOOR THAT WE NEED TO GET READY FOR A MEETING WITH THE CAPTAIN BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN ATTACKED.

THAT STARTED THE PLANNING PROCESS ON SEPTEMBER 11TH TO GET READY FOR WHAT OUR RESPONSE WOULD BE.

I WAS PART OF THE PLANNING TEAM ON THE CARRIER, AND THEN ON THE EVENING OF OCTOBER 7TH, I WAS STANDING, WATCHING COMBAT AS WE LAUNCHED THE FIRST FIGHTERS INTO AFGHANISTAN AFTER THE CRUISE AND DESTROYERS AND SUBMARINES WERE FIRED THEIR FIRST TOMAHAWK MISSILES.

>> WAS THERE IS CLEAR MISSION AT THAT TIME?

>> AT THAT TIME THE MISSION WAS TO SEEK OUT AL QAEDA, AND OSAMA BIN LADEN, AND TO CUTOFF THE HEAD OF THE SNAKE AND NEUTRALIZE OR GREATLY DIMINISH THE MISSION OF AL QAEDA.

>> HOW DID THAT MISSION CHANGE OVER THE YEARS?

>> IT CHANGED BY WHAT WE CALL IN THE MILITARY MISSION CREEP, AND IT EXPANDED TO, NOW INCLUDE TRYING TO MAKE A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.

IT STARTED WITH CONFLICT BETWEEN THE GENERAL FROM THE NORTHERN FORCES, AND THE GENERAL FROM THE SOUTHERN ALLIANCE, AND NEVER REALLY GOT TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS A STABLE AND FULLY FUNCTIONAL GOVERNMENT, BUT AFGHANISTAN HAS BEEN A TRIBAL CULTURE AND PROVINCIAL CULTURE FOR MILLENNIA, AND THE SOVIETS LEARNED THAT YOU CAN'T TAKE A STATE OUT OF IT, AND WE LEARNED THAT AFTER 20 YEARS OF DOING THE SAME THING.

I THINK PART OF THE PROBLEM THAT WE FACED WITH THE AFGHAN FORCES WAS A FIGHT OR FLIGHT SORT OF A RESPONSE BECAUSE THEY ARE MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT WHATEVER THEY TOOK AS ACTION WAS GOING TO IMPACT THE WELFARE AND THE VERY LIVES OF NOT ONLY THEM BUT THEIR FAMILY AND RELATIVES.

>> WITH THAT SAID, PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID WE GAVE AFGHAN FORCES EVERY CHANCE TO DETERMINE THEIR OWN FUTURE, AND THE GOVERNMENT AND THE FORCES GAVE UP.

YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT STATEMENT.

>> I HAVE KNOWN A FEW FOLKS THAT HAVE SERVED IN THE AFGHAN AIR FORCE, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THEY ARE NOT THE KIND OF PEOPLE TO GIVE UP.

I SEE THE PROBLEM BEING A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF AFGHAN CULTURE.

WE TRAIN THEM USING THE PARADIGM OF WESTERN CULTURE, WHICH IS NOT THEIR PARADIGM AND NEVER HAS BEEN.

>> WITH THAT BEING SAID, WHAT HAPPENS NOW TO AFGHAN WOMEN AND GIRLS?

LOTS OF CONCERN THERE.

>> AND THERE SHOULD BE LOTS OF CONCERN.

THE TALIBAN DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WOMEN SHOULD BE WELL EDUCATED, AND THEY REALLY HOLD A THIRD-CLASS CITIZENSHIP BELOW THAT OF FARM ANIMALS.

>> MY GOODNESS.

IS THERE ANY INDICATION THAT THE TALIBAN IS GOING TO MOVE FORWARD AFTER SEEING SOME OF THE SUCCESSES THAT WOMEN HAVE MADE IN AFGHANISTAN?

>> THAT IS A MAJOR WILD-CARD, TED, THAT CERTAINLY THERE HAVE BEEN ADVANCES MADE BY WOMEN AND GIRLS IN AFGHANISTAN.

SOME OF THEM HAVE HAD A VERY POSITIVE IMPACT ON LIFE IN AFGHANISTAN, AND WHETHER THE TALIBAN IS WILLING TO ADJUST THEIR CRITICAL VIEW OF WOMEN TO ENDORSE OR ENCOMPASS THOSE THINGS REMAINS TO BE SEEN, BUT I DON'T SEE A HARDY FUTURE FOR OPENING OPPORTUNITIES TO WOMEN, AT LEAST IN THE NEAR TERM.

>> AND DOCTOR LAST QUESTION -- WE THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT DAY -- CAN THIS BE CONSIDERED ANYTHING OTHER THAN A FAILURE, THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN?

>> I THINK IT CAN.

I THINK THE INITIAL MISSION WAS ACCOMPLISHED WHERE OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS TRACKED DOWN, AND AL QAEDA WAS, REALLY, DISMEMBERED FROM BEING EFFECTIVE EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE FLAIR GROUPS SUCH AS AL QAEDA IN THE ARABIAN PENINSULA, BUT I THINK THAT MISSION WAS A SUCCESS, AND THE FOLLOW-ON OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS OF TRYING TO DO NATION BUILDING REALLY IS WHAT RESULTED IN THIS BEING THE SAIGON MOMENT FOR THIS GENERATION.

>> YEAH, IT SURE IS.

>> DOCTOR, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> YOU ARE WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> LATER ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," DETAILS ON THE STATE'S MASK MANDATE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>>> A COALITION OF EDUCATION GROUPS AND NON-PROFITS RECENTLY FILED SUIT AGAINST ARIZONA'S NEW LAW, MAKING IT ILLEGAL FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO MANDATE WEARING MASKS.

DANNY, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

BEFORE WE GET TO YOUR LAWSUIT, LET'S GET A REACTION REGARDING THE LAWSUIT THAT WON A CHALLENGE ON THE PHOENIX UNION HIGH SCHOOL'S MASK MANDATE.

>> WHAT HAPPENED IS THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A LOT OF THINGS AT THE VERY END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

ONE OF WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF THE PHOENIX UNION LAWSUIT.

SO WHEN THEY DID THAT, THERE IS A WAY FOR LAWMAKERS TO MAKE SOMETHING EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

TO DO THAT, THEY HAVE TO PUT AN EMERGENCY PROVISION IN IT, AND THEY HAVE TO GET TWO-THIRDS VOTE.

WHEN THEY PASSED THE MASK MANDATE MANDATE PROHIBITION, THEY DIDN'T DO EITHER OF THOSE THINGS.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE THINGS, THE CONSTITUTION IS REALLY CLEAR, THE LAW DOES NOT TAKE EFFECT FOR 90 DAYS.

SO IT DOES NOT GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL SEPTEMBER 29TH.

>> OKAY.

YOUR LAWSUIT CLAIMS THAT THE BAN -- THE LEGISLATIVE BAN, QUOTE, UNDERMINES REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY.

EXPLAIN, PLEASE.

>> SURE.

I MEAN, SO OUR CONSTITUTION HAS SOME PROTECTIONS FOR THE PEOPLE AGAINST CERTAIN THINGS THAT THE LEGISLATURE MIGHT WANT TO DO, AND AMONG THOSE PROTECTIONS IS SOMETHING CALLED THE SINGLE SUBJECT RULE, AND ANOTHER PART OF THAT SAME PROVISION IN THE CONSTITUTION IS SOMETHING THAT SAYS THEY HAVE TO GIVE NOTICE IN THE TITLE OF ANY BILL WHAT IT'S DOING.

AND THESE TWO PROTECTIONS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.

THE IDEA OF THE SINGLE-SUBJECT RULE IS EACH MEASURE SHOULD FIND OUT IF IT IS GOING TO GET ENOUGH SUPPORT TO PASS BASED ON ITS OWN MERITS.

WHAT THE CONSTITUTION IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT IS COBBLING TOGETHER A BUNCH OF UNRELATED THINGS IN ORDER TO GAIN THE PASSOFF OF THESE OTHER THINGS THAT MIGHT BE GOOD AND NECESSARY.

SO THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED AT THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THE LEGISLATURE VIOLATED BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.

THE TITLE -- LIKE FOR EXAMPLE ON THE EDUCATION BILL TALKS ABOUT IT BEING EDUCATION K-12 BUDGET RECONCILIATION, A PERSON WHO SEES THAT TITLE WOULD NEVER DREAM THAT IT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE PROHIBITING A MASK MANDATE FROM A LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.

YOU WOULD NEVER THINK THAT IS WHAT IT IS ABOUT.

SO THEY VIOLATED THAT TITLE PROVISION.

>> YOU ALSO CLAIM THAT THE BAN ON MASK MANDATES WAS OBVIOUSLY PASSED ILLEGALLY, BUT PASSED AT A TIME WHEN THE HEALTH RISK TO KIDS WAS ESPECIALLY HIGH.

HOW DOES THAT PLAY INTO THE LAWSUIT?

>> OH, YEAH.

I MEAN, A HUGE PROBLEM IS WE ARE NOW LIVING WITH THE DELTA VARIANT, AND CHILDREN ARE BEING INFECTED.

CHILDREN ARE BRINGING HOME INFECTION TO THEIR FAMILIES.

TEACHERS ARE BEING INFECTED.

TEACHERS ARE BEING PUT IN THIS UNTENABLE POSITION.

THEY WANT TO TEACH KIDS.

THEY WANT TO TEACH IN PERSON, AND IF THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD THINKS THE THING TO DO TO PROTECT THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IS HAVE A MASK MANDATE, THIS STATUTE THAT WAS JAMMED IN AT THE END OF THE SESSION AT A BUDGET BILL SAYS THEY CAN'T DO IT, SO IF WE FILE NOW -- BECAUSE THIS LAW DOESN'T GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL SEPTEMBER 29TH, SO WE WANT A RULING BEFORE SEPTEMBER 29TH, THAT IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

>> THEY ARE SAYING WHAT IS GOING ON BORDERS ON ANARCHY, AND A AN AFFRONT TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> IT IS NONSENSE.

ASKING TO FOLLOW A PROVISION THAT IS SPECIFICALLY GEARED TOWARDS THE LEGISLATURE, THAT'S NOT ANARCHY.

YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CONFRONT ABUSE OF POWER, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THIS LAWSUIT.

>> AND THE GOVERNOR EVEN TODAY MENTIONED VACCINE MANDATES AS BEING A FORM OF DISCRIMINATION.

AND MANY LAWMAKERS SEE MASK MANDATES AS BEING A FORM OF DISCRIMINATION AS WELL.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

>> IN NO WAY ARE THEY ARE FORM OF DISCRIMINATION.

IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

PART OF THE PROBLEM HERE IS WHEN YOU JAM THINGS LIKE THIS THROUGH A BUDGET BILL, THEY DON'T GET A PROPER HEARING, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS WITH THESE.

SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE ARGUING AGAINST IN THE LAWSUIT, SOME LEGISLATURES TRIED TO GET THEM PASSED IN THE REGULAR SESSION.

WHEN THEY WENT INTO HEARINGS, AND THERE WAS TESTIMONY, THEY WERE DEFEATED.

SO INSTEAD OF DOING WHATEVER THEY NEEDED TO DO TO GET IT IN THE PROPER LEGISLATIVE POSTURE, THEY DECIDED TO SHOVE THEM INTO BUDGET RECONCILIATION BILLS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON THIS PARTICULAR EFFORT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, SIR.

>> THANKS FOR PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS IMPORTANT STORY.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, THE NAVAJO NATION RETURNS TO ORANGE STATUS.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, WHY SOME PARENTS ARE HESITANT TO GET THEIR CHILDREN VACCINATED.

♪