So who was looking through the “Looking Glass” device this time?
Who was seeing the future?
snip ...”Perhaps more so than in the recent past, we require commanders with the judgment, maturity, and leadership composure under pressure to understand the ramifications of their actions within that larger dynamic strategic context. We all understand and cherish our responsibilities, and frankly our love, for all of our people in uniform, but to allow those emotions to color our judgment when communicating the current operational picture can, at best, create unnecessary confusion, and at worst, provide an incomplete picture of American combat readiness to our adversaries.
When the Commanding Officer of the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT decided to write his letter of 30 March 2020 that outlined his concerns for his crew in the midst of a COVID-19 outbreak, the Department of the Navy had already mobilized significant resources for days in response to his previous requests. On the same date marked on his letter, my Chief of Staff had called the CO directly, at my request, to ensure he had all the resources necessary for the health and safety of his crew.
The CO told my Chief of Staff that he was receiving those resources, and was fully aware of the Navy’s response, only asking that the he wished the crew could be evacuated faster. My Chief of Staff ensured that the CO knew that he had an open line to me to use at any time. He even called the CO again a day later to follow up. At no time did the CO relay the various levels of alarm that I, along with the rest of the world, learned from his letter when it was published two days later.
Once I read the letter, I immediately called the Chief of Naval Operations, ADM Gilday, and the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, ADM Aquilino. ADM Gilday had just read the letter that morning as well, and ADM Aquilino had it the day before. We had a teleconference within minutes of my reading of that article, including the Commander, SEVENTH Fleet, VADM William Merz, ADM Aquilino, ADM Gilday, the Department of the Navy’s Surgeon General, RADM Bruce Gillingham, and others. That evening, we held another teleconference with the entire chain of command.
The next day, I spoke with the CO of the THEODORE ROOSEVELT myself, and this morning, I have spoken to the TR’s Carrier Strike Group Commander, RDML Stuart Baker. RDML Baker did not know about the letter before it was sent to him via email by the CO. It is important to understand that the Strike Group Commander, the CO’s immediate boss, is embarked on the Theodore Roosevelt, right down the passageway from him. The letter was sent over non- secure, unclassified email even though that ship possesses some of the most sophisticated communications and encryption equipment in the Fleet.
It was sent outside the chain of command, at the same time the rest of the Navy was fully responding. Worse, the Captain’s actions made his Sailors, their families, and many in the public believe that his letter was the only reason help from our larger Navy family was forthcoming, which was hardly the case.”
more....
wow, it was just reported that fired Capt Bret Crozier has tested positive for covid!
Crozier needs to be ivestigated!
You cannot leverage the lying press against the Navy. If you do, out you go.
Everywhere an American looked an item came from this country (China). Now that reliance was being threatened by a change in leadership in America which was a major consumer of those products , When Americans hailed the leaders decision to make many of them in their country. Worse yet opponents to the Chinese regime in power had its citizens protesting its policies since that change in American leadership wave the American flag and present his name when doing so. All of which presented those in power the need to destroy that leader,
Would a runaway plague created by a nation which could threaten populations of an enemy cause them to react by demanding extreme restriction of movement by its population to prevent its spread ? Thus wind up fragmenting its economy.
The way this whole thing developed starting with the Italian fashion industry areas controlled by the Chinese commies hit by a runaway CoVid19. Sure looks suspicious particularly when crews of naval vessels somehow wind up being infected by it.
SECNAV statement, Revolutionary.
The CO was a dumbass. He embarrassed himself, the Navy and the nation.
I think the CO should be sent to court martial
A very wise comment from Modly. He has the morale of the Navy in mind. The emphasis is, and should be, on the failure to properly use the chain of command and safeguard sensitive naval communications. All aspects of the captain's performance of duty will be the subject of a thorough investigation.
The letter was fine up to here:
” I am entirely convinced that your Commanding Officer loves you, and that he had you at the center of his heart and mind in every decision that he has made. I also know that you have great affection, and love, for him as well....”
WHAT? Touchy Feely or what?
The probable reason the captain was relieved was exactly because he was too Touchy Feely.
More Touchy Feely is not the proper response.
Do it because you were ORDERED to do it. Because of the RESPECT for superiors REGARDLESS of personalities.
The “captain” (regardless of rank) of the ship is THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP! PERIOD! (Until he isn’t.)
He doesn’t want your “love”. He SHOULDN’T! What do you think this is... Jr. High!
THIS IS WAR! Like the the Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas B. Modly said We are not at peace.We NEVER are.
The “military bearing” in this captain and in his crew was lacking.
After reading most of the letter, I agree that the captain acted poorly and against orders. He should have been relieved of his command. It was the right thing to do.
What would Admirals Nimitz or Halsey do?
In other words, the CO committed acts of insubordination, conduct unbecoming, and he violated national security. His insubordination including lying to the public about his superiors who had already been working directly with him on the needs of the ship.
The long the explanation, the more likely it is to be total bullshit.
Excellent response to the misinformed masses. While they will discount it, he is 100% right.