Some days you just have to shake your head and cry.
“So, what’s it going to take to contain this problem, guys?“
“Go talk to the crew and insult them and tell them that looking good in DC is more important than their lives – that oughta do it!“
I’ll have a post with more detailed thoughts on the firing of CAPT Cozier up shortly. But ask yourself the questions, Jim Wright asks below:
The Acting Secretary of the Navy, Thomas Modly — whose sum total qualification for his job was that he was once a junior helicopter pilot who became an investment banker and Trump campaign donor — visited the USS Theodore Roosevelt this morning and chasitized the crew.
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) April 6, 2020
1/
Modly called USS Theodore Roosevelt's former captain "too stupid or too naive to be a commanding officer of a ship like this."
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) April 6, 2020
I spent most of my adult life in a Navy uniform, I saw the military shit on by civilian leaders over and over, but I've seen anything like this.
2/
The Navy Secretary told the crew of a stricken warship their Commanding Officer — and you'd have to understand the DECADES of work, experience, education, and determination it takes to become the Commanding Officer of a US Navy Aircraft Carrier — was stupid and naive.
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) April 6, 2020
3/
Modly literally made that announcement over the ship's 1MC (the general announcing system) to the very crew who Crozier had sacrificed his career for.
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) April 6, 2020
I can't imagine the staggering arrogance it takes to do something like this.
4/
Modly went on to say Captain Crozier had somehow betrayed not only the Trump Administration, and Modly personally, but also them, the crew.
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) April 6, 2020
Can you imagine saying THAT to the crew of a warship whose Captain sacrificed his career for their lives?
5/ pic.twitter.com/tG6cXWuegp
This is the epitome of the Trump Administration, of modern Republicanism, right here. The staggering arrogance by unqualified fools.
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) April 6, 2020
6/
Modly pushed Trump's message that the media — one of the very institutions called out in the Constitution and thus the very thing those Sailors are sworn to defend — is the enemy of America.
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) April 6, 2020
Because politicians fear their failure becoming public most of all.
7/
And there it is.
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) April 6, 2020
THERE it is. Honestly at last.
In Modly's own words: YOU don't matter. YOU shouldn't expect anything from your leaders. The MISSION comes first.
And the mission is to die heroically and not make the civilians look bad.
I fucking told you.
8/ pic.twitter.com/qLA0fyWFlP
On the deckplates — and whatever the proper term is in the other services — the NCOs and the Officers might put their people first. That's what we tell ourselves, anyway. But once you get to the Pentagon, once you get to the politicians in charge, PEOPLE. DO. NOT. MATTER.
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) April 6, 2020
9/
They can always get more people.
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) April 6, 2020
10/
If people actually mattered, there wouldn't be a black marble wall in Washington with 58,000 names on it — testament to the folly of think-tank whiz kids who were willing to sacrifice just as many bodies as was necessary to prove the size of their president's dick.
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) April 6, 2020
11/
I fucking TOLD you so.
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) April 6, 2020
And there it is in Modly's own words. You don't have to like it. You just have to do it. And don't expect anything from your leaders, because we don't owe you anything.
12/
It's all lies. Even that bit about the mission coming first is a lie.
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) April 6, 2020
What comes FIRST, is politics.
That's Modly's complaint in his own words. You made me look bad. You made the Navy look bad. You made Trump look bad. And for that, you'll pay.
13/
Predictable as clockwork.
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) April 6, 2020
YOU should die without complaint.
ME, well, man, you don't know how hard I got it.
14/ pic.twitter.com/a4DT9euTmH
Modly, telling the crew of a sticken warship, men and women that may die due to failures of his own leadership, that he, Modly, is the real victim. They should feel sorry for him. People are saying mean things about him. That's way worse than dying of some disease.
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) April 6, 2020
15/
"It's not about me," Modly continued. Oh, really? Then why bring it up?
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) April 6, 2020
Those sailors, Captain Crozier (who has himself now tested positive for the virus), THEY all have families too. But Modly didn't mention THEM. Just himself.
16/
And just in case you doubt me, case you doubt this was nothing more than a campaign stop, Modly continued: "The former Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden, suggested just yesterday that my decision was criminal. I assure you that it was not."
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) April 6, 2020
Yeah.
17/
Yeah.
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) April 6, 2020
It's not about politics, but lemme just get in a dig about Trump's chief political rival. Sure. Totally not about politics though. You guys are sick. You can't go home. Some of you will die, but let's talk about Joe Biden. Right?
18/
Modly finished with: "I understand that you may be angry with me for the rest of your lives. I guarantee that you won't be alone. Being angry is not your duty. Your duty is to each other, to this ship, and to the nation that built it for you to protect them."
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) April 6, 2020
Wow.
19/
Your duty is to each other — well, okay, maybe not EVERYBODY on the ship. You duty isn't to the Captain who felt HIS duty was to YOU first and foremost. No. Not that. But, you know, to each other, sure, so long as the other guy doesn't make Trump look bad. We good? Okay.
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) April 6, 2020
20/
Your duty is to the nation, right? So long as you don't embarrass that nation by dying publically, because then fuck you.
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) April 6, 2020
21/
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, had it right all those years ago. Yours is not to reason why, yours is to but do and die.
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) April 6, 2020
Into the Valley of Death.
And THAT is the only truth of military service.
22/22