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SunSeeker

(51,550 posts)
Mon Apr 6, 2020, 11:17 PM Apr 2020

Acting Navy secretary apologizes for scathing rebuke of ousted captain

Source: NBC News

"Let me be clear, I do not think Captain Brett Crozier is naïve nor stupid," he said in a statement. "I think, and always believed him to be the opposite."

Modly went on to describe Crozier as "smart and passionate."

"I believe, precisely because he is not naive and stupid, that he sent his alarming email with the intention of getting it into the public domain in an effort to draw public attention to the situation on his ship," Modly said. "I apologize for any confusion this choice of words may have caused. I also want to apologize directly to Captain Crozier, his family, and the entire crew of the Theodore Roosevelt for any pain my remarks may have caused."

Modly's new statement came after President Donald Trump addressed the controversy at a news conference, saying he planned to intervene.





Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/military/acting-navy-secretary-rips-ousted-captain-who-sounded-alarm-over-n1177676



The blowback was massive, obviously. Looks like Trump may throw Modly under the bus.
46 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Acting Navy secretary apologizes for scathing rebuke of ousted captain (Original Post) SunSeeker Apr 2020 OP
"Gracious! Did I say THAT?" Aristus Apr 2020 #1
This denbot Apr 2020 #27
He was doing the "full Kavanaugh". Unfortunately, it didn't work for him. SharonAnn Apr 2020 #40
I don't know how it's even possible to apologize for what he said The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2020 #2
As Rachel said, "'Confusion' was not the problem." nt SunSeeker Apr 2020 #5
Too late, "Moldy". area51 Apr 2020 #3
+1 SunSeeker Apr 2020 #6
Apology NOT accepted, Trumplodyte. dchill Apr 2020 #4
Shouldn't he be relieved, too? He had to know his speech was going to be leaked. Is he ... marble falls Apr 2020 #7
Why yes, I believe the word Modly used is "naive." SunSeeker Apr 2020 #9
Incompetent is the word, naive reflects a new a reaction to a new experience. ... marble falls Apr 2020 #12
Of course Modly is incompetent. He brought shame upon the Navy. SunSeeker Apr 2020 #13
Modly's vile speech was sent out over the Ships loudspeaker system!! riversedge Apr 2020 #23
Modley should resign in disgrace IronLionZion Apr 2020 #8
That's not an apology relayerbob Apr 2020 #10
To make it crystal clear Wash. state Desk Jet Apr 2020 #11
The sad thing is that he does know about ships. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2020 #14
Helo pilot lol Wash. state Desk Jet Apr 2020 #16
He's sorry he got caught, ironically guilty of exactly what he was berating Crozier of flibbitygiblets Apr 2020 #15
Confusion? CONFUSION?? Grokenstein Apr 2020 #17
FUCK 'EM AND HIS COMMANDER IN CHIEF Cozmo Apr 2020 #18
Christ, what an asshole... Blue_Tires Apr 2020 #19
It's amazing what a little bit of publicity does to his demeanor. patphil Apr 2020 #20
Gee, he didn't expect it to leak? Isn't that "naive or stupid" of him? SunSeeker Apr 2020 #21
I believe if there's a investigation of this MurrayDelph Apr 2020 #22
Everything He Touches, Dies sfstaxprep Apr 2020 #24
Yep. Trump uses his minions like people use Kleenex. SunSeeker Apr 2020 #25
He's only sorry he got caught on audio. muntrv Apr 2020 #26
Gee, Doing That Speech... ProfessorGAC Apr 2020 #36
A 'bad acting' Navy Secretary. olddad65 Apr 2020 #28
Modly's dereliction of duty took a whole aircraft carrier out of service. SunSeeker Apr 2020 #29
Mission accomplished: they got the message out to their base.... keithbvadu2 Apr 2020 #30
he needs to go, asap. beachbumbob Apr 2020 #31
That's nice, Modly. Now go fuck yourself, prior to resigning. (nt) Paladin Apr 2020 #32
The Wheels On The Bus Go CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH smb Apr 2020 #33
Sounds as if he is trying to get off a ship too. Deb Apr 2020 #34
So Modly admits to overreacting. Isn't his remedy to be fired? samsingh Apr 2020 #35
This dumb fuck flew 8000 miles just to talk shit to the crew over the PA system AtheistCrusader Apr 2020 #37
Enlisted support keithbvadu2 Apr 2020 #38
From "I stand by every word I said" to "I apologize..." in one day. Now that's "conviction." n/t captain jack Apr 2020 #39
LOL SunSeeker Apr 2020 #42
To submitting his resignation. Cha Apr 2020 #45
yes he slipped right in there under the bus Wash. state Desk Jet Apr 2020 #46
Modly is beyond the definition of an idiot trying to score political points in such an obvious ... SWBTATTReg Apr 2020 #41
This message was self-deleted by its author geralmar Apr 2020 #43
Modly was Obviously Projecting! Cha Apr 2020 #44

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,674 posts)
2. I don't know how it's even possible to apologize for what he said
Mon Apr 6, 2020, 11:21 PM
Apr 2020

and how he said it. "I apologize for any confusion this choice of words may have caused"? Bullshit. There was nothing confusing about what he said - he straight out called Crozier stupid and disloyal. Fuck him sideways.

marble falls

(57,077 posts)
7. Shouldn't he be relieved, too? He had to know his speech was going to be leaked. Is he ...
Mon Apr 6, 2020, 11:39 PM
Apr 2020

incompetent or stupid?

marble falls

(57,077 posts)
12. Incompetent is the word, naive reflects a new a reaction to a new experience. ...
Tue Apr 7, 2020, 12:14 AM
Apr 2020

incompetent reflects an inability to react to a repeated recent experience.

relayerbob

(6,544 posts)
10. That's not an apology
Mon Apr 6, 2020, 11:54 PM
Apr 2020

he replaced being stupid, with being a criminal, when I would bet the real cc list, which we will never see, probably was through channels and someone in there leaked it under Trump's or Modly's instructions

Wash. state Desk Jet

(3,426 posts)
11. To make it crystal clear
Tue Apr 7, 2020, 12:06 AM
Apr 2020

Modly certainly found a way to talk about himself projecting it into somebody else. He must have been thinking ,how stupid and utterly naive of me being here ,i know nothing about ships.

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,674 posts)
14. The sad thing is that he does know about ships.
Tue Apr 7, 2020, 12:17 AM
Apr 2020

Modly is a graduate of the Naval Academy. He served on active duty in the United States Navy as a helicopter pilot and spent seven years as a Navy officer. He should have known better.

Wash. state Desk Jet

(3,426 posts)
16. Helo pilot lol
Tue Apr 7, 2020, 12:29 AM
Apr 2020

Last edited Tue Apr 7, 2020, 03:17 AM - Edit history (1)

I think he put himself above himself and came on with his trash for talk. I also think he was loaded up on trump koolaid . Drunk like a skunk one might say. Anyways what he said on ship stinks and his apology is the same oder. His bus awaits ! Academy helo pilot lol.


An old sailor by the name of Jim wrote this , pretty much says it like it is.

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 chastised the crew over the ship's announcing system.

He called Captain Crozier "too stupid or too naive to be a commanding officer of a ship like this."

That's right. The US Navy Secretary, told the crew of a stricken warship that 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 too stupid and too naive to be their Commanding Officer.

Too stupid and too naive, because he stood up for them.

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.

I can't imagine the staggering arrogance it takes to do something like this.

Modly went on to say Captain Crozier had somehow betrayed not only the Trump Administration, and Modly personally, but also them, the crew.

Modly: “So think about that when you cheer the man off the ship who exposed you to that. I understand you love the guy. It’s good that you love him. But you’re not required to love him.”

Can you imagine saying THAT to the crew of a warship whose Captain sacrificed his career for their lives?

This is the epitome of the Trump Administration, of modern Republicanism, right here. The staggering arrogance of unqualified fools.

Modly was especially outraged the media reported Captain Crozier's concerns to the American people -- and his comments DIRECTLY implied the Trump Administration's repeated message that the media -- one of the very institutions called out BY NAME in the US Constitution and thus the very thing those Sailors are sworn to defend with their lives -- is the enemy of America.

Modly: "Crew of the Teddy Roosevelt. you are no obligation to love your leadership, only to respect it. You are under no obligation to like your job, only to do it. You are under no obligation, you are under no obligation, to expect anything from leaders other than they will treat you fairly and put the mission of the ship first. Because it is the mission of the ship that matters."

And there it is.

THERE it is.

Right there.

Exactly as I told you, in his 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.

On the deckplates -- and whatever the proper term is in the other services -- sure, 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.

They can always get more people.

If people actually mattered, there wouldn't be a black marble wall stretching across the Washington Mall with 58,000 names on it -- lost to political adventurism and the folly of rich think-tank whiz kids who believed that war was about spreadsheets and were willing to throw just as many American bodies at it as was necessary to prove the size of their president's dick.

I fucking TOLD you so.

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.

But, even that bit about the mission coming first is a lie.

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.

Modly: "I cannot control or attempt to change whatever anger you have with for relieving your beloved CO. If I could offer you a glimpse of the level of hatred and pure evil that has been thrown my way, my family's way over this decision, I would."

Predictable as clockwork.

YOU should die without complaint.

ME, well, man, you don't know how hard I got it.

Modly, telling the crew of a stricken warship, men and women that may die due to failures of Modly's own leadership, that he, Modly, is the real victim. They should feel sorry for him, you see. He's getting some hate mail. People are saying mean things about him. That's way worse than dying of some disease.

"It's not about me," Modly continued. Oh, really? Then why bring it up? 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.

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."

Yeah.

It's not about politics, but lemme just get in a dig about Trump's chief political rival. Sure. Totally not about politics though.

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."

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.

Your duty is to the nation, right? So long as you don't embarrass that nation by dying publically, because then fuck you.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson, had it right all those years ago. Yours is not to reason why, yours is to but do and die.

Into the Valley of Death.

And THAT is the only truth of military service.

flibbitygiblets

(7,220 posts)
15. He's sorry he got caught, ironically guilty of exactly what he was berating Crozier of
Tue Apr 7, 2020, 12:21 AM
Apr 2020

He must have been high from smelling trump's farts.

Grokenstein

(5,722 posts)
17. Confusion? CONFUSION??
Tue Apr 7, 2020, 12:56 AM
Apr 2020

Fuck yourself with a dull rusty knife, Moldy.
You saw Donny Littlehands fling poop at good men and get away with it, and you wanted some of that action.
Full stop.
Every sane, conscious person on the face of the earth knows what a piece of shit you are.
And a lot of them are military.
Enjoy the rest of your life! That smoke ain't ever goin' back in the bottle.

Cozmo

(1,402 posts)
18. FUCK 'EM AND HIS COMMANDER IN CHIEF
Tue Apr 7, 2020, 01:00 AM
Apr 2020

Haven't heard anything about the nonsensical Space Force lately. Maybe we can get Modly transferred to that branch. God I hate these people!

patphil

(6,169 posts)
20. It's amazing what a little bit of publicity does to his demeanor.
Tue Apr 7, 2020, 01:08 AM
Apr 2020

Oh! I really didn't mean any of that.

Translation: I didn't expect to be exposed as a total asshole.

MurrayDelph

(5,293 posts)
22. I believe if there's a investigation of this
Tue Apr 7, 2020, 01:36 AM
Apr 2020

that we'll find out that Modly flew 8,000 miles (during a pandemic) to read a statement Trump wrote for him to say, and when it received the after it deserved, they're trying to pretend it didn't taken, which will eventually lead to Trump firing him.

ProfessorGAC

(64,995 posts)
36. Gee, Doing That Speech...
Tue Apr 7, 2020, 08:01 AM
Apr 2020

...over the main PA and getting heard?
Exactly what did Modly think would happen if he said those things on a PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM?
Who's too stupid & naive, now?

olddad65

(599 posts)
28. A 'bad acting' Navy Secretary.
Tue Apr 7, 2020, 02:58 AM
Apr 2020

But, wtf would a person expect from a trumputin appointee. I think Putin has the final say on these appointments.

SunSeeker

(51,550 posts)
29. Modly's dereliction of duty took a whole aircraft carrier out of service.
Tue Apr 7, 2020, 03:51 AM
Apr 2020

And could have cost sailors and their captain their lives. Hopefully they will all recover, but with Covid-19, odds are one or more will not.


Putin is pleased, no doubt.

keithbvadu2

(36,774 posts)
30. Mission accomplished: they got the message out to their base....
Tue Apr 7, 2020, 05:28 AM
Apr 2020

Mission accomplished: they got the message out to their base....

Cokie's Law - about politics and media coverage...

Cokie's Law states that it does not matter if it is true or not. It's out there.

Cokie Roberts journalist, author, reporter

Then they can apologize in a much smaller forum. (If they do)

smb

(3,471 posts)
33. The Wheels On The Bus Go CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH
Tue Apr 7, 2020, 07:22 AM
Apr 2020

Moldy was stupid and naive enough to think Orangeanus Deploribus would reward his ass-kissing and stand behind him. Now that he's become a liability to Gluttonous Leader, he's desperately trying to not get thrown under the bus.

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)
37. This dumb fuck flew 8000 miles just to talk shit to the crew over the PA system
Tue Apr 7, 2020, 10:51 AM
Apr 2020

only to walk it back in the news 2 days later?

Really?

SWBTATTReg

(22,112 posts)
41. Modly is beyond the definition of an idiot trying to score political points in such an obvious ...
Tue Apr 7, 2020, 02:06 PM
Apr 2020

manner, by pretending that he is tough. And what he ended up doing instead, is proving to all what a d**k (pardon the language) he truly is. And he supposedly served too, as a helicopter pilot? Yeah, right. Maybe so, so what happened to him then?

I guess he got contaminated w/ the republican virus which can lead to a serious case of 'I don't give a crap about anyone' disease, like all republicans have now.

The republican virus is some pretty serious crap, in that it infects all to make money in underhanded ways (such as selling stock based on insider news), or deliberately putting others in harm's way, forcing them to still vote, when it could have been simply pushed off to a later, more advantageous date (and thus safer).

The only way to cure the republican virus is to stomp out all appearances of this virus, by totally isolating the virus and its victims, in a 100% totally isolated ward somewhere and lose the keys. And put democratically leaning candidates in office instead, who'll truly protect the country in these dire times.

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