A Crisis Inside the Navy

The Daily

The New York Times

Daily News, News

4.4 • 102.8K Ratings

🗓️ 8 April 2020

⏱️ 23 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Note: This episode contains strong language. The upheaval and anguish caused by the pandemic led to a series of actions that cost both the captain of an aircraft carrier and the head of the Navy their jobs. Today, we explore how the coronavirus has created a crisis inside the service. Guest: Eric Schmitt, who covers terrorism and national security for The New York Times. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Background reading: In a letter that leaked to the news media, Capt. Brett E. Crozier described what he said were the Navy’s failures to provide the resources to combat the virus spreading aboard his aircraft carrier. Now the captain himself has tested positive for Covid-19.Thomas B. Modly, acting Navy secretary, condemned the ousted captain to his former crew on the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt. Days later, Mr. Modly resigned.

Transcript

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0:00.0	From the New York Times, unlike Obaparo, this is the Daily.
0:10.0	Today, the military's handling of the coronavirus
0:15.0	has caused both the captain of an aircraft carrier
0:19.0	and the head of the Navy, their jobs.
0:23.0	Eric Schmidt on the crisis inside the Navy.
0:31.0	It's Wednesday, April 8.
0:38.0	Eric, tell me about this letter.
0:41.0	So this letter dated March 30, 2020 is written by Captain Brett Kroger.
0:47.0	He's the commander of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, an aircraft carrier
0:52.0	that's been in the Western Pacific.
0:55.0	Several of his sailors have come down with the virus
0:58.0	and he has been doing all he can to get the entire crew
1:02.0	nearly 5,000 sailors off the ship.
1:06.0	This letter is really an active frustration.
1:09.0	In fact, let me just read you from the letter.
1:12.0	Subject line.
1:13.0	Request for assistance in response to COVID-19 pandemic.
1:18.0	First paragraph reads, B-L-U-F, bottom line up front.
1:23.0	If required, the USS Theodore Roosevelt would embark
1:27.0	all assigned sailors, set sail and be ready to fight
1:31.0	and beat any adversary that dares challenge the US or our allies.
1:35.0	The virus would certainly have an impact,
	...

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