About That Carrier Captain

Yesterday, I published a short piece explaining why the Navy relieved the Captain of the U.S.S. Roosevelt, one of only ten large deck aircraft carriers in the fleet. In that article I explained why the Navy had to fire him.

Read: Opinion: Navy Captain PROPERLY Relieved

Today, I’d like to expand on that relief and its place in the National Security Strategy of these United States. I got nudged in this direction by one of my commenters (hat tip markvol) who said,

He [Capt. Brett Crozier] essentially told the enemy (China) that their disease succeeded in incapacitating a Naval asset.

His comment was followed quickly by an article I noticed in Asia Times, that makes this situation all the more ominous.

Read: China seizes Covid-19 advantage in South China Sea

The lede: China ramps up military drills and energy exploitation in contested waterway while US military bogged down in virus crisis at home

From the article, emphasis mine

MANILA – With the Covid-19 pandemic mostly contained in China and now wreaking havoc on the United States, security analysts are closely watching Beijing’s military moves in the hotly contested South China Sea.

In recent days, China has conducted military drills and deployed large-scale military assets to the maritime area while at the same time officially celebrating strides made in exploiting disputed energy resources in the fossil fuel-rich sea.

While some see China’s nationalistic messaging as a bid to rally its people during difficult Covid-19 times, others view the increasingly aggressive naval maneuvers as a bid to exploit America’s weakened condition to secure new advantage in the hot spot theater.

This article isn’t new news.

[Read It All]

See Also:

(1) Navy Capt. Crozier’s ‘Actions Were Wrong,’ Biden ‘Grasping’ to Stay Relevant by Defending

(2) There’s another side to the story of the fired Navy Captain

(3) Why the USS Roosevelt’s Captain Had To Be Relieved