Posted on 11/19/2012 5:22:18 PM PST by Nachum
Three U.S. Navy amphibious warships are returning to the eastern Mediterranean to remain on standby in the event they are needed to assist Americans leaving Israel in the coming days, according to two U.S. officials.
The officials stressed an evacuation remains an extremely remote possibility and the Obama administration is not currently planning for one. Americans who wish to leave the region now are able to do so using commercial airlines.
But the decision to send the ships even if the event is such a remote contingency underscores the growing concern about where the Israel-Gaza conflict could be headed.
"This is due diligence. It is better to be prepared should there be a need," one official said Monday. Both officials said the ships would be used only for assisting Americans and not for any combat role.
The most immediate impact will be on the ships' crews and the estimated 2,500 Marines on board. They had been scheduled to return to Norfolk, Virginia, just after Thanksgiving; their homecoming will now be delayed several days depending on events, the officials said.
The ships involved are the USS Iwo Jima, the USS New York and the USS Gunston Hall. At the end of last week the ships were west of Gibraltar, before the decision was made to turn them around and send them back to the eastern Mediterranean, where they will remain for now.
(Excerpt) Read more at security.blogs.cnn.com ...
On NEOs they usually fly them out. It’s faster. Transporting civvies to a ship would be a tedious process.
C5s and C17s (big airlifters) can clear out a country in a few hours. They would only have to evac to the nearest friendly location.
I call BS on this one.
The aircraft in the pic looks like a herk, C130.
These aren’t Destroyers. They’re big amphibious assault ships - gators - loaded with helicopters and amphibious assault craft and Marines to handle an evacuation. Plus Harriers to provide aircover. Although their primary purpose is to put Marines ashore in an opposed landing, They’re also designed and outfitted for handling a sizable evacuation as a secondary capacity. Especially in a situation where airfields for C-5s C-17s and 747s aren’t available.
Given how rapidly this situation could go pear-shaped, putting them off the Israeli coast is a prudent and reasonable move.
I rather fly out. Ships would be fine but they are combatants and would be considered targets.
The only thing I am sure about is that if given the opportunity, Obama would wipe Israel off the face of the earth.
Each group relies on certain security experts for advice, though even when violence reigns on much of Israel, Muslims are careful to keep it away from Holy Sights, many of which are in their own territory, like Bethlehem and Nazareth. Palestinians rely almost exclusively on tourism (read Christian) for their livelihood, with the exception of millions coming from aid from the U.S.
I do know of at least one group is still planning to go forward with their faithful that spend most Christmas/New Years days in the Holy Land.
After all, as our days are numbered, where better to be than in the same area as the birth and death of our Lord.
If anyone needs evacuating, it will be to evacuate Palestinians [sic] off of Hebrew land.
Boy, you can say THAT again.
“If the evil Odumbo ordered our troops to attack Israel, what would they do?”
My thoughts as well.
It’s a distinct possibility the way I see it. But my money is on our troops.
At least one of these three ships was in the Med. when Benghazi lit up. I keep track of our carrier groups on the big map here at the shop. The Marines on those FMF boats always have at least a little fixed wing support not to mention some 200 mph Seahawks. The notion, as I’ve said before, that there was no one available to help Steven’s crew within a half hour or so is pure bullwhacky.
I used to fly AMC airlifters. You are correct airlift is the most flexible, and the fastest. NEOs, depending on the scope, size, and availability of Seaports and Airports - are usually a combination of assets. In 2006, we used commercial aircraft, military aircraft, military ships, and commercial ships. Moreover, the Navy uses the assault groups to provide security during the NEO. From 2006:
No.
The ships are probably there to haul the muslims to the USA.
That is actually an evil Obama type thought. Obama could declare the Palestinians refugees and resettle thousands of them here.
Thank you for your service.
Do what?
Amen!
“See, I care about our people. Now knock off this Benghazi stuff.”
What a poser...
Exactly!
U.S. sends warships near Israel in case evacuation needed>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
It’s much worse than we think. Behind the scenes Obama is forcing Israel NOT to invade GAZA and destroy Muslim Brotherhoods Hamas network.Obama is a proponent/member of the Muslim Brotherhood, and as such is treasonous and now acts against US interests in the region my promoting the Sharia / jihadist agenda which caused 9/11 and our war against Islamofascism. In fact Obama is a fascist. So we must begin understanding the Obama strategies as an exercise of fascism.
The headline should read:
U.S. sends warships near Israel to aid Hamas against Gaza invasion by Israel
This is not about evacuation, its about making war against Israel with “peace” as an excuse.
I hope Bibi invades Gaza anyway, forthwith, but it is unlikely, because Obama will get a UN order to intercede as a peace keeping foprce and will make war on Israel. Its that simple.
Our whole world has just changed, and almost nobody gets it.
Bibi also has made a huge mistake. He should have invaded gaza.
Some of the steel in USS New York is from the WTC.
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