Free Republic

Mattis wanted to send a third aircraft-carrier group to the Persian Gulf earlier this year, The Daily Beast has exclusively learned, in what would have been a massive show of force at a time when Iranian military commanders were publicly threatening to sink American ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The four-star Marine Corps general and CentCom commander believed the display could have deterred Iran from further escalating tensions, according to U.S. military officials familiar with his thinking. But the president wanted to focus military resources on new priorities like China, and Mattis was told a third carrier group was...

ABU DHABI -- The U.S. Navy has deployed its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier the USS Enterprise -- the longest naval vessel in the world and which carries 66 aircraft -- for Gulf operations. Officials said this marked the second deployment of the Enterprise in the Gulf in 14 months. The Enterprise, which left the Gulf in November 2006, is to join the USS John C. Stennis and USS Nimitz carrier strike groups. Officials said the return of the Enterprise would enable rotation of the other two carrier strike groups in the region. "The carrier and her escorts will assert their right...

Converging U.S. Navy aircraft carrier groups in Middle East send strong message to Iran and Syria Sudhir Chadda Mar. 12, 2005 The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt is on the move in Atlantic Ocean and is possibly headed towards the Mediterranean Sea. The convergence of three carrier groups in the corridor of the Middle East will send very strong message to the Syrians and Iranians. There are indications that soon US is moving two more aircraft carrier battle groups to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf. This will spell a formidable strike force for Iran and...