Posted on 11/23/2011 5:56:38 PM PST by RobertClark
Yesterday we reported that the Arab League (with European and US support) are preparing to institute a no fly zone over Syria. Today, we get an escalation which confirms we may be on the edge. Just out from CBS: "The U.S. Embassy in Damascus urged its citizens in Syria to depart "immediately," and Turkey's foreign ministry urged Turkish pilgrims to opt for flights to return home from Saudi Arabia to avoid traveling through Syria." But probably the most damning evidence that the "western world" is about to do the unthinkable and invade Syria, and in the process force Iran to retaliate, is the weekly naval update from Stratfor, which always has some very interesting if always controversial view on geopolitics, where we find that for the first time in many months, CVN 77 George H.W. Bush has left its traditional theater of operations just off the Straits of Hormuz, a critical choke point, where it traditionally accompanies the Stennis, and has parked... right next to Syria.
And from CBS:
"The U.S. Embassy continues to urge U.S. citizens in Syria to depart immediately while commercial transportation is available," said a statement issued to the American community in Syria Wednesday and posted on the Embassy's website. "The number of airlines serving Syria has decreased significantly since the summer, while many of those airlines remaining have reduced their number of flights."
The warning followed an announcement in Washington this week that Ambassador Robert Ford would not return to Syria this month as planned, indicating concerns over his safety.
The Obama administration quietly pulled Ford out of Syria last month, citing credible personal threats against him.
The Turkish foreign ministry on Wednesday urged Turkish pilgrims to opt for flights to return home from Saudi Arabia and avoid traveling through Syria for security reasons.
The warning came two days after Syrian soldiers opened fire on at least two buses carrying Turkish citizens, witnesses and officials said, apparent retaliation for Turkey's criticism of Assad. The Turks were returning from Saudi Arabia after performing the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
Uh...Got Brent?
Who did not see this happening
Well, they have been effective so far so why not continue the trend? /s
The acronym for it is KMA, how fitting....
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Kinetic Military Action is such an awkward phrase. I have to believe that the phrase was cobbled together just to fit the acronym. The acronym must surely have comes first — Obama to the US Military: “KMA!”
I call bull chit ! I call bull chit !
My boy is on the Bush, they left the gulf because thier time there is up, and they are on their way home, taking the path thru the Suez that they always do. They will be home before Christmas.
Either that or the heads on GHWB...
Does anyone else have concern that out of 9 carrier and assault ships based out of Norfolk that 7 of them are in home port or non-deployable for maintenance?
Furthermore, all of the San Diego flat toppers are in home port.
Out of 20 total, only three are on deployment and one is on port call in Bali.
Make that two on port call. One is also in Pearl Harbor.
I have plenty of concern.
Being that I live about 3 miles from Mayport (Jacksonville), the Navy is resistant to base at least one other carrier here favoring instead to keep all of them in Norfolk. Any military planner will sound the warning bells all day long about such a stupid move.
God help us if the worst happens there.
That’s what concerns me as well. Particularly after Russia’s statement recently concerning our missile shields.
Might be the ticket - I'd still prefer Palin/Gingrich, but that's not gonna happen.
A Pearl Harbor type wipeout of carriers of any number would be disasterous at best.
The wun and his ilk would welcome it though.
IMO, we should have another 4 carriers out there somewhere rather than sitting ducks in home ports.
Just how tough would it be to float a nuke into the Hampton Roads area right now? Virtually half our carrier fleet would be gone. Right now in the blink of an eye. We know our enemies are keenly aware of this as well.
God help us.
USS George W Bush (CVN 77) redeployed to the Med.
Just this past Sunday, Canada's Minister of Defence announced that frigate HMCS Vancouver, which has just finished its mission of patrolling the Libyan coast, has been retained in the Med, ostensibly to join NATO Op ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR.
The Minister also stated that frigate HMCS Charlottetown will replace Vancouver in January.
Canadian frigates routinely work was part of escort screens for US CVNs and are also accustomed to working as part of interdiction patrols.
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