What are the four U.S. Carriers doing in the Gulf?

Al Jazeera ^ | November 18 | Staff

[PghBaldy]

As the American President George W. Bush steps up threatening rhetoric against Iran to force it suspend its nuclear program, calling for worldwide isolation of Tehran until it “gives up its nuclear ambitions,” experts predict that the coming days would see a much violent step by Washington against the Islamic Republic.

What asserts the experts’ fears is the fact that on October 31, two nuclear-powered carriers, the USS Eisenhower and USS Enterprise, arrived in Bahrain, accompanied by their carrier strike groups. And on November 9th, the USS Iwo Jima, and the USS Boxer also arrived.

Is President Bush up to something? Asked Rense.com

On October 11, American officials announced that the U.S., Bahrain and other states will hold their first naval exercise in the Gulf to practice interdicting ships carrying weapons of mass destruction and missiles.

The exercises, organized under the U.S.-led 66-member Proliferation Security Initiative and the first to be based in the Gulf near Bahrain, across from Iran, came as Washington and the European Union member states are pushing for imposing sanctions including possible interdiction of ships on North Korea, following its announcement of carrying out nuclear test, and on Iran, which the U.S., backed by Israel and the EU, claims is preparing to produce nuclear weapons.

Iran considers Washington- sponsored war games in the Persian Gulf, off the Iranian coastline as a provocation aimed at creating a situation of direct confrontation between the U.S. and Iranian naval forces in the Persian Gulf, although a senior U.S. official insisted that the exercise is not aimed specifically at Iran.

About the exercises, which experts say reinforces a U.S. strategy aimed at strengthening America’s ties with the Gulf states, which Tehran and Washington are engaged in a fierce competition to win influence over, the official, speaking on condition of anonymity claimed:

"It’s an effort to bring a lot of Gulf states together to demonstrate resolve and readiness to act against proliferation."

"Reports say the U.S.-led naval exercises based near Bahrain will practise intercepting and searching ships carrying weapons of mass destruction and missiles.

Iran's official news agency IRNA quoted an unnamed foreign ministry official as describing the military manoeuvres as dangerous and suspicious. The Iranian foreign ministry official said the U.S.-led exercises were not in line with the security and stability of the region. Instead, they are aimed at fomenting crises, he said." (quoted in BBC, 23 October 2006)

But some analysts reject the idea that the U.S. plans for another war while its army is struggling in Iraq after the situation there worsened beyond the Bush administration and its war allies’ expectations.

The Proliferation Security Initiative is a global initiative, launched in 2003 under President George W. Bush with the aim of stopping shipments of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), includes a group of countries willing to share intelligence information to combat proliferation of WMD, including through military exercises.

North Korea has already announced having nuclear weapons capability, but Iran rejects the United States and other major powers’ accusations that its developing a nuclear weapons program, insisting its nuclear program is solely aimed at peaceful purposes, including power generation.

[Clive]

Boxer is Expeditionary Strike Group 5, comprised of Amphibious Squadron 5, the 15th MEU, USS Boxer (LHD 4), USS Dubuque (LPD 8), USS Comstock (LSD 45), USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), USS Benfold (DDG 65), USS Howard (DDG 83), USCG Midgett (WHEC 726) and HMCS Ottawa (FFH 341).

Clearly this is in support of the Afghanistan job and the ongoing interdiction patrols in the Gulf. These deployments have been ongoing since 2002.

ESG5 deployed out of San Diego last month.

[Prost1]

"I agree with that, but the question is, do we want Israel actually in hostilities, or should we handle it?"

Israel has been threatened repeatedly with annihilation.

They have an "Ante in this 'Game'".

The only way to force the World to accept a country's Right to Existence is to Enforce that Right against those who have committed themselves to that country's destruction.

Were I in charge in Israel, I would have a standing order that whenever the Ruling Council of Iran met, strike!

[Clive]

HMCS Ottawa ping.

[PAR35]

They say 4 carriers, but only list the Eisenhower and the Enterprise. Boxer and Iwo Jima are LHDs.

[stbdside]

Actually, they are LHD's, the newest class of amphibious assault ships, they replaced the LPH's which all of them I believe have been decommissioned.

[mewzilla]

Q: What are 4 carriers doing in the gulf?
A: Anything they want to do.

Heh heh heh...

[McGavin999]

No, see, Israel takes out Hizbollah, Iraq takes out Syria and we take out Iran.

[John Lenin]

[TET1968]

1. The contingency counter strike will, as the diplomats have warned, be awesome.
2. Now that the left wing anti US military are in power, we need to be ready for mass evacuation of civilians.
3. If Iran makes a first strike against Israel,even Bela Palosie won't be able to help her allies.

[dgallo51]

If one googles, one can determine that North Korea, Russia & China have been aiding the Iranians with their acquisition of 'quiet' submarines and missile technology…as part of Iran's goodwill membership in the Shanghai group…one might consider Iran/Syria as war games for the big one.

Is the U.S. Navy Overrated (5.1)
An Updated Knightsbridge Working Paper
Copyright 2004 By Roger Thompson
Professor of Military Studies, Knightsbridge University.

http://www.combatreform.com/itsgindex.htm

China Tries to Keep Quiet
November 7, 2006:

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsub/articles/20061107.aspx

AMERICA'S ACUPUNCTURE POINTS
PART 2: The assassin's mace
By Victor N Corpus

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/HJ20Ad01.html

Defenses on subs to be reviewed
By Bill Gertz
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
November 14, 2006

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20061114-123345-3750r.htm

[popdonnelly]

I hope they're getting ready to make the Democrats pee in their pants.

[Freeport]

Along those lines, maybe it's to cover the strategic withdrawal from Afghanistan via Iran.... :-)

The Navy & 4th ID then throw a kegger in Damascus.... just a thought....

[river rat]

The folks in this forum sure have a lot more confidence in our "leadership" than justified by performance to date...

It would appear, that the extent of American "aggressive" behavior is limited to something under 30 days...

After that 30 days (or less), we go into "Priest Role" and become "missionaries" targeted by lunatics..

For myself -- I don't want to see another American "war" started until the surrender monkeys in Congress are the first to be shot - then pursue the war in a manner to WIN it by destroying every asshole who cried out "Death to America".

Our "leader's" miserable history on this score is DOCUMENTED..
Need I remind you of the times/places?
The last war WON, was WWII....in 1946.
All we've got to show for the HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS killed or maimed since them -- are a couple of cheap monuments on the Mall.

Semper Fi

[El Sordo]

Interesting.

[Mogollon]

The Islamofascists and the democRATS are really going to be stirred up if we obliterate Iran's nuke facilities.

[gonzo]

"...A naval attack would open the way for an aerial attack on Iranian WMD sities. For confirmation, watch for air assets to move to Incirlik and Al Udied..."

Don't know about Turkey, but Qatar is still loaded from the Naval Interdict Ops held a coupla weeks ago.

Are all the ducks in a row yet?

Very interesting! Stay well armed and safe.............FRegards

[Recon Dad]

The Iwo is one of the ships in the 24th MEU group.

[gakrak]

"Bahrain's lovely this time of year."

Your kidding right? I spent two and a half years in Bahrain with one of the flag ships for the Middle Eastern Forces in the early '60's and it was never lovely. Even the Royal Marines that were stationed there hated it. Amen.

[FLOutdoorsman]

Some other things to consider.

This one is dated alittle:
http://www.cns.miis.edu/pubs/week/040812.htm

This one is certainly not, and kinda off the radar this week. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061115/pl_nm/nuclear_iran_usa_dc

[shield]

Saber rattling a bit...appears we're preparing for the possibility of some action sooner maybe rather than later? Israel could be preparing for an action against them and we're goin' support them?