It sure took them a while to notice them...
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Kick ass!
We don't consider the Iwo and Boxer to be carriers, though they have flight decks for helos and VTOL.
If there are 4 carriers in the area, the water below has to be quite crowded.
It's that or wait for Israel to clean up the area.
You may fear Allah
But we are bringing God, Moses, Jesus and whole lot of firepower down on your butt....Deal with it.
Ping!
In a related question, "What's that big, wet spot spreading across the front of Skippy Ahmadinejad's khaki pants?"
Q: What are 4 carriers doing in the gulf?
A: Anything they want to do.
Practicing...
What else?
What's the matter, Al J.? Scared?
We must get politicians in office and Flag Officers in our Military that KNOW how to WIN WARS, that a completely PC DEAF, who put the JAG corps out of war zones and back into court rooms were they belong, and institute ROE that do NOT maximize OUR OWN casualties and minimize the enemy and civilian casualties!!
10 Signs That the United States is About to Bomb Iran
Before any major military operation, there are always tell tale signs. With all the talk about Israel or the United States bombing Iran's nuclear weapons program, it would be wise to check for the signs before taking the pundit prattle too seriously.
1. The U.S. Navy stages a "surge exercise" and moves six carrier battle groups into the Indian Ocean.
2. A "regularly scheduled exercise" moves Patriot Missile Batteies to Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. These exercises happen from time to time, but if they happen when other things are happening
3. -- Movement of B-52 and B1B bombers to the island of Diego Garcia (in the Indian Ocean).
4. -- Deployment of F117 stealth bombers and F-22 fighters to anywhere in the Persian Gulf.
5. -- Deployment of B-2 Stealth Bombers to Guam, where there are special facilities for maintaining these aircraft.
6. -- Lockdown of Whitman Air Force Base (where most B-2 bombers are stationed) in Missouri.
7. -- Increased delivery of Pizza to Pentagon
8. Sudden loss of cell service near some air force bases (from which heavy bombers would depart). At the same time, there would be sightings of Middle Eastern looking guys around these bases, trying to get their cell phones to work, while being observed by what appears to be FBI agents.
9. Deployment of KC-135/KC-10 aerial tankers to Diego Garcia, Guam and the Persian Gulf.
10. America asks nations neighboring Iran for basing and over flight rights.
These warning signs are no secret, and intelligence officers regularly run down their check lists. As a result, nations will sometimes stage a false alert by deliberately performing many of the items on someone's check list, with no intention of following through.
http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/topten/articles/20060222.aspx
Uh, same reason Bush stopped in Moscow to talk with Putin this week...
and the press reported with a straight face that it was required for fuel. They are so stupid.
It's really 2 carrier battle groups and 2 amphibious warfare battle groups, double the normal complement. The purpose is open to speculation: Most likely to add weight to diplomacy and shore up the Gulf States. Or for those of a more Machiavellian bent, to rope-a-dope Iran and shore up oil prices. The last time the Iranian navy took on the U.S. Navy, Iran lost 1/3 of its surface fleet in an afternoon. 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 the name of the carrier depicted here. FYI, the Enterprise battle group returned to Norfolk, Virginia today. Guess that makes only three carriers in the Gulf. I'm one of those who did notice those carriers in the Gulf.