Showdown Looms in Persian Gulf as US Sends 2nd Aircraft Carrier

Arutz Sheva - IsraelNationalNews ^ | 1/16/7 | Gil Zohar

[SmithL]

Is the United States gearing up for an attack on Iran?

The deployment of a second U.S. aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf has analysts speculating that President Bush means to stop Tehran's nuclear ambitions by force if necessary.

The USS John C. Stennis was scheduled to sail Tuesday from its homeport of
Bremerton, Washington. When the second carrrier arrives in the Middle East next month, this will be the first time since the U.S.-led Iraq invasion in 2003 that the United States will have two carrier battle groups in the region, according to a U.S. Navy official.

The increase in U.S. forces is a show of strength by Washington in the face of Iran's growing regional assertiveness and a perception among U.S. adversaries that the United States is vulnerable in Iraq, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Monday.

The Stennis is a Nimitz-class carrier, with approximately 3,200 sailors. It will stop off in San Diego to pick an air wing of more than 80 planes, including F/A-18 Hornet and Superhornet fighter-bombers.

After a monthlong voyage across the Pacific and Indian oceans, the Stennis will join the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which is already tasked to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, based in the Gulf sheikhdom of Bahrain, said Cmdr. Kevin Aandahl of the Fifth Fleet.

Once in Middle East waters, the second aircraft carrier will significantly boost U.S. air power in the region and serve as a reminder of U.S. firepower to Iran.

"This demonstrates our resolve to do what we can to bring security and stability to the region," Aandahl said. "That's obviously to dissuade others from acting counter to our national interest."

Washington will maintain two carriers in the Middle East "as long as the
situation demands it," Aandahl said. A typical carrier deployment lasts six months.

In a related matter, the U.S. recently deployed a Patriot air defense missile battalion in the Middle East.

As well, at least 16 US F-16 fighter aircraft arrived January 12 in Turkey's strategic Incirlink air base for the first time in three years. According to local Cihan News Agency, the F-16s were accompanied by an early warning system AWACS airplane and tanker airplanes from an American base in Germany. An official at the US embassy in Ankara said the planes had arrived for joint exercises with the Turkish military.

On Thursday, US forces in Iraq detained five suspected members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards operating out of the northern Iraq town of Irbil in Kurdistan.

[CindyDawg]

We are at 36 in the Valley. It has been very mild up until this storm though.

[WorkerbeeCitizen]

agree with your postulations. I also am of the mind that Iran is going to do something and that the "surge" and the add Carrier Group is in anticipation of that.

I am not convinced though, that Iran will merge with it's like nation neighbors - although it sounds like given a chance, it would work.

[CommerceComet]

I think their wakes, which are much narrower than that of the Stennis, are being broken up by wave motion.

Thanks. On closer examination, I noticed that the second ship from the left probably couldn't pivot that much to make that wake. If it were zig zagging, it would have a longer crest to crest oscillation.

[arthurus]

We will not accomplish anything with Iran by "sending messages." No matter what the "wording" of the message, if it is not the actual destruction of Iran, the received message will say only, "we have not the will to actually do anything." We sent many messages to the Communists in Viet Nam 30 years ago. "Sending a message," has always meant that we will puff up big but keep our hands firmly in our pockets and that is the worst kept secret on the planet.

[romanesq]

A President needs Congress to declare war to go to war.
In the event of some emergency he can act.

Is Iran stupid enough to provide such a rationale? Doubtful.

This being the case, can someone provide a scenario where this aramda is not just for appearance sake?

[arthurus]

Because of our extensive history of making statements and "sending messages" that express our desires but are not followed up by action, no message we send will be interpreted as anything but blowing hard. The message the Nutjob and the mullahs will understand is the actual rapid destruction of their military, their refineries, and their nuke program.

[Orange1998]

"A President needs Congress to declare war to go to war."

Bush can do any think he damn well pleases. Congress does not sway him.

[arthurus]

. Something is up when that much fire power is deployed. Add the submarines and somebody could get their butts kicked.

And we could be just marching up that hill in preparation for marching back down again. If this is not a real preparation for a real assault that will really happen, then it is merely a waste of resources and a moral boost for the enemy in Iran and in the MSM.

[romanesq]

He has authorization in Iraq and can act to aid our forces there as Commander-in-Chief.

That doesn't mean he has a blank check to attack another country.

[Fred Nerks]

Iranian Arab Khuzestan, with most of Iran's oil, would be joined with Arab Iraq...

that's the one that would hurt the most...

[txhurl]

D'ja read the ISG? That the rats are OK with? The little codicil about 'unless some incident occurs'?

[El Gato]

More likely the first four Ohios, which have been converted to SSGN, cruise missile submarines. Each can carry about 154 Tomahawks, conventionally or nuclear armed. They can also carry and support up to 66 SOF folks, and a SEAL Delivery Vehicle.

Unfortunately I don't think all of them have finished the convertion from SSBNs.

USS Ohio (SSGN 726), Bangor, WA - Commenced conversion from SSBN in November 2003.
USS Michigan (SSGN 727), Bangor, WA - Commenced conversion to SSGN in October 2004
USS Florida (SSGN 728), Bangor, WA - Commenced conversion to SSGN in April 2004
USS Georgia (SSGN 729), Norfolk, VA - Conversion to SSGN scheduled for October 2005

[arthurus]

Maybe we have trained some pilots to speak Hebrew.

[RightWhale]

A President needs Congress to declare war to go to war.

That statement contradicts all history since WW II.

[Orange1998]

Sure he does. He sends in the troops and then goes to Congress to tell them what he did. Simple as that.

[El Gato]

President Bush does not have the political strength to sell an attack on Iran to Congress. This build up is saber rattling.

Given that Iran is involved in attacks on US forces in Iraq, he doesn't need Congressional support. At least not in the short run. We are allowed to defend ourselves. Ditto for the Syrians.

There will be no more preemptive strikes. The "Bush lied" crowd has won and we will face a nuclear Iran within five years.

So we should just lie, down, curl up our toes and die?

I'd prefer a Constitutional crises over that.

[stylin19a]

thanks...there you go....

[El Gato]

It's been extremely mild in the NE.

So winter is a little late. That happens a lot, especially in the colder winters. According to the WX forecast I saw this afternoon, your time is coming.

Point being, it's too early to say this is a mild winter, technically it's not quite 1/3 over.

[arthurus]

If by teaching peace is meant that we get control of all the Moho schools in the world and change the curriculum, then well...

[Yorlik803]

Or This line" Son...you just opened a whole can of Whomp a Ass"