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.

[redgolum]

So? Does he have to? He issues the orders to the military.

With all do respect.

I hope Bush is smarter than that. Yes he can order the initial strikes, but after that Congress will put the screws to him. We are playing "PC War" in Iraq right now for similar reasons.

[Last Dakotan]

But we could assist Israeli air operations by refueling their jets in mid-air.

Are they equipped/trained for that?

[El Gato]

I swear I thought there was a miniature golf course on the back of that ship on the bottom

Might be. No telling what the merchant marine union demands these days. That appears to be a combat support ship, most of which are manned by civilian Navy employees of the Military Sealift Command. Probably the USNS Bridge(T-AOE 10)

Seriously that's the helicopter pad, but it might double as a miniature golf course, sunbathing deck or whatever.

USNS Bridge

[El Gato]

Iran probably has 1000 Silkworm clones. How many can they launch before they are shut down?

Silkworms, essentially slightly upgraded Soviet Styx, date to the 1950s. They are slow, easy to shoot down, and probably easy to decoy, depending on the guidance system's sophistication.

The launching sites would be taken out by Tomahawks and/or aircraft in the first wave. Just as would the air defense sites. F-117s would be useful in some cases for that job. Then send in the BUFFS, Bones, and B-2s, with a few F-117s and F-15Es, along for the smaller targets. The Navy's F/A-18s would handle some targets close to the water, such as those Silkworm sites, the Naval bases where the Kilos might be hanging out, and so forth.

[Issaquahking]

Teach peace.


See what they learned from being taught?

Try again.


We didn't start this war, but we can sure ass hell end it! we are preparing to do just that.



Sam Adams best summed it up when he said," If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands that which feed you. May your chain be set lightly upon you and posterity forget ye were our countrymen."

While you are willing to have "acceptable losses" or whatever is going in your head - I'm not! To wipe the radical islam from the earth, to bring peace to the earth, bides well with me.

Pope Benedict XVI proved that the war (that has been going on since 622) is just a heart beat away with just a few words -


"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."

[RightWhale]

I assume that if a military response to Iranian aggression is begun it would be systematic as in Gulf War I. The first targets would be those most dangerous weapons, then Command and Control, then Iran would sue for peace because they aren't Sodumb Insane.

[defenderSD]

I'm not sure, but I recall reading somewhere that we could refuel Israeli jets in mid-air because they're the same jets we use.

[WorkerbeeCitizen]

already posted

[txhurl]

LOL my nephew claimed it was a basketball court and will the ship turn around for overboard balls.

[WorkerbeeCitizen]

Opppssss - wrong thread.

[Joan Kerrey]

But how would the rest of the Islamo/Arab world respond?
----
They'll scream and yell publicly and privately cheer us on.
France, EU and the UN will probably scream and yell both publicly AND privately. I now worry more about the EU street than I do about the arab street. The arab street doesn't know any better. Big Difference.

[jveritas]

I think that taxed2death has lost it long time ago, it is pathetic.

[Joan Kerrey]

Record cold in LA, which, I know, is like being the world's tallest midget. But still...
----
Yes it is cold in LA and in my area 100 miles east in the desert. We had to turn our heat up and we're wearing long sleeved clothing. I have had to skip my morning coffee on the patio for a week now. I simply don't know how we can keep this up. Today we had to put a sweater on the dog for the first time ever. If this keeps up I may have to buy an electric blanket for us and one for the dog as well.

[jveritas]

I give up arguing with you taxed2death!

[ColdSteelTalon]

O jeesh, here we go again. Hold on to your wallets and bend over America !!!

[rmlew]

Is the IAF planning to use F-4s to attack Iran?????
No. Although the Kurnass or the F-4 2000 is a descent strike aircraft, iot lacks the range. Israel would use it 25 F-15Is and 80- F-16Is.

[matt1234]

can someone provide a scenario where this aramda is not just for appearance sake?

The President can do whatever he wants for 60 days per the War Powers Act. After that, Congress gets involved. We can do a lot of damage to Iran in 60 days, even if congress forces us out after that.

[taxed2death]

I wasn't arguing...I was just pullin' your leg :)

relax!

[taxed2death]

"I think that taxed2death has lost it long time ago, it is pathetic."

....not sure I ever "had it"

;0

[jveritas]

If you were posting sarcastic posts then please use standard FR style for such posts which I am sure you know very well (/sarcasm, extreme sarcasm, sarcasm beyond belief etc...) :)