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.

[Ainast]

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

[redgolum]

We don't have the assets in place, or the will to use them.

Sorry, Iran has been of the table since 11/7/06 and will be so for the immediate future.

[Rummyfan]

Is the IAF planning to use F-4s to attack Iran?????

[cookcounty]

"Israeli jets won't fly off our carriers.

How about Israeli marked US jets piloted by Israelis?.........."

Ha! reminds me of W's critics (as in SeeBS) who complained that when the F102 was grounded (for being TOO DANGEROUS, by the way), W didn't just hop in an F-4 and head for Vietnam. It takes a long time to train a pilot for a specific fighter, and Congress was already squeezing the funding hose when W was discharged (same month I got out---they were begging me to find a reason to go home).

Only a hate-crazed idiot like Dan Rather would have expected to cross-train W at a time when the Air Force already had too many fighter pilots.

Oh, this gets bees a-buzzing under my bonnet. How many people know that in the very month that W signed up for his Texas Air Guard stint (the only path-to-pilot for a non-engineering major), Texas Air National Guard pilots WERE FLYING F-102's In VIETNAM??? Yet hate-mongerers in the press (we speak here of Bush Crucifixion-Master Dan Rather) IGNORED that fact. When SeeBS interviewed W's commanding officer, they could have asked, they could have investigated his background. They would have found that the Commander himself had flown F-102's in Vietnam. But that wouldn't have comported with SeeBS' "mission."

[reagan_fanatic]

Teach peace

I'll teach peace when my enemy gives up trying to kill me.

[taxed2death]

I couldn't be happier if oil was $100.00 a barrel. It would be great for my business. I hope it slams up to and stays at $125.00

Trade trumps all. Where've you been hiding?
Trade trumps Sovereignty, Trade makes borders meaningless. Trade trumps any little speed bump like terrorism. Capitalism rules the day.

ps, time to quit your job as amateur mind reader there amigo.

[jrooney]

Well said. You said it better than I. I applaud your words.

[cookcounty]

"Teach peace."

So....are you "teaching peace" in Fallujah or are you hiding under your blanket in Berkeley waiting for Marines with guns to secure the perimeter first?

Hypocrisy, thy name is "Peace Activist."

[Unassuaged]

Here in Maryland, it has been tee-shirt weather for the last month. I have had the heat off for weeks. The oven and dryer manage to keep the (small) house warm.

[jrooney]

No sense trying to talk to "taexed2death" because he or she has previously claimed it was okay the donks were in power even though they are going to raise taxes, which conflicts with his or her's moniker. Taxed2death makes no rational sense and seems to like to barb just for the kicks.

[bert]

We have crocus and forsythia blooming!! March in January

[CindyDawg]

I hope Imajihad is stupid enough to attack an American carrier in the Persian Gulf.

I hope they aren't.

[theFIRMbss]

>President Bush does not have the political strength to sell an attack on Iran to Congress

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

They don't wait until
Pelosi tells them to go!
Congress only plays

if Bush has to ask
for money to settle in.
But to smash Iran

I do not believe
Bush needs anyone's okay.
I hope he doesn't.

[karnage]

Record cold in LA, which, I know, is like being the world's tallest midget. But still...

[taxed2death]

I guess I fell out of the sarcastic side of bed this morning and decided to bait the hook with a large chunk of "how gullible some people are", for kicks today. And you must be part of the "Pelosi right" correct?

[melancholy]

Hey RW,

As I mentioned to you in an older thread, I still say we'll have an air war against Iran this spring.

So, what do you think?

[Orange1998]

"The "Bush lied" crowd has won and we will face a nuclear Iran within five years."

Have you once thought, just maybe... we attacked the wrong country. Iran was closer to WMD than Iraq ever was. Finishing off Iran first would have had Saddam shaking in his boots (Saddam was smarter than Ahmadinejad). Instead we have Iran stepping up the BS to the whole world with the ACE in the hole (nuclear).

[Jacquerie]

Teach peace

Teach stand and defend your country. Peace will follow.

[benldguy]

Apparently the Navy is about to annouce that the USS Ronald Reagan carrier battle group is to be dispatched shortly from San Diego. And the USS Boxer amphibious assault group is there as well.

See: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1767836/posts , #17