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Deployment of second carrier to Gulf a 'reminder': Gates
AFP ^
| 4-29-08
Posted on 04/29/2008 9:49:24 PM PDT by STARWISE
US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said Tuesday the deployment of a second aircraft carrier to the Gulf should be seen as a "reminder" of US military power in the region.
But Gates flatly denied that the United States was preparing the ground for military strikes against Iran.
"I don't think we'll have two carriers for a protracted period of time. So I don't see it as an escalation. I think it could be seen, though, as a reminder," Gates told reporters here during a visit with Mexican officials.
The arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Gulf follows a noticeable hardening in US rhetoric against Iran for meddling in Iraq and playing a destabilizing role in the region.
Commander Jeff Davis, a US Navy spokesman, said the Lincoln would overlap with the departing carrier USS Harry Truman by "no more than a day or two." He said it was a "routine regular replacement."
CBS News reported that the Pentagon has ordered new options be drawn up for attacking Iran and that the State Department has begun drafting an ultimatum that would tell Iran to stop meddling or else.
But when asked here whether the Pentagon was preparing for military strikes against Iran, Gates said flatly, "No."
The stepped-up US rhetoric against Iran has come against the backdrop of an intensifying violence in Iraq as US forces clash with Shiite militia "special groups" that the US military say are backed by Iran.
(Excerpt) Read more at afp.google.com ...
TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: gates; gulf; middleeast; shipmovement; usn; ussabrahamlincoln; wot
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1
posted on
04/29/2008 9:49:25 PM PDT
by
STARWISE
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach; NormsRevenge; SE Mom; Bahbah; LUV W; Kathy in Alaska; Lancey Howard; ...
2
posted on
04/29/2008 9:52:14 PM PDT
by
STARWISE
(They (Dims) think of this WOT as Bush's war, not America's war-RichardMiniter, respected OBL author)
To: STARWISE
“Don’t worry, they’ll row for a month before they figure out I’m fakin’ it.” —the “Deacon” character in the movie, “Waterworld.”
3
posted on
04/29/2008 9:54:52 PM PDT
by
familyop
(Worthless male weekend warrior has-been trash with no degree.)
![](http://www.teachersparadise.com/ency/en/media/3/32/uss_abraham_lincoln.jpg)
God bless and protect all our awesome military.
4
posted on
04/29/2008 9:55:03 PM PDT
by
STARWISE
(They (Dims) think of this WOT as Bush's war, not America's war-RichardMiniter, respected OBL author)
To: STARWISE
What I was referring to...
"But when asked here whether the Pentagon was preparing for military strikes against Iran, Gates said flatly, 'No.'"
5
posted on
04/29/2008 9:56:05 PM PDT
by
familyop
(Worthless male weekend warrior has-been trash with no degree.)
6
posted on
04/29/2008 9:56:36 PM PDT
by
STARWISE
(They (Dims) think of this WOT as Bush's war, not America's war-RichardMiniter, respected OBL author)
To: STARWISE
God bless and protect them all.
7
posted on
04/29/2008 10:01:00 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
(~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
To: familyop
8
posted on
04/29/2008 10:06:36 PM PDT
by
STARWISE
(They (Dims) think of this WOT as Bush's war, not America's war-RichardMiniter, respected OBL author)
To: STARWISE
I love being a citizen of a country that can project a force strong enough to totally eliminate a belligerent government as a “reminder”.
9
posted on
04/29/2008 10:07:19 PM PDT
by
Lost Dutchman
("Weep for the future Na'Toth, Weep for us all." (G'Kar-Babylon 5))
To: STARWISE
One is a lonely number.
Two is a reminder.
Three means the balloon is up.
10
posted on
04/29/2008 10:08:33 PM PDT
by
exit82
(People get the government they deserve. And they are about to get it--in spades.)
To: STARWISE
Just watching the series on PBS “Carrier”
about of The local San Diego based carriers, Nimitz
in the Gulf and the Air Wing and ther activities.
The Reagan here has been active also in the war.
11
posted on
04/29/2008 10:14:10 PM PDT
by
SoCalPol
(Don't Blame Me - I Supported Duncan Hunter)
To: SoCalPol
I did, too. Love that series .. quite well done.
12
posted on
04/29/2008 10:16:46 PM PDT
by
STARWISE
(They (Dims) think of this WOT as Bush's war, not America's war-RichardMiniter, respected OBL author)
To: STARWISE
I can walk 1 1/4 miles up the street and look out
at the USS Nimitz and USS Reagan here
13
posted on
04/29/2008 10:18:47 PM PDT
by
SoCalPol
(Don't Blame Me - I Supported Duncan Hunter)
14
posted on
04/29/2008 10:30:15 PM PDT
by
STARWISE
(They (Dims) think of this WOT as Bush's war, not America's war-RichardMiniter, respected OBL author)
To: SoCalPol
I can walk 1 1/4 miles up the street and look out at the USS Nimitz and USS Reagan here Those two need to be over there, not here. We could use three carrier groups in that region -- and one full group in the eastern Mediterranean -- as a 'reminder' to Syria.
15
posted on
04/29/2008 10:30:36 PM PDT
by
Solitar
("My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them." -- Barry Goldwater)
To: SoCalPol
Must be so stirring. To see what these
young kids do is truly humbling.
16
posted on
04/29/2008 10:31:33 PM PDT
by
STARWISE
(They (Dims) think of this WOT as Bush's war, not America's war-RichardMiniter, respected OBL author)
To: AdmSmith; Berosus; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Fred Nerks; george76; KlueLass; LucyT; ...
That’s a nice one, I like it. When we send Ahmedeadman to Hell via whatever’s handy, we can say the same thing — “it was just a reminder”. ;’)
17
posted on
04/29/2008 10:39:34 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/_______________________Profile updated Monday, April 28, 2008)
To: Kathy in Alaska
18
posted on
04/29/2008 10:43:38 PM PDT
by
STARWISE
(They (Dims) think of this WOT as Bush's war, not America's war-RichardMiniter, respected OBL author)
To: STARWISE
19
posted on
04/30/2008 3:50:51 AM PDT
by
fredhead
(4-cylinder, air cooled, horizontally opposed......THE REAL VW!!!)
To: STARWISE
Gates has a dry sense of humor, doesn’t he? :)
...”a reminder”...
20
posted on
04/30/2008 3:53:25 AM PDT
by
SE Mom
(Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet)
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