Posted on 02/21/2011 1:57:29 PM PST by RedMDer
The repeated delays and contradictory statements about the two Iranian warships' transit of the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean is accounted for by a standoff between the Iranian flotilla and five US warships deployed in recent days at the waterway's southern entrance and along its course, debkafile's sources disclose. Thursday night, Feb. 17, the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, escorted by missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf and the fast supply ship USNS Arctic, headed south through the canal. By Friday morning, they were through and taking up position opposite the Kharg cruiser and Alvand missile destroyer of the Iranian Navy's 12th Flotilla, which were waiting to enter the Suez Canal at the southern Red Sea entrance.
(Excerpt) Read more at debka.com ...
I am no fan of Iran, but if this article is true, I don’t see what standing we have to do this.
Little ant, meet big boot. Things could get crunchy and messy in this meeting.
Linky no worky - much like DEBKA, I fear.
Under this president? Debka.
DEBKA, not true.
Consider the source.
I am no fan of Obama, but if this article is true, I salute him.
Aw crap...it’s DEBKA.
Community organizing on the open seas.
It works for me.
So, the reported earthquake was actually Ahmadinejad crapping his pants???
A couple of points.
1. DEBKA has never been right about anything that I am aware of.
2. That picture is of the USS Enterprise transiting the Suez Canal.
3. You do not “park” and aircraft carrier, you “anchor” it, and when you do it is basically useless for launching anything other than helicopters.
4. The US Navy would not allow any warship, much less the USS Enterprise, to come within eyesight of an enemy flotilla, much less “park opposite” one.
UN resolutions and sanctions. Same reasoning we used to go into Iraq.
"permitted by the last round of UN sanctions against Iran in the case of suspicious war freights"
I am surprised an aircraft carrier will fit through the canal.
Seems like an awfully valuable asset to be used in this manner in such restricted waters. I doubt it.
If it's true, salute Bob Gates. He's the one calling the shots.
Standing is only an issue when dealing with the rational. Moslims are not rational.
I am more concerned with the possibility of a crude nuke on one of the ships. Trading a carrier and escort ships for a couple of rats a** Iranian mini ships is hardly a valid trade, though something which Obama might well set us up for.
From the Iranian point of view their navy has bottled up a US carrier strike force in the Suez Canal.
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