Posted on 07/20/2011 10:35:59 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
US fleet may quit troubled Bahrain
Hugh Tomlinson
From:The Australian
THE US Navy is looking at plans to move its Fifth Fleet away from Bahrain amid fears over violence and continued instability in the Gulf kingdom.
Sources in Washington and the Gulf have confirmed a growing consensus around the idea of relocating the fleet after the recent crackdown on anti-government protests that left at least 32 dead.
Politicians in Washington are concerned the navy's continued presence a few kilometres from the centre of the capital Manama lends tacit support to Bahrain's suppression of the opposition, amid allegations of systematic human rights abuses.
"There was talk on Capitol Hill about moving the fleet within days of the protests breaking out, and that increased in March and April as people realised that what was happening in Bahrain ran counter to our interests," one source said.
The Fifth Fleet is a key component of US military power in the Gulf. Possible alternative locations include the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. However, neither has the current capacity for the fleet and a potential move remains some years off.
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The UAE is considered the most likely destination. The US already moors its aircraft carriers at Dubai's main port, Jebel Ali, and has other military capabilities in the country.
Qatar would offer a logistical link with the large US airbase in the emirate. A new port under construction outside Doha has been expanded to include a naval base adjoining the commercial port, though sources in the Qatari capital say the port is being built to accommodate the domestic navy and "occasional visitors".
The US Navy has little desire to move, fearing the operation would be costly
(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.com.au ...
I haven’t seen anything in the media about Bahrain for weeks. Are the protests continuing? As for the US being alarmed by the treatment of the protesters they should be hoping the ruling party can put them down. The protesters are proxies for the Iranians.
I thought everyone was going to love us after Obama was elected.
“The Fifth Fleet is a key component of US military power in the Gulf. Possible alternative locations include the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. However, neither has the current capacity for the fleet and a potential move remains some years off.” This is BullFeces! Jebal Ali UAE IS HUGE(you could put the ENTIRE present US Navy there and have LOTS of room left(easy access to the IO too). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jebel_Ali
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_of_Jebel_Ali
I’ll bet that Hussein has offered Bahrain to the Saudi’s in return for easing oil prices for his relection. The Saudis have been moving into Bahrain to counter the Iranians. The Sauds want to increase their oil reserves.
The best place would be Norfolk.
I was there a couple of days ago on business. Curfews are no longer in place and I felt as safe as I did before all the trouble started. Protests have stopped and most have been shipped back to Iran.
Sure, if you took over the entire commercial port, but that isn't going to happen. The fact is, there are a lot of logistics and facilities at Bahrain that are not at Jebel Ali and those would take a while to move. It's more than just berthing space.
Might end up in Qatar? Wow, what a huge surprise. /s
Thanks sukhoi-30mki.
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