2-3 Carrier Battle Groups to Head Home in next Couple of Days (Including Kitty HawK)

Fox News | Burr5

[Burr5]

On now. Does this say anything about letting the Syrians off the hook?

[Cicero]

Bush has already shown that he will act in his own time. I trust that at the very least we will force Syria out of Lebanon and clean up the terrorists there. But I think more is needed than that, i.e. another regime change.

Meantime the troops need some R&R, and the carriers probably need to get some maintenance, upgrading of gear, and resupply.

Bush may want to lean on China and face down North Korea before the next stage of the Middle-Eastern war. Regime changes are also needed in Iran and Saudi Arabia, at the least. And I agree with those who think that Saudi Arabia needs to be split in two: one country with the oil, the other country, smaller and poorer, with the holy cities. Combining the world's largest oil reserves with control over the holy places is not a good idea, and never should have been allowed in the first place.

[bonesmccoy]

No... I don't the Syrians are off the hook because the USMC/USArmy are present and creating bases for air power projection around the region.

On the other hand, which carriers are leaving the theatre?

7th Fleet?

I think this move DOES say something about North Korea.

[Burr5]

"Different war. Or do you also want to wage war against Russia and France?"

Interesting isn't it, how this points out the amount of "wiggle room" that is NECESSARY in the real world, black and white with-us-or-against-us statements aside?

I'm not here to criticize Bush. Far from it.

But Syria does demand that these questions be asked.

And I'm not going to be called "feckless" for asking them.

Try it this way: If it weren't for the bitching of the hand-wringing of the Euroweenies, and the temper-tantrums of the Arab dictatorships, would we be justified in deposing Assad, if all these allegations are true?

I think so.

If the question "are we going to do anything?" offends some peoples' sensibilities, perhaps "what are we going to do about this?" would be better.....

[Man of the Right]

They're not going to do Syria now.

Now the focus is reviving the economy so Bush can have a second term. The 2004 will be one of the most important elections in U.S. history. If we win, one or more of the following is toast: Syria, Iran and North Korea. If we lose, Washington and New York are toast.

[SunStar]

In the meantime, we have a lot of sailors, marines and Aviators that need a break, and to see their families.

Wow. How sentimental. However, you may have forgotten that the 4th Infantry just arrived, and they are fresh and ready.

[Illbay]

That's true, and I'm sure that their presence in Iraq will help provide the "big stick" that everyone ought to see as we "talk softly" with Syria.

Patience.

[Terp]

The Kitty Hawk isn't going back to the states. It's homeported in Yokosuka, Japan along with it's battlegroup. It's going back to Japan.

Terp

[Samurai_Jack]

Lets not forget that coalition forces have secured a number of airfields within Iraq. Is there something else we wanted those carriers groups for?

[Brian Allen]

<< You'll need more than one carrier to really make them nervous. >>

My friends on Vinson, whose presence anywhere on Earth changes the poitical and military demographics of that region -- and the Asia-based Air Force guys with whom they constantly play [And as constantly astound] would assert that they command both considerable respect -- and just about the appropriate degree of "nervousness." For now.

N'est ce pas?

[And then there are the events in the Arab state a distance to North Korea's (And "china's") west that has very recently been removed from the customer lists of both china and North Korea. Now those have surely commanded a little respect?]

Best ones -- Brian

[winner3000]

(Syria doesn't "rule" Lebanon, though. They have great influence there, but it isn't the same thing.)

What's the difference between ruling a country and having a puppet government whose every decision Syria has to approve? I'd say they have "great influence"! Let's face it, Lebanon has lost its sovereignty.

[Illbay]

Let's face it: Lebanon has had no sovereignty for almost 40 years.