U.S. Navy ships move closer to Lebanon ( 9 ships )

CNN ^

[maquiladora]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. Navy has moved the guided-missile destroyer USS Cole and other ships to the eastern Mediterranean Sea off Lebanon, Pentagon officials said Thursday.

(snip)

The destroyer and two support ships are close to Lebanon but out of visual range of the coast, Pentagon officials said.

Another six vessels, led by the amphibious assault ship USS Nassau, are close to Italy and steaming toward the other three, the officials said.

[philly-d-kidder]

I was In Lebanon Last week... People are awaiting The naming of the President! Hezbollah is Now getting its ass Kicked in Kuwait...

[txhurl]

Tartus is where the NK ship carrying nuke material landed 9/5, and last week where a Russian spy ship took on rough waters.. going for thread/link...

[jeffers]

US ships and Israeli armor on the move ping. Barak’s lining up global political ducks. Syria, Iran and Hezb still stinging over Mugniyeh’s demise. Arab League, Syria’s “Who Killed Imad?” show, and maybe even a UN vote on Iran sanctions next week.

Had a single source report of Serb armor re-positioning last week, any updates on that?

[Minutemen]

I’ve wondered the same thing.

[Cindy]

Yes and I’m with you on that, but in this instance; it seems a good thing to report on this open source item.

[bruinbirdman]

"What will hezbullah do?"

Israel is not "massing" at Gaza. Relatively small punishing force.

U.S. fleet off Lebanese coast. Egypt pissed at AQ and Hamas. Syria wants to talk. Hezbullah trying to influence new Lebanon pres selection.

Hezbullah sits this out while IDF find solution to AQ in Gaza. - - IMO.

Now, what will Israel do to Hezbullah, that is a better question. I don't know. One front at a time.

Russian rustbucket in Syria is . . . well, just that.

yitbos

[familyop]

I forgot to copy comment #35 to you all. You might find some of these links to be interesting, too.

Also, see "Lebanon" and after in this story (eighth paragraph under "Iraq visit is a first," Chicago Tribune).

...and more.

Lebanon divisions threaten Arab League chief Mussa's new mission (Middle East News, Monsters and Critics).

I don't know whether or not you've heard about the rockets fired into Israel lately, but it may be part of a calculated escalation by more than Hamas.

Israel Concerned About Another Hizballah Build-up Along Border (CNSNews.com)

Peoples court condemns Israel for war crimes in Lebanon (Workers World commie publication - communists helping Hizballah in Lebanon)

Excerpt from commie piece re. 2006:
"The Lebanese resistance—2,000 fighters led by Hezbollah but joined by other patriotic forces like the Communist Party—inflicted heavy casualties on the most powerful army in the region. Instead of wiping out the popular armed struggle, the Israelis were driven out."

Hezbollah Reject US Ships Off Lebanon (AP)

[Cindy]

Thank you for the links and post familyop.

[txhurl]

I think the UN is also doing something ‘definitive’ over Hariri’s assassination next week.

[maquiladora]

Perhaps they are there in case of another evacuation of U.S. Citizens like back in 2006 . . . .

There are some indications that may be the case.

[maquiladora]

I’m waiting for Debka to have an absolute field day with this. I’m sure we’ll see a story on Debka in the next few hours confirming all the details we already know but citing “Debkafile’s military sources” as reference. ;-)

[maquiladora]

UK aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious is departing from Malta today, seemingly for a 2 month stint in the Indian Ocean but as we now know the USS Cole will be deployed off Lebanon instead. Maybe Illustrious will follow?

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=65730

[tongue-tied]

Israel is not "massing" at Gaza. Relatively small punishing force.

I don't know about that...see what BBC has reported. The force there may be mop up after massive air assault(?)

Israel warns of Gaza "Holocaust"

[maquiladora]

Israeli forces are assembling mainly near the former Gush Katif settlement bloc and around Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza. - Ynet

[MarineMom613]

My son was supposed to be on the Nassau right now. He even went thru the excerises for it and missed his G/Ma funeral.
He had his unit transferred and the Nassau was out for him.
He loved it.(the ship) Again, Where do we get these great guys who love training and then following up and going over there.

God Bless America
God Bless Israel
Semper Fi

[maquiladora]

Thats right, the Nassau has departed without the marines after a change of orders. We wish him and his unit all the best.

[Drew68]

It’s beyond me why any movement of our ships, planes, troops is posted in open source (any open source).

It is no secret where our ships are (except submarines). Out in the Mediterranean, Red Sea, Gulf, etc., we are almost always within visual range of fishing, shipping and other commercial vessels. These ships all have radios.

Now, where we're going tends to be a little more secret. When the Eisenonhower was sent to support operations off the coast of Somalia in Dec. '07, they turned off the ship's phones and email until after we got there.

[VRWCTexan]

USS Nashville (LPD-13), In July 2006, she was sent to Lebanon as part of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group transporting the 24th MEU to assist with the evacuation of U.S. nationals from the country, after a conflict erupted between the Israeli military and Hezbollah militants. On July 20, 2006, it landed the first Marines on Lebanese soil since 1984

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Nashville_%28LPD-13%29

[Cindy]

Thank you Drew68 for the feedback.

[Drew68]

When the Eisenonhower was sent to support operations off the coast of Somalia in Dec. '07

Um, that would be December, 2006. The years are really getting away from me!