US warship docks in Georgia port

BBC ^ | Sunday August 24 2008

[Ramzi Al Kaboom]

Us warship arrives in Georgia

[mkjessup]

uh...I don’t think this thread is going to tell the Russians anything they don’t already know.

See post #80. And you can never be sure what small bit of data that to you or to me might seem utterly insignificant and 'mere conversation', but when put together with other 'insignificant' pieces of an intelligence puzzle, tells the enemy exactly what they wish to know.

If you can find a copy of Andrew Tully's "CIA - The Inside Story" (1965), look up a story about how a coat hanger that our side acquired from behind the Iron Curtain helped us to analyze the properties of a new Soviet MiG.

And they can certainly do (and have done) to us, what we did (and ought to still be doing) to them.

[Forgiven_Sinner]

"Is there something like a “Newbie FAQ” page? I may have overlooked it. Found the HTML Sandbox and reading it now."

Welcome! You're half way there. There aren't a lot of rules. No profanity--this is a family site. No death or violence threats--that'll get you banned and possibly a visit from the FBI. And finally, if anyone mentions Ann Coulter on any thread, you MUST post her picture.

Like this:

[MarMema]

Did we chicken out to avoid an incident with the Russians in Poti?

Wondering the same thing...

[moose2004]

“I think Putin / the people who are in power and run things in Russia have tipped their hand with this incursion into Georgia.”

I believe Putin has been looking to make a statement about resurging Russian power (oil money) for some time, and Georgia was the perfect choice. They are not members of NATO, yet, their military is small and could easily be overrun with a combination of Russian Special Forces, heavy armor and artillery and most importantly by controlling the skies. South Ossetia and Abkhazia were nothing more than an excuse or trap set by the Russians. This is ceratinly not the case with Ukraine, also not a member of NATO, yet, but a country with a much larger and stronger military.

[MarMema]

A Georgian flag flies in front of the guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul anchored in the harbor of Batumi, western Georgia, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008. The USS McFaul is the first of three U.S. Navy ships that will carry supplies such as blankets, hygiene kits and baby food to Georgia via the Turkish Straits to help the country following its war with Russia over the breakaway republic of South Ossetia. (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)

[Jeff Head]

Did we chicken out to avoid an incident with the Russians in Poti?

I think not.

Apparently the McFaul had 55 tons of humanitarian supplies on board. To go directly to Poti would have required a significant effort to make sure the Port had not been mined or sabotaged so the vessel could get to dock and unload...aftyer which the supplies would have had to contend with the Russian force blocking the interest by highway to the Port.

This way they unload all of that humanirarian effort, which the Georgians need, and avoid the longer wait and the potential for the supplies being interdicted by the Russians.

Apparently the force outside of Poti is relatively small in any case, and bypassing them not only gets the supplies to the Georgians, it renders the Russians there irrelevant to opposing the humanitarian effort.

My guess is that it will not be too long before they leave...and it is not out of the question that the US will help in making sure that happens once more ships arrive and their humanitarian supplies are offloaded.

[ClancyJ]

Thank you. I always admire those that choose to keep the cards close to the chest rather than try to make people think they are super fast and knowledgeable (as if any here or elsewhere is impressed with how fast or who posts the first news).

Shows exactly who cares more about their own ego than the lives of men fighting for their freedoms.

[IonImplantGuru]

Aegis destroyer carrying humanitarian supplies which any dinky freighter can do? This is more than humanitarian mission for sure.,

Wouldn't be prudent to send in 'unarmed' merchants, carrying 'humanitarian supplies', without some sort of visible protection.

[MarMema]

see link at number 36

[M. Espinola]

Poti, western Georgia

The USS McFaul

The enemy of the free world

[Candor7]

Doesn’t that sound more military than humanitarian?.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> To those receiving it , there is no diffeence whether it cam by donkey or by camel.

I think you right though, I don't agree with this peace corpsification of the US Navy either.

Nor should the Navy be using kindness as a weapon.

There is absolutely no need for these vessels to be military vessels, without guards of the supplies under arms, we could make sure that only the commies and leftists in Georgia got supplies, so that they would be strong enough to fight against the free Georgians, who are simply George Bush Puppets.

The NERVE.

ReCall all US military ships from Georgia. Send in GREEN PEACE, Rain Bow Warrior 4! ( sarc. off).

[MarMema]

Well then just sit tight and wait.

[plenipotentiary]

“USS Mount Whitney (LCC/JCC 20), a Blue Ridge class command ship, is the flagship of the United States Navy’s 6th Fleet. She is also the command and control ship for Commander Joint Command Lisbon and Commander Striking Force NATO. She had previously served for years as 2nd Fleet’s command ship.”

“In February 2005, Mount Whitney left Norfolk for Gaeta, Italy where she was redesignated as (LCC/JCC 20) and assumed duties as the 6th Fleet flagship, officially relieving La Salle. She also assumed duties as the command ship for Commander Joint Command Lisbon and Commander Striking Force NATO.”

“....During the deployment, the ship embarked elements of the 2nd Marine Division and II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF).”

I think the Russkies are about to find their real limit. If Georgia closes the Tunnel to North Ossettia, and the coast road from the North becomes impassable in Winter, and they can’t get anything in or out of the Georgian Ports, then the Russian forces in South Ossettia are cut off.

[newzer1]

I may not have worded my question right. I have no problem with armed vessels. My only question was why send the Command Ship? The Whitney is said to be the Flagship of the 6th Fleet. Doesn’t “flagship” mean there’s an Admiral on board? I was in the Army so I don’t know much about Navy ways. Using the Whitney, to me, would be comparable to an Army General moving his HQ to Georgia.

[newzer1]

That last one seems to be the most important rule and I’ll do my best to remember it. Since I don’t have any photos at hand, I won’t mention her name this time. :)

[mikhailovich]

"Good on President Bush for sending a Destroyer. Hope it stays there a while."

Its loaded with chainsaws and diesel fuel. They're gonna cut brush with Putin.

[4woodenboats]

Don't forget to leave your Dinosaur Death Watch regards for McClatchy Here

[newnhdad]

Something like this would have been a great opportunity for the Missouri or the Wisconsin to deliver “aid and assistance”.

[cardinal4]

ping

[Candor7]

A command ship is usually the lead ship in a task force. That means there are up to anothr 14 to 20 vessels under command of an officer of flag rank. It may not be an admiral, generally the Flag officer and the ships captain are not the same person.

We do not know what other ships are under the command ships order of sail, but the intimation is that there may be a nuclear sub or two in the mix. If so, then the Russians need to be very, very careful as to what they actually do. They can posture and harp all the wish, but they surely do not want to send any Russian war ships inside of a 100 mile envelope of the Whitney.

A sub can take out every ship the Russians have and leave no trace of its existance, using cruise missiles or torpedoes, both GPS guided.