Posted on 09/01/2013 4:19:40 PM PDT by kristinn
The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and other ships in its strike group are heading west toward the Red Sea to help support a limited U.S. strike on Syria, if needed, defense officials said on Sunday.
The Nimitz carrier strike group, which includes four destroyers and a cruiser, has no specific orders to move to the eastern Mediterranean at this point, but is moving west in the Arabian Sea so it can do so if asked. It was not immediately clear when the ships would enter the Red Sea, but they had not arrived by Sunday evening, said one official.
"It's about leveraging the assets to have them in place should the capabilities of the carrier strike group and the presence be needed," said the official.
SNIP
The Nimitz carrier group had been in the Indian Ocean, supporting U.S. operations in Afghanistan, but was due to sail east around Asia to return to its home port in Everett, Washington, after being relieved in recent days by another aircraft carrier, the USS Harry S. Truman.
Given the situation in Syria, U.S. military officials decided to reroute the Nimitz and send it west toward the Red Sea, and possibly the Mediterranean, officials said.
The Navy has also sent the USS San Antonio, an amphibious ship with 300 Marines and extensive communications equipment on board, to join the five destroyers, diverting it from a previously scheduled mission that would have taken it farther west.
A second official said the San Antonio had been asked to serve as an afloat forward staging base, which could provide a temporary base for special operations forces, if they were needed. It could also assist with evacuations.
(Excerpt) Read more at mobilebeta.reuters.com ...
all our carriers are nuclear powered, why they have to mention it like nobody knows, or they’d be less impressive if they weren’t, is stupid.
“Those pictures say it all!
It looks like Dr. Strangelove returns!”
Unfortunately, we seem to be in a horrible time movement into a war only Obozo Liar and his buds like McAinal want.
Since the world’s elite bankers finance the US government, they get to call the shots for our military.
Owing $17 trillion means that we really have not paid off any of our military equipment.
The bankers are calling the shots on this “arab spring”.
Yes, but the German Navy never left port again.
USS Barack Hussein Obama carrier group...apologies to anyone who just had dinner.
Correct.
Russia is building up ships off Syria, as well. Dr. Strangelove returns.
With just a few destroyers off of Syria, the Russian Temptation to lob a couple of missles at them, if Obama attacks, is pretty strong.
Sending in two carrier airwings seriously ups the ante. Now, how will Putin counter?
I read on the net Russia has dispatched 4 additional warships. Which is why we are moving another carrier to the area.
I agree. It’s almost as if this knucklehead wants a direct confrontation between the U. S. and Russia.
That says MUCH.
this business will get out of control, it will get out of control and we’ll be lucky to live through it..
If this sissy loses one ship or one carrier gets damaged because of his idiotic campaign promise, he should get impeached.
he is going to do it, all the criticism and slams from the left for backing away are pushing him back in
Avast ye, matey. Avast.
lol.
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