[hardspunned]

We were told the number one priority was to position enough assets in Eastern Mediterranean to deter both Hezbollah and Iran from regionalizing the war. The Ford was the central deterrent. What changed in this area? How is bunch of irregular militia, firing on average one $30,000 missile a day, able to draw our only carrier in the ME away from backing up Israel?

[Chainmail]

More likely, it’s a political lever to force Israel to cease fire with Hamas. The Biden gang double deals like normal people breathe.

[shanover]

USA is a paper tiger.

[43north]

Considering all of the issues that ship has had maybe there is a visit to the shipyard required. Either that or its the bitme crew’s miscalculations again...

[cowboyusa]

2024 feels like half 1860and half 1980.

[Freest Republican]

We were told wider, escalating conflict was a near certainty. By told, I mean assured by the never, ever right crowd.

Yet the oil traders have been right all along.

Beware of The Houthis!

The 72 td fav manages to lose every out-yet still reigns supreme.

[faithhopecharity]

this stupid withdrawl while Iran is openly threatening to widen its warfare against USA, international shipping freedom of the seas, and a half dozen or more American allies ... is just ASKING for trouble, quite possibly BIG TIME trouble

and not just in the Med or Europe or the mideast, but globally as Communist China and Iran and Russia see just how unreliable this current USA administration is

what dam*ed warmonger is to blame for this dumb retreat right when the ship is doing, we are told, a great deal of good on its assignment?

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I hope somebody can get the old sign out of mothballs...

[McGruff]

The USS Gerald R. Ford was supposed to be rotated out but Oct 7th delayed that.

[Bonemaker]

Might as well...Biden won’t let them do anything,

[combat_boots]

Hamas tonight

https://twitter.com/RonEng1ish/status/1741600909744861404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1741600909744861404%7Ctwgr%5Edf077109f1677b8be567f1b731ccd9154ad0cbb1%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fgellerreport.com%2F2023%2F12%2Fgaza-muslim-terrorists-launch-massive-into-israel-on-new-years-eve-screaming-allahu-akbar.html%2F

Go Iron Dome

[FarCenter]

It would be Israel that would be “regionalizing the war”, so the Ford is not needed in the region.

Iran and its proxies are not interested in a regional war. They are content with a “boiling the frog” strategy of continuing very slow escalations.

[Thrownatbirth]

Start the anchor pool.

[flamberge]

We were told the number one priority was to position enough assets in Eastern Mediterranean to deter both Hezbollah and Iran from regionalizing the war. The Ford was the central deterrent. What changed in this area?

What we were told was a lie from start to finish. We were always bluffing, and the Iranians have called us on it. They are not deterred by the American presence.

It simply has become inconvenient to pretend that will back the Israelis. Withdrawing the Ford sends a pretty clear message to Israel.

Besides, the Ford was overdue for return to home port for refitting and repairs before it was deployed to the eastern Mediterranean Sea. It might not be as combat-capable as it needs to be for a serious engagement.

[Eleutheria5]

Thweet! Iran! You’re no longer deterred. Have fun.

[Nextrush]

I heard that USS Bataan amphibious ship with reinforced Marine Corps air assets on board moved from the Red Sea up to the Mediterranean.

I guess that was ahead of the Gerald Ford carrier leaving.

The Dwight Eisenhower carrier group in the Red Sea now dealing with the Yemeni (Houthi) attacks.

[VMI70]

Later