Just re-reading Sy Hersh's NYer piece and noticed this...

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

from http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060417fa_fact

Some operations, apparently aimed in part at intimidating Iran, are already under way. American Naval tactical aircraft, operating from carriers in the Arabian Sea, have been flying simulated nuclear-weapons delivery missions—rapid ascending maneuvers known as “over the shoulder” bombing—since last summer, the former official said, within range of Iranian coastal radars.

Now, I was under the impression the USN did not have any carrier-based nukes any more. IF that was the case, then how could this be considered "intimidating Iran" assuming that if I know there are no nukes on carriers, then Iran damn sure should know.

Or, the US is lying about there being no nukes on carriers?

[OldLeftieLawyer]

1. WHAT????

The government LIES TO US?

Whoa .............

[DS1]

2. Of course they have nukes on carriers

and subs

How silly would it look if Iran got a nuke from China nowhere and dropped one on some of our ships, and suddenly the US had to say

CARRR! sail alllll the way back to Pearl, pick some up, sail alll the way back and say "Car gone, Game on"

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

3. Well, I know that. But lots of places claim

the US has removed nukes from carriers. I wonder where the hell that comes from?

I mean the Navy has always done that stupid "will not confirm nor deny" the presence... but now they claim there are not any.

[DS1]

4. If they admitted it, they wouldn't be allowed to dock anywhere

Granted, they don't ~need~ to dock *unless 2 dudes on a motorboat bomb the shit out of them* but not docking would sure drop morale - and all that "Join the Navy, see the world" stuff would fall down the tubes pretty quick