Second aircraft carrier group headed to Iran! What incredible timing!

[cynatnite]

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - A second U.S. aircraft carrier strike group now steaming toward the Middle East is Washington's way of warning Iran to back down in its attempts to dominate the region, a top U.S. diplomat said here Tuesday.

Nicholas Burns, U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs, ruled out direct negotiations with Iran and said a rapprochement between Washington and Tehran was "not possible" until Iran halts uranium enrichment.

"The Middle East isn't a region to be dominated by Iran. The Gulf isn't a body of water to be controlled by Iran. That's why we've seen the United States station two carrier battle groups in the region," Burns said in an address to the Dubai-based Gulf Research Center, an influential think-tank.

"Iran is going to have to understand that the United States will protect its interests if Iran seeks to confront us," Burns continued.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070123/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_us

[ContraCommando]

1. Maybe the Middle East

isn’t a place for neo-con imperialists to dominate either.

[BOSSHOG]

2. And what part of our defense is being exposed

because bush wants to show off his toys? And thats exactly how the drug addicted deserter views our troops and Aircraft Carriers, just like the John Larroquette character in Stripes. Showing his dick like a good flag waving patriot, all the while letting down our guard in some other part of the planet.

[sarcasmo]

14. Look at how weak our Military is at the present time. It would be prime time

for China to attack from the West and declare Regime change for America. This is only a point of view, not a suggestion.

[TornadoTN]

16. At the very least for them to hop across the narrow waters into Taiwan

We aren't the only ones noticing this, thats for certain.

[stillcool]

3. I wonder if Iran has anything to do...

with the Iraqi resistance to signing the oil law. All that fire-power sure seems an expensive way to flex one's muscles, but then I guess seeing is believing. Scary shit.

[shadowknows69]

4. SOmeone correct me if I'm wrong

but weren't we moving carrier groups there as long as 5 months ago? I think its possible we could have as many as 4 in the area.

[cynatnite]

5. I thought there was only one before this...

Going to check.

[cynatnite]

9. Here's this, too...

The aircraft carrier Eisenhower and its strike group — including three escort ships, an attack submarine and 6,500 sailors in all — entered the Persian Gulf on Dec. 11 after a naval exercise to practice halting vessels suspected of smuggling nuclear materials in waters across the region. A carrier had not been inside the gulf since the Enterprise left in July, according to Pentagon officials. The next carrier scheduled to sail toward the Middle East is the Stennis, already set to depart Bremerton, Wash., for the region in late January, Navy officers said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/21/world/middleeast/21navy.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5088&en=89d268b4a9650a47&ex=1324357200&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Between this and the others, wouldn't this be considered a major buildup?

[NNN0LHI]

6. Doesn't that make at least a dozen carrier groups there already?

Seems like one leaves every other day.

Someone is playing games here.

Don

[cynatnite]

7. Sept 2006 a large strike group was sent...

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20061009/lindorff

I'm still hunting.

[whopis01]

27. Considering that there are only 12

carrier groups, I am pretty sure that there are not a dozen there already. In fact, I am pretty sure that this would raise the number to 2...

[Norquist Nemesis]

8. Bush is going to claim he protecting the troops

Not a doubt in my mind about it.

[seemslikeadream]

10. Iran

Bush's Inconceivable Interest in Iran Sat Apr-01-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=819437

Senior U.S. Officials “Want to Hit Iran” Tue Apr-04-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=844418

Larisa Alexandrovna: CHENEY TAPS IRANIAN ARMS DEALER FOR IRAN TALKS Thu Apr-20-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=977234

Seymour Hersh said something startling about Rumsfeld on Democracy Now Fri Aug-18-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1936421

So former DLC, PNAC member Abram Shulsky feeding Cheney info on Iran?Sat Aug-19-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1944614

Fuck. Iran has started "war games." Escalation may only be expected.Sun Aug-20-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1949812

Attack on Iran is Coming Sun Aug-27-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1993284

"Grave threat". Yes, it's deja vu all over again. Thu Aug-31-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2022620

UN attacks US nuclear report on Iran erroneous misleading unsubstantiated Sun Sep-17-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2159951

We Are Conducting Military Operations Inside Iran Right Now Tue Sep-19-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2168218

Navy told: Prepare to blockade Iran by Oct 1 Mon Sep-18-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2161779

Pentagon Iran Office Mimics Former Iraq Office Wed Sep-20-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2179484

“This is the largest massing of military power in the region, and it is gathering for a reason.” Sat Nov-18-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2753952

Seymour Hersh: Cheney Says 'Whether Or Not Dems Win-NO STOPPING Military Option With Iran' Sun Nov-19-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2757350

Does anyone still believe the US will launch a full scale invasion of Iran? Mon Dec-04-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2856177

Saudi clerics rally support for Sunnis and Saudi ambassador Abruptly ResignsTue Dec-12-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2902643

Act III in a Tragedy of Many Parts - The US Occupation of Iraq Sun Dec-17-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2935498

Century Foundation Iran White Paper Series Fundamentalists, Pragmatists and the Rights of the Nation Tue Dec-19-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2948146

Oh shit Tue Dec-19-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2944423


KBR has been planning the invasion of IRAN since 2003
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=3108489&mesg_id=3108489

Russian Admiral Says U.S. Navy Prepares Missile Strike on Iran
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x3128152

while Bush sets his plans in motion to orchestrate a war with Iran.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x3127918

NYT: 'Newly Revealed Orders" Issued By Bush Show US Has Opened A "Third Front Against Iran"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=3122346&mesg_id=3122346

Iran? Just had dinner with a ranking Navy Officer from one of our gulf bound Carrier Groups
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=3108967

US military strike on Iran seen by April ’07; Sea-launched attack to hit oil, N-sites
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=3118092

The most dangerous George Bush is one who feels weak, powerless and under attack
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=3118627

Isn't it a definitive act of war for one country to storm the consulate of another, threaten to kill
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=3095978

[cynatnite]

11. Wonderful collection of links! Thanks! n/t

[alfredo]

12. uranium has to be enriched to be used in power plants.

[sarcasmo]

13. Anyone feeling Drafty?

[Jeffersons Ghost]

15. K&R

[theHandpuppet]

17. Here we go...

Is it time to start the countdown to Armageddon?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

18. A lot of prospective targets for a redux of the "Tonkin Gulf Incident".

"Well, our radar picked up some mysterious blips approaching the fleet, so we took pre-emptive action against Tehran."

[Arkansas Granny]

19. Hopefully, he won't use the SOTU to announce that we have

begun an attack on Iran. Nothing would surprise me at this point, however.

[blues90]

20. On Thom Hartmann yesterday there was a fellow

I am terrible with names sorry , he was well versed and said with the madmen inplace in the US and Israel and Iran that this attack is very possible .

Today On Hartmann a guest said between Feb 14th and March 11th being very possible .

You would need to listen to the re-broadcasts of these two shows because I don;t have the links to printer info .

This stuff is quite alarming , not only because it affects to entire middle east but the rest of the world including the US .

I do believe this will happen and the reason is these madmen are like three crazed children feeling they have nothing to loose personally while fighting over a real gun , someone is going to get shot .

We are in a very dangerous time with no president of a real mind to me diplomatic .

Right off they told Iran before they talk Iran must end their nuke programs . This is not going to happen , Iran won't be bullied .

[hang a left]

21. if this is the Stenis it is old news.

[nashville_brook]

22. their new meme -- Iran DOMINATES the mideast!

ugga bugga bugga.

[Supersedeas]

24. King Abdullah's insurance policy -- Bushies have their minders

[lovuian]

23. WWIII is coming

Bush is obviously desperate
:crazy:

[ptvet]

25. I watched part of it leave

From my living room window, the Stennis and a couple others, rest from San Diego I belive. A few of us here in town noticed, told my wife where I thought they were headed...sure enough.

[n2doc]

26. "The Gulf isn't a body of water to be controlled by Iran."

But I guess it is fine if WE (who have no "official" territories there) control it. And will anybody in the media ask the simple question "When did Iran threaten to control the Persian Gulf"? Because I sure didn't hear it.