U.S. Navy launches huge show of force in Persian Gulf

[seemslikeadream]

http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=121842&ran=41089&tref=po

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The U.S. Navy today began its largest demonstration of force in the Persian Gulf since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, led by a pair of aircraft carriers, including the Norfolk-based Dwight D. Eisenhower, and backed by warplanes flying simulated attack maneuvers off the coast of Iran.

The maneuvers bring together two strike groups of U.S. warships - attached to the carriers John C. Stennis and Eisenhower - and more than 100 U.S. warplanes to conduct simulated air warfare in the crowded Gulf shipping lanes.

Details: The ships involved


The U.S. exercises come just four days after Iran's capture of 15 British sailors and marines who Iran said had strayed into Iranian waters near the Gulf. Britain and the U.S. Navy have insisted the British sailors were operating in Iraqi waters.

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Kevin Aandahl said the U.S. maneuvers were not organized in response to the capture of the British sailors — nor were they meant to threaten the Islamic Republic, whose navy operates in the same waters.

[iconoclastic cat]

1. Are those two idiots going to accidentally start a war? nt

[seemslikeadream]

2. USS Stennis Flying Simulated Attack Maneuvers Near Iran

http://www.kitsapsun.com/bsun/local/article/0,2403,BSUN_19088_5446153,00.html

USS Stennis Flying Simulated Attack Maneuvers Near Iran
By Associated Press and Sun News Services
March 27, 2007

The Bremerton-based aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis today is participating in the Navy’s largest demonstration of force in the Persian Gulf since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Warplanes from the Stennis and the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower are flying simulated attack maneuvers off the coast of Iran. U.S. commanders insisted the exercises were not a direct response to Iran’s seizure Friday of 15 British sailors and marines, but they also made clear that the flexing of the Navy’s military might was intended as a warning to Iran.

The Stennis, accompanied by the guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam, moved from the North Arabian Sea through the Strait of Hormuz to the Persian Gulf on Monday, where it joined the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group. Besides the air attack exercises, the ships will practice anti-submarine, anti-surface and mine warfare.

While conducting exercises, the Stennis will suspend its close ground support and reconnaissance for coalition troops in Afghanistan, which it has performed for 33 days. The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which was teaming with the Stennis, remains in the North Arabian Sea and will continue its backing of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Britain and the United States have said Iran intercepted the sailors and marines Friday after they completed a search of a civilian vessel in the Iraqi part of the Shatt al-Arab waterway, where the border between Iran and Iraq has been disputed for centuries.

There were fears in Britain that the fate of the 15 could get caught up in the political tensions between Iran and the West, including the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program and accusations of Iranian help to Shiite militants in Iraq. Iran has said it is questioning the British sailors and marines to determine if their alleged entry into Iranian waters was "intentional or unintentional" before deciding what to do with them -— a sign Tehran could be seeking a way out of the standoff.

U.S. officials said the crisis began when British sailors boarded an Indian-flagged commercial ship suspected of carrying smuggled cars. The ship turned out not be smuggling goods and its captain provided a statement that his vessel was in Iraqi waters at the time it was stopped by the British, U.S. Navy Cmdr. Kevin Aandahl, the spokesman for the U.S. Fifth Fleet, told The Associated Press from fleet headquarters in Manama, Bahrain.

[Old and In the Way]

4. They are looking for a casus belli...even if they have to manufacture one.

Of course, Iran is obliging by taking the British sailors....no doubts that they might have had justification, but this plays into watch Bush/Blair seem to be looking for.

[ixion]

5. accidentally? no.

deliberate and with malice and forethought, yes. :grr:

[wicket]

8. right on

:grr: :grr:

[tom_paine]

17. Not accidentally. They wish to provoke a war. Or perhaps just attack.

They have not the deft touch of Poppy Augustus Bush I. The way he got the Kuwaitis to provoke that nutball Saddam and then made him believe we would sit by while he invaded them is still brilliant.

Hell, even knowing all of what he and his Kuwaiti/Saudi oil buddies did to make that happen I still think we needed to stop Saddam at that point. Brilliant evil "Grand Chessboard-ism" from the master, Poppy Augustus, who's son Lil' Boots Bushler can't even polish Daddy's boots (wasn't this at least some of what the Iraq Invasion was about?).

But this modern group of BushCheney? Bunch of thugs. Straight-up Nazi lite. Their idea of subtle is running right at them. Even if they are successful and provoke Iran in missiling one of our destroyers or carriers (don't discount that the Bushies won't MIHOP our troops for their own gain, very possible), the world will see through this ham-fisted provocation.

Poppy Augustus would never have wielded such a blunt instrument.

[seemslikeadream]

3. U.S. Navy Flexes Muscles in Persian Gulf

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6512775,00.html

ABOARD THE USS JOHN C. STENNIS (AP) - American warplanes screamed off two aircraft carriers Tuesday as the U.S. Navy staged its largest show of force in the Persian Gulf since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, launching a mammoth exercise meant as a message to the Iranians.

The maneuvers with 15 warships and more than 100 aircraft were sure to heighten tensions with Iran, which has frequently condemned the U.S. military presence off its coast and is in a faceoff with the West over its nuclear program and its capture of a British naval team.

While they would not say when the war games were planned, U.S. commanders insisted the exercises were not a direct response to Friday's seizure of the 15 British sailors and marines, but they also made clear that the flexing of the Navy's military might was intended as a warning.

``If there is strong presence, then it sends a clear message that you better be careful about trying to intimidate others,'' said Capt. Bradley Johanson, commander of the Stennis.

``Iran has adopted a very escalatory posture with the things that they have done,'' he added.

The exercises began four days after Iranian forces detained the 15 Britons for allegedly being in Iranian territorial waters near the northern end of the Gulf. U.S. and British officials insist the team was properly searching cargo vessels inside Iraqi waters.

[Horse with no Name]

6. Dubai--why does that name keep popping up?

Not by accident I am sure.
However, we have a very real game of political chess going on. A virtual smorgasbord for the political junkie.
I guess we need to realize that their endgame would always result in mass devastation.
It's the only way to clamp down on all the investigations.
Can you say...checkmate?

[sandnsea]

7. The Louvre in Dubai

If that isn't a RED FLAG!!

We are worse than sheep, we're mushrooms. We really need to dig into the UAE and start pulling out news from there. China may be the dig diversion from the real economic and power shift.

[blm]

12. Dubai is the CAPITOL of the New World Order as established by House of Bush and

House of Saud and their co-fascists around the globe.

[earth mom]

9. K & R.

:kick:

[RL3AO]

10. When the U.S. does this, they are trying to stop a war from starting.

This is a very common response to rising tensions. If you see a carrier that big off of your coast, it can cause countries to stop bickering. It is a very effective tool.

Now that I've said this, I doubt Iran will take much notice to this. But you shouldnt take it as a threat of war.

[magellan]

11. It didn't stop Libya, '81

But then, that build-up and the war games were intended to provoke a response, just like now. Politicos act all surprised when the provocation is answered even though it's precisely what they want.

To put it another way, how would the US react if China sent a couple of CTGs to exercise just off the West Coast?

[RL3AO]

14. We did it to China in 2001.

China and Tiawan were going at it so we sent over a couple carriers and it took care of the situation. And even if they were trying to provoke Iran, they are not stupid enough to attack a U.S. carrier.

[magellan]

16. They don't need to

All they have to do is force an "incident" to occur.

[Ghost Dog]

19. Yes sir! Hear you loud and clear!

(And your possible colleague above). But (whisper), isn't that, especially takin' into account them eager-beaver cretins in power (inside the belt, you understand) a rather blunt weapon?

And, impressive though those large carriers are (keep your eye on the smaller, more agile vessels), with respect, aren't they rather large, sitting-duck-style potential targets?

Ah yes, of course, there's always Fantasy Island (and the Med. 6th Fleet, amongst others, "backin' up"...).

No possible potential problem, then. And screw the 15 (more) "friendly fire" victim Brits.

I don't think.

[Marrah_G]

18. I would like to know this then

In your opinion is it completely normal, when just flexing muscles, to pull Naval officers out of retirement and away from their families for a year? I wouldn't think that would be necessary for a simple show of force.

[Jcrowley]

13. K&R n/t

[Nutmegger]

15. Sending this to the greatest...

:kick:

[cyberpj]

20. Nah... Those ships are just there delivering the Halliburton moving boxes. nt