US Navy deploys 2nd aircraft carrier to Gulf

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http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_GULF_US_NAVY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-04-09-08-42-33

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- The U.S. Navy said Monday it has deployed a second aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf region amid rising tensions with Iran over its nuclear program.

The deployment of the nuclear-powered USS Enterprise along the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group marks only the fourth time in the past decade that the Navy has had two aircraft carriers operating at the same time in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, said Cmdr. Amy Derrick-Frost of the Bahrain-based 5th Fleet.

The two carriers will support the American military operations in Afghanistan and anti-piracy efforts off Somalia's coast and in the Gulf of Aden, said Derrick-Frost.

The warships also patrol the Gulf's strategic oil routes that Iran has threatened to shut down in retaliation for economic sanctions.

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1. 1 kick anyway. nt

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2. but let's not infer this as sabre rattling.