Exclusive: USS Nimitz carrier group rerouted for possible help with Syria

[Hissyspit]

Source: Reuters

Exclusive: USS Nimitz carrier group rerouted for possible help with Syria
By Andrea Shalal-Esa
WASHINGTON | Sun Sep 1, 2013 6:49pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and other ships in its strike group are heading west toward the Red Sea to help support a limited U.S. strike on Syria, if needed, defense officials said on Sunday.

The Nimitz carrier strike group, which includes four destroyers and a cruiser, has no specific orders to move to the eastern Mediterranean at this point, but is moving west in the Arabian Sea so it can do so if asked. It was not immediately clear when the ships would enter the Red Sea, but they had not arrived by Sunday evening, said one official.

"It's about leveraging the assets to have them in place should the capabilities of the carrier strike group and the presence be needed," said the official.

President Barack Obama on Saturday delayed imminent cruise missile strikes by five destroyers off the coast of Syria, and sought approval from Congress, a move that effectively put any strike on hold for at least nine days.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE9800IT20130901

[indepat]

1. Assad purportedly gassed his own people so he must be made to understand the decider

will weigh his all his options.

[Billy Love]

2. Reroute the Nimitz now - and stay the hell away from Syria.

The strike will NOT be approved by Congress, and Obama will not strike.

[another_liberal]

6. I like the way you think, sir.

If you can just infect me with more of that optimism, until I really believe you.

[sarcasmo]

3. Still feel like I'M trapped in a new version of Ground Hog Day.

[seabeckind]

11. Yep

Hmm, do I see another Gulf of Tonkin incident looming ahead?

[gussmith]

4. If Maybe Needed

So much "that ship has sailed" irony on this subject. No decision made but the vessels have steamed "full speed ahead" to "hurry up and wait". Did they sail in backward, just as the decision process has been?

[another_liberal]

5. I think we already have plenty of assets available for "a few days" of missile strikes.

On the other hand, if the crap really hits the proverbial fan, I'm all for having as many of our ships as possible out of the range of Iran's Silkworm, anti-ship missiles. I don't know what Syria has to defend its coastline, but Iran has a shit-load of very dangerous firepower aimed right at our Seventh Fleet.

[Billy Love]

7. Another reason why we shouldn't be interfering in the first place.

Let the Arab League deal with it.

[another_liberal]

9. Oh man!

Do I ever agree with that. We should not even be kidding about planning to get directly involved.

[Igel]

8. I'm beginning to wonder what "limited" means.

I usually think of it as "small." A limited distance is a relatively small distance. A limited amount of time is a relatively small amount of time. A movie theater holds a limited number of people.

Perhaps it just means "not unlimited."

100k parsecs is a limited distance. The Holocene has lasted a limited amount of time. China has a limited population.

Iraq, after all, was a limited engagement.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

14. "limited" = "non-nuclear", probably

I'm sure "limited" means "a spanking with cruise missiles".

But that will be too little. Assad, like Saddam Hussein, will spin "survival" as "victory". So whatever escalation we do, it will be too little for John McCain and Lindsey Graham, among others. But we will escalate, so we will be seen as "doing something".

[atreides1]

10. Limited my ass

You don't deploy an entire carrier group for a short term or limited operation. You deploy it to establish a no fly zone...which is a neither short term or limited!

[seabeckind]

12. Then again I've been hearing talk about cutting Pentagon spending...

you also deploy it to prove you need it...and a few more.

Plus the foreign bases to support it...and lots of foreign military aid to make sure we can keep those bases operational.

New budget battle just around the corner, you know. Can't have anyone think we might spend that money on frivilous stuff like education and infrastructure.

[adirondacker]

15. Excellent point! Gotta keep those contractor's welfare checks flowing. nt

[Le Taz Hot]

13. Gee, I'm so glad we're waiting

for the UN Inspector report and the decision from Congress. Fucking dog-and-pony show.