USS Eisenhower to deploy to Mideast

[Subdivisions]

http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/dp-38837sy0sep28,0,6555714.story?coll=dp-news-local-final

USS Eisenhower to deploy to Mideast

The aircraft carrier battle group is scheduled to sail Tuesday from Norfolk to relieve the USS Enterprise.
DAILY PRESS
September 28, 2006
NORFOLK -- The aircraft carrier Eisenhower, fresh from refueling and overhaul at Northrop Grumman Newport News, sails Tuesday from Norfolk to relieve the USS Enterprise in the Middle East.

Commanded by Rear Adm. Allen G. Myers, the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group also includes the guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio, guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage, guided-missile destroyer USS Mason and the fast-attack submarine USS Newport News.

All have their home port in Norfolk.

There are about 6,500 sailors in the group.

Also, I decided to dig a little further on this story.

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=111767&ran=211308

Overhauled Eisenhower prepares for deployment after six years off

NORFOLK - The aircraft carrier Eisenhower is going to sea again after being sidelined for nearly six years for a major overhaul and a nuclear refueling.

It and four other Norfolk-based ships and submarines carrying 6,500 sailors leave Tuesday for a scheduled deployment.

Traveling with the Eisenhower will be Carrier Air Wing 7, Destroyer Squadron 28, the guided-missile cruiser Anzio, guided-missile destroyers Ramage and Mason, and the fast-attack submarine Newport News, according to a Navy news release.

Rear Adm. Allen G. Myers will lead Carrier Strike Group 8. The "Ike" last deployed in February 2000 and returned that August.

The Eisenhower, nearly 29 years old, entered the Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipyard in May 2001 for a $1.5 billion midlife refueling of two nuclear reactors and an overhaul. That was completed in March 2005.

The "Ike" going to the ME to "relieve" the Enterprise and its accompanying armada puts two weapons-bristling carrier battle groups within striking distance of Iran.

The Ike bears watching to see if it makes a dash for the Strait of Hormuz or if they move subs into the Persian Gulf from the Arabian Sea.

Just in time for the Midterms.

[bluerum]

1. Saturn's rings. Just pack us up, give us guns, and move us over

there boys.

We sure can't afford to live here anymore.

[Tellurian]

6. BAD Omen for BUSH using Eisenhower;s ship..

Ike warned in his presidential parting speech of the dangers of
a militarized take over of the US...He couldn't emphasize it enough.

Now, Bush is using his namesake to further denigrate the old Republic's memory

[Captain Hilts]

15. Ike was smart enough not to participate in trying to re-take Suez in '56.

[Tellurian]

23. If you want to..

rent the DVD, "WHY WE FIGHT"..

Ike is an integral part of the message in this documentary...
I never realized what an honest gentleman he was and
how much he thought of the future of this country..


*************************************************

Just singin' Bye Bye, Miss American Pie,
Drove the Chevy to the levee and the levee was dry.

Good ole Boys were drinkin' Whiskey and Rye, thinkin'
This'll be the day that I die...This'll be the day that I Die...

[Captain Hilts]

2. These 6th fleet ships rotate regularly. Scheduled years ahead of time. nt

[Subdivisions]

3. Yes. I lived in Newport News for half my life so I'm quite familiar

with the movements of the Atlantic Fleet on a sheduled basis.

But who's to say that, just like the 172nd Striker Brigade, Herr Rumsfeld wouldn't just extend the Enterprise's mission?

Also, they are scheduled to arrive just before the midterm elections. What better timing than to start another battle front in Iran and declare the midterms suspended.

By this time next week, the torture/dictator bill will be signed by * this coming week and then he can do whatever he wants.

I'm just saying that we should keep an eye on this. There are some local protesters that believe Ike's going to Iran. We have to wait and see.

[FogerRox]

4. THe 2 carrier groups could just as easliy hang out toether for a few weeks

Just to socialize, ya know....

[Captain Hilts]

5. Certainly possible. If you can make folks serve in Iraq for 6 months extra

you can certainly do that.

[oblivious]

7. Holy Crap! The USS Enterprise has only been there about a month.

USS Enterprise Returns To Fifth Fleet

Sep 1, 2006
USS Enterprise and USS Leyte Gulf returned to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility August 28, following nearly two months of operations with U.S. Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific.
http://www.wtkr.com/Global/story.asp?S=5355276&nav=ZolHbyvj

USS Enterprise continues strikes over Afghanistan

03:09 PM EDT on Friday, September 8, 2006
In addition to the "Sidewinders" of VFA-86 and the "Checkmates" of VFA-211, other squadrons of CVW-1 include the "Knighthawks" of VFA-136, the "Thunderbolts" of Marine Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 251, the "Screwtops" of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 123, the "Rooks" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 137, the "Maulers" of Sea Control Squadron (VS) 32, the "Rawhides" of Carrier Logistics Support (VRC) 40, and the "Dragonslayers" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 11.

Enterprise is the flagship in the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, which includes the cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74), frigate USS Nicholas (FFG 47), all based in Norfolk, the attack submarine USS Alexandria (SSN 757), homeported in Groton Conn., and the fast combat supply ship USNS Supply (T-AOE-6), homeported in Earle, N.J.

http://www.wvec.com/news/military/stories/wvec_military_090806_uss_enterprise_strikes.7d046e8e.html

US Navy Threatening Iran

Washington, Sep 25 (Prensa Latina) US naval units led by the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier are being trained in the Indian Ocean for possible actions against Iran.

“We are always ready to face every eventuality and that’s all I can tell you,” declared Rear Admiral Ray Spicer, captain of the Enterprise, in a TV conference.

Spicer´s declarations occur when speculations of a possible US military aggression against Teheran have been sparked by, among other items, a Time Magazine release of declarations by Adm. Michael Mullen, Navy operations chief, that he ordered a revision of maps to face an Iranian blockade of the Ormuz Strait.

The permanence of the Enterprise and other ships in the area, fulfilling missions in support of the aggressions against Afghanistan and Iraq, would facilitate their use against Iran.
http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7BAE743E7D-810D-4256-B916-0ED0235708F9%7D)&language=EN

[Captain Hilts]

8. But it's been deployed since May...

From the HamptonRoads.com article cited above:

The Enterprise deployed in May and is expected to return home next month. Three Norfolk-based guided missile ships are part of the group - the cruiser Leyte Gulf, the destroyer McFaul and the frigate Nicholas.

But, yes, schedules could be changed.

[lyonn]

9. Ray McGovern, ex-CIA? on C-span today mentioned

the very real possibility of an attack on Iran around Oct. 21st. He also mentioned the movements of the fleet to the area. Is this guy over the top? He is the one that asked Rumsfeld the question concerning the evidence for going to war in Iraq at a speech Rummy was giving, same event where a lady protester was taken out by security for disrupting. They started to take McGovern out too but Rummy said let him stay and averted a real answer to the question. Could this be the October surprise? Paranoia sets in for me during election time.

McGovern is a contributor to the book "Neo-Conned again".

[leftchick]

12. McGovern is not over the top at all

He has my respect and if he gives a warning be very afraid. :scared:

[Subdivisions]

17. So far as I can tell, Ray McGovern is credible and should

not be dismissed.

[sarcasmo]

44. Which would explain all of the put options for October 20th.

Kick and Nom

[bloom]

16. that doesn't sound good at all. nt

[Megahurtz]

24. Ikes!

No pun intended.....but I knew something didn't sound good about this.:scared:

[kestrel91316]

10. It's not "relieving" the Enterprise, lol. It's JOINING it.

What kind of fools do they take us for???

Here we go. Hold onto your hats. Prepare for a national emergency that will require suspending elections indefinitely.

[roamer65]

11. Prepare for mass riots

and protests if they do such a stupid act as attacking Iran.

[Earth_First]

22. Will there? Personally I expect not.

There is a much too complacent population who have been incredibly desensitized to the war machine to invoke mass protests and riots, IMHO.

Regardless, violence begets violence, so will a riot become and end to a means?

...unfortunately I say this with a heavy heart that I believe I am not necessarily far from the truth. For me, my sense of optimism that a solution through mass civil disobedience has been desensitized from mass inaction.

How can we? We're faced with an economy and Corporatocracy that loathes the common working man. A system of greed an corruption that offers little in the way of a living wage that competes with inflation, little to no benefits, be they health care, sick time, et. al. The Corporatocracy would absolutely LOVE for you not to show up for work tomorrow in order to protest the very same pigs whom they bed with.

I, for one, know that I would have a tough time losing the modest benefits that I receive from my employer, and I've been stark raving mad for YEARS!

It's a fear-based society. Top to bottom.

What's a people to do?

[SenorSanchez]

21. relax guys

This is just a standard proceedure. The USS Enterprise is the Navy's oldest aircraft carrier and the Eisenhower is a much more advanced carrier which just completed major maintence. The US would have much more than two carriers in the region if it were to launch a major military operation on Iran. The guide missle cruisers and destroyers are part of the carriers battle group, again standard procedure. The only way they would suspend the elections is if the homeland would be directly invaded and Washington was taken over. I highly doubt Iran or any country for that matter has the capability to do that, especially in 40 days. The nation in the world that can project power globally is the US of A.

[MGD]

26. "The only way they would suspend the elections

is if the homeland would be directly invaded and Washington was taken over."

I'm not so sure about that. I'm less and less surprised by things these days. We have legalized torture; suspended the writ of Habeus Corpus; and established that Americans may be tried by military tribunals for crimes that are defined soley by the President and his agents. We have written legislation with loopholes that allow the president (and his agents) to eavesdrop on American citizens without FISA court warrants. Welcome to the United Fascist States of America. What's next? Are your documents in order?

[SenorSanchez]

27. no one would support suspending the elections unless

we were under a major direct attack. I can tell you that no conservative would support suspending the elections even if we attacked Iran. Suspending the elections would make no difference because Bush would still be in control and our Constitution says the President can lead troops into battle. I'm not going to get into the wiretapping issue. All I know is that I have not noticed my rights being affected directly with the exception of getting on an airplane.

[MGD]

30. "no one would support suspending the elections"

The people with the power to suspend elections would and that's really all that matters. Regardless, I'm not saying that I think he'll/they'll do it, I'm saying that I wouldn't be surprised if they tried.


"All I know is that I have not noticed my rights being affected:

Then you must not be paying attention.


"I can tell you that no conservative would support suspending the elections even if we attacked Iran."

I absolutely disagree with this. The typical American conservative would quickly fall into lock step with whatever their leaders told them to do as they are followers of the worst sort. Conservatives sided with King George during the Revolutionary war.

[SenorSanchez]

32. Elaborate Please

Elaborate on how I have not been paying attention. Examples?
To compare today's conservatives to conservatives from 250 years ago would be a strechy comparision. In the literal meaning of the word yes, but in believes no. Conservatives do rally behind the president in times of struggle, but democrats do the same too. National struggle is only event that brings the parties together. When a country is a attacked and has to go to war, the country generally rallies behind its president. It happened in every single war in American history. This popularity doesn't always last, but its generally present. Elections have never been suspended in the history of the United States. The democrat party would never allow it. We are not a facist nation. If it was everyone in this forum including me would be rounded up and shot behind a Texas barn. As far as I know that hasn't happened yet. If Bush suspends elections, I will call him a facist, until then he still our president. Whether we like it or not he will still elected and we have to respect that, even though we don't like it.

[MGD]

33. O.K.

Your e-mail/mail/telephone conversations/internet political forum posts can be monitored by the President and his agents without a warrant; your right of habeas corpus is suspended which means you can be taken away in the middle of the night for unspecified reasons and held indefinitely in an undisclosed location; your government has legalized torture so, while detained, you can legally have your fingernails pulled out and have a billy club shoved down your throat (so long as no permanent disfigurement occurs and your anus/vagina remain unviolated). The President and his agents now have the power to call dissenters "terrorists" and do all of the above to them. Furthermore, if you happen to be a homosexual, your constitutionally guaranteed civil rights have been blatantly violated with legislation that denies you the same rights enjoyed by others. While none of these things may have happened to you personally, the fact remains, they could be...legally. So don't even try to suggest that our rights aren't eroding and lest you call this partisan rhetoric, I will tell you that I was just as vocal in my defense of the second amendment 10 years ago when it was under attack.

"To compare today's conservatives to conservatives from 250 years ago would be a strechy comparision"

Wrong. The partys may change but the ideology stays the same. A conservative today meats the same criteria of a conservative 250 years ago. A conservative is, has always been, and will always be a person that has two perfectly good legs but refuses to put one of them forward.On the other hand, they have no difficulty stepping backwards.

"If Bush suspends elections, I will call him a facist, until then he still our president."

There is a growing body of evidence which strongly supports the position that Bush has already suspended elections in his own ways. I speak of conspiring to perpetrate election fraud in Ohio and Florida. Bush is a fascist and we,as a country, are rapidly deteriorating into fascism. Our liberty and freedom are fading memories replaced by a right wing, militarized, strongly nationalistic, police state governed by terror. That is the quintessential picture of fascisms. You are in denial.

[hogwyld]

34. The firepower on 2 carriers is sufficient

To start a war. With the nukes they carry, they could put a pretty big dent in Iran. And Iran doesn't need a D-day type invasion force, just a strategic placement of Hisbollah can cripple this country.

[Nevernose]

39. You'd have to be CRAZY to start a war w/o enough firepower

I mean, anyone can START a war, but winning it in the long run? It'd take a heck of a lot more than two carriers to do it. You'd have to be crazy to pick a fight w/ Iran with nothing but a couple of carriers, a few dozen nukes, and a 100k troops bogged down next door.

Oh, wait. I forgot who we're dealing with here.

[mmonk]

13. Have any of the mine sweepers that were to leave on

the 1st left yet?

[Captain Hilts]

14. Which sweepers are these? I thought they generally kept those stationed

out there all the time and just fly new crews out there. They're always in the Straits of Hormuz and off the coast of Somalia also, I believe.

[Subdivisions]

18. Follow up:

This, from the San Fransisco Independent Media Center, has elements of a report by Raw Story in it and I'm not sure how much weight can be put into it, but for what it's worth:

http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2006/09/1732539.php

The Pentagon's top brass has moved into second-stage contingency planning for a potential military strike on Iran, one senior intelligence official familiar with the plans tells RAW STORY. - Raw Story

http://to-the-dome.blogspot.com/2006/09/pentagon-moves-to-second-stage_28.html

Pentagon moves to second-stage planning for Iran strike option

by Larisa Alexandrovna
Published: Thursday September 21, 2006

The Pentagon's top brass has moved into second-stage contingency planning for a potential military strike on Iran, one senior intelligence official familiar with the plans tells RAW STORY.

The official, who is close to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest ranking officials of each branch of the US military, says the Chiefs have started what is called "branches and sequels" contingency planning.

"The JCS has accepted the inevitable," the intelligence official said, "and is engaged in serious contingency planning to deal with the worst case scenarios that the intelligence community has been painting."

A second military official, although unfamiliar with these latest scenarios, said there is a difference between contingency planning -- which he described as "what if, then what" planning -- and "branches and sequels," which takes place after an initial plan has been decided upon.

Adding to the concern of both military and intelligence officials alike is the nuclear option, the possibility of pre-emptive use of nuclear weapons targeting alleged WMD facilities in Iran.

An April New Yorker report by Sy Hersh alleged that the nuclear option was on the table, and that some officers of the Joint Chiefs had threatened resignation.

"The attention given to the nuclear option has created serious misgivings inside the offices of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he added, and some officers have talked about resigning," Hersh wrote. "Late this winter, the Joint Chiefs of Staff sought to remove the nuclear option from the evolving war plans for Iran�without success, the former intelligence official said."

The senior intelligence official who spoke to RAW STORY, along with several military intelligence sources, confirmed that the nuclear option remains on the table. In addition, the senior official added that the Joint Chiefs have "come around on to the administration's thinking."

More at links above.

[lumpy]

29. From The Nation

worth a read regarding the deployment. Be sure to read continuation below insertion.

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

[54anickel]

41. Holy Sh*t!!!! He's crazy enough to do it. Good article, but sure keeps

a person guessing which way it's going to go. Makes both a bluff or an attack sound equally crazy.

A bluff?:
snip>

...Gardiner notes, "You cannot issue a PTDO and then stay ready for very long. It's a very significant order, and it's not done as a training exercise." This point was also made in the Time article.

A nutcase?:

snip>

"I think the plan's been picked: bomb the nuclear sites in Iran," says Gardiner. "It's a terrible idea, it's against US law and it's against international law, but I think they've decided to do it." Gardiner says that while the United States has the capability to hit those sites with its cruise missiles, "the Iranians have many more options than we do: They can activate Hezbollah; they can organize riots all over the Islamic world, including Pakistan, which could bring down the Musharraf government, putting nuclear weapons into terrorist hands; they can encourage the Shia militias in Iraq to attack US troops; they can blow up oil pipelines and shut the Persian Gulf." Most of the major oil-producing states in the Middle East have substantial Shiite populations, which has long been a concern of their own Sunni leaders and of Washington policy-makers, given the sometimes close connection of Shiite populations to Iran's religious rulers.

A bluff and a nutcase?:

snip>

Of course, Gardiner agrees, recent ship movements and other signs of military preparedness could be simply a bluff designed to show toughness in the bargaining with Iran over its nuclear program. But with the Iranian coast reportedly armed to the teeth with Chinese Silkworm antiship missiles, and possibly even more sophisticated Russian antiship weapons, against which the Navy has little reliable defenses, it seems unlikely the Navy would risk high-value assets like aircraft carriers or cruisers with such a tactic. Nor has bluffing been a Bush MO to date.

:wtf:

snip>

...Even on the left, where confidence in the Bush Administration's judgment is abysmally low, commentators like Noam Chomsky and Nation contributor Robert Dreyfuss are skeptical that an attack is being planned. Chomsky has long argued that Washington's leaders aren't crazy, and would not take such a step--though more recently, he has seemed less sanguine about Administration sanity and has suggested that leaks about war plans may be an effort by military leaders--who are almost universally opposed to widening the Mideast war--to arouse opposition to such a move by Bush and war advocates like Cheney. Dreyfuss, meanwhile, in an article for the online journal TomPaine.com, focuses on the talk of diplomacy in Bush's Monday UN speech, not on his threats, and concludes that it means "the realists have won" and that there will be no Iran attack.

But all these war skeptics may be whistling past the graveyard. After all, it must be recalled that Bush also talked about seeking diplomatic solutions the whole time he was dead-set on invading Iraq, and the current situation is increasingly looking like a cheap Hollywood sequel. The United States, according to Gardiner and others, already reportedly has special forces operating in Iran, and now major ship movements are looking ominous.

[Just Me]

43. These, "PNACers",...I simply have no doubt they will proceed,...

,...with their plan, no matter what's happening "at home".

If they intend to maintain power, this is THE TIME to go forward and strike because the nation is turning against them, the Republican party is split wide open, the "conservative tanks" are tanking, and a majority of the country believes this administration is lying and a failure.

Under these circumstances, the only thing that will stop these neo-Machiavellians is either a revolt by the military, a judicial interruption via criminal charges or a congressional coup. How fucked up is that?

:scared:

[54anickel]

46. Yep, chances are that even if they're bluffing it will lead to war, since

now one will believe it's just a bluff. He's lied to, coerced, misled, and divided so much of the world. No one takes ANYTHING he does or says as the truth anymore. I don't think anyone in the region will sit still and waits for our "first move" once we're in the area. I think he's going to goad someone into taking the first shot to get his war going this time around.

[Massachusetts]

19. Just in time for the Midterms

And the American public is where? Content and Well informed as usual.

Panem et circenses

[mikelgb]

20. this just in

capitol building on fire

sheesh

[Glib Acumen]

25. Shortwave radio tells more than internet

I was listening to the shortwave radio last night and a report gave more details than reported in this thread.
Radio Havana Cuba says the Eisenhower was scheduled to remain in Norfolk until March, 2007. Families of sailors
moved to residences in Virginia to be with their sailor husbands and fathers. They expected the Eisenhower to
stay in port, so they moved to apartments near Norfolk. Naval officers are angry that the new order will send them
away from their families so soon. The families will be left in their new homes in Virgina without husbands and fathers.
If they had know in advance that the docking in Norfolk would be so short, they would not have moved to Virginia.

By listening to international short wave radio, I hear many things not found in USA's press.
http://www.radiohc.cu/ingles/portada.htm

For example, I get to hear North Korea's dictator give speeches, translated into English.

[SenorSanchez]

28. Thats military life

Military life isn't always the way you think it will be. I'm currently a cadet and its definitely not like I thought it would be.

[MGD]

31. Tell them you long to be SenoritaSanchez and the bad man will go away

Or suck it up and drive on.

[sarcasmo]

45. They always have those cardboard Daddies.

[chill_wind]

35. K&R and linking to another concurrant thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2296103#2299006

[chill_wind]

36. Ooops-- can't R after 24 hrs- but i can KICK. nt

[Parche]

37. uss ramage

USS Ramage is named after "Lawson Ramage" commander of the USS Parche submarine
who recieved the Medal of Honor.

[Subdivisions]

40. The USS Ramage (pic):

Godspeed ye brave sailors of the USS Ramage! Fight bravely and come home safe.

[Lilith Velkor]

38. kick

[Screwfly]

42. Mine sweepers

An annalist on CNN today stated that mine sweeper had in fact been dispatched to the persian gulf--a step which he said meant the U.S. war plans for Iran were well under way.

[minnesota_liberal]

47. Don't worry. Their mission is to fight terror and spread democracy.

How could they mess that up?

[patrick t. cakes]

48. too bad

what their doing is fighting democracy and spreading terror.