Are you concerned about the naval carrier buildup in Iran gulf ?

[blues90]

I try to put this in the back of my mind but I keep being reminded of this each time I go on the computer . Last time was on the Mike Malloy holiday program thursday night . And there is reference to it on this forum as well .

I can't speculate , I have no clear idea anymore than anyone else here has but it seems like Feb 07 may tell all on this issue .

This is what I continue to hear on many shows and on the internet .

What are your thoughts , give me something more than a simple no way or it won't happen , please .

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Well, a new poster

just came on saying her stepson's Christmas leave was cancelled and he's heading for Iraq early January. I just hope nothing happens before the 110th is sworn in.

[iconoclastic cat]

9. Yep. I have a relative who will be shipping out in a couple weeks. nt

[ktowntennesseedem]

2. VERY!

The only ships that would be good news to hear they were heading to the gulf would be transport ships, and given B*sh's latest grand ideas to boost troop numbers, even transport ships would only be going to drop off and not pick up.

I for one am VERY worried.

[madokie]

3. I think that g'orge and company need a reason to declare war on someone

to stop this train wreck coming their way, theres been too many crimes commited by this crew, to where it will be leading them down a road they don't want to take by allowing the Dem's to take the leadships. They at the moment are trapped and each day is taking away from what little power they still have, something's fixing to happen and soon

[leveymg]

4. What's the supposed significance of 02/07/07?

[iconoclastic cat]

11. Yeah, I'd like to know, too. I searched a bit, but found nothing. nt

[blindersoff]

16. something seems to be definitely going on...

my son in law is a sonar operator on P3's and is scheduled to go to Kuwait and the Gulf area in February... my guess (and fear)is that there are plans for some sort of big operation.

[orleans]

5. it's almost like a game of chicken--or some bizarre pissing contest

that's going on.

if you listen to randi's show from december 13th (www.whiterosesociety.org you can get the illegal archives for randi http://www.geocities.com/randirhodesarchives/ ) hour one and two give this breakdown/explaination of a lot pertaining to us/saudi/iran

my guess is that we're doing this for the saudis

if you already heard her dec 13th show, listen again and let me know what you think

[blues90]

7. There is this artical by Larisa Alexandrovna

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2964885

I feel this gives some idea since she has been following this for some time .

It's her opinion but far better than mine for certain .

I do have this bad feeling that something will happen . It was tauted to be one of the many Oct surprises but this one has alot more weight and danger to it . And it has not gone away .

[FogerRox]

6. What Naval build up are you refering to ?

There is one carrier group in the Mid East, the IKE.

http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2006/12/23/11152/873/17#c17

No carrier groups are currently headed to the ME.

http://www.ne.jp/asahi/gonavy/atsugi/gonavy604.html

Step away from the Hype pipe.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. The USS Stennis has left port

and the other carriers are on alert

Perhaps you should get yuor facts updated

It could be a regular deployment, or it could be saber ratling

[BrotherBuzz]

13. Has the USS Stennis left port?

Or is just ready to leave? I understood they were still waiting for orders that are expected to arrive the first week of January.

[FogerRox]

15. NYT 12-21-06

Officials expressed doubt that the Stennis and its escorts would be asked to set sail before the holiday season,

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/21/world/middleeast/21navy.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1

Stennis is at Bremerton Wash.


Ships Underway

Carriers:
USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - Pacific Ocean
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - Persian Gulf
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - Atlantic Ocean
from

http://www.navy.mil/navydata/navy_legacy.asp?id=146

http://www.ne.jp/asahi/gonavy/atsugi/gonavy604.html

[blues90]

10. There were two more carries sent 3 weeks ago and one more

Just a few days ok was approved so there are more adding to the list and none have been reported to be coming back as the normal relief units .
I will try to find the articals that ar somewhere here on DU .

[Trajan]

14. Isnt it a bit disingenuous to insult this poster ...

When it has been clear, given the MANY news reports found here and elsewhere, that certain force elements are preparing for the eventuality that they will be ordered to the Persian Gulf very soon ? ...

I mean, yeah, 'no carrier groups are currently headed for the ME,' .... but it is clear that the planning and preparations are already underway, even if they decide NOT to sail for that area ....

Yeah ... they havent actually LEFT port, but is that enough reason to abusively ad hominem your friends here at DU ?

The preponderence of the current evidence points to an expected deployment of some grouping of fleet elements, in formation, specifically to the Persian Gulf theater ... You deny this ?

PLEASE: Step away from the !@#$%&* pipe ....

[Solo_in_MD]

17. I will deny it...

There has been no significant changes in the deployment schedule for Carriers Groups recently. Deployment work ups take quite sometime and scheduled well in advance. Those facts trump the speculation that has been here and elsewhere.

[catmandu57]

12. We've been hearing this since September

A build up of naval forces, I was a little concerned a week or so back because of the new moon, but I believe this is trying to get Iran to knock the chip off.

[Bigmack]

18. I sent this to some friends in late October....

The stuff below the line of pluses is my own tally, so if the roster is wrong, it's my fault, not DEBKA's. Are there any more?
- - - -
DEBKAfile reports: The American Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group joins
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/14802
http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=3401 October 20, 2006

Tuesday, Oct. 17, the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group steamed into the Persian Gulf to join the US naval, air and marine concentration piling up opposite Iran’s shores. It consists of the amphibious transport dock USS Nashville, the guided-missile destroyers USS Cole and USS Bulkeley, the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea, the attack submarine USS Albuquerque, and the dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island.

The Iwo Jima group is now cruising 60 km from Kuwait off Iran’s coast. As DEBKAfile and DEBKA-Net-Weekly reported exclusively two weeks ago, three US naval task forces will be in place opposite Iran in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea by October 21. The other two are the USS Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group and the USS Enterprise Strike Group.

+ + + + + +
That means the US has the following within easy striking distance of Iran (and in harm's way from Iran's defenses):
Two aircraft carriers... each with an entire air wing aboard.
One helicopter aircraft carrier with 2500 Marines aboard.
Three landing ships with 1000 Marines aboard each.
Three landing ships with 500 Marines aboard each.
Three guided missile cruisers. (cruise missiles)
Six guided missile destroyers. (cruise missiles)
Three attack submarines. (cruise missiles)
Miscellaneous minesweepers and supply ships.


Here's the roster: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/
Eisenhower Strike Group
CVN 69 Dwight D. Eisenhower
Carrier Air Wing 7
DESRON Destroyer Squadron 28
CG 68 Anzio
DDG 61 Ramage
DDG 87 Mason
SSN 750 Newport News
T-AOE 8 Arctic (Supply & Tactical)

Enterprise Strike Group
Carrier Air Wing 1
Destroyer Squadron 2
CVN 65 Enterprise
CG 55 Leyte Gulf
DDG 74 McFaul
FFG 47 Nicholas
SSN 757 Alexandria
T-AOE 6 Supply (Tactical)

Iwo Jima Strike Group
Helicopter Aircraft Carrier Iwo Jima
LPD 13 Nashville
LSD 41 Whidbey Island
CG 58 Philippine Sea
DDG 84 Bulkeley
DDG 67 Cole
SSN 706 Albuquerque
24th Marine Expeditionary Unit