Operation Brimstone naval training op taking place of east coast (prepping for war?)

[NightWatcher]

http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=38478

From Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- More than 15,000 service members from four countries will participate in Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 08-4 "Operation Brimstone", July 21-31 in North Carolina and off the eastern U.S. coast from Virginia to Florida.

JTFEX 08-4 serves as a ready-for-deployment certification event for the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TR CSG) and the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group (IWO ESG). The exercise will also serve as a Joint Task Force Capable Headquarters sustainment event. In addition, JTFEX 08-4 will offer preliminary accreditation for 2nd Fleet's Maritime Headquarters with Maritime Operations Center (MHQ with MOC)). MHQ with MOC is a new approach to command and control for fleet commanders.

[MonkeyFunk]

1. The military is ALWAYS prepping for war

that's their job. I wouldn't read too much into it.

[NightWatcher]

2. this is a message to Iran

In order to enforce the seriousness of the U.S.-EU position against Iran with the threat of serious sanctions Debka reports a dozen warships from the U.S.-UK-France and a Brazilian frigate began ten days of maneuvers Monday in the Atlantic off the U.S. coast to practice the blockading of Iran’s coast in the Strait of Hormuz.

"The White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said it expected Iran to “miss an opportunity to accept” the incentives package."

[MonkeyFunk]

5. Or, it's just a standard training exercise...

the type performed every day by the militaries of every nation on the planet.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

3. Operation "Brimstone". Oh, how cute. Why not Operation Armageddon?

[NutmegYankee]

4. People read into these far too much.

Every Army and navy in the world conducts drills and training. The Navy has always done drills like this. It is the way to ensure that everyone actually knows their job, and can perform it well, while also proving that they can all work together.