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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Exercise: massive concentration of American naval, air and marine might to the Persian Gulf |
| 2006-10-13 |
| US officials said the exercise starting Oct. 31 will practice interdicting ships carrying weapons of mass destruction and missiles. DEBKAfile’s military sources report: US naval, air and marine forces are massing in the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and eastern Mediterranean opposite Lebanon and Syria. The big USS Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group arrives by Oct. 21. Facing these units are Iranian Revolutionary Guards naval, air and marine units together with the Iranian armed forces on full war preparedness. The forthcoming DEBKA-Net-Weekly discusses this menacing maneuver at length in its coming issue out on Friday. To subscribe to DEBKA-Net-Weekly click HERE . The US announcement came as the US and other powers discussed sanctions on North Korea, including searching its ships following Monday’s nuclear test. It followed shortly after they also agreed on a Security Council session next week to impose sanctions on Iran. The US spokesman said the exercise, in which Bahrain, Kuwait, France, Britain, Canada and others will take part, will demonstrate “our resolve and readiness to act” against nuclear proliferation. South Korea will be an observer. Clearly the Bush administration has more forceful “repercussions” in mind for Iran than diplomacy. Iran will no doubt respond to the demonstrative exercise, the massing of US forces around its shores and the threat of UN sanctions by a counter-stroke that raises tensions in the region and involves Iraq and/or the countries on Israel’s border – Lebanon and Syria. This sounds suspiciously like we are presenting Iran with a "golden opportunity". |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #12 SS3550: I am standing on my prediction of nothing happening during turnover, unless Dinnerjacket does something stupid. The 2 carriers COULD start something, but w/out resupply they are limited. It would have to be of a surgical nature if the CVs were to do something. (On a personal note, I would like to see the Navy do something, the other services are having all the fun, and the squids are just doing donuts out there keeping the pilots current.) |
| Posted by: USN,Ret 2006-10-13 23:09 |
| #11 Interesting. No plans for mass mobilization of ground forces. No concrete-bombs, as in Iraqi Freedom. I wonder what that could mean? |
| Posted by: Snease Shaiting3550 2006-10-13 22:33 |
| #10 cruisin for a brusin |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-10-13 21:08 |
| #9 This sounds suspiciously like we are presenting Iran with a "golden opportunity". Or possibly that we know Pyongyang or Beijing were planning on making a delivery in the near future. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-10-13 20:56 |
| #8 #7 Wolf - you're making me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. ;-p |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2006-10-13 18:57 |
| #7 We already have one full Carrier Strike Group in that area, so the Eisenhower will make two on station for several days at least. Two CSGs put 170 combat aircraft in place near Iran, with the Iranians having a functional aircraft total about that number. Problem for the Iranians is that their aircraft include a lot of older Western designs of questionable maintenance, some MiGs and Chinese knockoffs, while the CSGs have full well-maintained complements of F/A-18s, Harriers, Hawkeyes, and the air defense complement of the Aegis cruisers. That has got to make the Iranians nervous, especially since CSGs nowadays all include Marine Expeditionary Units, with their Harrier complements. |
| Posted by: Shieldwolf 2006-10-13 18:46 |
| #6 that's what's arriving. No mention (needed) of what we have presently....at depth |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-10-13 17:03 |
| #5 One carrier battle group - sort of a naval "one riot, one Ranger"? I admit ONE of our carrier battle groups seems a little unfair against ALL the "naval" forces Iran can muster. But what the hell - let's sink 'em anyway. ;-p |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2006-10-13 16:46 |
| #4 "The big USS Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group arrives by Oct. 21. Facing these units are Iranian Revolutionary Guards naval, air and marine units together with the Iranian armed forces on full war preparedness" One Carrier Battle Group Sounds like a fair fight to me.... Popcorn anyone? Wonder if Ahmadinejad will bite on a little Gun Ship diplomacy? |
| Posted by: TomAnon 2006-10-13 16:33 |
| #3 Operation Venus Flytrap |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-10-13 16:14 |
| #2 Hey Dinnerjacket! Eat our wake! |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2006-10-13 14:32 |
| #1 Wake me when 6 carriers and 6 LHAs have massed. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-10-13 14:29 |