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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
The French nuclear carrier Charles de Gaulle and its task force enter Arabian Sea
2007-03-22
They rendezvoused with the USS John C. Stennis Wed. March 21, for missions in support of Operation Enduring, Freedom and International Security Assistance Forces ISAF for the global war on terror.
"Le monsieur, pouvez-vous nous passer une ligne pour une remorque?"
US and French carriers are sailing and operating in concert opposite Iranian shores for the first time. The Iranian Navy responded to the new arrival the following day by announcing a new series of military exercise in the Persian Gulf.
Excellent! More intel for our boys!
DEBKAfileÂ’s military sources disclose that the American-French rendezvous was timed to coincide with the UN Security Council session Wednesday to debate expanded sanctions against Iran for continuing its banned uranium enrichment program.

The Iranians were bowled over by the appearance of the Charles de Gaulle opposite their southern coast, having assumed that it wouldn't float Paris took issue with WashingtonÂ’s tough stand on their nuclear activities and was seeking improved relations with Tehran.

However, Western military circles explain that the French president Jacques Chirac decided before he leaves office in May to repair the bad impression he left in early February when he urged the world - and Israel in particular - to learn to live with "an Iranian nuclear bomb or two."

Rafale fighter-bombers on the French carrierÂ’s decks will fly missions over Afghanistan alongside US warplanes.

Its arrival raises to four the number of Western aircraft carriers cruising within striking distance of Iran, including the USS Eisenhower and USS Boxer.
The Boxer is not a carrier, she's an LHD, though the reporter is clueless as to the difference.
The Charles de Gaulle is accompanied by French Task Force 473, which consists of five warships: the FNS Cassard guided missile destroyer, the FNS Tourville anti-submarine frigate, the FNS Dupleix destroyer adapted for escorting oil tankers and the FNS Marne, a command and supply vessel.

Captain of the French task force is Rear Adm. Xavier Magne. Commander of the American flotilla is Rear Adm. Kevin Quinn.
Now our fleet will have to watch out in two directions.
Posted by:Anonymoose

#26  and garbage scows for Democratic Reps?
Posted by: Frank G   2007-03-22 23:41  

#25  Yeah. Everybody knows CVs are named for Presidents and LHDs for senators

Hee hee hee
Posted by: Shipman   2007-03-22 23:38  

#24  When the going gets tough, the French will demonstrate the deadly "shrug" maneuver and then go home.
Posted by: WTF   2007-03-22 23:24  

#23  SIX?

My local Air Guard unit has more than that!
Posted by: OldSpook   2007-03-22 22:52  

#22  CdG is going to Afghanistan. Rafale Goes to Afghanistan On A Marketing Mission
March 21, 2007: France is trying to get its new jet fighter, the Rafale, some combat experience. So six are being sent to Afghanistan. Three French Air Force Rafale F2s were sent to a base in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. From there, the Rafales can fly down to Kabul, and make themselves useful. Three navy Rafale F2s arrived on the carrier Charles de Gaulle, which is operating off the Pakistani coast.

Unfortunately, Rafale still can't use its 30mm cannon for strafing ground targets, until a vibration problem is cleared up. The Rafale has not yet been fitted with a laser designator, so that function will have to be provided by Mirage 2000Ds, which are also based in Tajikistan.
Posted by: ed   2007-03-22 22:39  

#21  We're going to threaten Iran w/radiation leakage?

Posted by: anonymous2u   2007-03-22 22:38  

#20  French are there as a decoy. Those Chinese missles Iran has will hit them since they have crappy ECM.

Good insurance for our carriers, Thanks France!
Posted by: OldSpook   2007-03-22 22:23  

#19  Did they bring a tow ship, too?


If they cross us, they won't need one.
Posted by: Crusader   2007-03-22 19:58  

#18  Did they bring a tow ship, too?
Posted by: Jackal   2007-03-22 19:49  

#17  SteveS, I believe you may have a point or two.

There's a third alternative, however, I believe, in that they may be there to insure their "business interests" are not damaged.

The phrase "Go ahead, make my day..." has a whole lot of implication here.

I'm not altogether certain the French have the balls (excuse me, ladies) to go up against the USN, but I'd bet my left nut (again, excuse me ladies) that they have the gall to attempt to bluff at it believing the Dems will somehow pull their asses out of the fire when the time to shoot really comes.


Posted by: FOTSGreg   2007-03-22 19:16  

#16  As I understand, STENNIS, EISENHOWER and BOXER are in the neighborhood with their usual cohort of friends and companions. According to their webpages, REAGAN is over by Korea and ENTERPRISE got underway from Norfolk the other day.

My question is what are the French doing there? After 50 some years of charming Gallic intransigence and their weasely attempts to provide a 'counterweight' for anything we do, the suggestion that they are there to help is simply beyond belief. The idea that Chirac wants to make nice is equally laughable.

The only two possibilities I can think of are
a) they are going to attempt to interfere with whatever we plan
2) they are afraid they may be cut out of the spoils.
Posted by: SteveS   2007-03-22 19:03  

#15  With this press release the CdG has made its greatest possible contribution to the war effort.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2007-03-22 18:47  

#14  Um...it's my understanding that there's a buttload of territory between the Arabian Sea and Afghanistan.

I do believe that includes Iran.

Thus, having Phreunch aircraft operating from the CdG from the Arabian Sea seems a wee bit "optimistic" if anyone wants to ask me (not that anyone does).

In addition, does anyone really expect the Phreunch to actually run actual combat missions anywhere off their precious carrier or anything else?

I don't.

Certainly not in support of US operations.


Posted by: FOTSGreg   2007-03-22 18:38  

#13  The Iranian Navy responded to the new arrival the following day by announcing a new series of military exercise in the Persian Gulf.

Should we back off a bit and give them room to play? :-)
Posted by: gorb   2007-03-22 17:53  

#12  From what I heard both the Stennis and the Ike are in the Gulf or nearby.
Posted by: OldSpook   2007-03-22 17:31  

#11  How many tugs did it take to get their carrier there?
Posted by: OldSpook   2007-03-22 17:30  

#10   Rafale fighter-bombers on the French carrierÂ’s decks will fly missions over Afghanistan alongside US warplanes.

Which means aerial re-fueling. Who's paying the bill?
Posted by: mrp   2007-03-22 17:26  

#9  The Boxer is not a carrier, she's an LHD, though the reporter is clueless as to the difference.

Yeah. Everybody knows CVs are named for Presidents and LHDs for senators.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2007-03-22 17:09  

#8  Who will we fight after lunch ?
Posted by: wxjames   2007-03-22 16:41  

#7  Cripes, now we're going to have to fight the French as well as the Iranians?
Posted by: SteveS   2007-03-22 16:37  

#6  What are they, lost?
Posted by: tu3031   2007-03-22 16:34  

#5  Hmmm.
Posted by: Seafarious   2007-03-22 16:32  

#4  And now that I think about it a bit more ... maybe there is a different reason why Russian nuclear technicians have been hightailing it out of Iran recently.
Posted by: crosspatch   2007-03-22 16:24  

#3  I believe the Stennis is there.
Posted by: crosspatch   2007-03-22 16:21  

#2  I found a source. The US Navy
Posted by: crosspatch   2007-03-22 16:19  

#1  Is there any confirmation from any other source besides DEBKA? DEBKA rates right up there with Weekly World News as a news source.
Posted by: crosspatch   2007-03-22 16:16  

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