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Iraq
Reagan launches 1st combat mission - in Iraq
2006-02-25
Hmmmm - thought they were on WesPac tour...seem to be a little further west. Wonder why?
Aircraft from the San Diego-based carrier Ronald Reagan began bombing targets in Iraq this week after arriving for duty in the Persian Gulf, according a news release yesterday from the ship.

An F/A-18E Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Attack Squadron 115 launched the first combat mission from the Reagan on Wednesday.

The Navy commissioned the ship in 2003, and it moved to California the following year. The carrier left San Diego Jan. 4 with about 6,000 sailors on its first combat deployment.

Rear Adm. Michael H. Miller is commanding the Ronald Reagan Strike Group, which also includes the cruiser Lake Champlain, the destroyers McCampbell and Decatur, the combat-support ship Rainier, strike fighter squadrons 22, 113 and 115, early warning squadron 113, electronic-warfare squadron 139 and helicopter anti-submarine squadron 4.

Posted by:Frank G

#14  that's exactly what happened - though Dems will tell you that Ronald Reagan worked a deal to screw Jimmy Carter out of his deserved glory.
Posted by: 2b   2006-02-25 21:41  

#13  it may be that the Mullahs agreed to a deal with Jimmuh because they new they wouldn't get a deal with Ronnie. Just a thought.
Posted by: Deacon Blues   2006-02-25 17:22  

#12  There is a bit of symbolism, in that Iran freed the hostages while Ronald Reagan was taking the Oath of Office: there was disappointment in the collective MSM voice that day when they commented that former President Carter was cheated of the credit for releasing them. And in those words.

Oh Lord, let a bomb carried into the Gulf by a figheter from the Ronald Reagan take out a Mullah...
Posted by: Ptah   2006-02-25 16:47  

#11  I've always wondered why we don't have an LSD named Borkums Rift.
Posted by: 6   2006-02-25 16:03  

#10  I think that one of these mornings we are just going to wake up and discover the deed is done.
Posted by: 2b   2006-02-25 15:53  

#9  couple were in the Med, which is a couple days away. AFAIK - the Persian Gulf was not on the Reagan's original itinerary :-)
Posted by: Frank G   2006-02-25 15:52  

#8  Just the Reagan. The T Roosevelt (the good one), is at Corfu, Greece. Also in the Persian Gulf is the

Nassau Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG)
[22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) (SOC)]
USS Nassau (LHA 4) - Persian Gulf
USS Austin (LPD 4) - Persian Gulf
USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) - Persian Gulf
Posted by: Anonymoose   2006-02-25 15:51  

#7  How many carrier groups does this now put in the theatre?
Posted by: smn   2006-02-25 15:27  

#6  Good catch. I hope the Stethem is out there somewhere running missile drills. And the Cole.
Posted by: Matt   2006-02-25 15:16  

#5  I note with satisfaction one of Reagan's escorts is the destroyer Decatur. Once again, a "Decatur" gives tyrants in the Middle East reason to fear the United States of America.
Posted by: Vance P. Frickey   2006-02-25 14:46  

#4  Ronald Reagan Strike Group

Let's hope RR's namesake gets the Mad Mullahs to think a bit more clearly just like the man himself did in 1981.
Posted by: Scott R   2006-02-25 14:04  

#3  thought they were on WesPac tour...seem to be a little further west. Wonder why?

Is that the same Ronald Reagan that was just in joint exercises with the Indian carrier Vikraat?
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-02-25 13:28  

#2  Say - isn't Iraq pretty close to Iran? I mean, it'd be pretty easy for a pilot to inadvertently release munitions on the wrong side of the border.
Posted by: Matt   2006-02-25 13:24  

#1  fantastic news
Posted by: ShepUK   2006-02-25 13:10  

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