Your Email:

Subject:

Message:
Entry: Pulling the Trigger on Iran Link: http://www.takimag.com/site/article/pulling_the_trigger_on_iran#982 Post contents: “A second US navy aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS John C Stennis arrived in the Gulf last week, doubling the US presence there." The American press never really tells the whole story do they? I have corrected this observation at least 20 times in the last two months. You are underreporting the number of US aircraft carrier groups in the Gulf region by at least 100%. There are actually four carrier groups in the region at all times now. There are two, and today possibly three Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU) in the Gulf. An MEU is based around an aircraft carrier. Granted these are not nuclear carriers but they are huge. They are more than 800 ft. long, almost as long as the nuclear carriers, but conventionally powered, plus their screening task forces of ships. According to http://www.ne.jp/asahi/gonavy/atsugi/meu00.html the LHD-4 Boxer, LHD-5 Bataan and LHD-6 Bon Homme Richard are in the Centcom AOR. Here is an interesting article about operations of the LHD-5 while in the Arabian Gulf: http://www.bataan.navy.mil/news/news73.htm Here is essentially the same story but it says LHD-5 and its screen is in the Persian Gulf, which is a huge difference, especially in how Iran views it. And here is how Iran views it: http://www.defense-update.com/newscast/0407/analysis/analysis-120407.htm And the Nimitz is on the way, ostensibly to relieve the Eisenhower, but for awhile there will probably be three nuclear carriers in the region. I'll let you draw your own conclusion what all this force is about. Regards -- Dean Billin Sent at: 2008 07 09