As Israel's Threat to Bomb Iran Looms, U.S. Vows to Keep Aircraft Carrier Strike Group in Persian G

As Israel's Threat to Bomb Iran Looms, U.S. Vows to Keep Aircraft Carrier Strike Group in Persian Gulf

www.pbs.org

USS ENTERPRISE, North Arabian Sea | The U.S. Navy is vowing to keep commercial sea lanes open in the international waters off Iran, despite a view among a small number of critics that Washington’s military muscle may inadvertently stoke tensions with Tehran in the event of a crisis.

Israel has threatened to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities if that nation’s uranium enrichment and other activities suspected of building an atomic weapon do not abate.

(visit the link for the full news article)

That fact that the US is sending such a huge naval presence to the region is big news, but even more interesting is the name of the carrier that is taking part- the USS Enterprise!

A few months ago, there was a conspiracy theory that the USS Enterprise was going to be used in a false flag event given the carrier is due for a very expensive decomissioning at the end of the year.

Many felt that this theory has been de-bunked as the Enterprise sailed out of harms way, yet she is set to be a major part in this coming exercise!

But some observers say that in the event of a crisis — such as an Israeli attack on Iran — maintaining an aircraft carrier off the shores of Iran in the confined and crowded Gulf could make matters worse.

“Putting vulnerable carriers in the Persian Gulf is not a good idea, as it would facilitate crisis instability, not crisis stability,” said John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago. “They are just too vulnerable, and thus having them in the Persian Gulf would create powerful incentives for us to strike quickly at the Iranian military assets that threaten those carriers.”

'Putting vulnerable carriers in the Persian Gulf is not a good idea'.

So it seems this conspiracy theory is not over just yet with emerging news that the USS Enterprise is indeed heading back into harm's way during this massive naval exercise.



www.pbs.org
(visit the link for the full news article)

reply to post by Wonderer2012


Putting ANY Carrier in the relatively tight confines of the Persian Gulf is a bad idea IMO.

The Enterprise can handle her own in a fight. At the risk of sounding too jingoist, She may be old but there is still plenty fight in the old gal and more firepower than most countries on the planet.

reply to post by Wonderer2012


Huge? Maybe? However, when has there not been a substantial naval presence in the gulf? When I was in the Navy, most of my deployments were spent the gulf sweating my you know whats off. Perhaps, a little more firepower and manpower is present with regards to threats coming out of Iran lately, and Israel in the other corner frothing at the bit about an attack.

The only worry I have is transiting and exiting the Straight of Hormuz. That could be a problem for not only commercial ships, but naval ones as well. In a strategic sense, it is one of the worst bottlenecks in the world. Other than that, I see the Navy having no problems operating in the gulf. Not too mention, one carrier battle group has a multitude of other ships as support for the carrier from subs to destroyers. That is a lot of firepower. I would not be surprised if the Navy is there not only keeping an eye on Iran, but what Israel does. If Israel launches that feared preemptive strike that everyone is talking about? The Navy is going to have to respond. One way or another the US is going to get dragged into a conflict with Iran. Too much is at stake to just sit this one out. A myriad of military installations, and commerical shipping would be at risk.

Originally posted by Jakes51
reply to post by Wonderer2012

 

Huge? Maybe? However, when has there not been a substantial naval presence in the gulf? When was in the Navy, most of my deployments were spent the gulf sweating my you know whats off. Perhaps, a little more firepower and manpower is present with regards to threats coming out of Iran lately, and Israel in the other corner frothing at the bit about an attack.

The only worry I have is transiting and exiting the Straight of Hormuz. That could be a problem for not only commercial ships, but naval ones as well. In a strategic sense, it is one of the worst bottlenecks in the world. Other than that, I see the Navy have no problems operating in the gulf. Not too mention, one carrier battle group has a multitude of other ships as support for the carrier from subs to destroyers. That is a lot of firepower. I would not be surprised if the Navy is there not only keeping an eye on Iran, but what Israel does. If Israel launches that feared preemptive strike that everyone is talking about? The Navy is going to have to respond. One way or another the US is going to get dragged into a conflict with Iran. Too much is at stake to just sit this one out. A myriad of military installations, and commerical shipping would be at risk.

Good points, I just wanted to point out this piece of news given one of the main ships involved in this exercise is the USS Enterprise.

If you search the forum, there was a theory back in spring where she was going to be used in a false flag event as she is due for decommission at the year's end, I thought this news article was worth pointing out with this theory in mind and Israel's supposed 25/9/12 deadline.

reply to post by Wonderer2012


I remember that post!

S&F for jogging my memory!