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Parsing Recent Carrier Strike Group Movements
As with any Nimitz class carrier, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) doesn't deploy alone. Instead she sails with a number of other support vessels composing a "Carrier Strike Group." Within the Eisenhower's traditional strike group (Carrier Strike Group Eight) are:
Command Destroyer Squadron Two Eight, composed of 8300 ton Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers focused on antiair, antisubmarine, antisurface, and strike operations using the AN/SPY-1D Phased Array Radar, an AEGIS upgrade, and the best-in-class AN/SQQ-89 integrated ASW Suite. Originally designed to deal with former Soviet air threats (like Iran's Su-25, MiG-29A (Fulcrum) and MiG-29UB aircraft?):
The USS Bainbridge (DDG 96)
The USS Barry (DDG 52)
The USS Laboon (DDG 58)
The USS Mitscher (DDG 57)
The USS Ramage (DDG 61)
Along with:
Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers:
The USS Carney (DDG 64)
The USS McFaul (DDG 74)
The USS Farragut (DDG 99)
...and 9600 ton Ticonderoga class guided missile cruisers:
The USS Hue City (CG 66)
The USS Anzio (CG 68)
The USS Vicksburg (CG 69)
Generally, Carrier Strike Groups are also escorted by two or three attack submarines as well. Those aren't talked about much.
Carrier Strike Group Ten, built around the USS Harry S. Truman, is composed of a substantially similar group. It will, however, replace Command Destroyer Squadron Two Eight with Command Destroyer Squadron Two Six:
USS Hawes (FFG 53)
USS James E. Williams (DDG 95)
USS Kaufman (FFG 59)
USS Ross (DDG 71)
USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79)
USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81)
USS Elrod (FFG 55)
The presence of three Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates (FFG 53, FFG 59, FFG 55) is interesting. Zero Hedge readers may remember the Oliver Hazard Perry class by its most famous member, the USS Stark (FFG 31) which was struck by not one but two Exocet anti-ship missiles launched from an Iraqi plane in 1987 and somehow managed to limp to Bahrain and was eventually repaired and returned to service. Less famous, but more dramatic, the USS Samuel B. Roberts struck an Iranian mine, which blew a 6 meter hole in the vessel, flooded the engine room, and actually broke the keel. For the unwashed, the end of the keel is typically the end of a warship. Despite this, the Samuel B. Roberts was not only salvaged, but repaired and returned to action.
The USS Stark (FFG 31) lists to port after being
struck by Iraqi Exocet missiles in 1987
For comparison, the only real action the Arleigh Burke class has seen is via the USS Cole (DDG 67) which was attacked while in port by suicide bombers.
Though the Eisenhower and Carrier Strike Group Eight are due to rotate out of the area after a six month deployment in July, two things are interesting with respect to this rotation.
Firstly, the arrival of Carrier Strike Group Ten with the Harry S. Truman puts two anti-air and anti-cruise missile groups in the U.S. Fifth Fleet AOR ("Area of Responsibility," Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea and East African Coast) at the same time. Also, this is the first time the Harry S. Truman has been in the Fifth Fleet AOR. (The Eisenhower relieved the USS Nimitz, which is now sitting patiently in San Diego, back in January).
Sailors aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) render honors
to the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) (Arabian Sea, June 26, 2010)
Second, the outgoing Carrier Strike Group Eight is commanded by Rear Admiral Phillip S. Davidson. Of course, one does not manage to command a Carrier Strike Group without active and combat deployment, but Davidson's background is far more weighted to strategy and policy accomplishments. To wit:
Adm. Davidson’s initial sea service assignments were in frigates and destroyers in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets and he has made deployments to the Persian Gulf, Western Pacific, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Eastern Pacific and Baltic Sea areas of operation. He was also the Commanding Officer in two warships, commanding USS Taylor (FFG 50) from August 1998 to June 2000 and USS Gettysburg (CG 64) from October 2004 to June 2006. He deployed and earned Battle Efficiency “E” awards in both of those ships.
Ashore, he has served in a variety of operations, planning and policy billets on the U.S. Pacific Fleet staff, the Navy staff and the Joint Staff; as the Navy’s Military Aide to the Vice President of the United States; and as a Special Assistant to the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Command, and later, to the Chief of Naval Operations. He was the Deputy Director for Strategy and Policy in the Joint Staff/J-5 in his first flag officer assignment.
Rear Admiral Davidson is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Naval War College. His decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V” and other personal, unit and campaign awards. He has a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies and is a Joint Specialty Officer.1
His replacement, Rear Admiral Patrick Driscoll, Commander of Carrier Strike Group Ten, has enjoyed a career with a decidedly different focus, specifically: A combat hardened strike fighter pilot and commander with significant experience in the Iraq-Iran theater. Notice:
Driscoll's initial fleet assignment was with the 1983 Battle "E" winning VS-32 “Maulers," where he completed two Indian Ocean deployments and was selected as the Atlantic Fleet Sea Strike Pilot of the Year. Following transition training in the A-7E CORSAIR II, Driscoll deployed with the VA-105 "Gunslingers" to the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean, which included participation in tanker escort operations during Operation Earnest Will.
His next sea assignment was with the "Clansmen" of VA-46, where he deployed aboard the USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) to the Red Sea in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Driscoll then attended the Naval War College, with a follow-on joint assignment with the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency in July of 1993.
In 1996, Driscoll reported once again to the "Gunslingers" of VFA-105 deploying aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and participated in Operation Deliberate Guard over Bosnia and Operation Southern Watch in Iraq. Driscoll's next assignment was the commanding officer and flight leader of the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (The Blue Angels) for the 1999 and 2000 show seasons.
In April of 2001, Driscoll reported to Carrier Air Wing 5 based in Atsugi, Japan. During Operation Enduring Freedom, he led the TACAIR strike element aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), which served as an Afloat Forward Staging Base during combat operations in Afghanistan. He deployed again in 2003 and led his air wing in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2008 he served in Baghdad, Iraq as Director of Communication and spokesman for Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I). He is currently serving as Commander, Carrier Strike Group TEN.
Driscoll’s staff assignments include: Deputy Director, Deep Blue; EA to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information, Plans and Strategy; EA to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations and the Chairman’s Joint Strategic Working Group.
Personal awards include the Legion of Merit with two gold stars, the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat V, three Bronze Stars, and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. He is a distinguished graduate of the Naval War College and holds a Masters degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.2
Driscoll relieved Rear Admiral Mark Fox in May of last year.
Even in the event Carrier Strike Group Eight rotates out immediately, in Carrier Strike Group Ten the Arabian Sea has a group of vessels battle proven in this theater and against a similar foe commanded by an experienced air combat officer and filled with freshly deployed fighting men and women.
New moon on July 12th.
Hmmmmm.
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The Iraqi scenario was slightly different.
Never forget the blockade destined to soften the Iraqi population and to sell the consequences of the blockade as self inflicted or inflicted by the madness of Saddam Hussein on his people.
Hard to see the stage of blockade being bypassed. Maybe some strikes here and there to justify a blockade. An Iranian answer to those strikes would come as a justification for a blockade.
In many minds in the Western world, some have a legitimate right to attack, others dont have a legitimate right to defend.
These aircraft carriers are the hoary crustaceans of naval warfare. Magnificently irrelevant sitting ducks in a 4GW world. Moving them in a big way into the Persian Gulf whilst committing contemporaneous acts of war - fig-leafed as sanctions by the flaccid UN - against Iran is like presenting Pearl Harbour (again) to the similarly aggrieved Japanese. Oil was a tool then and it's a tool now. Isn't it ironic to think that the "evidence" of Iranian "aggression" has already been created and is waiting for its closeup (but not too close) on the international stage within hours if not minutes after the false flag is hoisted. But the 19-year olds who volunteered for this will be truly dead. And the devastation felt by their loved ones will be real. How can those who are benefiting from this evil be stopped? That is the question.
Carriers are obsolete now? LOL
Yes, I'm sure they will sit still while a Chinese ballistic missile comes down from space onto their decks.
There are two ways naval engagements go, one where you have planes and the other where you get sunk by them.
In EVERY recent conflict, naval air power was decisive in engagements.
Sitting ducks??? ahahahahahaahah go tell it to the "aggrieved" Japanese to the bottom of the sea around Midway if American carriers are sitting ducks....
The Russians counted to lose at least 3 regiments of Backfires supersonic bombers BEFORE even being able to launch against a carrier, and they planned to launch nuclear tipped to be able to score...but this was BEFORE the Aegis escorts had anti-missile capabilities and BEFORE the Ticonderoga cruisers and the Burke destroyers had network data link capabilities.
Sitting duck a carrier Group.....ahahahaha of all the bullshits that I saw...this is one of the most disinformed...grossly delusional one.!!
ZH: Strong suit: Great for exposing the sordid underbelly of international finance.
ZH: Weakness: All this Tom Clancy speculative crap.
(Gee, if the US were gonna bunker bust bomb the Iranian reactor sites, they would be just a tad sneakier, IMO, lest the Iranians sneak the materials out or something.)
Just sayin.....
I wonder if Tom Clancey has written any books exposing crooked international finance and the instigated unjust wars perpetrated by its MIC partners? Kinda would put a damper on any new material after that book though...
Well, if we really don't know where they are hiding their stash wouldn't this be a good way to find out. Head in their direction and watch them scramble from an aerial view. Makes sense to me but I'm just a girl.
"watch them scramble from an aerial view", be difficult with all the surface to air missiles going off. Iran has 636,000 square miles of country-side...where would you suggest you look first? And NO, they won't be scrambling, not one bit.
"Makes sense to me", what about now, still looking sensible?
"but I'm just a girl", don't let that stand in the way of getting in-touch with reality.
ummm, Google has a picture of the top of my house so I would think the DOD can handle it. We might actually have cased the place a little too, in advance. But if you have expertise and knowledge otherwise please excuse my unrealistic expectations of the U.S. Military.
Oh, and there is this that I found rather quickly......
Satellite Images Capture Construction of Iran's Hidden Nuclear Site September 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmADzFM-crs
BUT YOUR THE EXPERT
And this......
"Israel has launched a surveillance satellite that will be used to spy on Iran's nuclear programme, reports say."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/10387608.stm
Good points. You go, girl.
Good points. You go, girl.
Double posts, sorry. BTW, did he really think you meant the recon was going to happen during a shock and awe and not in advance as we are moving in?
Gee whiz.
9 year experience in military reconaissance and a further 6 in battlefield aviation actually.
You were wrong the first time. Intel was/is/always an on-going activity; there is no flush-out and see which way everything runs. That's akin to a cartoon.
Don't think for one minute that one, or even a dozen satellites can determine the whereabouts of that which is intended to be hidden...dare I mention the the Iraqi WMDs? They didn't even exist and that led to the biggest "Rope-A-Dope" in history.
Using satellites to monitor stationary physical targets is one thing, monitoring nuclear material which is constantly being moved around is a totally different ball-game. Geo-stationary sats are too far away and orbiting sats are on-target for only a few minutes at best and then take 84 minutes to re-aquire targets...and history has shown that even terrorist cells with limited capacity know when they fly-over and adjust their behavior accordingly. Satellites can't simply hover overhead (They live in Geodesics).
For one of two countries which held the world under the threat of nuclear destruction, the US has no right to point the finger at another country. To do so would be, and is, the height of hypocrisy.
Ever since the end of the WWI, possibly WWII, it is the responsibility of the world's politicians to wage battles, not military forces. The moment military forces are engaged, there has already been failure.
Lastly, get used to terrorism. Afghanistan is not Iraq. Afghanistan is a Gorrilla War, and regular low level operations have never won against Gorrilla Warfare...ever!
If you don't believe me, then go and work in the environment yourself.
EDIT: Oh, forgot to add the 3 years working with IAI on recon drones...all managed by Mossad.
Sorry, which bit "Tom Clancy speculative crap" are you objecting to exactly? I've got about 97.5% fact in there.
Agreed. Marla is not responsible for the speculation, that's all in the comments.
The article never explicity just comes out and says "We here at the ZH blog interpet these naval maneuvers as evidence of an imminent attack on Iran and we do so in order to grab traffic on a slow day with the markets closed."
The article dosent say "You too can write just like Tom Clancey, all it takes is a "Janes warships" guide and a penchant for speculation that suggests that because a "super duper class 14 extra nasty top secret weapon" system exists it will be used real soon. (and actually work)
Nope, dosent say that at all.
I didnt just come out and say the article speculated anything either. I could have been referencing the knee jerk wannabe Tom Clancyish scenarios espoused in the comments by otherwise intelligent perceptive ZH readers whose speculations in the field of finance are way more up their alley.
Am I being a snarky ass because I too am bored on a slow day?
Hey thats just speculation too!!
Actually, we did so because of the movement of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Moreover, we post rather prolifically on weekends. (Or haven't you noticed). Finally, we were quick to point out that the USS Eisenhower is due to rotate out in July. Is there something obviously slanted that I'm missing that you object to? (Finally, finally, I never read Jane's).
Maybe Marla reads Stratfor, who knows, who cares. The article was well done.
It's the other 2.5% nonsense that spoils everything. Sort of like drinking curdled milk. 97.5% is still okay, it's the other 2.5% that's the bitch.
Which 2.5% is that, exactly?
I posted this after the "Magical G20 thinking" piece but it bears repeating here:
"...Any 'Distraction' the US tries to initiate now (ie, an Israel/US Iran strike) will result in severe global blow back. After the 'weapons of financial mass destruction' MBS, CDO debacle (sorry, my bad, 'financial engineering') I think we are reaching a global tipping point vis a vis the US. The world, more interested in upgrading their respective economies than some neocon, offense as defense, global chess game (which by the way is tiresome, SO WW2 in thinking, and VERY dangerous). The US will be perceived as a desperate 'wounded animal'. Something that needs to be comforted AND avoided. The blow back would not be quick, coordinated or smooth, but it would be inevitable..."
Personally, I'm thinking 'not here and not yet'. Obama doesn't run the "Military/Industrial/Complex though. Quite the opposite, so, who knows...
Desperate wounded animals are not handled in that fashion. They are quickly put out of their misery.
Robert, that is an interesting opinion, which very well have merits, but, what are the supporting facts for your case??
Shouldn't we be trying to innovate something like isotope separation done in my basement rather than speculate over and over on some event that never happens? What the fuck is the deal? Are we hypcritical speculators or are we movers and shakers?
dupe
William Butler Yeats (1865-1939)
THE SECOND COMING
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: a waste of desert sand;
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Wind shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
thank you...quite appropriate to this thread
Truly the best verses of our time.
Only the US has the resources to effectively attack Iran. The Israelis can only play a bit part and that would still require the US to provide airfields, tankers, logistics, fuel and weapons.
It would take hundreds of sorties over multiple weeks time just to make a dent in the Iranian infrastructure. At the same time the US would attempt one of it's guaranteed to fail decapitations of the Iranian "leadership". The stooges the US has on the ground would be slaughtered in the days following the first attack. The US would only attempt a ground thrust into areas the Iranians could not mount a sucessful counter attack. The southern Iranian oil fields would be the likely target.
In the end the US would only piss off Iran and set them back a few years. Unless the Chinese and Russians are on-board, the blowback will be felt by US troops until we are finally driven out of Iraq and Afghanistan. We do not have enough troops to survive a full blown insurgency armed with modern anti-air and anti-armor weapons. In both Iraq and Afghanistan, we have crucial supply routes that could be shut down in a few days. We would have to mount a Berlin airlift to get supplies in. A few hundred guys equiped with ground to air missiles will put an end to that.
No we have had decades to set targets. We know where every Iranian asset is. We have more spies there then anywhere. The head of their atomic program defected a few months back during a trip to Mecca. Knocking off Iran would take weeks with boots on the ground. They will fold with boots on the ground. An air attack or blockade will not do it as their Basij paramilitary force will keep brutal order just like the SS did. They will fade away like the republican guard did in Iraq in 2003.
The problem with Iraq was not taking the country, it was what to do after that.
A mid level scientist does not rate as the head of their program. So you actually think bombing Iran with conventional weapons for a few weeks is going to "take out" Iran? That is laughable on its face. Have you any clue how big a country Iran is? How about it's population size? This is not like Iraq where the majority of the military, the Shia and Kurds, stand down. Iran has also not suffered the same sanction regime. At some point the Chinese are going to call our bluff and move to protect their investments.
They only need to drop enough ordinance to set back the construction of IPI pipeline a few years.
No one is invading anything
EDIT:What? Only one junk flag? That makes my feelings feel bad.
In my opinion, this is simply continued posturing. Any serious inquest into Iran, be it a surprise Isreali (U.S.-backed) air campaign or a U.S. strike, would be precipitated by either another false-flag or a heavily manipulated international incident. For all intensive purposes, we already "have" the Middle East; we've had the Saudi's almost since the beginning, the U.A.E is complicit and Iraq is ours (nevermind the civil war, we HAVE the oil). All the oil is left in Saudi Arabia anyways. This is a grand resource war, we don't need Iran yet. And as far as continuing the military-industrial complex's profit stream, Iraq and Afghanistan are providing a steady income. Iran won't happen till late 2011 at the earliest. Sit back and watch the Great Oil Wars folks, it's going to be a loooong and bumpy ride.
More than just posturing, I think the Pentagon realizes that it's power is completely dependent on it's access to oil. No more oil access = no more planes, carriers or war games. Everyone here on ZH knows that the Pentagon owns the US and Obama knows better than to challenge them and stick out his neck. Perhaps the Pentagon is preparing for the possibility that the US Government might not always be able to pay 700B in annual child support payments to the Pentagon. Owning the middle east guarantees the security of the Pentagon to live on even after the USA dies.
And Petraeus will rule the world.
Or destroy it.
The point of these movements is clear. Obama intends to surrender.
Or he will need something new to bow and apologize for on his farewell tour. (please God don't let him get a reunion tour)
Iran war is modern day Crusade, it has to happen to save Western, Israel and now US economy. I just bought a oil stock at low P/E, war may come sooner then we thought. Why do we suddenly need so many ships in a small pond.
This deployment is likely to deter Somali pirates. Why don't we just bring home all our overseas troops and let the chips fall where they may. No more Western Europe. No more South Korea. No more Taiwan. Just a growing Chinese sphere, a growing Russian sphere, and the American sphere. With any luck the Russians will swallow up the Mideast and we can get on airplanes without being strip searched.
You might need to ask as to WHY you're being strip-searched in the first place. LOL
Unless of course you're living in the states where the act of simply asking that question attracts jail time and a rap for being a "Threat to National Security".
When goods don't cross borders armies will......
This applies to Navies as well :-)
I think it's apparent that this is simply the to and fro of the star-crossed lovers, Israel and Iran
A cloud appears above your head;
A beam of light comes shining down on you,
Shining down on you.
The cloud is moving nearer still.
Aurora borealis comes in view;
Aurora comes in view
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUjIA3Rt7gk
[CAUTION: This is what the post-apocalypse could look like]
New moon on the 11th I thought? The Stealth Bomber will fly for Jauquin and Boaz?
I've always wondered, is the '9' meant to represent the Eye of Horus ?
http://www.ancient-egypt-online.com/images/the-eye-of-horus.jpg
http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/00158/images/allseeingeye.jpg
What's your estimation?
Addendum
Or perhaps 9/11 is also in honor of this nutter's birthday?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_von_Sebottendorf
In Germany, as in Europe and pretty much everywhere else other than the US, the date 9/11 would in fact be November 9, the same as Sebottendorf's birthday, he being the founder of The Thule Society...it being none other than the hot-house for Hitler's occultist obsessions.
9/11 in German history is significant for many tumultuous events
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_9_in_German_history
Perhaps some more WTF? moments to consider when trying to analyze these freaks
All I know is that 9/11 is the Egyption New Year. As for the number 9, I have not considered if it is the eye of horus, but it would not surprise me if that is one of its assignments. Numerically, 9 is a beautiful number. Triple trinity and what not.
Sunburns are great missiles, but Aegis ships are built for them. Every one of the destroyers trains to the Sunburn in simulation every day, and the Aegis program, as well as the SM-2 missile is more than capable of handling the Sunburn. That is not to denigrate the missile, it is fantastic and dangerous. A pre-emptive attack would be very destructive, because it would depend on US Navy sailors being alert enough to identify the threat and for the combat chain of command to react quickly enough to defeat it - an unlikely scenario. Even then, however, the carrier would have Hornets monitoring every Iranian platform within 200 miles that has anti-surface capabilities. If they launched, the Hornets would immediately destroy the offending Iranian ship, and the fleet would set doctrine to prepare for incoming low-fliers. The Sunburn, although it is fast and destructive, has the radar cross-section of a bus, and Aegis will almost always destroy it as long as the system is properly prepared.
Far more dangerous and worrisome are the Iranians known tactic of swarming with various small-craft. I wouldn't want to be the person manning the .50 with 40 Iranian small boats full of RPG toting Persians and/or suicide bombers.
Realistically, if the Iranians made the first move, they would have a shot at taking out a few US Navy ships and aircraft. Their entire navy would be at the bottom of the ocean with 24 hours after that, though. Since it is unlikely that the Iranians will pre-emptively attack the US, the more likely scenario is a pre-emptive attack by the US on the Iranian fleet. We keep updated position information on all of their ships and aircraft at all times; the first strike against the Iranian navy would destroy their entire capability. We would target their entire force at once, via submarines and airstrikes, maybe even mix in a few Harpoons. The whole thing would be over in a matter hours (or less).
I'm not some American triumphalist. I just know the score from the inside and I'm telling you how it is. An invasion of Iran would be a terrible mistake and would make Iraq look like eating custard, but the destruction of their actual military capabilities by US forces would be a formality.
Its a third world country, in a matter of hours they would be down, no contest.
I would hate to see it but its out of my hands to control the war drums.
I left the US and might not ever return. I am very sad for my country for what
it has become and what my father fought for was lies. I am very sad to say the least.
Indeed. If they weren't hell bent on a nuclear weapons program some of their antics would be amusing.
god bless america... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaqaImebd1M
Marla! You little Armageddon sexpot!
I’d like to assist in clarifying: Firstly, not only is the ENTIRE US 5th Fleet out of the Mediterranean and into the Arabian sea, but BOTH, again, BOTH squadron 28 AND Squadron 26 are there with the Truman. Further, and separately from Iraqi related Coalition activities they are accompanied by at least one German ship, one French ship, and anywhere between 2-5 Israeli submarines (in addition to the 3-4 already in the gulf) and at least one Israeli destroyer. Furthermore 2 additional guided cruisers have in fact joined this group totaling at least five known CG Ticonderoga guided cruisers. There are at least 5 US submarines accompanying, and the aforementioned Israeli ones.
IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT WHILE THE CURRENT FORMATION OF US TRUMAN CSG-10 MAY BE TEMPORARY IT IS IN FACT CURRENTLY LARGER THAN EVEN THE FORWARD ELEMENT OF USPACOM 7TH PACIFIC FLEET!!! AND WHEN COMBINED WITH IKE CSG-8 IT IN FACT RIVALS THE ENTIRE USPACOM 7TH FLEET TOTALING AN ASTONISHING CONFIRMED MINIMUM OF 40 US VESSELS!!!
THIS IS AN ARMADA. For context, this is a larger concentration of ships in that area than we had grouped during the Afghanistan war, the second Iraq war, or the first Iraq war. The US has not had this size and concentration of ships in one location outside of the Pacific in at least 30years.
Now yes, it may be part of a rotation but here is where context is important, it is the totality of events of JUST THE LAST TWO WEEKS that is alarming. First these naval movements, which are outsized. Second, reports of Israeli warplanes basing and prepping for an Iranian attack from Georgia and Azerbaijan---and you are naïve if you think the USAF isn’t there also. Third, impromptu visit to US by Ehud Barak. Fourth, RESIGNATION OF THE US DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE (DNI or NID) DURING MEDVEDEV’S VISIT, in fact, during the joint Obama/Medvedev press conference! Fifth, McChrystal’s removal. Sixth, reports US has troops massed in Azerbaijan---astute geopolitical followers will remember that Putin had proposed allowing the US to use old soviet radar and base in Azerbaijan to protect Europe from Iranian missiles in exchange for removing the missile shield from Poland after which the missile shield program in Poland/Czech Rep. was unceremoniously dropped. Seventh, Turkey’s inexplicable behavior, retrospectively can only be seen as seemingly designed to distance itself all of a sudden from Israel and the US? Yes the flotilla was scheduled, but Erdogan didn’t have to go out of his way to insult Israel continuously. Eighth, UN sanctions on Iran. There is also related news from Russia and China, first ever military meetings (US-China about the middle east), behind the scenes unscheduled diplomacy(Russia-US about Israel and Iran), cancellations of defense equipment deliveries (Russian S-300s to Iran) etc., etc, all kinds of unprecedented things, big and small, connected to Israel or Iran, just the last 2 weeks!
There’s also two little brainteasers that whilst perhaps insignificant, in context are disturbing: Netanyahu’s psychiatrist commits suicide on Friday, and the Captain of USS Harry S. Truman is a Jewish man, Capt. Herman "Herm" Shelanski---it would be equally noteworthy if rumors of US-Iran attack on Israel was being fronted by an Iranian. Don’t start.
MOREOVER, THE UNITED STATES NOW HAS MORE PERSNONNEL AND MATERIEL IN THE REGION ***SURROUNDING*** IRAN THAN AT ANY OTHER TIME---not during operation Iraqi Freedom, nor during the Gulf War, nor during the War in Afghanistan.
I can accept coincidences, until the pile is mountainous.
The most disturbing thing to me is the apparent discontent of the US Defense Apparatus with the Obama strategy to apparently attack Iran. It’s not unusual for commanders to disagree with a president’s strategy and get removed or purged for it, happened with Bush, Clinton etc. What IS UNUSUAL here is that US MILITARY HARDLINERS ARE DISAGREEING WITH APPARENTLY IMPEDNING US MILITARY ACTION….one would expect hardliners to agree with military action in the case of Iran, and the NID/DNI resignation and the Commander of US forces Afghanistan removal are not insignificant posts in this context…and perhaps our surge in Afghanistan has an ulterior motive.
It is VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Under UN Law and the United Nations Charters, any nation allowing another nation to attack a third nation by/through its territory HAS IN FACT LEGALLY DECLARED WAR ON THAT THIRD NATION. Here is what I find incredible about this situation. That Israel would attack Iran, I expect it, if the US doesn’t (it won’t under Obama). I expect the US to assist (begrudgingly under Obama). Id’ expect the US to use bases and allow Israel to use bases in Iraq, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia where the US has a long standing presence. What I find ASTONISHING AND OUTRAGEOUS is that the US would assist Israel in IMMEDIATELY REGIONALIZING THIS CONFLICT BY ATTACKING THROUGH GEORGIA AND AZERBAIJAN---two previously unengaged nations in this situation (Israel &/or Iran)…..This IS something I’d expect hardliners to object to (drawing in previously neutral third parties to a conflict), as they do have an understanding of warfare, unlike Obama (who presumed to lecture McCain on strategy ROFLMAO).
Of course, if you have a military background, you understand why all this in this way……….because you know what the Israeli operations in Lebanon mean for Israeli and US “capacity” to aggress on Iran…………..If it was as easy as most Americans and Israelis believe, Bush would’ve done it and not given it a second thought.
awesome post!
Except that it's completely wrong. There were SIX US aircraft carriers deployed in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea for the first Gulf War. That is what's called an amassing of forces. Two has been standard operating procedure since the beginning of Gulf War II.
You're right on that, should've been more specific, there were six in the general theatre, thanks.....btw, I've got at least 2 "special" ships and 3, possibly more, subs coming in from the pacific, allegedly.
Iraq's gonna become an instantly massive, festering, infected puss-sore of a problem and that's without the IRG crossing the border in numbers issue.
Actually interested in your comments, should you wish to share any. ;)
ps: NOT A JOKE: It now appear's that Ehud Barak's psychiatrist, Yigal Peleg, ALSO committed suicide this past week, as did Netanyahu's, Moshe Yatom, as I mentioned before. Btw, ACTUAL QUOTE from Yatom, "Bibi sucked the life right out of me." HAHHAHAHAHAHHAA ROFLMAO :))) You just can't make this shit up. Google them.
Is it proper to measure the CSG deployment used to support a major land invasion with an airborne attack on less than a dozen facilities?
No mam it’s not, but I don’t believe I was doing that, I was trying to draw attention to the sheer size of it. This particular grouping, CSG-10, has a different focus than air superiority and air strike capacity, and that was precisely my point, especially when no elements of the 5th Fleet remain in the Mediterranean and it is also encompassing significant, specialized elements of 6th (numerous) and 3rd, and possibly 7th fleet, and also pulled into formation intenational elements and CTF 150 back from the Horn of Africa. The gentleman was correct, we had no air bases during the Gulf War and there were 6 carriers in the theatre. But this CSG is a larger naval formation in sheer size, this is a “theatre” level Naval formation, and is probably closer to 60 vessels in fact, all told.
Again, the US has not had this size and concentration of ships in one location outside of the Pacific in at least 30years.
Air superiority, and any necessary air strike capacity, will come through CENTAF and 9th AF and bases in Qatar, Bahrain, SA, and Iraq, but particularly for this assignment, should the US actually overtly participate, probably only from Diego Garcia.
Firstly, the munitions that would be used for this type of strike-should the US overtly participate-are not carried on planes(except Diego Garcia), but destroyers, cruisers, and subs. I should point out that Israel will NOT succeed as the US, under Bush, declined to provide the specialized munition (Obama has also, but I’m not sure what may have happened last 3mths), and the compositional nature of this force, expectant of a significant reaction, is further demonstrative of that fact.
Secondarily this is a naval formation with a naval projection and interdiction focus and a VERY heavy radar, anti-missile, anti-air, and anti-submarine focus. Five CG cruisers allow you to set in the sea a triple overlapping ring around Iran.
Obvious mission objectives are to secure oil flow out of the gulf, but perhaps more importantly to bring AEGIS to full bore in the Gulf to protect Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province ports Damman, Ras Tanura and Ju'aymah which Iran has REPEATEDLY stated will be the FIRST military response to any Israeli or US attack, ie, to shut down 40-60% of Saudi oil output, and of course to protect Qatar, Kuwait, Basra, etc.
This naval formation’s purpose is to deal with an Iranian COUNTERATTACK, or possibly first strike, I guess. Also, this kind and size of formation has a much more limited lifespan without going into action…start a T-60 days countdown. ;)
I’d also like to call your attention to the following, should Israel attack Iran, and had the personal psychiatrists of the Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak come forward and publicly declared them unstable, as the posthumous reports now have them describing the PM and DM, what do you think would have been the UN’s reaction, and the UN Human Right’s Council’s reaction, not to mention dum-dum’s reaction in the “White” House?
You're the only beautiful and unique snowflake Marla :) ahahahha
I am confused. Are the carriers to keep the Iranians in line or to prevent the Israelis from attacking. Keep in mind that the Israelis cannot attack Iran from Israel by air without refueling, if at all; it is too far. Anyway, you do not move 2 carrier groups for training exercises or any other non-geopolitic reason. Folks, this is ominous. Webbots might be right again this time.
The last time the US deployed in the region to prevent the 'Whites Only' settler colony from attacking someone, it was the USS Liberty.
Zionist Terrorists blew it out of the water in order to launch their little sneak attack for more 'Whites Only' land, which Uncle Sam supported.
"Are the carriers to keep the Iranians in line or to prevent the Israelis from attacking."
that's an excellent question.
i can't take much more of this hope and change.
Why not pull a ghandhi? don't work, weave, make salt, pray and fast.
Awesome!
Absolutely awesome.
I JUST posted about this very theme!
ORI
http://aadivaahan.wordpress.com
Let me guess...some twit in the W.H. and the Pentagon, still hung-up on details about the great depression, who actually thinks that a way out of this global financial mess is to create even more war.
or, perhaps more accurately;
In a pathetic display of yet another urinating contest, Big Brother is still trying to flex his muscles and demands to be taken seriously, even though the world's well aware it's pure facade. Decades of promiscuous interludes and binge drinking sessions in front of the plasma, have turned a once Lean Green Fighting Machine from WWII, into an obese overbearing tyrant, not lucid enought to make even simple governmental policies let alone foreign policy, and so detached from reality and of foreign ways of living as to be utterly self-absorbed and yet venerated. This was the life of Rome at the time of its demise (except for the plamsas).
The Fall of Rome...such a wonderful treasure to experience it in my own life-time.
Now, something peaceful to watch, enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttxO0sIWU8U&feature=related
"The life of a nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous." -- frederick douglass
thanks for the video...love the eno...great way to spend the morning
What's with all this comment junking?
The Fight Club members whining? Pheew.
I was deployed in the U.S. Navy on the USS Oulette FF 1077 on a West Pac. We were in Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean when the USS Stark was hit by the Iraqi Exocet missles. We then went to the Gulf and escorted Kuwati oil tankers. We were at battlestations 24 hours a day with Iranian gun boats all over the Gulf.
Since Sen. Byrd passed away, shouldn't be long until we see the USS Byrd deployed to the Gulf.
What?? Is the US giving Iran the Byrd??
Marla --
Thanks for your excellent post. I regret that I have not been able to find any of the sinister slanting and 2.5% admixture of nonsense that I have read so much about. I will try harder next time.
I have a few parsing-questions for you or your readers.
(1) Do we know if any mine sweepers have been part of these movements?
(2) Should we read anything into the fact that both of these carriers are based in the Atlantic rather than the Pacific? The Stratfor map shows all Pacific carriers being accounted for on other manuevers or in their home ports. Wouldn't an imminent strike be preceded by the movement of at least two Pacific-based carrier battle groups?
(3) In March I saw reports that delivery of bunker-buster bombs to Israel had been halted by Obama and diverted to Diego Garcia. Since then I have seen no reports. Do we have any evidence that those deliveries have been completed? Would it be easy for them to be delivered secretly from Diego Garcia?
Thanks!
p.s. you know those math questions in the captcha? could you jack up the difficulty for certain posters? "Math Question: For the expression a^n + b^n = c^n, where n>2, can you prove that there exist no non-zero integers that satisfy the expression?"
p.p.s No wait, I think I blew it. To the above question they could just say "No!"