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| Iraq | |
| Two or three carriers to return home soon | |
| 2003-04-13 | |
| Same article as the one on Sammy's half-brother. On Saturday, Vice Adm. Timothy Keating, the commander of all naval forces in the war, said two or three of the five U.S. aircraft carriers launching planes on missions over Iraq may head home soon. While the air campaign is far from over, its focus has shifted away from heavy bombing toward protective air cover for ground troops around Baghdad and in northern Iraq. Surveillance and reconnaissance missions by U-2 spy planes, unmanned Predator drones and other aircraft are continuing apace, and aerial refueling and cargo planes are still very busy. Keating said the USS Kitty Hawk, which has operated in the Persian Gulf since February, probably would be the first to leave. Its home port is Yokosuka, Japan. The USS Constellation, also in the Gulf and on its final active deployment, probably would go next, he said. Keating said orders to send carriers and other forces home would have to come from Gen. Tommy Franks, the war's overall commander, and that no such orders have been received. Plenty of time to bring them home for a re-fit, leave for everyone, and then a new training cycle right before Baby Assad does something really stupid.
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| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 Carriers are floating airstrips subject to no-one. Now that we've got airstrips in Iraq itself, there's no need for the carriers to overstay their tours. As soon as we get those airstrips up to snuff, Keating will be seeing those orders. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-04-13 14:40:03 |