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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Miramar fighter jets deployed in secret to Mideast |
| 2012-10-28 |
| Amid mounting concern over Iran's nuclear program and violence elsewhere in the region, U.S. Central Command quietly dispatched a Marine fighter jet squadron from San Diego to an undisclosed country in the Middle East, U-T San Diego has learned. The deployment follows threats by the U.S. and Israel of military strikes if needed to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. At the same time, the conflict in Syria is threatening to drag Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan into war, Iraq is beset by renewed violence, and terrorist groups hoping to capitalize on political upheaval in the region covet Syria's chemical weapons and Libyan arms. Against this tense geopolitical backdrop, aviation spotters tracked a dozen jets from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, an F/A-18 Hornet squadron based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, en route in late September through Europe. The heavily armed jets -- capable of firing 2,000-pound laser-guided bombs, cluster munitions, air-to-air missiles and a six-barrel 20 mm gun -- are used for a variety of missions, including ground attack, escort, enemy air defense suppression, reconnaissance and close air support of ground forces. U.S. Central Command and the Marine command in the region declined to say which country the squadron deployed to or to comment in detail on its mission, citing political and security sensitivities of the host nation and its neighbors. |
| Posted by:Au Auric |
| #5 May be a precaution to destroy CBW weapons in Syria, or perhaps against a major terrorist attack in the Sinai. There are so many possibilities in the ME now - it's a wonder the place hasn't exploded already. |
| Posted by: Raider 2012-10-28 23:16 |
| #4 Barry may be planning to show his so-far secret red line was crossed and he is now going to bomb somebody Possible. Given the take-no-risk attitude on display, I'm thinking it's more a matter of providing protection insurance in case of a 'spillover' from Syria on a neighboring country where it (and its neighbors) suffer from "political and security sensitivities" about having a Marine air squadron on its soil. However, given the information that the Brits have declined use of their bases in the Med, it's quite possible that some "kinetic action", i.e., a repeat of Libya, is being considered. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2012-10-28 19:05 |
| #3 I could say something about 'well they started in mid-August, but with the Lawn Darts long legs..." but something about this particular 'cover story' doesn't make sense. Call it skepticism where the WH is concerned, but Barry may be planning to show his so-far secret red line was crossed and he is now going to bomb somebody; guesstimated timeline: Oct 31- Nov 4. His High Explosive Hail Mary to win the election. |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2012-10-28 18:04 |
| #2 Moved after September 11? Yes. U.S. Central Command and the Marine command in the region declined to say which country the squadron deployed to Three options: Jordan, Turkey, or the Magic Kingdom. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2012-10-28 13:23 |
| #1 en route in late September through Europe. Moved after September 11? |
| Posted by: Sherry 2012-10-28 11:38 |