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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Aircraft Carrier Group Heads to Caribbean |
| 2006-04-12 |
| An aircraft carrier strike group moved into the Caribbean this week to begin two months of naval exercises in what the U.S. military hopes will be a show of its commitment to the region. The deployment by the USS George Washington group will also focus on threats such as drug and human trafficking, according to the Miami-based U.S. Southern Command, which oversees military activities in Latin America. Brig. Gen. Kenneth J. Glueck Jr., the Southern Command's chief of staff, called the tour an "opportunity for us to touch base with our partner countries." He added: "There's no other symbol of American power like the carrier." Members of the strike group, led by the nearly 1,100-foot long Nimitz-class carrier, made their first port stops Monday and Tuesday. The USS Stout, a destroyer, stopped in Curacao, while the USS Underwood, a frigate, docked in Cartagena, Colombia. The military has dismissed allegations by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez that it is planning an invasion of his country. But analysts say the show of force sends a signal to Chavez and other Latin American leaders about U.S. strength. Although the group has no plans to dock in Venezuela, the U.S. ambassador in Caracas met Sunday with the head of the Southern Command, Gen. Bantz Craddock, aboard the George Washington. Southern Command leaders were conducting a routine quarterly meeting, but the high interest from Venezuela in the deployment prompted the diplomatic participation, according to Southern Command Spokesman Jose Ruiz. The carrier will arrive at its first stop in St. Maarten on Friday. Other countries on the tour include Honduras, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Trinidad Tobago, Curacao, Aruba and St. Kitts. Daniel Erikson, a Caribbean analyst for the Inter-American Dialogue policy institute, said many Latin American nations are concerned because the U.S. has threatened since 2002 to withdraw military aid from governments that do not sign an agreement pledging not to turn American citizens over to the International Criminal Court. A number of Caribbean countries have not signed the waiver. "Washington has been trying to figure out ways, without backing down, to show the U.S. is still willing to engage with allies in the region," he said. The deployment also sends a signal to China, which has invested heavily in Latin America, Erikson said, explaining that many Caribbean leaders "have been puzzled by what they see as Washington's passivity" on China's role in the area, Erikson said. The Norfolk, Va.-based strike group also includes the USS Monterey, a cruiser, and a 30-plane air wing. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #19 Meanwhile, in WESTPAC, local news here in Guam have reported that up to 3 USN carriers will be engaged in NAVEX's around Guam. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-04-12 23:03 |
| #18 Hugo may be getting ready to seize some large key oil fields... |
| Posted by: crazyhorse 2006-04-12 21:59 |
| #17 #12: But, but, how can you have gunship diplomacy on a ship with no guns? I know you're being snarky. Guns are not needed in the missle age, even so I'll bet the aircraft have guns, lots of guns. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2006-04-12 21:08 |
| #16 Hey, its Spring Break Time! |
| Posted by: 3dc 2006-04-12 16:12 |
| #15 "...fully armed and operational Carrier Battle Group!" |
| Posted by: mojo 2006-04-12 16:00 |
| #14 No guns? Hugo is ex-military.. he knows the firepower of a CVN battle group... |
| Posted by: john 2006-04-12 15:25 |
| #13 This is obviously a DoD marketing event. Wait until Hugo sees the USS George Washington and Nimitz. He'll forget all about Condi Rice and that inflatable tub doll. USS Underwood??? Isn't that a typewriter? |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-04-12 15:20 |
| #12 But, but, how can you have gunship diplomacy on a ship with no guns? |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-04-12 15:16 |
| #11 From Trinidad to Aruba, it has to sail along practically tte entire Venezuelan coast |
| Posted by: john 2006-04-12 15:01 |
| #10 I predict a freedom of navigation exercise off the coast of Venezuela. |
| Posted by: Penguin 2006-04-12 14:47 |
| #9 Is it just me or does it look like somebody is putting everything in place to make sure no nutbag things it would be a good time to take advantage of a situation. And they say we have no plan. |
| Posted by: C-Low 2006-04-12 14:12 |
| #8 Port of Spain harbor faces the Venezuelan mainland. It is just about 9 miles away. To get to Aruba, the battle group will sail along the coastline of Venezuela. |
| Posted by: john 2006-04-12 14:05 |
| #7 He added: "There's no other symbol of American power like the carrier." He ain't kiddin'. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2006-04-12 13:23 |
| #6 Although the group has no plans to dock in Venezuela, the U.S. ambassador in Caracas met Sunday with the head of the Southern Command, Gen. Bantz Craddock, aboard the George Washington no need to dock to deliver the message |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-04-12 13:21 |
| #5 That 30 plane air wing could be re-enforced in a matter of hours at need be. |
| Posted by: Cheaderhead 2006-04-12 13:14 |
| #4 I bet Hugo's messing his Depends right now. ;) |
| Posted by: Desert Blondie 2006-04-12 13:07 |
| #3 Are they shadowing a Royal Caribbean ship? |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2006-04-12 13:00 |
| #2 The carrier will arrive at its first stop in St. Maarten on Friday. Other countries on the tour include Honduras, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Trinidad Tobago, Curacao, Aruba and St. Kitts. That's a nice cruise. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-04-12 12:39 |
| #1 a 30-plane air wing. :< |
| Posted by: 6 2006-04-12 12:32 |