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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| U.S. Navy shows force in Persian Gulf |
| 2007-03-27 |
| DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The U.S. Navy on Tuesday began its largest demonstration of force in the Persian Gulf since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, led by a pair of aircraft carriers and backed by warplanes flying simulated attack maneuvers off the coast of Iran. The maneuvers bring together two strike groups of U.S. warships and more than 100 U.S. warplanes to conduct simulated air warfare in the crowded Gulf shipping lanes. The U.S. exercises come just four days after Iran's capture of 15 British sailors and marines who Iran said had strayed into Iranian waters near the Gulf. Britain and the U.S. Navy have insisted the British sailors were operating in Iraqi waters. U.S. Navy Cmdr. Kevin Aandahl said the U.S. maneuvers were not organized in response to the capture of the British sailors — nor were they meant to threaten the Islamic Republic, whose navy operates in the same waters. He declined to specify when the Navy planned the exercises. Aandahl said the U.S. warships would stay out of Iranian territorial waters, which extend 12 miles off the Iranian coast. A French naval strike group, led by the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, was operating simultaneously just outside the Gulf. But the French ships were supporting the NATO forces in Afghanistan and not taking part in the U.S. maneuvers, officials said. Overall, the exercises involve more than 10,000 U.S. personnel on warships and aircraft making simulated attacks on enemy shipping with aircraft and ships, hunting enemy submarines and finding mines. "What it should be seen as by Iran or anyone else is that it's for regional stability and security," Aandahl said. "These ships are just another demonstration of that. If there's a destabilizing effect, it's Iran's behavior." |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #9 I figure if this was serious the carriers would be withdrawn to a better tactical position, this is a PR exercise. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2007-03-27 17:29 |
| #8 or they're watching the carriers so closely they don't notice those shadows coming in from the east... |
| Posted by: Steve 2007-03-27 17:14 |
| #7 CyberSarge- Actually, it's likely they did, and in the same way the Iraqis got that treatment: over, and over and over again...and eventually the Iranians stopped responding because the Americans will always turn around. Then our guys threw in the jamming, and after a while even that stopped getting the Iraqis excited. Until one morning the jamming didn't end... Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2007-03-27 16:36 |
| #6 I wonder if they ran any "exciter" missions? That's when the fighters make a full speed run at the border and then turn before they cross over. I would bet that not a single Iranian ship or plane left their base during this "exercise". They talk a good big game but when confronted with strength they ALWAYS run. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2007-03-27 16:33 |
| #5 I'd watch the French naval strike group, never know which side they're "helping" out. [besides their own] |
| Posted by: RD 2007-03-27 15:46 |
| #4 "Does this bug you, Iran? I'm not touching you. Does this bug you? I'm not touching you." |
| Posted by: Angie Schultz 2007-03-27 15:39 |
| #3 Gee, I wonder if we'll let the Insanians come out with their fishing boats and kidnap our sailors. Maybe we should see in we can get the Cornwall to cover our backs during these maneuvers |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2007-03-27 14:05 |
| #2 "just four days?" how about, the British sailors are now in their fourth day of illegal captivity...... On the lighter side: gotta love the smell of JP in the morning. and no, I do not ned no stinking patches, burned kerosene spins my prop.... |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2007-03-27 13:57 |
| #1 At sea and in the air, and very soon, right on top of your scraggly neck, mahmoud... |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2007-03-27 13:40 |