Stars & Stripes: Stennis Aircraft Carrier Group Arrives in Persian Gulf

[CorpGovActivist]

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=43713

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The aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis and its strike group entered the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations Monday, boosting the American carrier presence in the Persian Gulf region to two battle groups, according to a Navy news release.

The Stennis’ sailors and air wing are in the regional waters to provide maritime security operations and support ground forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Carrier Strike Group 3, led by Rear Adm. Kevin Quinn, is made up of the Stennis, Carrier Air Wing 9, Destroyer Squadron 21, the guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam, guided-missile destroyers USS O’Kane and USS Preble, and the fast combat-support ship USNS Bridge, the release stated. More than 6,500 sailors and Marines are assigned to the group.

The Stennis joins the USS Eisenhower and its group, which has been in the Gulf region since Oct. 30. In January, the Ike took a detour from its mission in the Middle East to sail off the coast of Somalia and begin surveillance missions over the Horn of Africa nation.

The nuclear-powered Stennis left its homeport of Bremerton, Wash., on Jan. 16. News reports have portrayed the Stennis’ deployment as a U.S. military warning to Iran — accounts the U.S. government and military have denied.

“The USS John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group is here to help foster stability and security in the region,” Quinn said in a statement. “We look forward to working with our coalition partners to provide support for ground forces operating in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as conducting maritime security operations that help provide a safe environment for shipping within the region.”

The region under 5th Fleet domain includes 2.5 million square miles of water and includes the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean.
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FYI...

- Dave

[itsmesgd]

1. So, are we on the clock for "War Watch 07"?

Or are we waiting for the third group before we start the war?

I've circled the 24th in my calendar

[ohioINC]

2. here we go

This explains Iran's military exercises.

[jn2375]

3. Blair is getting his troops out of Iraq before Bush bombs Iran

Wake up people

[itsmesgd]

4. you think?

Maybe Blair doesnt want the death of the Prince on his hands?
Where's an "Elvis-like" celebrity that we can send over there?

[Monkeyman]

5. War huh what is it good for