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U.S. Navy Flexes Muscles in Persian Gulf
AP via SFGate ^ | 3/27/7 | JAMES CALDERWOOD and JIM KRANE

Posted on 03/27/2007 12:49:52 PM PDT by SmithL

ABOARD THE USS JOHN C. STENNIS, (AP) -- American warplanes screamed off two aircraft carriers Tuesday as the U.S. Navy staged its largest show of force in the Persian Gulf since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, launching a mammoth exercise meant as a message to the Iranians.

The maneuvers with 15 warships and more than 100 aircraft were sure to heighten tensions with Iran, which has frequently condemned the U.S. military presence off its coast and is in a faceoff with the West over its nuclear program and its capture of a British naval team.

While they would not say when the war games were planned, U.S. commanders insisted the exercises were not a direct response to Friday's seizure of the 15 British sailors and marines, but they also made clear that the flexing of the Navy's military might was intended as a warning.

"If there is strong presence, then it sends a clear message that you better be careful about trying to intimidate others," said Capt. Bradley Johanson, commander of the Stennis.

"Iran has adopted a very escalatory posture with the things that they have done," he added.

The exercises began four days after Iranian forces detained the 15 Britons for allegedly being in Iranian territorial waters near the northern end of the Gulf. U.S. and British officials insist the team was properly searching cargo vessels inside Iraqi waters.

F/A-18 fighter jets roared off the Stennis' flight deck all day, mounting a dozen rapid-fire training sorties against imaginary enemy ships and aircraft. A second task force with the carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower also took part in the drills.

"These maneuvers demonstrate our flexibility and capability to respond to threats to maritime security," said Navy Lt. John Perkins, 32, of Louisville, Ky., as the Stennis cruised...

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bombirannow; iran; navair; usseisenhower; ussstennis
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To: Pete98

The Left can attempt all they want to say the US/UK are not covered by the Geneva Convention. But it will sound utterly retarded especially since the UK isn't doing anything on extraction of prisoner information.

If they wish to side with the mullahs torturing the UK soldiers, they will isolate themselves. But that's not new for those who spend their lifetime defending Stalin, the Soviet Union's various invasions, North Korea, Chavez, etc.


61 posted on 03/27/2007 3:34:00 PM PDT by romanesq
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To: zarf

Huh? Toothless? How do you figure?


62 posted on 03/27/2007 4:01:52 PM PDT by StarCMC (FR is a success, in spite of all...cats they've sacrificed ...demon gods they've prayed to. - Bryan)
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To: zarf
Please don't be a


63 posted on 03/27/2007 4:03:36 PM PDT by StarCMC (FR is a success, in spite of all...cats they've sacrificed ...demon gods they've prayed to. - Bryan)
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To: redgolum

I think you're way off base there.


64 posted on 03/27/2007 4:05:28 PM PDT by StarCMC (FR is a success, in spite of all...cats they've sacrificed ...demon gods they've prayed to. - Bryan)
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To: HKMk23
...I'm fresh out of foil.

LOL. Good post.

65 posted on 03/27/2007 4:08:15 PM PDT by StarCMC (FR is a success, in spite of all...cats they've sacrificed ...demon gods they've prayed to. - Bryan)
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To: SmithL
Our Military has the muscle, but our politicians lack the guts. So you can rest assured we will do nothing...
66 posted on 03/27/2007 4:12:28 PM PDT by Sprite518
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To: zarf
toothless navy ?

Indefensible, hopelessly ignorant, and Iran-helping nonsense!

I never get upset with other posters, but you managed to cross a line, here, buddy.

I say this as not only as someone who is interested in successful defense of our Republic; but, also as a Navy and Marine Dad. (Marines are part of the Navy) .

.

67 posted on 03/27/2007 4:24:22 PM PDT by Seaplaner (Never give in. Never give in. Never...except to convictions of honour and good sense. W. Churchill)
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To: zarf

Start shootin at them "zarf" and you find out were they will put their teeth. You won't like it at all.


68 posted on 03/27/2007 4:38:47 PM PDT by JOE43270 (JV43270 God Bless America and ALL WHO HAVE and WILL DEFEND HER.)
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To: zarf

Start shootin at them "zarf" and you find out were they will put their teeth. You won't like it at all.


69 posted on 03/27/2007 4:38:54 PM PDT by JOE43270 (JV43270 God Bless America and ALL WHO HAVE and WILL DEFEND HER.)
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To: ElectricStrawberry

Probably not. We can kick Iran's ass, but probably won't.


70 posted on 03/27/2007 5:25:28 PM PDT by Levante
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To: Pete98

"Bah, the navy is not toothless - our political leaders are."

Exactly. Ball-less, too.


71 posted on 03/27/2007 5:30:39 PM PDT by Levante
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To: rahbert

I'm in the all bidness.


72 posted on 03/27/2007 5:34:48 PM PDT by pleikumud
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To: The Blitherer

Ours is a spineless Congress.


73 posted on 03/27/2007 5:34:51 PM PDT by kalee (The offenses we give, we write in the dust; Those we take, we write in marble. JHuett)
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To: SmithL
Two carriers in the Persian Gulf to act like two faggot musclemen.. all muscle no brains..
If one carrier gets sunk Bush should be impeached..

Iran is not impressed and neither am I..
Iran already knows our Congress has been taken over by wimps or traitors..

74 posted on 03/27/2007 5:48:53 PM PDT by hosepipe (CAUTION: This propaganda is laced with hyperbole....)
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To: SmithL
A second task force with the carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower also took part in the drills.

The "Ike" was in these same waters back in 1979 - 1980 during the U.S. Embassy (Tehran) hostage crises. She was on station for most of the nine months that she was deployed. Except for the present day 'Skipper' older officers and NCO's most of the crew weren't born when the 'Ike' sailed these waters some 27 years ago. The reason I know, my brother-in-law, now a senior Captain with a major airline flew the Hawkeye E-2C off the decks of the 'Ike' during that deployment.

75 posted on 03/27/2007 5:57:54 PM PDT by BluH2o
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To: RightWhale

My cousin's there too, on the Eisenhower.


76 posted on 03/27/2007 6:06:17 PM PDT by Lynne
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To: SkyPilot

Awesome pic. We're ready to roll.


77 posted on 03/27/2007 9:30:38 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
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To: Seaplaner

The Marines are the men's department of the Navy.


78 posted on 03/27/2007 9:36:12 PM PDT by Scotsman will be Free (11C - Indirect fire, infantry - High angle hell - We will bring you, FIRE)
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To: zarf
Ours is a toothless navy

The Squids have plenty of teeth, and they know how to use them. It's their political masters who don't seem to understand what those teeth are for, and what they can do.

Should the NCA give the word, the Iranian Navy and Air Force would cease to exist in a very few days. Just a few for their Navy, a few more for their Air Force. Some would undoubtedly fly to ... somewhere.. maybe.. who would take them that's within their range? Can't think of anyone. Nobody likes the Persians, other Shiites barely put up with them.. sometimes.

Syria or Lebanon might be a possibility, but they'd never get past the USAF and RAF flying from bases in Iraq and the 'stans.

79 posted on 03/27/2007 10:26:16 PM PDT by El Gato ("The Second Amendment is the RESET button of the United States Constitution." -- Doug McKay)
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To: redgolum
In the new metrosexual US, Congress would demand we pull out and then try to cut the funds. And many people would support them.

By the time they got that done, the Iranian Navy and Air Force would no longer be with us. Possibly not even their ballistic missiles and SAMs. But given a week or three, those wouldn't amount to much either. The Navy is already paid for.

If they want to cut off funds already appropriated, it's Constitutional Crisis, impeachment and maybe Claire's time.

80 posted on 03/27/2007 10:31:55 PM PDT by El Gato ("The Second Amendment is the RESET button of the United States Constitution." -- Doug McKay)
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