[Thud]

Assuming this is Mubarak's position, as opposed to one yo-yo trying to sound important (we have lots of those too, especially in the State Department), note the following phrase:

"... of US ships headed to strike Iraq ..."

Not all ships, just those "headed to strike Iraq".

Two more points. First, I don't think any of our carriers can fit in the Suez Canal, so they transit elsewhere along with most of their supporting vessels.

Second, the non-combat support ships, cargo vessels and tankers are what really need Canal transit and they aren't "strike" ships by definition.

So this could easily be posturing for domestic political effect. We'll find out.

[Arkinsaw]

Aircraft carriers do go through there.

[ArrogantBustard]

USS Teddy Roosevelt, traversing the Suez Canal.

[bert]

.....So this could easily be posturing for domestic political effect. We'll find out.....

It could also mean that all the ships that matter have already transited the Suez Canal.... It may be sooner than the presstitutes think.

[jae471]

First, I don't think any of our carriers can fit in the Suez Canal,

They can fit through the deep, flat, and wide Suez Canal. It's the Panama Canal -- narrow and shallow with lots of locks -- that the carriers cannot fit through.

[cake_crumb]

"First, I don't think any of our carriers can fit in the Suez Canal, so they transit elsewhere along with most of their supporting vessels."

I'm not sure they will either. Though "British warships" traveled it post 9-11. The article is in the eLibrary archives and a subscription is not free.

Also, there are no statements from Egypt in this Saddam propaganda piece. I wish kattracks had posted a link.

[archy]

Two more points. First, I don't think any of our carriers can fit in the Suez Canal, so they transit elsewhere along with most of their supporting vessels.

I expect the USS Vincennes would fit. Think that would *send a message?*

[greggy]

First, I don't think any of our carriers can fit in the Suez Canal

US super carriers passed through the Suez during the Gulf War, and I cannot imagine the carriers being designed without the canals in mind. Both the Suez and Panama are 100 feet at their narrowest points. The interesting thing is how they are sitting ducks while transitting. I would imagine both Egyptian and US military provide cover and security.