Report: U.S., Israeli warships cross Suez Canal toward Red Sea

Haaretz ^

[jhpigott]

Egypt opposition angered at government for allowing the fleet of more than 12 ships to cross Egyptian manned waterway, Al-Quds Al-Arabi reports.

By Jack Khoury

More than twelve United States Naval warships and at least one Israeli ship crossed the Suez Canal towards the Red Sea on Friday, British Arabic Language newspaper Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported Saturday.

According to the report, thousands of Egyptian soldiers were deployed along the Suez Canal guarding the ships' passage, which included a U.S. aircraft carrier.

The Suez Canal is a strategic Egyptian waterway which connects between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.

According to eyewitnesses, the U.S. battleships were the largest to have crossed the Canal in many years, Al-Quds reported.

Egyptian opposition members have criticized the government for cooperating with the U.S. and Israeli forces and allowing the ships' passage through Egyptian territorial waters.

They said they viewed the event as Egyptian participation in an international scandal, and added that the opposition would not sit with its arms crossed while the country allowed a fleet of U.S. and Israeli military ships to cross.

[jhpigott]

Doesn't sound like normal rotation of naval assets . . .

[jhpigott]

ping

[rickmichaels]

Does Obama know about this?

[Citizen Tom Paine]

I wonder which battleships have been recommissioned? It it is the USS Missouri, I would reenlist for a ride.

[Genoa]

Maybe somebody’s been in Kenya nosing around asking too many questions.

[Doofer]

Doesn't sound like normal rotation of naval assets . . .

Doesn't sound out of the ordinary to me, having done it a couple of times...

[Doofer]

I wonder which battleships have been recommissioned?

The Lib Media don't have a clue...

[GAB-1955]

These days, “battleships” is replacing “men o’war” as the generic name of ships.

[fenderfeeder]

It’s the Harry S. Truman group on a six month deployment to relieve the Eisenhower which has been in the Gulf region since January. Incidentally, the Eisenhower also passed through the Suez Canal on its way to the Gulf back in Jan, so this type of event isn’t that unusual.

Interesting, if true, that an Israeli ship was also with the group, they are probably going to do some joint training.

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

12* ships sounds an awful lot like a carrier group. I do not keep track of our naval deployments, but the passage of an East Coast-based carrier and its consorts is not exactly unprecedented.

*Nor am I up to date on the type and number of ships that typically accompany a carrier, but 11 is not an outlandish number.

[patriot preacher]

Interesting that they crfossed together...That is rare — almost unheard of. Twice Israeli vessels have crossed, but that last time was almost a year ago, and no American vessels were along with them. Could just be a coincidence...Could also be contingency preparation for a coming conflict with Iran...We shall see.

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

What they are calling a “battleship” (see picture that accompanies the article) is an Amphib (LSD or something similar). So, it sounds like a carrier group + an ARG though, given their inability to distinguish between ship types and the fact that a big deck amphib is usually part of an ARG, I am surprised they are not whining about TWO carriers.

[PapaBear3625]

I didn’t know a carrier would FIT through the locks of the Suez.

[Robe]

Would someone PLEASE inform the press that neither one of these vessals are a "BATTLESHIP"??????

Now THIS is a Battleship!!!

[Constitutions Grandchild]

On one of our family vacations when I was a kid, my parents took me to see the Missouri when it was in mothballs out in Seattle (or somewhere close by). I was the usual teenager with my simple Civics and American History classes to educate me on what happened there, and I went with about as much enthusiasm as I would have had they taken me to see any exhibit in a museum — BUT (and big BUT) — when I got on board and stood by the brass plaque where the Japanese surrender took place, it wasn't “ancient” history anymore.

I was overcome by awe. Then I looked at the size of those guns — anti aircraft and the really big, big ones that could fire salvos from offshore (and, incidentally, I could have fit in), it hit home. It was one of those family outings that has stuck with me for close to 50 years. What awesome power and might we have and pity the poor souls we use it on. For a kid from the Midwest who was more like Doris Day and Sandra Dee — I was humbled before God and man.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

We visited Pearl Harbor three months ago. The Missouri was just out of dry dock with a fresh repaint and looked like a brand new BB (except for the tiny bump in the deck where a kamikaze had bounced off.)

[SunkenCiv]

Egypt opposition angered at government for allowing the fleet of more than 12 ships to cross Egyptian manned waterway, Al-Quds Al-Arabi reports. More than twelve United States Naval warships and at least one Israeli ship crossed the Suez Canal towards the Red Sea on Friday... thousands of Egyptian soldiers were deployed along the Suez Canal guarding the ships' passage, which included a U.S. aircraft carrier.

Now I ask you -- honestly, doesn't that sound like a nice, routine movement of ships? No chance at all that they're going into battle.

[grey_whiskers]

Cheers!

[Alter Kaker]

I didn’t know a carrier would FIT through the locks of the Suez.

There are no locks of the Suez. Unlike the Panama Canal, it's a sea-level canal.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

Isn't it amazing? I know I'm just a silly romantic at heart, but in all my travels and the things I've seen, when I walk over places where the great men and women in history have walked, I get overwhelmed and tears are forming as I write this — there is this incredible sense of connection. I could almost feel McArthur, the Japanese dignitaries and what incredible courage it took and what emotions went through those who were suffering with loss of face (I studied Asian History, too). I'm so glad my parents thought enough of me to allow me to experience history — from both sides — winners and losers and to lovingly point out the costs for either situation. I love our country and I hurt for countries that are mislead to face off with us. I love our military — all of it — could never have served (wouldn't have thought to if I could), but I realized my station in life was to support them and hold them up to high standards and my country, as well.

Glad to hear she cleaned up well — she was spit/spot when I saw her that gray, drizzly day and to my delight, for once I didn't get sea sick, which I could manage standing on the dock. ;-)