U.S. Aircraft Carrier Enters Gulf Without Incident
By David Alexander
WASHINGTON | Sun Jan 22, 2012 6:07pm EST
(Reuters) - A U.S. aircraft carrier sailed through the Strait of Hormuz and into the Gulf without incident on Sunday, a day after Iran backed away from an earlier threat to take action if an American carrier returned to the strategic waterway.
The carrier USS Abraham Lincoln completed a "regular and routine" passage through the strait, a critical gateway for the region's oil exports, "as previously scheduled and without incident," said Lieutenant Rebecca Rebarich, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Fifth Fleet.
The Lincoln, accompanied by strike group of warships, was the first U.S. aircraft carrier to enter the Gulf since late December and was on a routine rotation to replace the outgoing USS John C. Stennis.
The departure of the Stennis prompted Iranian army chief Ataollah Salehi to threaten action if the carrier passed back into the Gulf.
MORE...
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/22/us-iran-usa-carrier-idUSTRE80L0YH20120122
WCGreen
(45,558 posts)It's one thing for terrorists to attack and let the chips fall where they may, it's a big difference for a country to openly challenge another...
denbot
(9,899 posts)I was in the Navy in the late 70's - early 80's. The carriers would stay in open waters to minimize vulnerability of an attack. If they are running carriers in and out of the gulf, they don't believe that an attack is probable
SadPanda
(176 posts)Hundreds of deployments at this point.
humblebum
(5,881 posts)than back in the 70's and 80's. Much more protection now, but still vulnerable if caught off guard.
Angleae
(4,482 posts)They're usually in the Arabian Sea. I suspect they're issuing a suble challenge to Iran with this move, something to the effect of "We go where we want, when we want.".
seeviewonder
(461 posts)I hope everything will be OK.
bananas
(27,509 posts)"China Leader Warns Iran Not to Make Nuclear Arms"
"He also explicitly warned Iran not to close the Strait of Hormuz"
See http://democraticunderground.com/101431110
and reply #24 http://democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=31215
"Iran's Revolutionary
Guard Corps said on Saturday it considered the
likely return of U.S. warships to the Gulf part of
routine activity, backing away from previous
warnings to Washington not to re- enter ..."
seeviewonder
(461 posts)how much China and Iran are in bed together...
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)pangaia
(24,324 posts)Suppose the Chinese navy made a regular and routing passage between,say, Cuba and Florida. And what if the Chinese navy had a "strike group of warships" stationed there. What would happen? What would we do? I rather think 'we' would not take kindly to it.
Posteritatis
(18,807 posts)Ash_F
(5,861 posts)The US threatened war there too. Can't have double standards. We do not need our war machine sailing all over the globe 24/7 in the first place.
Blacksheep214
(877 posts)It's the boats you don't!
Sailors know what I mean!
Remmah2
(3,291 posts)Submarines and targets.
Blacksheep214
(877 posts)Targets are called sunk!
Diclotican
(5,095 posts)Blacksheep214
I have not been in the Navy, but I do understand what you mean.. And I guess under the current sircumstances the US have at least a couple of SSN in the Golf region, ready to make some noice if nessesary.. Not to say spy on Iranian assets in the region... The US SSN have a lot of posibilites with their "tool" to take a reall discent look at whatever Iran have in their arsenal, when it came to whatever could float..
Diclotican
Blacksheep214
(877 posts)and maybe even kamakaze.
Being an older Marine I would get ragged on by the Navy if I made some simple mistakes like calling a sub a ship.
Navy humor, go figure!
Now I need a head call. Then look for some pogey bait in the whisky locker.
Diclotican
(5,095 posts)Blacksheep214
Heeh, wel it is easy to make mistakes I guess - and get hammered on it when posible
Please go do the head call, that is important business so to speak
Diclotican
BadtotheboneBob
(413 posts)Submarines and targets...
jimlup
(7,968 posts)Lots of threats but they can't back them up.
They are crazy and sometimes act irrationally but they are not stupid.
jimlup
A small dog barks alot, and in 99 percent of the time dosen't back them up with anything.. But 1 percent of the time even a small dog can back up what he bark, and bite.. And suprise everybody..
But, the same can't be saying for a country I guess.. And in the game of shess I guess USA won the battle this time, as Iran was in no shape to attac the aircraft carrier... They are smart enough to understand that a attac on a aircraft carrier would be the end of the Islamic Republic of Iran.. And the current regime, so they was smart backing down..
And also, PRC was rather clear in their objections to making a mess in the Hormus..
Diclotican
Ghost Dog
(16,881 posts)Doc Holliday
(719 posts)"They are crazy and sometimes act irrationally but they are not stupid."
Sounds a lot like my ex-wife and ex-in-laws.
Seriously.
Iran-- the Chihuahua of weltpolitik.
hector garcia rivera
(1 post)I hope not to start a new war,can be a neuclar.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)gateley
(62,683 posts)for now.
Welcome to DU!
TheMadMonk
(6,187 posts)Blocking exit (and a good chance at fleet decimation) is much more effective in the event of overt agression against Iran.
Iran is highly unlikely to be an agressor, but it is well and truly positioned to REACT with devastating effect if poked hard enough.
Ghost Dog
(16,881 posts)Iran's, I mean, not that that should require any clarification here.
TheMadMonk
(6,187 posts)Nor excessively suicidal.
However, if threatened with obliteration, it will get defensive with extreme predjudice.
You might note, someone is doing their damnedest to provoke Iran into making a "rash" move. Killing off nuclear scientists, introducing computer viruses to nuclear facilities, destroying infrastructure.
ellisonz
(27,711 posts)Blacksheep214
(877 posts)Like N. Korea, launch your junk or STFU!
They know much of their stuff is broken potemkin toys so they will never play a deuces over treys full boat
We're holding THEIR dead mans hand.
legin
(3,501 posts)Average carrier group = 9 -15 ships
http://science.howstuffworks.com/carrier-group2.htm
Iranian navy =
28,000 personnel
65 aircraft
5 Frigates
3 Corvettes
26 Submarines
24 Fast Attack Craft
98 Large Patrol craft
+100 light missile boat
16 Hovercraft
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Navy