November 04, 2006

Something is happening, but you don't know what it is ..
Do you Mr. Jones ...


Massive Deployment of Naval Power

directed against Iran:

Eisenhower Strike Group arrives in the "Arabian Gulf"


By Michel Chossudovsky
November 3, 2006

In an earlier article (Oct 24), we had reported that the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKE CSG) was moving towards the Persian Gulf theater. Following a press dispatch issued by the US military, we confirmed that the USS Eisenhower was still in the Mediterranean.
The same military source has now confirmed that Eisenhower Strike Group (IKE CSG) has entered (what the US military is now calling) the "Arabian Gulf" [Persian Gulf]:
"The Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group entered ... the 5th Fleet area of operations, after transiting the Suez Canal on October 30, on a routine deployment in support of Maritime Security Operations (MSO). (http://www02. clf.navy. mil/eisenhower )

The area of operation of the Fifth Fleet encompasses the "Arabian Gulf [sic, Persian Gulf], Arabian Sea, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean."
Ocean Maritime Security Operations (MSO) are part of the Pentagon's "Global War on Terrorism". The stated justification of this massive deployment of advanced weapons systems consists, according to military documents, in going after Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda and the "state sponsors" of terrorism, which allegedly possess WMDs.

The MSO operation is described as an act of self-defense. It is part of a loosely defined and all encompassing "counter-terrorism program". The Maritime Security Operations (MSO) sets "the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment, as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations."

"These operations deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material. Official U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Rob Gaston.
From Eisenhower Strike Group Public Affairs

The Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKE CSG) or Carrier Strike Group 8 (CCSG 8), includes the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower (CVN 69), with its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7, and embarked Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 28; guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68); guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG 61); guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87); and fast attack submarine USS Newport News (SSN 750). .
IKE CSG is slated to work with the US and coalition war vessels currently deployed in the Arabian Gulf, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean including Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) and the Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG 5), which is currently involved in joint US-India war games of the Malabar coast. According to military sources, the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Carrier Strike Group, including Enterprise, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 2 and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 "successfully completed" its operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area on November 1st.


ANNEX: US NAVY

Navy Personnel
Active Duty: 349,783

Officers: 51,979

Enlisted: 293,368

Midshipmen: 4,436
Ready Reserve: 131,802 [As of 30 September]

Selected Reserves: 70,500

Individual Ready Reserve: 61,302
Reserves currently mobilized: 5,996 [As of 18 October]
Personnel on deployment: 36,037
Navy Department Civilian Employees: 175,454
Ships and Submarines
Deployable Battle Force Ships: 280

Ships Underway (away from homeport): 133 ships (47% of total)

On deployment: 104 ships (37% of total)

Attack submarines underway(away from homeport): 22 submarines (40%)

On deployment: 11 submarines (20%)

Ships Underway

Carriers:
USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - Philippine Sea
USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - Persian Gulf
USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - Pacific Ocean
USS Dwight D.Eisenhower (CVN 69)- Mediterranean Sea
USS Ronald Reagan - Pacific Ocean

Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG):
USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) - Persian Gulf
USS Nashville (LPD 13) - Persian Gulf
USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) - Persian Gulf

Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG):
USS Boxer (LHD 4) - Indian Ocean
USS Dubuque (LPD 8) - Indian Ocean
USS Comstock (LSD 45) - Indian Ocean

Essex Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG):
USS Essex (LHD 2) - South China Sea
USS Juneau (LPD 10) - South China Sea
USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) - South China Sea

Amphibious Warfare Ships:
USS Tarawa (LHA 1) - Pacific Ocean
USS Saipan (LHA 2) - Persian Gulf
USS Wasp (LHD 1) - port visit, Copenhagen, Denmark
USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) - Atlantic Ocean
USS Bataan (LHD 5) - Atlantic Ocean
USS Cleveland (LPD 7) - Pacific Ocean
USS Shreveport (LPD 12) - Atlantic Ocean
USS Ponce (LPD 15) - Atlantic Ocean
USS San Antonio (LPD 17) - Atlantic Ocean
USS Ashland (LSD 48) - Atlantic Ocean
USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) - Pacific Ocean

Aircraft (operational) :
4000+
Global Research Editor's note
Currently in the Persian Gulf-Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean (according to available information)
USS Enterprise slated to leave Fifth Fleet area on November 1st (according to statement of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/ Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs

2 comments:

NAVCENT PAO said...

Lady Broadoak,
I would just like to correct the record regarding this post. While Eisenhower is indeed in the region, it has not entered the Gulf. As Prof. Chossudovsky points out, the Fifth Fleet area of operations includes other bodies of water besides the Gulf, encompassing more than 2.5 million square miles of water. The Gulf itself is a relatively small part of that area.
We routinely post information about the activities of U.S. and coalition naval forces in the region on our Web site at www.cusnc.navy.mil
Sincerely,
Lt. Cmdr. Charlie Brown
US Naval Forces Central Command
Public Affairs

Anonymous said...

A FREEDOM STRIKE AGAINST IRAN IS NECESSARY - ISRAEL MUST BE SAFE AND SECURE. WE MUST SUPPORT OUR TROOPS !

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