US to send 2nd aircraft carrier to eastern Mediterranean

E

Earl

Well-known member
Exclusive: US to send 2nd aircraft carrier to eastern Mediterranean
ABC News MARTHA RADDATZ and LUIS MARTINEZ October 14, 2023 at 7:45 PM

The Pentagon has ordered a second aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean near Israel to deter Iran or Hezbollah from joining the Israel-Hamas conflict, according to U.S. officials. A senior US official and a US official told ABC News that the USS Eisenhower carrier strike group will be ordered to the eastern Mediterranean to join the USS Gerald R Ford carrier strike group that arrived there earlier this week and is in international waters off of Israel. "I have directed the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (CSG) to begin moving to the Eastern Mediterranean," said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a statement confirming the deployment.

"As part of our effort to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamas's attack on Israel." Senior U.S. officials have said publicly this week that the presence of the USS Ford carrier strike group in the eastern Mediterranean and the addition of more U.S. Air Force fighter jets to the region was intended to show the U.S. commitment to Israel and to serve as a deterrent to Iran and Hezbollah not to get involved in the Israel-Hamas conflict. MORE: 'Extremely difficult': What would be Israel's objectives in an offensive into Gaza? "These posture increases were intended to serve as an unequivocal demonstration in deed and not only in words of U.S. support for Israel's defense and serve as a deterrent signal to Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah, and any other proxy across the region who might be considering exploiting the current situation to escalate conflict," a senior U.S. defense official said Monday. "Those adversaries should think twice."

https://www.aol.com/news/exclusive-us-send-2nd-aircraft-212428635.html
 
Having the Eisenhower joining the Ford will increase the show of force enhancing that message of deterrence.

A third U.S. official told ABC News that the Pentagon is also considering the deployment of the USS Bataan amphibious assault ship closer to Israel to provide additional support if needed. The consideration of the ship and the rotary aircraft it carries while on deployment to the Middle East was first reported by CNN.

The Eisenhower strike group left Norfolk, Virginia, earlier on Saturday bound for a previously scheduled deployment that would take it to the Middle East via the Mediterranean Sea where it was to participate in previously-scheduled exercises in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility.

Its pending deployment led to speculation that it might be deployed to the eastern Mediterranean to join the USS Ford, but a Pentagon statement would only say that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin would "continue to review both the Eisenhower and Ford's deployment plans as he considers the appropriate balance of maritime capability across theaters in support of national security priorities."

The Eisenhower strike group includes the aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower and the guided missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG-58), and the guided missile destroyers USS Laboon (DDG-58), USS Mason (DDG-87) and USS Gravely (DDG-107).

The USS Ford strike group arrived in the waters of the eastern Mediterranean on Tuesday and in addition to the carrier includes the cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), as well as destroyers USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS Carney (DDG 64), and USS Roosevelt (DDG 80).
 
Two aircraft carrier strike groups, two guided missile cruisers, seven guided missile destroyers...that should be sufficient.
 
The carrier Gerald R. Ford is the Navy's largest A/C Carrier.

It holds thousands of naval personnel and carries on board over 75 F-35, F-15, and F-16 fighter jets, A-10 attack aircraft, two anti-aircraft missile launchers, two RAM surface-to-air missiles and two separate radar systems directing its missiles and aircraft and detecting enemy aircraft and missile fire.
 
A U.S. official told ABC News that the Pentagon is also considering the deployment of the USS Bataan amphibious assault ship closer to Israel to provide additional support if needed. The consideration of the ship and the rotary aircraft it carries while on deployment to the Middle East was first reported by CNN.
 
This display of US Naval power will or will not deter Iran.

Either way, the US and Israel win.
 
Where does the US get most of its oil?




In 2022, Canada was the source of 52% of U.S. gross total petroleum imports and 60% of gross crude oil imports.

The top five sources of U.S. total petroleum (including crude oil) imports by percentage share of total petroleum imports in 2022 were:
Canada52%
Mexico10%
Saudi Arabia7%
Iraq4%
Colombia3%



Iran isn’t in the top five.

How would destroying Iran’s oil production affect the US?
 
Earl said:
Where does the US get most of its oil?




In 2022, Canada was the source of 52% of U.S. gross total petroleum imports and 60% of gross crude oil imports.

The top five sources of U.S. total petroleum (including crude oil) imports by percentage share of total petroleum imports in 2022 were:
Canada52%
Mexico10%
Saudi Arabia7%
Iraq4%
Colombia3%



Iran isn’t in the top five.

How would destroying Iran’s oil production affect the US?
Click to expand...
At least Biden has depleted the Strategic Oil Reserve by 55% :dunno:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top