Second US carrier group to deploy to Gulf
UNITED STATES: The Pentagon will send a second aircraft
carrier and its escort ships to the Gulf, defense officials said on
Wednesday, as a warning to Syria and Iran and to give commanders more
flexibility in the region.
Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Bremerton,
Washington-based USS John C. Stennis strike group would deploy this
month. It will put 5,000 more U.S. sailors in the region, bringing the
total to 16,000.
The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier group entered the Gulf
in December.
Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman declined to comment, saying the
Defense Department would not discuss future deployments or ship
movements. But military analysts said the move was intended to
demonstrate U.S. resolve in the face of acts by Iran and Syria that it
sees as provocative, such as Tehran's pursuit of its nuclear program.
The Stennis had been scheduled to deploy to the Pacific region. But
the Pentagon agreed instead to send the carrier group to the Gulf after
a request from U.S. Central Command, the military command responsible
for Middle East operations.
Senior defense officials have said that request was aimed at
increasing Central Command's flexibility in a variety of operations and
providing deterrence in the region.
Washington has locked horns with Tehran over the Iranian nuclear
program.
American defense officials also regularly charge Iran and Syria with
fanning sectarian violence in Iraq and contributing to the deteriorating
situation there by providing arms and technologies.
The second carrier, while adding relatively few service members to
the region, is valuable as a symbol of America's increased presence in
the Gulf, military analysts said.
Washington, Thursday, Reuters |