USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN71) and its Carrier Strike Group Two (CCSG-2) are now headed towards
Iran along with the USS Ronald Reagon (CVN76) and its Carrier Strike
Group Seven (CCSG-7) coming from Japan.
They are joining two existing USN battle groups in the Gulf area: the
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN72) with its Carrier Strike Group Nine (CCSG-9);
and the USS Peleliu (LHA-5) with its expeditionary strike group.
Likely also under way towards the Persian Gulf is the USS Iwo Jima
(LHD-7) and its expeditionary strike group, the UK Royal Navy HMS Ark
Royal (R07) carrier battle group, assorted French naval assets including
the nuclear hunter-killer submarine Amethyste and French Naval Rafale
fighter jets on-board the USS Theodore Roosevelt. These ships took part
in the just completed Operation Brimstone.
The build up of naval forces in the Gulf will be one of the largest
multi-national naval armadas since the First and Second Gulf Wars. The
intent is to create a US/EU naval blockade (which is an Act of War under
international law) around Iran (with supporting air and land elements)
to prevent the shipment of benzene and certain other refined oil
products headed to Iranian ports. Iran has limited domestic oil refining
capacity and imports 40% of its benzene. Cutting off benzene and other
key products would cripple the Iranian economy. The neo-cons are
counting on such a blockade launching a war with Iran.
The US Naval forces being assembled include the following:
Carrier Strike Group Nine
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN72) nuclear powered supercarrier
with its Carrier Air Wing Two
Destroyer Squadron Nine:
USS Mobile Bay (CG53) guided missile cruiser
USS Russell (DDG59) guided missile destroyer
USS Momsen (DDG92) guided missile destroyer
USS Shoup (DDG86) guided missile destroyer
USS Ford (FFG54) guided missile frigate
USS Ingraham (FFG61) guided missile frigate
USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG60) guided missile frigate
USS Curts (FFG38) guided missile frigate
Plus one or more nuclear hunter-killer submarines
Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group
USS Peleliu (LHA-5) a Tarawa-class amphibious assault carrier
USS Pearl Harbor (LSD52) assult ship
USS Dubuque (LPD8) assult ship/landing dock
USS Cape St. George (CG71) guided missile cruiser
USS Halsey (DDG97) guided missile destroyer
USS Benfold (DDG65) guided missile destroyer
Carrier Strike Group Two
USS Theodore Roosevelt (DVN71) nuclear powered supercarrier
with its Carrier Air Wing Eight
Destroyer Squadron 22
USS Monterey (CG61) guided missile cruiser
USS Mason (DDG87) guided missile destroyer
USS Nitze (DDG94) guided missile destroyer
USS Sullivans (DDG68) guided missile destroyer
USS Springfield (SSN761) nuclear powered hunter-killer submarine
IWO ESG ~ Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group
USS Iwo Jima (LHD7) amphibious assault carrier
with its Amphibious Squadron Four
and with its 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
USS San Antonio (LPD17) assault ship
USS Velia Gulf (CG72) guided missile cruiser
USS Ramage (DDG61) guided missile destroyer
USS Carter Hall (LSD50) assault ship
USS Roosevelt (DDG80) guided missile destroyer
USS Hartfore (SSN768) nuclear powered hunter-killer submarine
Carrier Strike Group Seven
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN76) nuclear powered supercarrier
with its Carrier Air Wing 14
Destroyer Squadron 7
USS Chancellorsville (CG62) guided missile cruiser
USS Howard (DDG83) guided missile destroyer
USS Gridley (DDG101) guided missile destroyer
USS Decatur (DDG73) guided missile destroyer
USS Thach (FFG43) guided missile frigate
USNS Rainier (T-AOE-7) fast combat support ship
Also likely to join the battle armada:
UK Royal Navy HMS Ark Royal Carrier Strike Group with assorted guided
missile destroyers and frigates, nuclear hunter-killer submarines and
support ships
French Navy nuclear powered hunter-killer submarines (likely the
Amethyste and perhaps others), plus French Naval Rafale fighter jets
operating off of the USS Theodore Roosevelt as the French Carrier
Charles de Gaulle is in dry dock, and assorted surface warships
Various other US Navy warships and submarines and support ships. The
following USN ships took part (as the "enemy" forces) in Operation
Brimstone and several may join in:
USS San Jacinto (CG56) guided missile cruiser
USS Anzio (CG68) guided missile cruiser
USS Normandy (CG60) guided missile cruiser
USS Carney (DDG64) guided missile destroyer
USS Oscar Austin (DDG79) guided missile destroyer
USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG81) guided missile destroyer
USS Carr (FFG52) guided missile frigate
The USS Iwo Jima and USS Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Groups have USMC
Harrier jump jets and an assortment of assault and attack helicopters.
The Expeditionary Strike Groups have powerful USMC Expeditionary Units
with amphibious armor and ground forces trained for operating in shallow
waters and in seizures of land assets, such as Qeshm Island (a 50 mile
long island off of Bandar Abbas in the Gulf of Hormuz and headquarters
of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps).
The large and very advanced nature of the US Naval warships is not only
directed at Iran. There is a great fear that Russia and China may oppose
the naval and air/land blockade of Iran. If Russian and perhaps Chinese
naval warships escort commercial tankers to Iran in violation of the
blockade it could be the most dangerous at-sea confrontation since the
Cuban Missile Crisis. The US and allied Navies, by front loading a Naval
blockade force with very powerful guided missile warships and strike
carriers is attempting to have a force so powerful that Russia and China
will not be tempted to mess with. This is a most serious game of
military brinkmanship with major nuclear armed powers that have profound
objections to the neo-con grand strategy and to western control of all
of the Middle East*s oil supply.
The Russian Navy this spring sent a major battle fleet into the
Mediterranean headed by the modern aircraft carrier the Admiral
Kuznetsov and the flagship of its Black Sea Fleet, the Guided Missile
Heavy Cruiser Moskva. This powerful fleet has at least 11 surface ships
and unknown numbers of subs and can use the Russian naval facility at
Syria*s Tartous port for resupply. The Admiral Kuznetsov carries
approximately 47 warplanes and 10 helicopters. The warplanes are mostly
the powerful Su-33, a naval version (with mid-air refueling capability)
of the Su-27 family. While the Su-33 is a very powerful warplane it
lacks the power of the stealth USAF F-22. However, the Russians insist
that they have developed a plasma based system that allows them to
stealth any aircraft and a recent incident where Russian fighters were
able to appear unannounced over a US Navy carrier battle group tends to
confirm their claims. The Su-33 can be armed with the 3M82 Moskit
sea-skimming missile (NATO code name SS-N-22 Sunburn) and the even more
powerful P-800 Oniks (also named Yakhonts; NATO code name SS-N-26 Onyx).
Both missiles are designed to kill US Navy supercarriers by getting past
the cruiser/destroyer screen and the USN point-defense Phalanx system by
using high supersonic speeds and violent end maneuvers. Russian subs
currently use the underwater rocket VA-111 Shkval (Squall), which is
fired from standard 533mm torpedo tubes and reaches a speed of 360kph
(230mph) underwater. There is no effective countermeasures to this
system and no western counterpart.
A strategic diversion has been created for Russia. The Republic of
Georgia, with US backing, is actively preparing for war on South
Ossetia. The South Ossetia capital has been shelled and a large Georgian
tank force has been heading towards the border. Russia has stated that
it will not sit by and allow the Georgians to attack South Ossetia. The
Russians are great chess players and this game may not turn out so well
for the neo-cons. UPDATE 8 August 2008 ~ War has broken out between
Georgia and South Ossetia. At least 10 Russian troops have been killed
and 30 wounded and 2 Russian fighter jets downed. American Marines, a
thousand of them, have recently been in Georgia training the Georgian
military forces. Several European nations stopped Bush and others from
allowing Georgia into NATO. Russia is moving a large military force with
armor towards the area. This could get bad, and remember it is just a
strategic diversion....but one that could have horrific effects. Link to
story "Russia sends forces into Georgia rebel conflict". FURTHER UPDATE
~ Russian military forces in active combat; now total of four Russian
fighter jets reported downed. ADDITIONAL UPDATE ~ Georgia calls for US
help; Russian Air Force bombs Georgian air bases. DEBKA, the Israeli
strategy and military site, states that Israeli military officers are
advising the Georgian armed forces in combat operations and that 1,000
Israelis are in-combat on the side of Georgia at this time.
Kuwait has activated its "Emergency War Plan" as it and other Gulf
nations prepare for the likelihood of a major regional war in the Middle
East involving weapons of mass destruction.
Do something about this ~ email this article to as many of your friends
as possible and post it on as many sites as possible, demand that your
political leaders stop this nonsense before it kills us all.
Iran along with the USS Ronald Reagon (CVN76) and its Carrier Strike
Group Seven (CCSG-7) coming from Japan.
They are joining two existing USN battle groups in the Gulf area: the
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN72) with its Carrier Strike Group Nine (CCSG-9);
and the USS Peleliu (LHA-5) with its expeditionary strike group.
Likely also under way towards the Persian Gulf is the USS Iwo Jima
(LHD-7) and its expeditionary strike group, the UK Royal Navy HMS Ark
Royal (R07) carrier battle group, assorted French naval assets including
the nuclear hunter-killer submarine Amethyste and French Naval Rafale
fighter jets on-board the USS Theodore Roosevelt. These ships took part
in the just completed Operation Brimstone.
The build up of naval forces in the Gulf will be one of the largest
multi-national naval armadas since the First and Second Gulf Wars. The
intent is to create a US/EU naval blockade (which is an Act of War under
international law) around Iran (with supporting air and land elements)
to prevent the shipment of benzene and certain other refined oil
products headed to Iranian ports. Iran has limited domestic oil refining
capacity and imports 40% of its benzene. Cutting off benzene and other
key products would cripple the Iranian economy. The neo-cons are
counting on such a blockade launching a war with Iran.
The US Naval forces being assembled include the following:
Carrier Strike Group Nine
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN72) nuclear powered supercarrier
with its Carrier Air Wing Two
Destroyer Squadron Nine:
USS Mobile Bay (CG53) guided missile cruiser
USS Russell (DDG59) guided missile destroyer
USS Momsen (DDG92) guided missile destroyer
USS Shoup (DDG86) guided missile destroyer
USS Ford (FFG54) guided missile frigate
USS Ingraham (FFG61) guided missile frigate
USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG60) guided missile frigate
USS Curts (FFG38) guided missile frigate
Plus one or more nuclear hunter-killer submarines
Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group
USS Peleliu (LHA-5) a Tarawa-class amphibious assault carrier
USS Pearl Harbor (LSD52) assult ship
USS Dubuque (LPD8) assult ship/landing dock
USS Cape St. George (CG71) guided missile cruiser
USS Halsey (DDG97) guided missile destroyer
USS Benfold (DDG65) guided missile destroyer
Carrier Strike Group Two
USS Theodore Roosevelt (DVN71) nuclear powered supercarrier
with its Carrier Air Wing Eight
Destroyer Squadron 22
USS Monterey (CG61) guided missile cruiser
USS Mason (DDG87) guided missile destroyer
USS Nitze (DDG94) guided missile destroyer
USS Sullivans (DDG68) guided missile destroyer
USS Springfield (SSN761) nuclear powered hunter-killer submarine
IWO ESG ~ Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group
USS Iwo Jima (LHD7) amphibious assault carrier
with its Amphibious Squadron Four
and with its 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
USS San Antonio (LPD17) assault ship
USS Velia Gulf (CG72) guided missile cruiser
USS Ramage (DDG61) guided missile destroyer
USS Carter Hall (LSD50) assault ship
USS Roosevelt (DDG80) guided missile destroyer
USS Hartfore (SSN768) nuclear powered hunter-killer submarine
Carrier Strike Group Seven
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN76) nuclear powered supercarrier
with its Carrier Air Wing 14
Destroyer Squadron 7
USS Chancellorsville (CG62) guided missile cruiser
USS Howard (DDG83) guided missile destroyer
USS Gridley (DDG101) guided missile destroyer
USS Decatur (DDG73) guided missile destroyer
USS Thach (FFG43) guided missile frigate
USNS Rainier (T-AOE-7) fast combat support ship
Also likely to join the battle armada:
UK Royal Navy HMS Ark Royal Carrier Strike Group with assorted guided
missile destroyers and frigates, nuclear hunter-killer submarines and
support ships
French Navy nuclear powered hunter-killer submarines (likely the
Amethyste and perhaps others), plus French Naval Rafale fighter jets
operating off of the USS Theodore Roosevelt as the French Carrier
Charles de Gaulle is in dry dock, and assorted surface warships
Various other US Navy warships and submarines and support ships. The
following USN ships took part (as the "enemy" forces) in Operation
Brimstone and several may join in:
USS San Jacinto (CG56) guided missile cruiser
USS Anzio (CG68) guided missile cruiser
USS Normandy (CG60) guided missile cruiser
USS Carney (DDG64) guided missile destroyer
USS Oscar Austin (DDG79) guided missile destroyer
USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG81) guided missile destroyer
USS Carr (FFG52) guided missile frigate
The USS Iwo Jima and USS Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Groups have USMC
Harrier jump jets and an assortment of assault and attack helicopters.
The Expeditionary Strike Groups have powerful USMC Expeditionary Units
with amphibious armor and ground forces trained for operating in shallow
waters and in seizures of land assets, such as Qeshm Island (a 50 mile
long island off of Bandar Abbas in the Gulf of Hormuz and headquarters
of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps).
The large and very advanced nature of the US Naval warships is not only
directed at Iran. There is a great fear that Russia and China may oppose
the naval and air/land blockade of Iran. If Russian and perhaps Chinese
naval warships escort commercial tankers to Iran in violation of the
blockade it could be the most dangerous at-sea confrontation since the
Cuban Missile Crisis. The US and allied Navies, by front loading a Naval
blockade force with very powerful guided missile warships and strike
carriers is attempting to have a force so powerful that Russia and China
will not be tempted to mess with. This is a most serious game of
military brinkmanship with major nuclear armed powers that have profound
objections to the neo-con grand strategy and to western control of all
of the Middle East*s oil supply.
The Russian Navy this spring sent a major battle fleet into the
Mediterranean headed by the modern aircraft carrier the Admiral
Kuznetsov and the flagship of its Black Sea Fleet, the Guided Missile
Heavy Cruiser Moskva. This powerful fleet has at least 11 surface ships
and unknown numbers of subs and can use the Russian naval facility at
Syria*s Tartous port for resupply. The Admiral Kuznetsov carries
approximately 47 warplanes and 10 helicopters. The warplanes are mostly
the powerful Su-33, a naval version (with mid-air refueling capability)
of the Su-27 family. While the Su-33 is a very powerful warplane it
lacks the power of the stealth USAF F-22. However, the Russians insist
that they have developed a plasma based system that allows them to
stealth any aircraft and a recent incident where Russian fighters were
able to appear unannounced over a US Navy carrier battle group tends to
confirm their claims. The Su-33 can be armed with the 3M82 Moskit
sea-skimming missile (NATO code name SS-N-22 Sunburn) and the even more
powerful P-800 Oniks (also named Yakhonts; NATO code name SS-N-26 Onyx).
Both missiles are designed to kill US Navy supercarriers by getting past
the cruiser/destroyer screen and the USN point-defense Phalanx system by
using high supersonic speeds and violent end maneuvers. Russian subs
currently use the underwater rocket VA-111 Shkval (Squall), which is
fired from standard 533mm torpedo tubes and reaches a speed of 360kph
(230mph) underwater. There is no effective countermeasures to this
system and no western counterpart.
A strategic diversion has been created for Russia. The Republic of
Georgia, with US backing, is actively preparing for war on South
Ossetia. The South Ossetia capital has been shelled and a large Georgian
tank force has been heading towards the border. Russia has stated that
it will not sit by and allow the Georgians to attack South Ossetia. The
Russians are great chess players and this game may not turn out so well
for the neo-cons. UPDATE 8 August 2008 ~ War has broken out between
Georgia and South Ossetia. At least 10 Russian troops have been killed
and 30 wounded and 2 Russian fighter jets downed. American Marines, a
thousand of them, have recently been in Georgia training the Georgian
military forces. Several European nations stopped Bush and others from
allowing Georgia into NATO. Russia is moving a large military force with
armor towards the area. This could get bad, and remember it is just a
strategic diversion....but one that could have horrific effects. Link to
story "Russia sends forces into Georgia rebel conflict". FURTHER UPDATE
~ Russian military forces in active combat; now total of four Russian
fighter jets reported downed. ADDITIONAL UPDATE ~ Georgia calls for US
help; Russian Air Force bombs Georgian air bases. DEBKA, the Israeli
strategy and military site, states that Israeli military officers are
advising the Georgian armed forces in combat operations and that 1,000
Israelis are in-combat on the side of Georgia at this time.
Kuwait has activated its "Emergency War Plan" as it and other Gulf
nations prepare for the likelihood of a major regional war in the Middle
East involving weapons of mass destruction.
Do something about this ~ email this article to as many of your friends
as possible and post it on as many sites as possible, demand that your
political leaders stop this nonsense before it kills us all.
