Exclusive: USS Nimitz carrier group rerouted for possible help with Syria

Exclusive: USS Nimitz carrier group rerouted for possible help with Syria

WASHINGTON | Sun Sep 1, 2013 6:49pm EDT

(Reuters) - The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and other ships in its strike group are heading west toward the Red Sea to help support a limited U.S. strike on Syria, if needed, defense officials said on Sunday.

The Nimitz carrier strike group, which includes four destroyers and a cruiser, has no specific orders to move to the eastern Mediterranean at this point, but is moving west in the Arabian Sea so it can do so if asked. It was not immediately clear when the ships would enter the Red Sea, but they had not arrived by Sunday evening, said one official.

"It's about leveraging the assets to have them in place should the capabilities of the carrier strike group and the presence be needed," said the official.

President Barack Obama on Saturday delayed imminent cruise missile strikes by five destroyers off the coast of Syria, and sought approval from Congress, a move that effectively put any strike on hold for at least nine days.

www.reuters.com... itter&dlvrit=992637

Do you still believe in a limited conflict?

Doesn't Syria have anti ship missiles from the Russians? Namely P-800, and possible P-1000 Missiles? Who thinks regardless of the Congressional vote military action will take place?

I guess that being in the Red Sea would put the weapons systems of Syria out of play, but what about Sudan? They have close ties to Iran. I am not aware of their military hardware, would they be able to attack US ships?

reply to post by MidnightTide


Try looking up the definition of "exclusive"!

Line 2

Looks like they think it could get pretty bad if they sent another group there. They may have to put boots on the ground. Planning for anything that could happen.

How long would it take to sail the group from the red sea to the med?

1 week? 2 weeks?

anyone?

Guess a lot would depend on if Egypt lets them through the Canal.

UNCONFIRMED: Egypt will NOT allow U.S. warships to pass through the Suez Canal to attack Syria

www.barenakedislam.com...

(Yes, take that information with A HUGE HEAPING GRAIN OF SALT)

reply to post by Agit8dChop


couple of days at the most. (From my experience) Thru the canal.

sounds like overkill to me,
unless they are expecting something rough to happen
WAIT A MINUTE congress has to vote first ..right?

reply to post by trontech


So realistically, if they wanted to sail this group to the med without telling anyone, they could put them there before congress meets on the 9th?..


i think, we're approaching kickoff!

reply to post by autopat51


From the President himself:

while I believe I have the authority to carry out this military action without specific congressional authorization

So who knows.

USS Nimitz carrier


USS San Antonio


The USS Kearsarge


just add

reply to post by Agit8dChop


It is possible... Depends on the urgency.

already planned

reply to post by cheesy


geez!!! we didnt have this much stuff at Normandy!!
what the hell!!

reply to post by MidnightTide

Do you still believe in a limited conflict?

If they're supposed to just quickly lob a couple of cruise missiles into the country and that's all, do they really need all these ships?

Last count on the ships positioned next to Syria was 6. Originally it was 4, then a few days ago another destroyer was sent there, and then they sent a transport ship with hundreds of marines aboard, which was supposed to be the command and control ship of that original group.

Now they're sending this carrier group to.

1 carrier, 4 more destroyers, and a cruiser. Now there's a total of 12 ships. I wonder how much air power we have stationed around Syria at the moment to.

reply to post by MidnightTide

(Reuters) - The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and other ships in its strike group are heading west toward the Red Sea to help support a limited U.S. strike on Syria, if needed, defense officials said on Sunday.

The Nimitz carrier strike group, which includes four destroyers and a cruiser, has no specific orders to move to the eastern Mediterranean at this point, but is moving west in the Arabian Sea so it can do so if asked. It was not immediately clear when the ships would enter the Red Sea, but they had not arrived by Sunday evening, said one official.

Emphasis added.

Love that innocuous double speak.

"Not immediately clear if a limited strike will be needed."

The missile cruisers were just passing by Syria on their way to Norfolk Virginia, remember? The pieces are almost in place.

reply to post by MidnightTide


The P800 is not the game changer it once was. Ship defenses have come far in just the last few years. Those systems in tests have gone 10 for 10 against simulated P800s in all aspects of flight and at high speeds.

reply to post by cheesy


San Antonio is already in the Med. Kearsarge is in the 5th Fleet AOR, and may be heading to the Red Sea. She only carries AV-8Bs and V-22s, either of which would be stretching a LONG way, even with tanker support.

That's a LONG way for pilots to go from a carrier though if they're going to hit Syria from the Red Sea. Nimitz is on her way home from the Gulf, so she may end up just transiting the Suez and heading across the Med, into the Atlantic.

reply to post by MidnightTide


No administration has ever recognized the War Powers Act. So if Congress says no, in the eye's of the Administration that doesn't end it. Should they choose to go that route.

Congress does, however, control the purse strings. So ultimately they can undo whatever plans the Administration might have...though it would take a bit longer.

Yeah, this is really overkill,

Althought this might have something to do with the cockblock from Putin.
www.zerohedge.com...

Yesterday afternoon, Russia agreed to restructure Cyprus' EUR 2.5 billion loan terms to a much more affordable 2.5% semi-annual coupon through 2016 and a principal re-payment over the following four years. While probably still out of reach for the desparate economy, it was a positive step. Of course, this 'offer' by Russia has its quid pro quo. This morning, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides has stated that Cyprus territory will not be used to launch military strikes against Syria, as "Cyprus wants to live up to its responsibility as a shelter if needed for nationals of friendly countries who evacuate from Middle East". It would appear Obama's influence is fading everywhere...

How well the pieces fit.