Saturday, March 12, 2005
The Big Stick
Stratfor($) is asking why three U.S. carrier groups look like they are moving toward the Middle East:
The Truman is already in the Persian Gulf, and the Carl Vinson's group is moving west across the Indian Ocean. The firepower of three carrier groups is inherently coercive:
Are they Condi's "big stick"? If so, somewhere T.R. is smiling.
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt is on the move in the Atlantic Ocean, possibly headed for the Mediterranean Sea. The Roosevelt's movements could lead to the convergence of three U.S. carrier battle groups in the Middle East, where tensions are escalating over Syrian involvement in Lebanon and Iranian statements about its nuclear program. With three carrier battle groups in the region, the United States would send a strong message and give leaders in Tehran and Damascus more to think about.
The Truman is already in the Persian Gulf, and the Carl Vinson's group is moving west across the Indian Ocean. The firepower of three carrier groups is inherently coercive:
[T]he air wings on each of these carriers are more powerful than most militaries in the region. Given the atrophied state of Syria's military, one of these air wings would be sufficient to eliminate Damascus' ability to project power in Lebanon. Similarly, one carrier air wing would be capable of causing significant damage to Iran's nuclear facilities.
Are they Condi's "big stick"? If so, somewhere T.R. is smiling.
1 Comments:
By 
Crescendo, at
Sun Mar 13, 10:58:00 PM:
Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! I smell a Show of Force. *rubs hands gleefully*
Thanks for the info.
