WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy is moving two aircraft carriers to the Persian Gulf
in an effort to counter Iran's growing military might.
On Dec. 11, the U.S. Navy moved the Eisenhower Strike Group into the
Gulf. The group contains three escort ships and an attack submarine, Middle East Newsline reported.
Officials said a second carrier would patrol near the Iranian coast in
early 2007. The second carrier, the Stennis, has already begun sailing for
the Gulf. Each carrier contains about 80 warplanes.
"The ships are coming from the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea," an
official said. "It's a show of force and will be conducted in a steady and
calm manner."
Officials said the Bush administration has approved deployment of a
range of warships to the Gulf over the next few months. They said the effort
was meant to address concerns by Gulf Cooperation Council states of Iran's
nuclear program and military buildup.
Washington has also won agreement from Britain to deploy naval assets in
the Gulf, officials said. They said the Royal British Navy would send two
mine-hunters to the region.
The U.S. and British naval deployment was not meant to spark a military
confrontation with Iran, officials said. They said the increasing Western
presence was meant to encourage Gulf Arab allies to focus on regional
defense and conduct exercises in 2007.
"They need reassurances that we expect to be part of the effort here for
the long term, that we will not run away from intimidation and that we will
be part of the effort here for security and stability at sea for the long
term," Vice Adm. Patrick Walsh, commander of naval forces for U.S. Central
Command, told the New York Times. "Our position must be visible and it must
have muscle in order to be credible. That requires sustained presence."
