Second U.S. carrier group to deploy to Gulf: sources

by DIG THE HEAVY | January 3, 2007 at 05:14 pm

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Kristin Roberts

Reuters

Wednesday, January 3, 2007 - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - 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.

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.

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