NAVY WIRE SERVICE - A WIRE (NWSA) - 20 November 1997 -
NWSA3129. Forward presence plays vital role in Gulf
by JO2 Jeremy Allen, USN and JOCS(AW) Gwyneth J. Schultz, USN
WASHINGTON (NWSA) -- The Commander-in-Chief's ability to use
flexible military forces has played an important role in the UN's
attempts to force Saddam Hussein to readmit weapons inspectors to
Iraq. USS Nimitz, with embarked Carrier Air Wing 9 and a force of 16
combatant and support ships, was already on station in the Arabian
Gulf when President Clinton ordered five ships from the USS George
Washington Battlegroup to join her.
While diplomats work towards a peaceful end to the standoff,
President Clinton is continuing the planned military buildup.
Wednesday night's meeting of the U.N. foreign ministers "strongly
reaffirmed our unanimous position," he said.
After the meeting, Saddam Hussein said he would allow inspections
to resume. During a press conference on Nov. 20, President Clinton
said, "In the coming days we will wait and see whether he does, in
fact, comply with the will of the international community."
The Navy's potent forward deployed presence highlights the
President's ability to use flexible military power. It will remain in
the Gulf under the president's policy of "full compliance backed by
strength."
In a Department of Defense briefing on Nov. 20, defense spokesman
Navy CAPT Mike Doubleday stated that the additional deployed assets
will provide the U.S. with resources needed to carry out missions as
required.
"It will provide additional flexibility and additional
capability, and it's the prudent thing to do until we see actual
results on the ground," Capt. Doubleday said.
So far, the threats of attack on the UN U-2 spy plane remain just
that, threats, but the Navy isn't taking any chances. The U-2 is being
protected by heavily armed Navy F-18's and F-14's fighter pilots from
the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. Nimitz aviators are ready for any
encounter with Iraq.
According to Pentagon officials, if the strikes are called for,
Navy Tomahawk cruise missiles could be one of the first choices to be
used against Iraq.
Ships currently in the Arabian Gulf include: USS Nimitz (CVN 68)
with Carrier Air Wing 9 with more than 70 aircraft; cruisers USS Port
Royal (CG 73) and USS Lake Champlain (CG 57); destroyers USS Kinkaid
(DD 965), USS Benfold (DDG 65), USS O'Bannon (DD 987), USS Harry W.
Hill (DD 986); guided missile frigates USS Elrod (FFG 55), USS Gary
(FFG 51), USS Ford (FFG 54); attack submarine USS Olympia (SSN 717);
amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5); dock landing ship USS
Comstock (LSD 45); amphibious transport ship USS Juneau (LPD 10); fast
combat support ship USS Sacramento (AOE 1); and mine countermeasures
ships USS Dextrous (MCM 13); USS Ardent (MCM 12).
Units transiting with George Washington include Carrier Air Wing
1 with more than 60 aircraft; the attack submarine USS Annapolis (SSN
760); destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64); cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60); and
fast combat support ship USS Seattle (AOE 3).
Three more ships departed their homeports this week enroute to
the Arabian Gulf. The frigate USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) and
destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) departed Nov. 15 from Norfolk for a six-
month deployment as part of the Middle East Force (MEF). USS John
Young (DD 973) departed San Diego Nov. 18.
-USN-
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
