WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and four other ships in its strike group moved into the Red Sea early on Monday, U.S. defense officials said, describing the move as "prudent planning" in case the ships are needed for military action against Syria.

The officials said the Nimitz entered the Red Sea around 6 a.m. EDT, but the strike group had not received any orders to move into the Mediterranean, where five U.S. destroyers and an amphibious ship remain poised for possible cruise missile strikes against Syria.

Moving the Nimitz into the Red Sea was aimed at putting more U.S. assets in place if they are needed to support what U.S. officials still describe as a limited attack against Syria after it used chemical weapons against civilians.

"It does place that strike group in a position to respond to a variety of contingencies," said one official, who was not authorized to speak publicly.

The nuclear-powered Nimitz is accompanied by the Princeton, a cruiser, and three destroyers - the William P. Lawrence, Stockdale and Shoup, according to the officials.


They said there had been no change regarding six U.S. Navy ships now in the eastern Mediterranean, but military planners were reassessing the situation given a delay in the cruise missile strikes that had been expected this past weekend.

President Barack Obama on Saturday backed off imminent strikes by five destroyers off the coast of Syria until Congress had time to vote its approval. Defense officials said the delay gave them more time to reassess which ships and other weapons will be kept in the region - and whether some may be allowed to leave. Congress returns to Washington September 9.

The U.S. Navy doubled its presence in the eastern Mediterranean in the past week, effectively adding two destroyers to the three that generally patrol the region.

The destroyers are carrying a combined load of about 200 Tomahawk missiles, but officials say a limited strike on Syria could be accomplished with half that number.

Reuters reported Sunday that officials had rerouted the Nimitz carrier group, which was due to sail east around Asia to return to its home port in Everett, Washington, after being relieved in recent days by another aircraft carrier, the USS

Officials said the USS Kearsarge, a large-deck amphibious ship, remained in North Arabian Sea, and there were no plans to move the ship into the Red Sea.

The Kearsarge, which carries 6 AV-8B Harriers, 10-12 V-22 Ospreys and helicopters, played a key role in the 2011 strikes on Libya. Two Ospreys launched from the ship helped rescue a downed F-15 pilot during that operation.

http://news.yahoo.com/uss-nimitz-carrier-moves-red-sea-134600633.html

wow!!! Can syria stand all this weapons of mass destruction; why don't the president of Syria tow the path of peace and learn from the fall of Gaddafi, Mubarak,Saddam hussein etc.

MOD MOVE TO FRONT PAGE..... SEE BOAT OOOOOO

I hope Assad is killed.

Will the strike hit Assad or still the citizen?

End time tinz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFvzWvqfrOU

Why Syria is a Smokescreen for WWIII

Mschewww!!!

I love israel

Reminds me of T he movie, "battleship'

Lord have Mercy.
Can Syria actually stand this?
Peace be onto the World.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_XQQIQQ-g0

[size=15pt]Syrian Army test Ballistic Missiles[/size]

we get al ds 4 here so?if gbege happn wtn 9ja wan do?

Horus:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_XQQIQQ-g0

[size=15pt]Syrian Army test Ballistic Missiles[/size]

dm ds 1s dy para o....if ds 1 5 enta 9ja na dai o..

9ja is blessd by God..no weapon fit prosper against us

The bombardment of syria will not result to any ww3. Assad has decided to remain deviance and he will suffer the consequences. He hoped in fragile islamic nation iran to come to her rescue, but even a nation 10 times as strong as iran can never withstand the fire power of the United State. I only pity the arab state with their poor propaganda who feels iran is in the league of the United state hence it outburst against U.s. By the time America finishes up with syria and properly face iran, then the remain arab world will realised that, you don't make threat on United State and not get burnt.

End time.

I just don't want to see this strike taking place.

Assad,many have died please just give up.Its honourable to walk away.please.

ogakpatakpata: wow!!! Can syria stand all this weapons of mass destruction; why don't the president of Syria tow the path of peace and learn from the fall of Gaddafi, Mubarak,Saddam hussein etc.

Pride.

The Innocent Citizens should also be put into consideration before any such strike #my opinion tho

All bark but no bite!

The title is misleading, change it to: US scrap metal moves into red sea closer to Syria!

.

eddiebruk: The Innocent Citizens should also be put into consideration before any such strike #my opinion tho

U.S.A!

An all out war might break out.

ShymmexLion: All bark but no bite!

The title is misleading, change it to: US scrap metal moves into red sea closer to Syria!

is this supposed to be a joke?






You ain't funny dude

One day my country Nigerian shall build and own as many as this God willing....

Let the War Begin!!!

Am so loving this action film

With my knees on the ground and my heart pounding like a hammer
God I beseech thee.
Pls bring my man back in one piece.
We'll serve you forever
For those of you happy about a war.
You don't know peoples children,brothers,husbands and fiancees are in those war ships.
You don't know how terrifying it is if a war should break and they stand the chance of dying.
It's like a movie to you

Nation will rise against nation.

I just hope Assad will tow the path of peace, its time he gives this up, a lot of innocent people are dead already, US bombing that place is gonna do more harm than good