Gates: Brief overlap of carriers a “reminder” to Iran

[unhappycamper]

Gates: Brief overlap of carriers a “reminder” to Iran
By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Thursday, May 1, 2008

MEXICO CITY — After a brief period with two carriers in the Persian Gulf, the USS Harry S. Truman has redeployed from the region, replaced by the USS Abraham Lincoln, according to the Navy.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday that two carriers would be in the Persian Gulf briefly.

“This deployment has been planned for a long time,” Gates told reporters during what is a rare trip to Mexico by a defense secretary.

A Navy official said the move was part of normal rotation of forces as the Lincoln relieves the Truman, which had been conducting maritime security operations there.

Asked Tuesday if the brief overlap of carriers in the Gulf signaled an escalation of tensions with Iran, Gates said no, noting that the U.S. Navy presence in the Gulf goes up and down.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=54451