What U.S. naval assets are likely to be near Libya?

[vois2]

I know this forum is a great place for insights. I am beginning to wonder whether both the U.S. administration and even the U.N. Security Council can manage to fend off the slaughter that will continue in western Libya, until they act. So I ask those knowledgeable here: What assets is the U.S. Navy likely to have in the Gulf of Sidra at this time? I'm curious about all thoughts. Will Ghaddafi be eating Tomahawks for dinner by Thursday night? Thanks all.

[TLAM Strike]

Most likely it would be ships from CARSTRKGRU 2.

George H.W. Bush CVN
Anzio CG
Truxtun DDG
Gettysburg DDG
Mitscher DDG
Almirante Juan de Borbón FFG (Spanish)Primauguet DDG (French)
Perle SSN (French)

Currently they are prob in the Atlantic, they just completed maneuvers off Mayport.

CARSTRKGRU 1 is in the Indian Ocean.

Carl Vinson CVN
Bunker Hill CG
Stockdale DDG
Gridley DDG

Ships from CARSTRKGRU 12 make a port call in Turkey on valentine's day, and are now in the Indian Ocean.
Enterprise CVN
Leyte Gulf CG
Sterett DDG
Bulkeley DDG

The USS Kearsarge LHD 3 and her group are somewhere in the Indian Ocean. USS Bataan LHD 5 is in Mayport on a port call and could respond.

[Molon Labe]

Does it bother anyone else that the USS Stout (DDG 55) is the only US Navy ship in the entire Mediterranean Sea? Shouldn't there be more?

http://twitter.com/Galrahn

[TLAM Strike]

Does it bother anyone else that the USS Stout (DDG 55) is the only US Navy ship in the entire Mediterranean Sea? Shouldn't there be more?

Against Libya, honestly; that's all we need...

[Freiwillige]

Not to mention we have air assets in Germany and Italy that could easily reach Libya.

[vois2]

Thanks, TLAM. I love this forum, it is always hot to trot like this.

[Platapus]

Why would the US launch weapons at Libya??

[vois2]

Get the foreigners out of the country, and once that is done, some targeted cruise missiles on Gaddafi's strongholds and remaining loyal barracks and facilities; acting on a UN Sec. Council mandate.

But who am I kidding, you actually have to have balls to stand up and prevent slaughter...

Hopefully, the oil market will mean enough to do something.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Why would the US launch weapons at Libya??

Airspace and/or port clearance to evacuate people. Foreign nationals want out, but there's been a number of airspace closures. Depending on how Gadaffi plays it we could send in a warship and say that if it's shot at then the gloves come off and use the warship to help escort ships of foreign nationals out, likewise escort an airliner in. It's pretty brinksmanship stuff and would be done at the very last, but it's a possibly scenario.
Another scenario if the UN grows a pair anytime is to enforce a no-fly zone over Libyan cities to stop Gadaffi bombing the protesters from the air.
I doubt either will occur though.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Depending on how Gadaffi plays it we could send in a warship and say that if it's shot at then the gloves come off and use the warship to help escort ships of foreign nationals out, likewise escort an airliner in.

Sounds like a good way to escalate. Unless we have a NEO concern, I don't think there is anything in Libya worth a single American military life.

If we have US citizens there, we should get them out. But I see no reason for the US to become involved if there are other nations with issues. Each nation should handle their issues themselves.

We are not the world's police force nor are we the saviors of all nations.

The last thing we need is to get involved in another ill defined shooting war.

Besides, just like in Egypt, we don't know exactly what the "other side" will do if they "win".

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Why would the US launch weapons at Libya??

To make sure some of the stuff and or people Quaddafi might be hiding doesn't make it in to the hands of groups likely to use them.

[Castout]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Sounds like a good way to escalate. Unless we have a NEO concern, I don't think there is anything in Libya worth a single American military life.

If we have US citizens there, we should get them out. But I see no reason for the US to become involved if there are other nations with issues. Each nation should handle their issues themselves.

We are not the world's police force nor are we the saviors of all nations.

The last thing we need is to get involved in another ill defined shooting war.

Besides, just like in Egypt, we don't know exactly what the "other side" will do if they "win".

So using the same reasoning why did the US ask for the global community to fight terrorism together?

Your reasoning to be honest will help make a strong anti US sentiment in the new regimes about to come out from these states. China will be hopeful that that is exactly what the US will do. To do nothing. To be apathetic.

What's happening in the Arab world is an eye opener that Islam has nothing to do with terrorism. The evolutions that's happening in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain and Yemen is a proof that these Arab people only want their rights respected as a dignified human being instead suffering longer oppression. Many of them actually look to the west for help and putting pressure.

Honestly a free society which unable to appreciate another society struggle to be free from oppression doesn't deserve theirs or could very well have lost theirs.

If some people in the US government think that US foreign policy should not be tied with moral considerations then it must expect the same principle to be applied against them. That is to say okay to terrorism at least as long as the victim being the United States of America and or her allies.

[yubba]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Sounds like a good way to escalate. Unless we have a NEO concern, I don't think there is anything in Libya worth a single American military life.
".

I bet the US government can't wait too loose more american lives for oil. So why does NASA want to go to the moon to fine water to make fuel when we have plenty here. If they don't get a handle on this , it could start a world war. Barrel of oil over 100 dollars in the states.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by yubba

I bet the US government can't wait too loose more american lives for oil. So why does NASA want to go to the moon to fine water to make fuel when we have plenty here.

Because there are no people in turbans shooting at us on Luna.

Plus the moon is just to get us to Your Anus... errr Uranus where there is 4.3x10^27 kg of Natural Gas (Methane) free for the taking. NASA it has a solution for the energy crisis.

So why does NASA want to go to the moon to fine water to make fuel when we have plenty here.

They want to go build a secret telescope to hide the evil planet of doom

The last thing we need is to get involved in another ill defined shooting war.

Platapus
Yes, and civil wars are very ill defined plus there are the cross border problems which complicate it even more.

So using the same reasoning why did the US ask for the global community to fight terrorism together?

Castout, the global war on terror has drained the US, they simply cannot afford another open ended deployment.
What is needed is strong action by the UN, but that isn't going to happen until the big 5 have worked out who they think is going to be the winners to back and what contracts they think they can get out of the winner, that will drag on and on until al 5 are reasonably happy about what they think they are going to get out of it.
If they don't all agree that their favourite is on to a winner and they are going to benefit then you will end up with the all too frequent weak gesture a few weeks or months down the line.