USS Cole on its way to Lebanon/Syria
A senior Bush official explains that "The United States believes a show of support is important for regional stability".
Hahahaha...
Does the US have any idea how funny a statement like this sounds? Why doesn't the US first learn to guard its embassy in the Green zone in Iraq or even in Serbia before it ventures any further in the Middle East where it is no longer welcome?
It seems that the USS Cole misses its days in Yemen and the US army misses its days in Lebanon...
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSWAT00901020080228
U.S. sends warship off Lebanon coast
Thu Feb 28, 2008 4:28pm EST
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Signaling impatience with Syria, the United States has sent its USS Cole warship off the coast of Lebanon in a show of support amid Beirut's political crisis, U.S. officials said on Thursday.
A senior Bush administration official told Reuters the United States was very concerned about the political deadlock in Lebanon, which Washington blames on Syrian meddling, and the U.S. military gesture underlined that worry.
"The United States believes a show of support is important for regional stability. We are very concerned about the situation in Lebanon. It has dragged on very long," said the senior official, who spoke on condition he was not identified.
Lebanon's Western-backed governing coalition and its Syrian and Iranian backed opposition have failed to reach a deal to end the country's political conflict.
A U.S. defense official said the Cole left Malta on Tuesday and was headed toward Lebanon, adding it would not be within visible range of Lebanon but "well over the horizon."
The USS Cole was attacked off the coast of Yemen in October 2000 by al Qaeda militants. Seventeen U.S. sailors were killed.
A couple of U.S. Navy tankers were also in the area, the official said.
"The point would be to encourage stability during a potentially critical period," the defense official said. Continued...
A U.S. defense official said the Cole left Malta on Tuesday and was headed toward Lebanon, adding it would not be within visible range of Lebanon but "well over the horizon."
"The point would be to encourage stability during a potentially critical period," the official said.
The defense official indicated the Cole could be replaced by the USS Nassau, an amphibious assault ship. The Nassau is in the Atlantic and en route to the Mediterranean, the official said.
President George W. Bush ordered the move earlier this week as a sign of concern over Lebanon and told close U.S. allies about it.
"The president is concerned about the situation in Lebanon and discusses the issue regularly with his national security team," said National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe, when asked to comment on the latest military move.
(Additional reporting by Andrew Gray)
The US has no idea what awaits it in the Middle East.. and for that it can that its dear ally Israel.
Hmmmmm? i wonder whats next?
White House officials were embarrassed to admit that while on post in the Eastern Mediterranean, the USS Cole will be flying the Israeli "Star of David" flag.
They admit this info was not to be leaked to the press and made a vow to find out who the perpetrator was in this leak.
WH officials also say that while on post, the USS Cole will have bull's eyes painted on the ship, fore and aft.
"We wanted to make the Cole easy to hit for the already deployed MOSSAD/Shin Bet teams in the region, so our Dear Leader can finally get that war he really wants, against Iran", said WH Stepford spokesdoll Perino.
"This war will dwarf the Iraq invasion and make Americans worried about losing their homes, worry about losing their lives, which, in the WH view, is more acceptable on a political basis", added Perino.
Greg, may I ask about the source of your above post?
It's a pisstake (satire), but the Arab world knows damn well that the Cole is there for Israel.
When Greg writes something like this, can I take it as a reliable piece of info? I apologize to Greg, but we didn't really get a chance to 'meet'.
That is quite exposive info. Shouldn't it deserve more than just a comment?
Thanks COZ
I missed your "pisstake satire":) forgive me, but I have been watching all night the bastard cowardly Israeli onslaught on Gaza and Jabalia.. Yesterday was the third very bloody night... with total Arab complicity. It is hard to keep a focus lately..
It was meant to be a satirical look at some of the madness ongoing in the ME, but considering that the USS Cole and others will be targeted by MOSSAD/Shin Bet agent provocateurs, it's probably not that far from reality.
Nothing would astonish me.. Nothing. What is happening shows a total loss of control and sanity on the part of Israel and the US. So much is happening that one hardly has the time to post something comprehensive just in order to manage to keep up with what continues to happen.. be it on the Israeli, American, Iranian, Iraqi or Arab side.
I would put nothing however beyong anyone anymore..
They could setup another marine barracks and go for the double-whammy too-tower effect!
Hehe, history is full of surprises my friends, history; yet.