But only for a pleasure cruise, of course.

Mattis: Navy Strike Group Not Headed to North Korea for Any Reason
Russia Expresses Concern US May Attack North Korea
by Jason Ditz, April 11, 2017
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With a US carrier strike group steaming toward North Korea, and top administration officials talking up the need for the US to “solve” North Korea,  that the US is about to unilaterally attack North Korea.

Defense Secretary James Mattis sought to downplay those concerns, however, insisting the carrier strike group is just in the western Pacific in general, and, and has nothing in mind when it gets there.

It’s hard to imagine that this highly publicized move is just a whim, and even harder to believe that it is just coincidental with President Trump and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson both talking up the idea of unilateral US action against North Korea to end its nuclear weapons program.

Continues... http://news.antiwar.com/2017/04/11/matti...ny-reason/

this is just some muscle flexing, even the cheeto head won't be dumb enough to attack NK right now

(April 12, 2017 at 8:26 am)Aoi Magi Wrote: this is just some muscle flexing, even the cheeto head won't be dumb enough to attack NK right now

Oh fuck... You went and challenged him. 

(April 12, 2017 at 8:26 am)Aoi Magi Wrote: this is just some muscle flexing, even the cheeto head won't be dumb enough to attack NK right now

I don't know...So far he's proven that nothing is too dumb for him.

Now I'm imagining an entire carrier group whistling nonchalantly as it drifts casually within NK waters, which would be hilarious if the possible fallout (both figurative and literal) wasn't so fucking terrifying to consider.

(April 12, 2017 at 11:52 am)Iroscato Wrote: Now I'm imagining an entire carrier group whistling nonchalantly as it drifts casually within NK waters, which would be hilarious if the possible fallout (both figurative and literal) wasn't so fucking terrifying to consider.

Meh, a carrier group is fully capable of launching an attack from a long ways outside of NK waters. Picket ships of a carrier group are typically positioned 200 nautical miles from the carrier, so I would consider that the minimum distance from shore to preserve maximum tactical options.

(April 12, 2017 at 11:52 am)Iroscato Wrote: Now I'm imagining an entire carrier group whistling nonchalantly as it drifts casually within NK waters, which would be hilarious if the possible fallout (both figurative and literal) wasn't so fucking terrifying to consider.

Back in the early '80s the cruiser I was stationed on did a "freedom of navigation" exercise north of the 38th Parallel, and WEST of North Korea. The NORKs had declared that area off limits to anyone who didn't have a border on the gulf. So we sailed right in there, Midway battlegroup being the pointy end of the spear and we were leading that bunch. About midnight I came on deck to have a coffin nail before crashing. As I looked off to the north I saw running lights from an airplane, it was coming at us full tilt and about 100 feet off the deck. Turned out to be a Russian "Bear" bomber, the one they copied from WWII B-29s that were interned after making emergency landings in Russia. It's nuclear capable, btw. She buzzed us a few times then went home. Just showin' some love, you know. 

Point is that we've been doing this kind of thing for a long time. No nuclear action so far.

It is my understanding that the Carl Vinson and the strike group were previously in Korean waters and were headed for Australia for R&R, when they were ordered back to Korean waters. So US presence was already in the area.

Saber rattling is indeed what is going on and should be a concern. This problem has been brewing for a long time and was not addressed properly by the Obama administration and so has escalated. As the delicate global situation involves more than just NK and the US, it is well worth staying informed about the implications of current events.

It is worth noting that China has just sent a large coal shipment back to North Korea from its docks, where it has been awaiting unloading. This is good news, as it implies that China may be willing to aid in keeping NK in check by means of economic sanctions. If this is the case, then credit goes to President Trump for his recent negotiations with China's president.

-Jeanne

My brother spent 4 years on the Vinson in the 80s. It's a big fucking target, and it's vulnerable. The Australian diesel-electric submarine Onslow closed to within 300 meters of the Vinson without being detected and "sank" her during RIMPAC 98. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea has several modern diesel-electric submarines. They are very quite and pose a significant threat to a carrier.

Quote:Mattis: Navy Strike Group Not Headed to North Korea for Any Reason

Maybe they are lost?

The Navy's software is not exactly state-of-the-art.

http://money.cnn.com/2015/06/26/technolo...-contract/

Quote:The U.S. Navy is still using Windows XP -- now 14 years old and defunct -- and it has to pay Microsoft $9 million to keep supporting it.