Actually, we have thousands of troops in the Middle East. Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, UAE, we have forces in all of those countries. All within range of missiles from Iran. And the carrier we have out there is a key part of our Missile Defense network in the region. Not only do the AEGIS class systems greatly expand our RADAR coverage of the area, but the fighters are a key first line defense in the event of an attack from Iran. Any anticipated missile strikes will be times with fighters and cruise missiles, and our fighters and SM-2 and SM-3 missiles are key to eliminating these before they strike our ground forces there. It never ceases to amaze me how little most people think of the multiple threats our military faces on a regular basis. - - - Updated - - - Uhhhh, President Jefferson had us involved in what is now Libya. You are aware that Libya is not in the "Middle East", are you not?
Actually, we spent about 50 years doing that. From the acquisition of the Philippines in 1898, the intent was always to allow them to become an independent nation. But having been a Spanish colony for over 300 years and having multiple fighting factions (not the least of these being an Islamic Sultinate), it was realized it would be a long process. But I am sure you mean Ferdinand Marcos, the President of the Philippines, and not his shoe collecting wife Imelda.
You state that the US Navy isn't in the war fighting business. Well I've got news for you, the US is not in a war now, thankfully,and the the US Navy is not in a war. The US military has no right being in the Gulf. The world has grown sick and tired of the US poking its nose everywhere, and sick and tired of its meddling in places where it has no business interfering in other people's backyards. Most of all, the world remembers all the destruction and death wrought on the world by Uncle Sam, and most of the world would agree on saying "yankee go home and stay at home where you belong." And while I'm on the subject, what the hell was an American naval vessel doing near Iranian waters?
No surprise to me.. The Persian Gulf is a trap for a ship the size of a carrier.. Ours usually pull back to the Indian Ocean.
You did note that the link did say we usually have one there, Right. Still this is old, and we have one in the region now.
They were moving the 2 small craft from Kuwait to Bahrain. This is not a big deal. Farsi Island is an Iranian naval base.
There's one sea that's worse than the Persian Gulf for a carrier to operate in, the Red Sea. It takes a whole lot of ocean to be able to conduct carrier air operations. The Persian Gulf and the Red Sea are two of the heaviest traveled merchant shipping lanes in the world. It's extremely crowded like the L.A. freeways.