Chance (14 Jan 2024)
"Why Was the Middle East Deployment Of The Gerald R. Ford Aircraft Carrier Strike Group Ended?"


 
Hello John and Doves,
 
Why did Biden et al REALLY end our Gerald R. Ford Aircraft Carrier Strike Group deployment to the eastern Mediterranean and send it home?
 
Could it have something to do with Iran's December announcement of it's Navy's acquisition of ship killer missiles, or the over 100 direct attacks on the Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier or how the ship is undermanned and thus ill equipped to fend off attacks, or it's an election year for Biden, the Democrats and they don't want a sunk Navy ship on their 2024 record?  Probably all of these.  And lots more in this letter concerning the Houthis - they are getting blasted now by the US and UK.
 
Remember when Biden et al sent this carrier group over there as "a powerful symbol of American support" "rushing closer to Israel after the Palestinian militant group's attack"?  
 
The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group "was ordered to the eastern Mediterranean to contribute to our regional deterrence and defense posture," the Navy said in a statement."
 
So our powerful 'show of force', our 'defense posturing' really put the fear of the U.S. military into the hearts and minds of Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis?  Mission accomplished - come on home!
 
Hardly.
 
So exactly what did this Strike Group even accomplish over there?  Precious little.
 
I remember how excited Amir Tsarfati was when he heard that the U.S. Gerald R. Ford Strike Group was on the way - like it was the cavalry coming to save the day!  At the time I thought - 'don't get your hopes up - it's Biden/Obama's Navy and they will not stand up to Iran.  Appease.  Appease. Appease.  And bribe.  This will not end as Amir hopes.'  Unfortunately, I was right.
 
"U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had extended the Ford's deployment three times in hopes that its presence would deter Iran and Iran-aligned groups, particularly Lebanon's Hezbollah, from attacking Israel."
US Navy ending aircraft carrier's Middle East deployment | Reuters
 
Amir thought this Strike Group would help Israel when Hezbollah attacked.  Wrong again.
 
During this time, Israel has endured dozens of attacks from Hezbollah.  And the IDF has returned fire.  Lebanon's Hezbollah intensifies attacks on Israel
 
During this time, U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria have endured dozens of drone and rocket attacks with hardly a peep of a response from the U.S. military.  And the Iran-aligned Houthis are still attacking commercial tankers and container ships in the Red Sea with drones and missiles
 
"U.S. troops deployed in Iraq and Syria has come under attack from Iran-backed militias 130 times since Oct. 17 as of Thursday, according to the Pentagon, totaling 53 attacks in Iraq and 77 in Syria." 
 
"The drone, rocket, mortar and missile attacks have injured 66 U.S. tropps, but Pentagon officials said Thursday that no troops have been injured since Dec. 7."  This article in the Air Force Times is dated Jan 11, 2024.
Attacks on US troops in Iraq and Syria climb to 130
 
The U.S. military is looking pretty weak - 130 attacks and all Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman, has to say is this embarrassing statement, "When it comes to U.S. forces in the region, again, we're there for one reason and one reason only, which is the enduring defeat of ISIS.  And so we will continue to call on these Iranian proxies to cease these attacks.."  (Like this has worked sooo well!)  He goes one with more drivel, "..but we won't hesitate, as we've demonstrated in the past, to take appropriate action to protect our forces should we need to do that."  The U.S. has hit back ONE time during all of these attacks.
Attacks on US troops in Iraq and Syria climb to 130
 
Well, if attacks on Israel by Hezbollah and attacks by Iranians on U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria haven't ended, surely the Houthis were impressed with our Strike Force?
 
"Leader of Yemen's Houthi group threatens the US and UK with even larger attacks in the Red Sea after US and UK forces intercepted an attack on Tuesday."  "Britain and the US are poised to launch strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen in response to a Houthi attack of 21 missiles and drones aimed at US and UK warships on Tuesday night.  This article is dated Jan 11, 2024.
Middle East crisis live: any attack on Houthis will ‘not go without response’, warns leader

"The Houthis say their attacks are designed to disrupt the Israeli economy and the naval forces protecting Israel, primarily the US's, as a results of the war in Gaza."
Iran seizes oil tanker with links to US in Gulf of Oman | Iran | The Guardian

It sure looks like the Houthis have declared war on the US and the UK.
 
The Middle East crisis wasn't on the downside when the Gerald R. Ford Strike Group pulled out - just the opposite.  It's heating up daily over there.  A Strike Group isn't pulled out when a war is on the verge of busting out...something else is going on here.
 
And things are escalating:
 
"Israel and Hezbollah edged closer towards full scale war on Tuesday (Jan. 9)....Hezbollah said it also attacked at least six Israeli military posts along the border on Tuesday."
 
"Hezbollah has said that by keeping Israel's northern front active, it is helping to reduce pressure on Hamas in Gaza."
Israel and Hezbollah edge closer to war as drone hits key Israeli command base | Hezbollah | The Guardian

."The Iranian navy seized a US-linked oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman.."  Jan. 11 They are taking it to Iran. 
Iran seizes oil tanker with links to US in Gulf of Oman | Iran | The Guardian
 
"The United States on Thursday demanded that Iran immediately release a ship seized off Oman's coast..."  This is the same ship that the U.S. Coast Guard seized last year for transporting crude oil sold by Iran's Revolutionary Guards to China.  This was in violation of U.S. sanctions. So Iran returned the 'seizure'.
US Demands Iran Release Seized Oil Tanker 'Immediately' | Barron's
 
Well, Austin was true to his word - the Strike Group was only there for 'looks' - and its presence as a 'deterrent' didn't work.  I think those days are gone when a 'strong' US military presence is a deterrent.  Those days are gone when the word of the U.S. meant something and countries listened.  Those days are gone when the U.S. military had a real power behind it.  Thanks to this administration.  We are weak and ineffectual.  And can't be trusted.
 
Meanwhile the Gerald R. Ford Strike Force is returning to it's base in Virginia - after accomplishing absolutely nothing.
 
But rest assured that the "DoD will continue to leverage its collective force posture in the region to deter any state or non-state actor from escalating this crisis beyond Gaza," the Navy said."
US Navy ending aircraft carrier's Middle East deployment | Reuters
 
Whatever that means.  I'm sure no one feels secure or safe with the U.S. military being run by Biden, Austin, et al.  'Standing down', 'appeasing Iran' are the new military buzz phrases these days in the Middle East.
 
So, why did Biden et al pull our Strike Group out of the Eastern Mediterranean when things are obviously heating up?  This was announced on Jan 1, 2024
Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford Heading Home After 8 Months, 3 Extensions - USNI News
 
Could this have something to do with?
 
1)  In this article dated December 29, 2023, "The Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN) held a ceremony on 24 December to induct new equipment that included an anti-ship missile called Talaiyeh, which is said to have a range of more than 1,000 km....A poster displayed next to the Talaiyeh during the Konarak event appeared to say the missile has a cruise speed of Mach 0.78 and a range of 1,000 km when flying at an altitude of 2,000 m.  IRIN Coimmander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani was quoted as saying the missile can be retargeted during flight.  The IRIN also announced that it had received its first Nasir anti-ship missiles" with a range of 90 km.
Very-long-range anti-ship missile enters service with Iranian navy
 
2)  Jack Hibbs in his "Global Deception" Youtube video dated 1/11/2024 talked about how all of us have and are being deceived...he brought up the Gerald R. Ford carrier.  He said he read an article this morning that "completely lied to the entire world".  He said, "I happen to know, and you might too, especially if you have sons and daughters, husbands and wives in the U.S. military, I happen to know why the real reason is that the United States is pulling out of the Middle East, out the Mediterranean, the USS Gerald R. Ford and Sixth Fleet Strike Group - if you look at the news today, on today's date, regarding the retreating of the USS Gerald R Ford, you'll be told they were deployed so long that it's time for them to come home.  That is true when there is a regular deployment season in effect, meaning there is no war, there's no problems, you have a deployment period of time and then you are to change out or a carrier group comes in replaces you and you go home because its time for you to end your cruise or that deployment period.  That's not happening right now.  What's going on?  You're being told it's a deployment out but we're not sending anyone to replace our military presence in the Middle East regarding the Gerald R. Ford - the most powerful piece of real estate on the face of the earth.... 
 
And there is a war going on in the Middle East that's escalating, but the headlines in America say 'hey ,it's time for the Gerald R. Ford to come on home'When military analysts are telling us and military personnel are saying that's not exactly true - we have taken nearly 100 hits or attempted strikes against the Ford and our political will as a government as an administration renders the ship vulnerable and so we're leaving the area.  That's what is really happening."  Jack went on to say that we are a nation that is weak, that we are a nation that is broke, we are completely bankrupt.  We are being deceived.
(358) Global Deception - YouTube
 
3)  Add that to this news in Forbes, dated December 12, 2023 - when the Gerald R. Ford was in the East Mediterranean.  "In the face of a massive shortage of Navy sailors, America's newest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, has downsized, cutting the crew aboard (the USS Gerald R Ford) by hundreds of sailors."
 
"The cuts appear to be deep and dramatic.  Over the past six months to a year, some 500 to 600 sailors have left the USS Ford and not been replaced.  In fact, the USS Ford has shed so many crew members that the ship's company (core crew members that operate the vessel) is now below the Ford-class Carrier Program's original Acquisition Program Baseline objective of 2,391 billets - a goal set back in 2004 that many observers considered unrealistic." The carrier is now "home to approximately 4,070 sailors:  2,380 ship's company, 1,550 assigned to Carrier Wing EIGHT, and 140 embarked with Carrier Strike Group TWELVE and Destroyer Squadron TWO staffs."  
 
"That represents an enormous reduction in the carrier's workforce."
 
"The current complement appears to be unusually low. ...To put things in perspective, the USS Ford has apparently shed almost enough sailors to staff two Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class destroyers...Most of the cuts appear to be organic, occurring while the USS Ford was on active deployment, as the carrier operates on the fringes of a major conflict."
Facing A Navy-Wide Sailor Shortage, USS Ford Sheds 500-600 Crew
 
I don't think it's much of a stretch to say that our Navy is beyond challenged in terms of personnel - we can't even properly staff an aircraft carrier - the Gerald R. Ford is unfit for duty - it can not take on any more attacks.  There is just not the full complement of sailors etc to properly protect the ship and those on board.
 
This is a national travesty and a HUGE national security risk.  
 
We still have the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group over there - 
The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier is currently fighting off drones, cruise missiles and anti-ship missiles - launched by Iranian-backed Houthis. The Houthis have targeted US and British warships
 
The following tweet on the U.S. Central Command account does not mention the Houthis fired at US and UK ships.  That's a big difference from targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea.
 
"On Jan 9, at approximately 9:15 PM, Iranian-backed Houthis launched a complex attack (of 18) of Iranian designed one-way attack UAVs, (2) anti-ship missiles and an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Southern Red Sea, towards international shipping lanes where dozens of merchant vessels are transiting." These were shot down by the US and UK Navy.  There have been 26 Houthi attacks on commercial shipping lanes since Nov.19.
 
"On Jan. 3, 14 countries, including the U.S., issued a joint statement stating, "The Houthis will bear the responsibility for the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, or the free flow of commerce in the region's critical waterways."
(1) U.S. Central Command on X: "Houthi Attack on International Shipping On Jan. 9, at approximately 9:15 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthis launched a complex attack of Iranian designed one-way attack UAVs (OWA UAVs), anti-ship cruise missiles, and an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled… https://t.co/KWPRidwiWI" / X
 
And just today, Jan. 11, the UK cabinet met "amid expectations of UK involvement in imminent military strikes against Houthi rebel targets in Yemen...Ministers were scheduled to join a video call at 7:45 pm, which was expected to discuss the UK response to recent attacks on ships in the Red Sea, including a barrage of rockets, drones and cruise missiles apparently fired at western warships on Tuesday."  The missile and drone attack "had represented an escalation" - "a British destroyer, HMS Diamond, shot down seven Iranian-designed drones...the vessel had been "potentially" targeted by the Houthis."
 
Why has the U.S. and Britain not declared war on the Houthis?  The U.S. went after alQaeda and ISIS - not a peep against the Houthis.  The U.N. Security Council on January 10, passed a resolution condemning "in the strongest terms" the Houthi rebel attacks off the coast of Yemen.
Security Council strongly condemns Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping | UN News
 
More STRONG words.  That should make the Houthis stop it.
 
Seems every country is just tiptoeing around Iran.
 
Then add this to Secretary of Defense Austin being 'gone' for days.
 
"Austin, who is 70, was hospitalized on Jan. 1, but nobody in the White House - not even President Joe Biden - knew of the fact until Jan. 4."
 
Maybe this shows us that Joe and Llloyd really aren't that important - just puppets while others are running the country and the military.
 
With a weakened Navy, it wouldn't look good to have a carrier sunk with all of those sailors on board - and the American public finds out the carrier wasn't able to carry out combat duties due to too few sailors - during an election year.  This is what Biden, Obama, et al have done to our military.  Pastor Hibbs' military sources reported that this administration has rendered our ships vulnerable.  I'd go on to say, our entire military has been compromised and rendered vulnerable.
 
It's obvious that the U.S. will do ANYTHING to not get into a war with Iran.  Maybe this is because a bigger war is on the horizon - the Gog and Magog War - and Iran is perfectly able to take part in that war,  IF there was a war with Iran - I'd doubt there would be enough left of Iran that would still be able to take part in a war against Israel.  The US would be crippled too.
 
Update:  Jan 11 - "The United States and Britain carried out a series of air strikes on military locations belonging to Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen early Friday Jan. 12 in response to the militant group's ongoing attacks on vessels traveling through the Red Sea.
 
A U.S. former National Security Council official said, "The president needs to fundamentally change the calculus for Iran and its proxies.  Has President Biden ordered the Houthis to be re-listed as a foreign terrorist organization?  Has President Biden ordered the $10 billion for Iran to be frozen?  Will any IRGC targets in Yemen or Iran's intelligence cargo ship be targeted?  These are all relevant questions that help inform what the policy is and whether deterrence will actually be restored."
US-UK coalition strike Iran-backed Houthi targets in Yemen after spate of ship attacks in Red Sea
 
Biden certainly is not standing up to Iran or Iran's proxies.  There is an agenda here.  We see the same kind of cowering to China.
 
Something must happen to the U.S. - either we continue to retreat and cower and leave Israel on her own because Obama/Biden continue to appease and bribe Iran and/OR the US is taken out by her enemies and is no longer a world power.
 
God is in control.  Everything that is coming will happen according to His will. 
 
Pastor Hibbs is right - we are being deceived right and left.   
 
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
 
Maranatha!
 
Chance