Navy Ships to Coast of Lebanon

The Associated Press is reporting that the USS Cole and the USS Nassau are being sent, along with at least one other ship, to the coast of Lebanon.

The US is apparently concerned that Syria is meddling in the local political situation.

That is about all that is reported, now.

It shows another role for the Navy, as a communication device. Just sending ships to a point on the globe communicates something about how our government sees a particular situation. They can communicate concern and compassion, as in humanitarian missions, or a warning, as in this case.

The Nassau is the key ship in the Nassau Expeditionary Strike Group that left the East Coast of the US only a few days ago.

I believe that the Nassau is sans Marines. They flew over to Afghanistan separately. The ship, however, has other capabilites, carrying a certain number of aircraft.

It seems likely, though not certain, that other ships from the group will put in an appearance.

The picture, courtesy of the US Navy, shows the Nassau crossing the Atlantic on its current deployment.

The Navy reports that the Group entered the 6th Fleet area on 25 February 2008.

I quote the Navy below in regards to the ships that have arrived:

"Amphibious assault ship USS Nassau (LHA 4); amphibious transport dock USS Nashville (LPD 13); amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48); guided-missile destroyers USS Ross (DDG 71) and USS Bulkeley (DDG 84); and guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) entered the AOR. The seventh vessel of the strike group, USS Albany (SSN 753), is expected to deploy from its homeport in Norfolk at a later date. "