• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓
  • ←
  • →

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

“Everybody’s entitled to be an idiot.”

Republicans in disarray!

We’ll be taking my thoughts and prayers to the ballot box.

The frogs are rarely mistaken.

The arc of the moral universe doesn’t bend itself. it’s up to us.

Roe isn’t about choice, it’s about freedom.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

Come on, man.

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

Books are my comfort food!

Consistently wrong since 2002

Meanwhile over at truth Social, the former president is busy confessing to crimes.

Chutkan laughs. Lauro sits back down.

In my day, never was longer.

You cannot shame the shameless.

“Cheese and Kraken paired together for the appetizer trial.”

No one could have predicted…

Cole is on a roll !

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

Even though I know this is a bad idea, I’m off to do it anyway!

Bad news for Ron DeSantis is great news for America.

Everybody saw this coming.

A thin legal pretext to veneer over their personal religious and political desires.

Fight for a just cause, love your fellow man, live a good life.

Mobile Menu

  • Four Directions Montana
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • COVID-19 Coronavirus
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • 2024 Elections
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • Targeted Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Politics / America / Despite John Bolton’s Statement, the US Has Not Escalated Its Forces in the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility

Despite John Bolton’s Statement, the US Has Not Escalated Its Forces in the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility

by Adam L Silverman|  May 5, 201910:22 pm| 62 Comments

This post is in: America, Foreign Affairs, Military, Open Threads, Politics, Popular Culture, Post-racial America, Silverman on Security, Clown Shoes

FacebookTweetEmail

(The USS Kearsarge sinks the CSS Alabama off the coast of Cherbourg, France)

Earlier this evening, Assistant to the President-National Security Advisor (APNSA or NSA) John Bolton issued the following statement:

So what exactly is actually going on with US Naval deployments in the US Central Command (CENTCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR)? Fortunately, the US Naval Institute has a Fleet Tracker. The most recent update is from 22 April 2019, it tells us the following:

Carrier Strike Group 12 (USS Abraham Lincoln/CVN 72, Carrier Air Wing 7/CVW 7, Destroyer Squadron 2/DESRON 2, and USS Leyte Gulf/CG 55):

deployed from Norfolk on April 1 and is now operating in the 6th Fleet area of responsibility in the central Mediterranean Sea. Last week, the CSG stopped in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, on April 15 and departed April 20.

They join the USS John C Stennis Carrier Strike Group (USS John C Stennis/CVN 74, Carrier Air Wing 9/CVW 9, Destroyer Squadron 21/DESRON 21, and USS Mobile Bay/CG 53), which:

transited the Suez Canal on April 20 and is now in the Mediterranean Sea in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations. Last week, the CSG exercised operations with French Navy aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle (R 91) in the Red Sea.

Finally, the Kearsarge Amphibious Group – USS Kearsarge/LHD 3 with the embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Fleet Surgical Teams 2 and 8, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26, and Tactical Air Control Squadron 21; USS Arlington/LPD 24 (amphibious landing dock); and USS Fort McHenry/LSD 43 (dock landing ship) is in the Persian Gulf.

Despite Bolton’s statement there is no additional Naval or Amphibious deployment. The Abraham Lincoln and the other vessels and units in its carrier group where already in the CENTCOM AOR and have been for some time. Almost as important is this simple reality: the Iranians know this! They know where US forces are deployed in relation to Iran. All Bolton has done with this announcement is make a lot of noise to hear himself make a lot of noise.

Thank you for joining us for this special first Sunday in May edition of John Bolton’s mustache’s saber rattling kabuki theater.

Open thread!

* There is not, unfortunately, a similar tracker for US bomber task forces, but I expect the bomber task force was already either on station or scheduled for deployment to CENTCOM’s AOR.

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « Some Words of Wisdom From President Reagan In Regard to Foreign Interference in Domestic US Politics
Next Post: Monday Morning Open Thread: Hopes & Ambitions »

Reader Interactions

62Comments

  1. 1.

    cmorenc

    May 5, 2019 at 10:29 pm

    Maybe we should allow John Bolton to go to war with Iran – as a lieutenant in the first-wave front-line infantry assault brigade attacking Tehran. Show us how it’s done to kick Iran’s ass, John. If you’re going to talk the talk, let’s see you walk the walk, not just fluster the bluster.

    I’ll bet John would be so gung-whoa! about that proposition.

  2. 2.

    Adam L Silverman

    May 5, 2019 at 10:35 pm

    @cmorenc: He joined the MD National Guard so he wouldn’t have to fight in Vietnam, despite supporting the Vietnam War. So I don’t expect he’d be any more willing to fight now than he was when he was a college student.

  3. 3.

    opiejeanne

    May 5, 2019 at 10:37 pm

    Good post, Adam.

    Who is the artist of the battle at sea?

  4. 4.

    Steve in the ATL

    May 5, 2019 at 10:40 pm

    @cmorenc: he can lead the Light Brigade

  5. 5.

    Amir Khalid

    May 5, 2019 at 10:43 pm

    @Adam L Silverman:

    He joined the MD National Guard so he wouldn’t have to fight in Vietnam, despite supporting the Vietnam War so that others would have to.

    Completed the sentence for you.

  6. 6.

    Adam L Silverman

    May 5, 2019 at 10:45 pm

    @opiejeanne: That’s the famous painting from the FDR library. It was painted by Xanthus Smith who did six different paintings of the battle.

  7. 7.

    Mike in NC

    May 5, 2019 at 10:47 pm

    My ship deployed to the Persian Gulf in the summer of 1984 and were overflown by Iranian P-3s on pretty much a daily basis. The Rules of Engagement were understood to be a joke.

  8. 8.

    plato

    May 5, 2019 at 10:49 pm

    Mebbe bolton is jonesing for that long vacant secdef post.

  9. 9.

    HumboldtBlue

    May 5, 2019 at 10:52 pm

    As a young Yankee DelMarVa boy I used to fume and spit at the first two volumes of Catton’s work.

    Always losing. Retreating.

    Got those fuckers in the end though.

    Capt. Winslow and men did well that day.

  10. 10.

    mad citizen

    May 5, 2019 at 10:53 pm

    I wonder if anyone has ever called him John Dolton to his face?

  11. 11.

    Harbison

    May 5, 2019 at 10:56 pm

    @cmorenc:

    He’d be at least a major, given his level of incompetence.

  12. 12.

    Cheryl Rofer

    May 5, 2019 at 10:58 pm

    If you are on Twitter and want to follow this and more about ship movements, follow Steffan Watkins.

    He agrees with Adam. NBD.

  13. 13.

    a thousand flouncing lurkers was fidelio

    May 5, 2019 at 11:01 pm

    One of the high points, for me, of Election Night 2008, was watching Simon Schama deliver a beat-down to Bolton on BBCAmerica. Bolton clearly expected the presenters to intervene and save him, but they just sat and giggled while Schama took him apart. At one point Bolton suggested that Schama wasn’t tough enough to, as it were, put up his dukes & fight—and Schama offered to adjourn to the parking lot.
    It didn’t happen. It must have dawned on Bolton he might lose.

  14. 14.

    cmorenc

    May 5, 2019 at 11:11 pm

    @Adam L Silverman:

    @cmorenc: He joined the MD National Guard so he wouldn’t have to fight in Vietnam, despite supporting the Vietnam War. So I don’t expect he’d be any more willing to fight now than he was when he was a college student.

    Gee, ya think? :=)

    Of course Bolton would bolt from actually having to put his own ass on the line in combat.

  15. 15.

    Another Scott

    May 5, 2019 at 11:21 pm

    Meanwhile…:

    Iran Gov Website @Iran_GOV

    Experts from #Iran’s foreign ministry and the foreign ministries of #Britain, #Germany, #France, #China and #Russia will hold a #JCPOA meeting in Brussels on Tuesday.

    9:50 AM – 5 May 2019

    It looks like the world is continuing to move on and ignore Donnie’s (and Johnnie’s) protestations.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  16. 16.

    a thousand flouncing lurkers was fidelio

    May 5, 2019 at 11:22 pm

    Awaiting moderation? Seriously?

  17. 17.

    NotMax

    May 5, 2019 at 11:23 pm

    History repeats itself, the first time as Baghdadegy, the second time as Farsi?

  18. 18.

    Adam L Silverman

    May 5, 2019 at 11:23 pm

    @a thousand flouncing lurkers was fidelio: I already freed you.

  19. 19.

    Adam L Silverman

    May 5, 2019 at 11:24 pm

    @Another Scott: And now we know why Bolton made his announcement.

  20. 20.

    The Dangerman

    May 5, 2019 at 11:28 pm

    All Bolton has done with this announcement is make a lot of noise to hear himself make a lot of noise.

    Playing Battleship with him must suck given all his jerking off going on.

  21. 21.

    MomSense

    May 5, 2019 at 11:30 pm

    Do I even want to know why Bolton is pulling this stunt?

  22. 22.

    MomSense

    May 5, 2019 at 11:31 pm

    @Another Scott: @MomSense:

    And there it is.

  23. 23.

    texasdoc

    May 5, 2019 at 11:33 pm

    There’s a really good article about John Bolton in this week’s New Yorker. As you may recall, Bush Jr. nominated him to be US ambassador to the UN. His nomination was not advanced by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee because of concerns even among Republicans on the committee. The notable part is from Tony Blinken, who was the staff director for the senate committee, who told the author of the article that members began to reconsider as they examined Bolton’s previous work in the State Department. “We saw a pattern of Mr. Bolton trying to manipulate intelligence to justify his views. If it had happened once, maybe. But it came up multiple times and always it was the same underlying issue: he would stake out a position, and then if the intelligence didn’t support it, he would try to exaggerate the intelligence and marginalize the officials who had produced it.” Bolton became UN ambassador through a “recess appointment”.

  24. 24.

    Brachiator

    May 5, 2019 at 11:33 pm

    All Bolton has done with this announcement is make a lot of noise to hear himself make a lot of noise.

    I understand a bellicose president. I could see Trump making all kinds of noise to excite the rubes.

    But what game is Bolton playing?

  25. 25.

    texasdoc

    May 5, 2019 at 11:34 pm

    There’s a really good article about John Bolton in this week’s New Yorker. As you may recall, Bush Jr. nominated him to be US ambassador to the UN. His nomination was not advanced by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee because of concerns event among Republicans on the committee. The notable part is from Tony Blinken, who was the staff director for the senate committee, who told the author of the article that members began to reconsider as they examined Bolton’s previous work in the State Department. “We saw a pattern of Mr. Bolton trying to manipulate intelligence to justify his views. If it had happened once, maybe. But it came up multiple times and always it was the same underlying issue: he would stake out a position, and then if the intelligence didn’t support it, he would try to exaggerate the intelligence and marginalize the officials who had produced it.” Bolton became UN ambassador through a “recess appointment”.

  26. 26.

    rikyrah

    May 5, 2019 at 11:38 pm

    Thanks Silverman for this post

  27. 27.

    Major Major Major Major

    May 5, 2019 at 11:46 pm

    I sort of assumed this was the case. Thanks for this!

  28. 28.

    Harbison

    May 5, 2019 at 11:54 pm

    @The Dangerman:

    Well, wait, how do you play Battleship, again?

  29. 29.

    a thousand flouncing lurkers was fidelio

    May 5, 2019 at 11:58 pm

    @Adam L Silverman: Thanks!

  30. 30.

    opiejeanne

    May 6, 2019 at 12:10 am

    @Adam L Silverman: Thank you. I thought at first glance it was a different sea battle painting that I first saw when I was 8. or 9. My parents gave me a history book for Christmas that, after recovering from my disbelief that the present was a history book, I absolutely adored. The historic paintings included in it are wonderful and it didn’t talk down to the intended readers. Instead it assumed that we were reasonably bright and would be able to understand and follow things like the “dance” of two ships engaged in a Naval battle, or that we wouldn’t be too shocked by a painting of a topless NA swinging from the branch of a tree. I’m not at home and won’t be until Saturday or Sunday, and I’ll look up the page with the description of the movements of the two ships in battle then.

  31. 31.

    Mike J

    May 6, 2019 at 12:12 am

    US carriers have a much longer record of unprovoked attacks on Iran than the other way around. No Airbus ever shot down a US ship.

  32. 32.

    Leto

    May 6, 2019 at 12:28 am

    There is not, unfortunately, a similar tracker for US bomber task forces, but I expect the bomber task force was already either on station or scheduled for deployment to CENTCOM’s AOR.

    The USAF doesn’t publicly publish their AEF deployment rotations, but commanders definitely know them ahead of time. I don’t know why the Navy does it, but sure.

    @Mike J:

    No Airbus ever shot down a US ship.

    I wasn’t aware the US had helicarriers… ;)

  33. 33.

    Jay

    May 6, 2019 at 12:43 am

    @Leto:

    You can track USN ships real time via ship tracker, just like all other ships.

    You can do the same with a lot of military aviation.

    The purpose is to prevent collisions, but it doesn’t always work.

  34. 34.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    May 6, 2019 at 12:52 am

    @Leto:

    I wasn’t aware the US had helicarriers… ;)

    It’s classified.

  35. 35.

    Jay

    May 6, 2019 at 12:55 am

    @Adam L Silverman:

    This announcement also paints another big target on US Forces, in what should be a “normal” deployment.

    The ReThug’s arn’t goona quit until they get a bunch of ‘Merkins killed.

  36. 36.

    Jay

    May 6, 2019 at 1:07 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA:

    Was classified, Marvel leaked.

  37. 37.

    ??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??

    May 6, 2019 at 1:12 am

    Gotta love the use of “regime” instead of “government”. Very petty of Bolton and par for the course for a Republican. It’s been 40 fucking years and they still won’t let it go. Also, fuck Bolton for threatening the ICC with sanctions, too.

  38. 38.

    John Revolta

    May 6, 2019 at 1:28 am

    We don’t want to fight but by Jingo if we do,
    We’ve got the ships, we’ve got the men, we’ve got the money too!

    Ahh, there’s nothing like the classics.

  39. 39.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    May 6, 2019 at 1:28 am

    @Jay: Who’s Marvel? They should probably retain a good lawyer specializing in National Security matters.

  40. 40.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    May 6, 2019 at 1:30 am

    @John Revolta: The Trump doctrine is if you have the hardware, you need to use it.

  41. 41.

    Jay

    May 6, 2019 at 1:44 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA:

    Marvel is a division of the Facist Mouse Inc,

    Their lawyers are the best, and are better funded than the US Gov.

    The Mouse also owns all the Star Wars and Trek patents.

  42. 42.

    darwinsjoke

    May 6, 2019 at 1:46 am

    Kearsarge is LHD-3, it was my last ship.

  43. 43.

    CapnMubbers

    May 6, 2019 at 1:47 am

    I don’t see Bolton’s comment—tried refreshing, still can’t. Adam’s citations appear to refute a belligerent stance on Bolton’s part.

    Final post some years ago by Vixen Strangely at the late lamented RumpRoast: “John Bolton is a Bloodthirsty Loon.” That was accurate then, hasn’t changed.

  44. 44.

    NotMax

    May 6, 2019 at 1:52 am

    @Jay

    Star Trek ownership is split between Paramount and CBS.

  45. 45.

    Jay

    May 6, 2019 at 1:55 am

    @CapnMubbers:

    https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-us-canada-48173357

    Bolton’s “tagging” a normal USN deployment/rotation to the Arabia Sea and Persian Gulf as being a warning/threat against Iran.

  46. 46.

    Jay

    May 6, 2019 at 1:56 am

    @NotMax:

    Ahhhhh, that’s why my flip phone still works,…….

  47. 47.

    CapnMubbers

    May 6, 2019 at 1:57 am

    @Jay: Thanks.

  48. 48.

    Redshift

    May 6, 2019 at 2:02 am

    @CapnMubbers: Yep. Pretty clear that Bolton is saber-rattling in hopes that someone will make a mistake and start the way with Iran he desperately wants, but that he can’t come up with any rationale for beyond “Iran is evil, don’t you get it?”. Asshole.

  49. 49.

    Jay

    May 6, 2019 at 2:02 am

    @CapnMubbers:

    Welcome.

  50. 50.

    Adam L Silverman

    May 6, 2019 at 2:14 am

    @darwinsjoke: Thanks for catching that. My fault while trying to type this up quickly. I elided LHD 3 into the 22nd MEU and wound up with LH 22. I’ve fixed it.

  51. 51.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    May 6, 2019 at 3:26 am

    @Jay: I’m from Glendale, we know the mouse.

  52. 52.

    Origuy

    May 6, 2019 at 4:07 am

    @opiejeanne: The Wikipedia entry for the USS Kearsarge (the Civil War one) describes the Battle of Cherbourg as “Steaming on opposite courses, the ships moved in seven spiraling circles on a southwesterly course, as each commander tried to cross his opponent’s bow to deliver deadly raking fire.” A dance indeed.

  53. 53.

    Jay

    May 6, 2019 at 4:22 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA:

    Fear the Mouse.

  54. 54.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    May 6, 2019 at 5:27 am

    @Jay: Mouse is good, mouse is our friend.

  55. 55.

    plato

    May 6, 2019 at 5:58 am

    Man is the worst animal.

    The world’s most comprehensive, and damning, report on the state of nature will be released on Monday in Paris.

    The UN’s Global Assessment will highlight the distressing impact that humanity is having on the natural world.

    It will probably state that species are being lost at the fastest ever rate, mainly driven by the changing use of land.

    This study will underline just how much humanity relies on the natural world, whether it is for food, clean water, or to absorb the warming CO2 gas that’s driving climate change.

    It is expected to show, in grim detail, how humans have trampled all over the natural world over the past 50 years – and what is likely to happen over the coming decades unless major changes are implemented.

  56. 56.

    CliosFanboy

    May 6, 2019 at 7:02 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: Mickey is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful mouse I’ve ever known in my life.

  57. 57.

    Another Scott

    May 6, 2019 at 7:42 am

    @Redshift: According to Google News last night, there are headlines from the usual RWNJ news outlets (e.g. WashingtonExaminer) saying that there were clouds and shadows (TM FTFNYT) indicating that Iran was planning some sort of attack. I didn’t click on them.

    I do think Bolton’s tweet has more to do with the JCPOA meeting on Tuesday.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  58. 58.

    low-tech cyclist

    May 6, 2019 at 7:50 am

    Despite Bolton’s statement there is no additional Naval or Amphibious deployment. The Abraham Lincoln and the other vessels and units in its carrier group where already in the CENTCOM AOR and have been for some time. Almost as important is this simple reality: the Iranians know this! They know where US forces are deployed in relation to Iran. All Bolton has done with this announcement is make a lot of noise to hear himself make a lot of noise.

    Maybe he can issue memos each week stating that there will be no parade this Sunday.

  59. 59.

    The Pale Scot

    May 6, 2019 at 9:43 am

    What is a Bomber Task Force? B-52’s, B-1 and B-2s are all based in the continental US.

  60. 60.

    chris

    May 6, 2019 at 9:44 am

    Thanks, Adam.

  61. 61.

    Miss Bianca

    May 6, 2019 at 10:11 am

    @a thousand flouncing lurkers was fidelio: Simon Schama? The guy who wrote that reactionary history of the French Revolution? Gotta say, my level of respect for him just rose.

  62. 62.

    brantl

    May 6, 2019 at 12:34 pm

    All Bolton has done with this announcement is make a lot of noise to hear himself make a lot of noise.

    This is the only reason John Bolton draws breath, respiration is only incidental to him mouthing off.

Comments are closed.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Comments

  • Aussie Sheila on Late Night Weekend Wrap-Up Open Thread: Journamalism, Not A Dependable Profit Center (Apr 15, 2024 @ 5:49am)
  • KSinMA on On The Road – Albatrossity – Spring migration begins (Apr 15, 2024 @ 5:43am)
  • bjacques on Late Night Weekend Wrap-Up Open Thread: Journamalism, Not A Dependable Profit Center (Apr 15, 2024 @ 5:35am)
  • eclare on On The Road – Albatrossity – Spring migration begins (Apr 15, 2024 @ 5:35am)
  • eclare on Late Night Weekend Wrap-Up Open Thread: Journamalism, Not A Dependable Profit Center (Apr 15, 2024 @ 5:24am)

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year
View by Past Author

Balloon Juice Meetups!

All Meetups
Talk of Meetups – Meetup Planning
Proposed BJ meetups list from frosty

Fundraising 2023-24

Wis*Dems Supreme Court + SD-8
Virginia House Races
Four Directions – Montana
Worker Power AZ
Four Directions – Arizona
Four Directions – Nevada

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
Positive Climate News
War in Ukraine
Cole’s “Stories from the Road”
Classified Documents Primer

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Mailing List Signup
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Links)
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Posts)

Fix Nyms with Apostrophes

Balloon Juice for Ukraine

Donate

Twitter / Spoutible

Balloon Juice (Spoutible)
WaterGirl (Spoutible)
TaMara (Spoutible)
John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
David Anderson
Major Major Major Major
ActualCitizensUnited

Political Action 2024

Postcard Writing Information

Balloon Juice for Four Directions AZ

Donate

Balloon Juice for Four Directions NV

Donate

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2024 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!