Washington (AP) -- Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has ordered an aircraft carrier -- the USS George H.W. Bush -- to move from the northern Arabian Sea to the Persian Gulf as President Barack Obama considers possible military options for Iraq.
Hagel's press secretary, Rear Adm. John Kirby, says the order will give the president added flexibility if military action is required to protect American lives, citizens and interests in Iraq.
Accompany the carrier will be the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea and the guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun. The ships are expected to complete their move into the Gulf later Saturday.
The ships carry Tomahawk missiles, which could reach Iraq. The Bush is carrying fighter jets that could also easily get to Iraq, where a fast-moving Islamic insurgency is gaining territory.
Entities 0 Name: Iraq Count: 4 1 Name: Gulf Count: 1 2 Name: Hagel Count: 1 3 Name: Washington Count: 1 4 Name: American Count: 1 5 Name: Persian Gulf Count: 1 6 Name: AP Count: 1 7 Name: Bush Count: 1 8 Name: Defense Count: 1 9 Name: Barack Obama Count: 1 10 Name: George H.W. Bush Count: 1 11 Name: John Kirby Count: 1 12 Name: Arabian Sea Count: 1 13 Name: Chuck Hagel Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/1psWlJz Title: Obama Finds He Can't Put Iraq Behind Him Description: WASHINGTON - In a high-profile speech to Army cadets last month, President Obama tried to move beyond America's tumultuous adventures in Iraq and Afghanistan with a new doctrine all but forswearing the use of military power except in the most dire of circumstances.
