Can the "Ford" Not Be Fixed? The U.S. Military's Third Aircraft Carrier Rushes to the Middle East
According to CBS News, the U.S. Navy's "Bush" aircraft carrier strike group has already departed from Norfolk Naval Base earlier this week, heading toward the Middle East to support America's aggressive war against Iran.
Although American media have not explicitly stated it, the "Bush" likely intends to replace the "Ford." Currently, the "Ford" has left Souda Bay in Crete, Greece, and is en route to the Lora Naval Base in Croatia — a facility equipped with specialized capabilities for complex technical repairs, suggesting that the situation following the laundry room fire on the "Ford" is far from optimistic.
Previously, Bloomberg reported that the laundry room fire was merely a minor issue for the "Ford," despite the ship having already participated in combat deployments; the Pentagon still lacks sufficient data to fully confirm its overall operational effectiveness. If maintenance in Croatia fails to resolve the problems, the "Ford" returning to the U.S. will be highly probable.
On the other hand, the arrival of the "Bush" itself sends a signal: America's military actions against Iran have not, as Trump claimed, been "de-escalated." Considering that the "Ford" had previously patrolled the northern Red Sea, it is not out of the question that the "Bush"'s mission may include closely monitoring and deterring Houthi forces — on the 28th, the Houthis launched ballistic missiles at Israel, which Israeli media interpreted as a declaration of their entry into the conflict.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1860909079517188/
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