Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Something to keep an eye on. Why is this commander in trouble? Remember, the Eisenhower was suspected of being in a Iranian false flag op.

Navy Commander Relieved of Post

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The U.S. Navy said Monday it had relieved a top officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower who is under an internal investigation on unspecified charges.

Cmdr. Christopher Rankin, who commanded a squadron of EA-6B aircraft aboard the Eisenhower, has been temporarily reassigned within the carrier group due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command, said Cmdr. Kevin Aandahl of the Bahrain-based U.S. 5th Fleet.

The Navy gave no details on why Rankin's commander, Capt. Scott Stearney, lost confidence in his abilities. Stearney leads Carrier Air Wing 7, which includes Rankin's squadron.

"It's inappropriate to discuss the details because an investigation is ongoing. It's an internal situation," Aandahl said. "There could be a (criminal) charge. It's possible."

Aandahl said the loss of confidence in ability to command could be triggered under a broad range of scenarios from bad judgment to inappropriate conduct. For now, he said, Rankin will remain with the Eisenhower strike group, patrolling the Gulf and adjoining Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.

The Eisenhower is currently visiting a port in the Persian Gulf that Aandahl declined to name.

Original article posted here.

No comments: