The departure of the “USS Abraham Lincoln” was confirmed by a US official. On Sunday, the head of the US Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, also mentioned this in his essay in The Wall Street Journal.
Read more Juozas Olekas does not see the need for research on the extent of exploitation in the Church
“Good luck and I hope you soon enjoy a well-deserved reunion with your families,” wrote the admiral.
Iran destroyed the US Navy base in Bahrain
The aircraft carrier “USS Abraham Lincoln” was deployed in the Middle East as part of US operations against Iran. In recent weeks, reports have emerged about poor living conditions on the ship due to logistical challenges caused by Iran destroying the Navy base in Manama (Bahrain), which was a vital supply center, according to The New York Times.
The “USS Abraham Lincoln” departed from San Diego on November 21 last year. During all 272 days of service, the ship spent almost all the time at sea, except for a short stop in Guam in December and a stop in Oman to replenish supplies.
Thousands of sailors on board did not have a single day off, and now they face a journey home of about 21,000 km, which may take four to five weeks.
US lawmakers from the Democratic Party have repeatedly cited reports of shortages of essential supplies, contaminated water, plumbing issues, and deteriorating mental health on the aircraft carrier. Admiral B. Cooper called many of these problems “old news” in his text.
On Sunday, the Central Command CENTCOM, which coordinates military operations in the region, wished the “USS Abraham Lincoln” “fair winds and calm seas” on the social network “X” – a traditional Navy farewell harking back to the age of sailing ships. On Thursday, another post announced that the aircraft carrier “USS George Washington” had arrived in the Middle East and began operating under Central Command’s authority from Wednesday.
20 US warships
The US Navy in the Middle East, beyond the Persian Gulf, maintains about 20 warships: two aircraft carrier strike groups formed around the “USS George H. W. Bush” and “USS George Washington,” one amphibious group with a Marine expeditionary unit, and several destroyer squadrons implementing President Donald Trump’s renewed blockade of Iranian ports, which has lasted 38 days.
What happens next?
The publications “Military Times” and “Stars and Stripes” previously extensively described shortages of essential supplies, water contamination, plumbing failures, and a sudden decline in the mental health of service members on the ship.
Read more Postpartum depression and psychosis closer than you think: how to recognize dangerous symptoms?
“Abraham Lincoln” has not docked at any port for more than 250 days, and work on aircraft carriers is incredibly hard and exhausting. Therefore, it is not surprising that during this mission we are witnessing a mental health crisis,” said Sarah Jacobs, representative of the 51st congressional district.
Now Democratic Party representatives in Congress are calling for an independent investigation to find out why the crew was deployed for so long and how they ran out of supplies.
Republican congressional candidate and Navy captain Arman Kurdian says that reports of sailors trying to jump from the aircraft carrier are not as unusual as they might seem.
“Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for any service member during missions to attempt suicide or have suicidal thoughts,” said A. Kurdian.
The Trump administration initially stated that there were no problems on the “USS Abraham Lincoln” ship.
However, after meeting with sailors’ family members and the Secretary of the Navy, the administration decided to bring the aircraft carrier home despite the conditions on board.
Armed Services Committee member S. Jacobs says she will continue to seek answers for her San Diego community, reports Fox News.
“I want to say that this is another reason to end this reckless chosen war in Iran because it is my constituents who pay the price. Although they voluntarily chose to serve the country, it is our duty as state leaders to ensure that this sacrifice is worthwhile, and we get nothing from this war,” said S. Jacobs.
