Deep in the middle of Newsweek's article Blowup? America's Hidden War With Iran, we find this news:
A second Navy carrier group is steaming toward the Persian Gulf, and NEWSWEEK has learned that a third carrier will likely follow.
A THIRD CARRIER? That would mean, presumably, a third carrier group.
Remember when the Bush administration piled all those troops outside of Iraq and many people refused to believe they would be told to attack?
There is no way I can imagine this bunch sending three carrier groups to the Gulf unless they plan to use them. Incidentally, the Gulf is a very small bit of water for one carrier group, not to mention three. And, I worry about them being, um, targets.
Doesn't anyone remember Millennium Challenge? (Cf. Wikipedia entry)
A carrier requires its own carrier group. A few destroyers, 1 or two missle cruisers, a supply ship and possibly a sub and other aux ships