Second Aircraft Carrier Heads to the Middle East

Just hours before the President is set to address the American people, Yahoo News (via Rawstory) is reporting the United States has sent a second aircraft carrier to the Gulf furthering fears the United States is set to strike Iran.

"The American aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis and several accompanying ships are heading toward the Gulf to join an aircraft carrier group already in the region, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. The Stennis is expected to arrive in late February.

The Stennis's arrival in the Middle East will mark the first time since the U.S.-led Iraq invasion in 2003 that the United States has had two carrier battle groups in the region."

US diplomats used harsh language to defend the move.

"The Middle East isn't a region to be dominated by Iran. The Gulf isn't a body of water to be controlled by Iran. That's why we've seen the United States station two carrier battle groups in the region," said Nicholas Burns, U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs.

Will President Bush address this move during tonight's speech? Will this be another repeat of the 2003 State of the Union?