USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Deployed to...Iran?

In September 2006 it was reported that the Eisenhower Strike Group was under orders to depart the United States in early October 2006, slated to arrive in the Persian Gulf on or aabout 21 October 2006. Some observers were alarmed that this was part of the Bush Administration's plans to attack Iran's WMD facilities immediately prior to the November 7th Congressional election. This seems improbable. In recent years the Navy has normally stationed one carrier in the Persian Gulf to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. The IKE will replace the Abraham Lincoln in this role.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/batgru-69-med07.htm

Please, don't be alarmed. Why spend a half billion dollars upgrading a carrier and deploying it half way round the world when there are carriers closer, and thousands of American land based attack aircraft in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan? The world will change forever in the near future.