PHUKET: The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz is bound for Phuket and liberty leave for its 5500 sailors after being targetted by North Korea in a war of words.
Thailand's best-known holiday island is likely to be a more relaxing place than the waters off Korea with North Korea describing the Nimitz's participation in a joint naval drill as ''a grave military provocation to unleash a nuclear war.''
If nuclear war does happen to break out at the end of this month, at least Phuket will have the USS Nimitz close by to defend it.
The dates for the carrier's stay cannot be specified for security reasons but preparations for the arrival at Phuket of the Nimitz are well underway.
''We are proud to have the Nimitz coming to Phuket,'' Pat James, the President of the Phuket Navy League, said today.
It's the carrier's second visit, and the fifth by a US carrier in the past three years.
''Sailors nowadays, we are told, have the chance to vote on where they would like to spend their liberty leave and Phuket scores well,'' Mr James said.
''It's not only the wonderful venue but the activities. We will enlarge our community projects from 10 to 14 for this visit, and the sports will include a game of soccer with local children.''
The USS Nimitz, a giant vessel that runs like a small town at sea, last visited Phuket in February 2010. The boost to Phuket's economy is enormous.
''Figures vary but the sailors are estimated by some people to spend up to two million dollars a day,'' Mr James said. ''The value of the visit increases if fresh supplies are taken on board on Phuket.''
The USS John C Stennis was the last US carrier to visit Phuket and the USS Ronald Reagan has anchored off Phuket's deep sea port twice.
US Navy visits are now so frequent that the Patong police and other officials on Phuket have a clear understanding of what to do.
Sailors are always advised to stay away from jet-skis and tuk-tuks. Ladyboys tend to arrive from Pattaya and other centres when a carrier is in port and police are on the alert for trouble.
The welcome on Phuket will be warmer compared to the invective produced by North Korea earlier this week.
According to the 'Stars and Stripes' newspaper, North Korea's state-run media had this to say: ''Lurking behind the US imperialists' projected war manoeuvres is a sinister intention to stifle [North Korea] and realise their ambition to dominate Asia and the rest of the world.
''They are seriously mistaken if they think they can frighten [North Korea] with such [a] nuclear-powered carrier. The heroic revolutionary armed forces of [North Korea] will never pardon the provocateurs but throw into the bottom of the sea the US carrier and other aggressor forces if they dare [launch an] attack on [the North].''
Navy League members have precedence for tours of the USS Nimitz but anyone from any country may join. Contact Pat James by email at: president@navyleaguephuket.org
Thailand's best-known holiday island is likely to be a more relaxing place than the waters off Korea with North Korea describing the Nimitz's participation in a joint naval drill as ''a grave military provocation to unleash a nuclear war.''
If nuclear war does happen to break out at the end of this month, at least Phuket will have the USS Nimitz close by to defend it.
The dates for the carrier's stay cannot be specified for security reasons but preparations for the arrival at Phuket of the Nimitz are well underway.
''We are proud to have the Nimitz coming to Phuket,'' Pat James, the President of the Phuket Navy League, said today.
It's the carrier's second visit, and the fifth by a US carrier in the past three years.
''Sailors nowadays, we are told, have the chance to vote on where they would like to spend their liberty leave and Phuket scores well,'' Mr James said.
''It's not only the wonderful venue but the activities. We will enlarge our community projects from 10 to 14 for this visit, and the sports will include a game of soccer with local children.''
The USS Nimitz, a giant vessel that runs like a small town at sea, last visited Phuket in February 2010. The boost to Phuket's economy is enormous.
''Figures vary but the sailors are estimated by some people to spend up to two million dollars a day,'' Mr James said. ''The value of the visit increases if fresh supplies are taken on board on Phuket.''
The USS John C Stennis was the last US carrier to visit Phuket and the USS Ronald Reagan has anchored off Phuket's deep sea port twice.
US Navy visits are now so frequent that the Patong police and other officials on Phuket have a clear understanding of what to do.
Sailors are always advised to stay away from jet-skis and tuk-tuks. Ladyboys tend to arrive from Pattaya and other centres when a carrier is in port and police are on the alert for trouble.
The welcome on Phuket will be warmer compared to the invective produced by North Korea earlier this week.
According to the 'Stars and Stripes' newspaper, North Korea's state-run media had this to say: ''Lurking behind the US imperialists' projected war manoeuvres is a sinister intention to stifle [North Korea] and realise their ambition to dominate Asia and the rest of the world.
''They are seriously mistaken if they think they can frighten [North Korea] with such [a] nuclear-powered carrier. The heroic revolutionary armed forces of [North Korea] will never pardon the provocateurs but throw into the bottom of the sea the US carrier and other aggressor forces if they dare [launch an] attack on [the North].''
Navy League members have precedence for tours of the USS Nimitz but anyone from any country may join. Contact Pat James by email at: president@navyleaguephuket.org
"flees" just doesn't fit this article. Who said the big boat was fleeing from the misplaced rhectoric of N. Korea?
Posted by Anonymous on May 17, 2013 17:39
Editor Comment:
You? Wouldn't you say the Nimitz decided it should save the world by heading for Phuket?