A U.S. Show of Force

The latest as I write this:

The United States is deploying an amphibious assault ship with about 1000 marines off the coast of Libya in case the US embassy has to be evacuated, a US defence official says.

The USS Bataan was to be in the area "in a matter of days," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, on Tuesday (local time).

The move was described as "precautionary" in case conditions in Libya, where militia battles have plunged the country into anarchy, worsen and require the embassy's evacuation. The State Department said last week the embassy in Tripoli was operating normally despite an offensive launched against Islamist militias by a dissident general, Khalifa Haftar.

In addition to the 1000 marines on board, the Bataan is equipped with several helicopters.

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