US orders aircraft carrier into Gulf over Iraq crisis

The United States has ordered an aircraft carrier, the USS George H W Bush, into the Gulf in response to the crisis in Iraq, the Pentagon said today.

"The order will provide the commander-in-chief additional flexibility should military options be required to protect American lives, citizens and interests in Iraq," Rear Admiral John Kirby, the Pentagon spokesman, said, adding that the carrier would be accompanied by a guided-missile cruiser and a guided-missile destroyer.