The US has dispatched two warships loaded with missiles anda Marine team to beef up the security at its missions in Libya after Americanambassador was killed in a violent attack on its Consulate in Benghazi.
Senior Obama Administration officials said the 50-memberMarine unit was being flown from their base in Europe. This is in addition totwo US warships - USS Laboon and USS McFaul - which are now being moved to thecoast of Libya.
The warships are equipped with Tomahawk missiles that couldbe used if the Obama Administration orders a strike against those responsiblefor the attack on US mission.
The crews of each warship equal approximately 300 people.
The decision comes after US envoy to Libya and three otherAmericans were killed in the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi by an armedmob yesterday.
The move came hours after President Barack Obama said he hasdirected his administration to provide all necessary resources to support thesecurity of US personnel in Libya, and to increase security at diplomatic postsaround the globe.
Pentagon spokesman George Little declined to comment onspecific ship movements but said precautionary steps are being taken by the USmilitary.
"The Fleet's Anti-terrorism Security Teams (FAST) thatwe deploy when requested are responsible for the protection of Embassypersonnel and property, and they also play a role in the evacuation ofpersonnel, as required," the senior administration official said oncondition of anonymity.
"Whether or not US military personnel will be involvedin future operations to track down the perpetrators of this attack, I'm simplynot going to speculate on what may or may not be in the works in thefuture," the official said.
According to the official, the Department of Defense isworking closely with the White House and State Department to provide allnecessary resources to support the security of US personnel in Libya.
The FAST teams were formed in 1987 to provide a quickresponse to security threats after a series of terror attacks on Americaninterests in the 1970s and 1980s.
"This support includes a Marine Corps fleetanti-terrorism security team based out of Europe. The mission of this team isto secure the diplomatic facility in Tripoli, our Embassy, and protect UScitizens as needed," the official said.
The Defense Department is also providing support to evacuateAmerican personnel and casualties out of Libya.
"Those individuals and the remains of our fallencolleagues will arrive, if they haven’t already done so, at Ramstein Landstuhlin Germany," the official said.
According to WAVY-TV, the USS Laboon, along with otherNorfolk-based destroyers, had been recently equipped with the Ballistic MissileDefense System.
Those destroyers are the cornerstone of what is called thePresident's "Phased Adaptive Approach" to protect European alliesfrom growing missile threats, said the Norfolk-based local television channel.
Meanwhile, Obama telephoned his Afghan counterpart HamidKarzai to discuss and ensure that the violent incidents in Libya and Egypt donot have any negative impact on the safety and security of American soldiersdeployed in Afghanistan.
"Karzai expressed condolences for the tragic loss ofAmerican life and the Presidents discussed the importance of working togetherto help ensure that the circumstances that led to the violence in Libya andEgypt do not pose a threat to US forces or Afghans," the White House said.
The White House said Obama called Karzai as part of theirregular consultations as transition continues in Afghanistan.
The two Presidents took the opportunity to discuss thetragic events that took place in Benghazi, including the death of US Embassypersonnel.
"Obama also reaffirmed his commitment to transferringdetainees to Afghan authority in a manner that respects Afghan sovereignty andprotects US and Afghan forces. The two Presidents agreed to speak again soon onadditional issues of mutual interest,"" the White House said.
