USS Ponce. Photo: wiki commons.

JPost – The United States is rushing to send a large floating base to the Middle East in the midst of rising tensions with Iran, al-Qaida in Yemen, and Somali pirates, the Washington Postreported Friday.

The Pentagon is converting an aging warship, the USS Ponce, which had been previously slated for decommission, into a staging base for commando teams. The report stated that the floating base could potentially provide shelter for smaller speed boats and helicopter, and could also be used as a base for mine-clearing operations.

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