larry johnson is baffled by this as am i;

What is the Pentagon thinking? The US aircraft carrier, the Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), reportedly has departed the Persian Gulf and is returning to its home port in the US. In its place, the Pentagon deployed six B-52s to Qatar:

The US Department of Defense has deployed additional air assets to the Middle East amid escalating tensions with Iran and its regional proxies. 

The Pentagon Press Secretary, Major General Pat Ryder, announced on November 1, 2024, that the Department of Defense had ordered the deployment of new fighter squadrons, tanker aircraft, B-52 long-range strategic bombers, and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers equipped with Aegis ballistic missile defense systems.  

According to Air & Space Forces Magazine, the combat aircraft deployment will consist of six B-52 bombers and a squadron of F-15E Strike Eagle fighters. The US Central Command confirmed the arrival of B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers from the 5th Bomb Wing of Minot Air Force Base in its area of responsibility on November 3, 2024. They will likely operate from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. ........more.........