Secretary of Defense Cohen conducts a press briefing on the USS George Washington deployment. Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen conducts a press briefing on the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) and its battle group to the Persian Gulf on Nov. 14, 1997. The battle group has been ordered to the Persian Gulf to join the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) battle group already on station. The two battle groups will be operating in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch which is the U.S. and coalition enforcement of the no-fly-zone over Southern Iraq. SHARE: Download: Full Size (0.02 MB) Credit: VIRIN: 937520-U-GQE86-074.jpg Photo Gallery