Admiral Takes Responsibility for USS Carl Vinson Confusion

Adm. Harry Harris, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, accepted the blame for confusion over the movements of the USS Carl Vinson strike group, the Washington Examiner reported.

"With regard to the Carl Vinson, that's my fault on the confusion and I'll take the hit for it," Harris told the House Armed Services Committee.

Harris said he did not accurately inform the media of the movements of the aircraft carrier group, which was believed to have been steaming to the Korean peninsula.

President Donald Trump had announced he was sending a powerful "armada" to North Korea, which was defiantly testing missiles. But a New York Times story said the Vinson was actually headed in another direction at the time and not toward Korea.

Harris said he made the decision to pull the aircraft carrier out of Singapore and cancel a port visit to Australia, CNBC reported.

The admiral noted he also ordered the carrier to proceed north. However, he said, he failed to communicate that adequately to the press. "So that is all on me."

The carrier group is now in the Philippine Sea and about a two hour flight away from North Korea, the Examiner reported.

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