Ensign Scott Jennings, a member of USS Rushmore's (LSD-47) small boat crew, watches the sun rise over one of Iraq's oil platforms in the Persian Gulf July 20. Rushmore is currently conducting maritime operations around Iraq's al Basrah and Khawr al Amaya oil platforms. Maritime operations help set the conditions for security and stability in the Persian Gulf and protect Iraq's sea-based infrastructure to help provide the Iraqi people the opportunity for self-determination.