Three other carriers and their escort vessels already are stationed within striking distance of Iraq or are steaming toward the area. But unless the military situation changes drastically, military officials say, the most likely plan will be for the Kennedy to eventually (replace) the carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower, which has been on patrol since March and was scheduled to return to port before hostilities erupted in Kuwait. --- Andy Pasztor contributed to this article.  
 Verb: replace
Yes