U.S. Rescue Bogs Down in Lebanon

LATimes ^ | July 18, 2006 | Megan K. Stack

[rebel_yell2]

BEIRUT — Thousands of Americans whose vacations and business trips to Lebanon have degenerated with sickening speed into stints in a battle zone remained stranded here under Israeli bombardment Monday, their frustration and anger mounting because the U.S. government hasn't gotten them out faster.

Waiting around Beirut with bags packed and fingers crossed, U.S. citizens derided the embassy for busy phone lines, a lack of information and gnawing uncertainty over when and whether they will get out. Hundreds were expected to be shipped to Cyprus today, but how long the full evacuation will take remains uncertain.

[IrishRainy]

LOL! How about "Clinton officials who haven't been indicted." That's a much smaller list. :^)

[mtbopfuyn]

One of my colleagues was helping with the French evacuation yesterday. He complained about how many Arabic names were on the manifest and was told that it was too late to vet the passengers.

Hmm, interesting and I suspected that would be the case.

[fatima]

Your a little sick.

[leadpenny]

I didn't say anything about "protection" or about dogs. Monkeys, yes, but not about dogs. Try to keep up.

[Beckwith]

But I find it inexcusable that the State Department was unprepared for the call volume an incident like this would generate.

I don't mean to come across like I'm busting your chops. I'm not. I realize you are under a lot of strain.

But everyone needs to understand that the government is like a big locomotive. You got to build up some steam before you can move and then slowly.

Once momentum is built, anything is possible and in a timely manner.

Same thing with Katrina. Even though tens of thousands were in position with supplies, it took that initial period of X hours.

God bless . . .

Regarding extraction insurance, available from most large carriers:

CBC and Canwest Global would not disclose the cost of covering their reporters.

But Jan Vrem says that the insurance Global bought from Manulife is not costing as much as the network budgeted.

Global also purchases long-term disability insurance and extraction insurance that helps cover the cost of getting a reporter out of an area in an emergency. However, none of the three news organizations interviewed carry kidnapping insurance, but they say that they are prepared to deal with this eventuality.

Source

[rebel_yell2]

You're a real piece of work, aren't you?

Ever been out of your own neighborhood?

[SwordofTruth]

I don't think Hizbollah is looking to kill a boatload of foreigners.

I doubt they are either. Like you said, at any time they could get some American hostages if that was their desire, yet they haven't.

[mtbopfuyn]

Try calling that number and see how long it takes for them to answer. I sure hope they have scaled up their phone bank since yesterday.

Hey, it's quicker than trying to get someone to pick up at the IRS. ;-)

[drlevy88]

You are jealous because only the cat will have anything to do with you. Two of a kind.

[ReignOfError]

Contrary to your view, it is NOT the US government's job to get US citizens out of the jams they have gotten themselves into overseas, and that includes the present situation in Lebanon.

Au contraire. The people furthering US interests abroad aren't limited to those in the armed forces. Folks engaging in commerce and culture and even tourism are helping to spread the US message, especially in countries struggling to get to their feet (as Lebanon has been) that might slide back in to chaos (as Lebanon has recently done).

It is in the national interest of the US that people do that work. And it is in our national interest that more people will be willing to do so, knowing that their government will do everything feasible to protect their safety and remove them from harm. It is not merely an act of benevolence, but a matter of national interest to encourage and protect the efforts of private U.S. citizens abroad.

[SwordofTruth]

Hezbollah would love to kill Americans.

Then why haven't they?

[GOP_Proud]

< Why is the French bureaucracy more efficient than our own? >

Personally, I don't think it is. Americans are always targets. More and better planning has to be used. Despite what some may think, I believe the enemy, be it Hamas, Hezbollah or Al Quiada would just love to get a bunch of Americans in a group as sitting ducks. They won't target the French and others. They will Americans.

[drlevy88]

But if it will help eliminate Hizbollah, I'll sit here for another six months.

Hezbollah will be nothing but smoke and ashes in days.

[dubyawhoiluv]

prior to these murderers killing our Marines it was considered the JEWEL of the middle east second to ISRAEL, the American University,medical center,beaches and was a magnet for many europeans and a second destination for visitors from Israel

[ClaireSolt]

My thoughts exactly. Acting like Katrina survivors. Acting very badly. I might add. Forget the government. Take care of yourself!

[Diva]

You would think, OK send helicopters and ships, but they would be going to an unsecured area where there are terrorists with Iranian supplied stuff that could knock a helicopter in flight down or sink any number of ships they want to that come into rescue.

Not to mention the real possibility of Israel shooting down those helicopters if the rescue is not coordinated with their military. When you have planes and missles in the air, to use our President's own colorful language, s**t happens!

[Jezebelle]

Israel isn't preventing you from leaving Beirut, and they certainly aren't holding you hostage. Until you made these two statements, I felt sorry for you, but the reality is that you're just whining crybaby blaming everybody but the people who started this and yourself for placing yourself in a dangerous situation in the first place.

[DustyMoment]

The US State Department has a reputation of being crappy and unreliable when Americans overseas need their assistance. Frankly, when I traveled overseas, the only time I bothered with the State Dept. was to let them know I was in the country, but I had no illusions about them doing anything to help me get out quickly, should the need arise.

[rebel_yell2]

Understand that governments do something called "contingency planning." That is one of the things I have been teaching governments over here in the Middle East. You try to foresee these problems and see if you have the resources to deal with them. Call volume for a major international incident falls in that category. State gets an "F" for contingency planning.

As for extraction insurance, it doesn't get you out when there is a military blockade. At least not in any manner I'd like to try, like through Syria. But you may be comfortable with that sort of trip.