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.

[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!

[freema]

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[IrishRainy]

FGS, he's on BUSINESS there, NOT a vacation!

[MEG33]

Sounds like an ideal set up to wait..Good luck!

[jch10]

I would think that State would have to have assurances from Lebanon that the evacuators and evacuees would be safe before they made any moves. Evidently, France, Italy, and others, are allies to that bunch and got immediate action on their requests. They will wait as long as possible to make the US look bad, at home and abroad.
I pray for the evacuees but know that the govt is doing all it can, as quickly as it can. It is not to their advantage to appear sluggish and inept at this point.
There is also the problem of making sure no terrorists slip in with the evacuees. Passports and personal records must be verified....try that for 25,000 people....not so easy,huh?

[SwordofTruth]

This doesn't belong in breaking news.

It is breaking and it is news, so get over it.

[drlevy88]

Well to be fair it isn't like the Hezzies and Israel just started glaring at each other at 11:59 last Tuesday night, and then both flew into a rage. Missiles were already for several days getting lobbed from Hezzie sites at civilian centers in Israel. To think that Israel would tolerate that is silly.

[Jezebelle]

I hope the State Dept. is doing background checks on these people before they load them up. I don't want a suicide bomber getting on a U.S. naval ship, chopper, airliner, etc..

[rebel_yell2]

Please tell me who is blockading the route from Beirut to Larnaca? The Israeli Navy is preventing the free movement of U.S. citizens in international waters. Call it what you will. Now if that will help eliminate Hizbollah, I am supportive of the effort and so be it, but it is a fact. You need to take your hate-filled blinders off and see the real world.

[ReignOfError]

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. Anyone with a French passport was allowed to board, Hizbollah or not. So this is not just a "small boat" problem. And an understandable sticking point for Israel.

Understandable. Now isn't the time for ethnic profiling. Get all your citizens out, and take the time to do the vetting while at sea or in customs at the other end.

[RNO1]

My prayers are with you and the other Americans that are stuck in Lebanon right now...I do have some serious concerns of what the terrorist there might try and do to any ship that tries to rescue you...So please be patient as the concerns the State Dept and others may have that the rescue is just that a rescue and not a tragedy...Unfortunately it takes time to get everything organized and getting the right military units there to provide security... The sad part is some here are trying hard just make political hay out of it...Other Countries may not have the risk associated with taking their people out that we do...Just my two cent...Please stay safe and for all means keep a low profile

[rebel_yell2]

From everything I hear, the escalation to a blockade of Lebanon was unexpected last week in Washington and every other major capital of the world, but I defer to your knowledge of international affairs . . . .

Perhaps you should be working for Condi?

[drlevy88]

They are stupid if they do not look for explosives same as if it were somebody getting on a plane

[Echo Talon]

The Orient Queen is heading to Beirut and can carry 700 Americans.. per Fox news...

[mtbopfuyn]

Get all your citizens out, and take the time to do the vetting while at sea or in customs at the other end.

It's probably just as confusing at the other end. You can bet there's more than a few bad guys slipping out under the radar.

[Jezebelle]

So he says. Actually, I no longer even believe he's there. He spends way too much time on this site for somebody who is supposedly trying to get on a registry list, is scared, and trying to find a way home.

[drlevy88]

To understand that Hezbollah is like one big outlaw gang, that once it starts [feces] with someone it hates it is united to keep it up to the bitter end, was beyond Washington? I guess so, Mr. George "The Religion Of Peace" Bush....

[drlevy88]

MEOW

[GregB]

On Fox they said a lot of the Americans have dual citizenship's abd woulb staying and maybe 8,000 would need to leave!!!

[drlevy88]

And so they are, which means they aren't in Lebanon shooting missiles