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.

[Atlantic Friend]

"All I can say is that if the French can beat us getting their citizens out, well dang."

Heck, apparently we did beat you getting YOUR citizens out :

"A ferry chartered by the French government carried about 800 of its citizens and several dozen Americans to Cyprus on Monday."

More seriously, I'm glad we (and the other European nations there) are helping each other's nationals out. Western nations should always defend their mutual interests - and here the most urgent mutual interest is to make sure we don't have 50,000 hostages in Hizbullah-held territory.

[FReepaholic]

...I for one do not have sympathy for his blame game...

I do. The man is probably in fear for his life.

I wonder how you would react if you were facing the same thing he is?

What's that old Native American saying?..."walk a mile in my moccasins"

[ZULU]

What kind of moron goes to a place like LEBENON for vacation in the first place???

That's almost as bad a choice as Afghanistan.

Perhaps most of these AMERICANS are Lebanese holding dual citizenship.

[FreedomPoster]

Say what!? What in the world would make you think that, based on the past history of Hezbollah?

[napscoordinator]

"I am tired again of "IT'S BUSH'S FOUGHT" again"



I am too, but it is inevitable. The media is making this another Katrina so we will hear this for the next few months. Again by election this will be forgotten. I just hope nothing happens after September then it will be too close to elections to be forgotten...whether the President is to be blamed or not. The media will always blame the President regardless.

[FReepaholic]

...What kind of moron goes to a place like LEBENON for vacation in the first place???...

If you're referring to rebel_yell2, I understand that he is there on an assignment with the IMF (International Monetary Fund).

[Old_Mil]

I am quite happy taking responsibility for my own safety. I am unhappy about being held hostage by a foreign government.

To clarify your situation, you are not being "held hostage by a foreign government." You are in a war zone, after having entered an unstable country with a large Muslim population voluntarily.

Blaming Israel for the situation you find yourself in is silly.

[Admin Moderator]

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07/18/2006 7:51:34 AM CDT

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Diddle E. Squat
07/18/2006 7:51:34 AM CDT

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Diddle E. Squat
07/18/2006 7:50:24 AM CDT

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Diddle E. Squat
07/18/2006 7:49:51 AM CDT

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Diddle E. Squat
07/18/2006 7:49:51 AM CDT

[mtbopfuyn]

Those who wish to leave should ready themselves immediately. They should prepare important travel documents such as a valid U.S. passport, birth certificates, and other civil documents such as marriage. Each traveler will each be allowed one suitcase only—not to exceed 15 kilos (30 pounds). Pets will not be allowed to travel.

Katrina II.

http://lebanon.usembassy.gov/lebanon/pr071806.html

[BJungNan]

On business perhaps? On vacation? I have done both in Beirut. It is (or was) a fantastic city. Wandering around the bars and cafes at night you would never have sensed any feeing of threat.

I have never been there. I'm sure you are quite right. They were there on a teaching sabbatical.

[brazzaville]

Good morning.
"FGS, he's on BUSINESS there..."

Is that UN business? He should have left with them.

Michael Frazier

[ZULU]

I don't know who rebel_yell2 is.

People who go into dangerous areas should be prepared to face the consequences and not get bent out of shape when rescue efforts are delayed. Conservatives believe in facing the consequences of their decisions. Its liberals who go whining to the government for relief when they get themselves in a mess they can't get out of, isn't it?

I was referring to all those individuals claiming to be American citizens who are in Lebanon on alleged "vacations" anyway.

[bannie]

Say What???

Whoa...I just think that opening this up that big right now might be more than they want to bite off. If they intentionally attack an ship full of American civilians, the Big Guns would be immediately pulled. We don't have jimmah carter in office, you know.

[ZULU]

By the way, I agree with you about Waco - and Ruby Ridge too.

[2rightsleftcoast]

Yep, it's Katrina all over again, according to the MSN.
I personally am furious watching our the media being so very concerned about the "slow evacuation"!!!! If someone is there for a job, ok I agree we need to get him or her out. As for the people who are there on vacation, sorry, my radar is up on that one. And when I here these same evacuees complaining, you don't want to know what I think.
I would also be interested in how we are checking these people out that we are loading on helicopters and then cruise ships, Who are all these people?

[Lil Flower]

Well, the French have more experience at retreating than we do

Good point, LOL

I also have to remember that the islamists luv the Frenchies

[mtbopfuyn]

Per FOX - showing a British war ship arriving in Beirut to evac British citizens.

I suppose the "IOWA" Jima (spelling thanks to Fox) is still just in the planning stages of getting underway.

[redgolum]

I have learned to never expect bureaucrats to function.

Which in times like this is very frustrating! Hope you can get out soon.

And yes, most of the State Dept. needs to be forced to find a new job.

[burzum]

I think we all have sympathy for his situation, I for one do not have sympathy for his blame game.

Sympathy or not, right now is not the time to discuss it. There will be plenty of time to discuss the issue in a couple of weeks without fouling up communications on this thread.

I don't agree or disagree with John Valentine's views. I just don't care right now. More important things are happening.

I am disappointed that you do not realize that when people are under stress they say things and complain about things that they may regret in the future. It doesn't make them bad people. If I work as a firefighter, I am not going to yell at a man who started a fire due to inattention until *after* I put out the fire. Additionally, if I am a Freeper, I am not going to yell at a person for disrespectful statements who is trapped in war zone until he or she leaves the war zone.

[Rte66]

Ah, it just occurred to me why the first reports about the French *ferry* didn't list any Americans onboard. Duh, I coulda had a V-8!