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.

[Old_Mil]

Our state department is incompetent, and at least part of this incompetence is due to an incompetent Secretary of State.

[baltoga]

Might as well call it Hezbolcane Kartina 2.

[Tammy8]

I totally agree with you. Great post.

[Churchillspirit]

You make good points.

The logistics of evacuating thousands of people is mind boggling.

If it is "one ship at a time" it will take days.

I only hope that the Government will explain what is going on and not let others speak for them - as in Katrina.

[GovernmentShrinker]

I don't know if I should be comforted or scared by the fact that FR has no troubling receiving and recording your communications, while the U.S. Department of State can't seem to manage that electronic feat.

[mrs tiggywinkle]

As I understand it, some are there working for our government, others are employees in various corporations, and still others are there for vacation. Vacation?!

I wonder if a sense of denial has been in play.

[bannie]

I cannot IMAGINE the pigs attacking US evacuation ships/choppers! Even they aren't THAT insane!

[NorCalRepub]

.... I concur....ignorant people bashing you for being there just shows that even some FReepers are no more intelligent the DUer's......hell, I could find many places in America that when bad things happen I could say...."well, see, it is your fault, you should have known".....haha.....many here are truly as worthless as a liberal.......

[oceanview]

this is the #1 MSM story now - they are trying to "Katrina" the Beirut evac.

[mrs tiggywinkle]

As you read further, you'll see that plans *are* underway. There have been roadblocks and other challenges: Israel or Lebanon not allowing a ship to evacuate Americans to enter port, acquiring a Greek vessel to evacuate Americans, and other factors relating to safety of not only the evacuees but also our military. This is more than an excursion.

[bannie]

I didn't think that the US recognized dual citizenships...?

[TopoGigio]

Why dont they just fly 3 dozen chinooks over from Iraq, and start flying groups of 30-40 people over to cypress...that way they could pick them up from different(undisclosed) locations in smaller groups. I dont like thre cruise ship idea.

[Lil Flower]

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

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

Good luck rebel. Stay safe!

[mrs tiggywinkle]

****************Sea Stallion Helicopters Evacuating Americans at US Embassy in Lebanon****************

rebel....are you aware of this?! Perhaps you should make your way to the embassy.

[TopoGigio]

now were talk'n [URL]http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1667852/posts{/URL]

[Tammy8]

I don't see that he is out of line. The man said he was under some sort of protection of the UN and it seems they boogied without him. But now his anger seems to be directed at the US State Department and US policy. I think if the man in this terrible situation feels the need to play the blame game then it is only fair that others are able to voice their opinions on his situation.
If this man had said nothing about US policy, or laid blame for his situation on the State Dept, etc, etc, I don't think he would be catching the flak he is. I think we all have sympathy for his situation, I for one do not have sympathy for his blame game.

[afnamvet]

BTTT

[Churchillspirit]

Calling Ross Perot!

[FReepaholic]

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

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

[mrs tiggywinkle]

linky no worky

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

Append keyword "warzoneaintperfect"
Diddle E. Squat
07/18/2006 7:51:34 AM CDT

Append keyword "bitetherescuehand"
Diddle E. Squat
07/18/2006 7:50:24 AM CDT

Append keyword "neworleansmindset"
Diddle E. Squat
07/18/2006 7:49:51 AM CDT

Append keyword "savemefrommychoices"
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!

[reagandemo]

Yep and did you catch the college student on Fox the other morning by phone when she could not help it at the end of her conversations that Bush could have prevented this because he did not do enough? These people are INSANE! Who are the most delusional the Terrorists or the left wing nuts?

[AmericanInTokyo]

I am coming to the conclusion (at least in comparing the reaction of foreign media to their coverage of the plight of their citizens in war and natural disaster zones) that the average American must really carry a very weak if any concept of just why Americans go overseas (outside of tourism or US military assignments), or just how many of them are in any one foreign country at any time for a variety of legitimate reasons. They would be amazed to know there are at least 30,000 US citizens for example in Seoul, South Korea in all lines of work. However, it is a short distance from tens of thousands of DPRK artillery pieces. Many Americans are sent somewhere because of their job and their loyalty to it. I understand this lack of grasp, with not more than 7% of Americans holding passports and so few involved in international travel, there is a great lack of understanding of just why many other Americans are overseas at any given time--and are shocked to see the need when such a massive emergency evac becomes necessary. I don't see this sentiment in the UK. I don't see it in Germany. I don't see it in Italy. Don't see it in Japan. Never saw it or read it in Korea. Never sensed it in Spain or Poland or India.

I guess the solution is to just come completely home--with the exception of US military in absolutely necessary situations, allow no more civilian Americans overseas--which is increasingly dangerous, just all off the country, and enjoy our own land in perfect peace and insularity.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Classic American bureaucratic screw ups. Just like flying United or American Airlines in the US. We pay taxes for these services, in fact we have already paid for them; when push comes to shove, things just 'don't work'.

Quality control, customer service, thoroughness, exactness...many things missing from American federal and state and local government, health care world and private business/commerce. It seems to get worse every year--whether Democrats or Republicans are in charge--I would say a worse under the Democrats after even more agressive 'affirmative action' and lack of performance parameters. You can see the decay a lot more clearly, often, from a vantage point of far away (abroad). I think most Americans living in the US have had services erode so slowly that they have lost any ability to challenge things, demand better service, or even have the consciousness of how bad the standards have dipped in comparison with many other countries.

[oceanview]

and I also heard additional people complaining they had to pay for passage on the cruise ships.

[Rte66]

Just heard that 320 Americans will be transported out this evening and another 1000 tomorrow. Sounds like a numbers game.

[oceanview]

I thought I heard that a US chartered cruise ship was leaving cyprus this morning - and its a 5 hour ride to lebanon. was that correct?

[DvdMom]

rebel_yell 2 has been a freeper since 1998 .

rebel_yell2 is unfortunatly there because of his job . He works for the International Montery Fund .

rebel_yell2 did not want to be evacuated to Syria !!! I agree with fellow posters that any Americans going to Syria are at risk for hostage situations , & human sheilds situations & etc...

rebel_yell2 is Stuck in a warzone , & is Deserving Of Our Help & Prayers !

[FreedomPoster]

I really don't think they think rationally like we do. While *I* would certainly look at it that way, there's no telling what this loons might try to pull.

[GregB]

Yes things will move along better now,has not that area been a dangerous place even lately?

[rbmillerjr]

Hope you get out soon. Whatever you do, don't panic and make a rash decision to go to Syria by road.

There are 2200 Marines that will be offshore very soon, so if Hezzbolah gets froggy they will be in their quick on hovercraft and choppers.

I know it's frustrating but remember that the US is planning on between 5-15,000 possible evacuees and you are a number right now. There are probably thousands of Americnas constantly calling State and the embassy.

You are there as a member of the IMF, correct. It seems that it would be much easier for them to get IMF personnel out of there (as the numbers are much lower). Did they not have any kind of contingency plans for something like this in such a volatile area?