Posted on 07/18/2006 12:46:21 AM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
the state dept. was saying that people here were to keep the state dept. informed where the people in lebanon were located and stuff like that and IF they move to a new location in Lebanon to inform them... and such
They may be finally getting their act together, but that was not the case last week when this all blew up.
They go to Lebanon and then rely on the governemnt to get them out if their is trouble. The last person I know that went to Lebanon ened up as a hostage. I said it then and I will say it again years later, why would anyone risk going there?
While there shouldn't be American dual citizens, the fact is that there are, and that those citizens are Americans, and thus should be protected as such.
Where are you going to march them to? If you go south, you have to march through Hezbollah territory. North is Syria.
silkworm?
My family and I are praying for you that you get home soon. Stay safe and Godspeed.
Did you see the link I sent you? The following should work, and sorry about the error (lack of the _s_ in https) the first time I sent it.
Register at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs
It's a secure sockets layer (SSL) URL--requires the "https".
You do have to give a passport number and State SHOULD be able to check to see if the number is valid AND that the person associated with that number actually is outside of the U.S.
I'm just telling you what I heard yesterday... :) Keep your spirits up
You do make a good point. Whether for work or leisure, that area is dangerous. It's like people who rebuild in a flood plain or hurricane zone. They should know the risk they're taking.
if you happen to see hassan nasrallah pop him between the eyes for us ;^)
If you didn't know already, there are just way too many Americans there. With all the dual citizenships, the "real" number I hear is in the tens of thousands.
I don't think the Embassy can get anything done in the near term based on the sheer numbers.
I'm not making excuses here, but the number of nationals probably exceeds all others in total.
If you know anyone in the mountains to the east, that's a better bet.
(Okay I realize that's not maybe welcome coming from stateside.)
You entirely missed my point which was that a good portion of the so-called 25,000 won't want to leave, because they are dualies who will want to stay in Lebanon.
The fact alone of the UN running off demands that we pull funding and give them the boot from American soil, IMHO.
My retired ambassador friend got me registered directly with the special task force.
Nobody can raise a white flag as fast as the UN, not even the French.
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