Good Lord, man, we didn't say to go completely native!"
Posted on 07/15/2006 4:21:38 AM PDT by familyop
Paris (dpa) - European countries had begun evacuating their citizens from Lebanon Saturday in the face of the ongoing military Israeli offensive and blockade on the country.
Italy and Spain had already acted to move their citizens to safety, while Britain and France were preparing similar operations.
The Italian Embassy in Beirut had helped 420 foreigners, including 300 Italians, to evacuate from Beirut by bus to safer areas in northern Lebanon, Italian state television reported.
Some 1,300 Italians live in Lebanon, most of whom "have been living in the country for years and want to remain there," the embassy said. The evacuees were mostly business people, tourists and students.
Authorities in Spain confirmed they had bussed about 120 Spanish citizens out of Lebanon to Damascus, from where they left for Madrid in a military plane that was expected to arrive later in the day.
An additional 650 Spaniards living in Lebanon had chosen to remain there.
French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin said following a crisis meeting with Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy and Defence Minister Michele Alliot- Marie that Paris was preparing to pull its citizens out of Lebanon.
Civilian and military means would be put in place to evacuate by air and sea any French citizens wishing to leave Lebanon, Villepin said.
Around 20,000 French citizens including tourists and business travellers are estimated to be in Lebanon, that was briefly ruled by French mandate in the aftermath of World War 1.
Britain also called on its estimated 20,000 citizens in Lebanon to be prepared to flee the country, the BBC reported.
The British Foreign Office was urging its citizens to report to the British Embassy in Beirut in preparation for an eventual evacuation and also urged them to remain inconspicuous.
I'm certain they are, but it is going to have to be a very large and very complicated operation. A lot of citizens are trapped in smaller towns around the country and can't easily get to Beirut for evacuation because the Israelis have blown up bridges all over Lebanon. Search and Rescue will have to get them. I'm waiting for a boat to pull up to the Beirut harbor. I can be ready in 2 minutes!
Keep your head down and God in your heart.
Good luck on your
"2 minute drill"
Hmmm. ...word has it that a Silkworm missile was launched at an Israeli ship from Beirut. You might have to wait for the harbor to be secured, first.
Hizballah Brings out Iranian Silkworm to Hit Israel Navy Corvette
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1666151/posts
Good Lord, man, we didn't say to go completely native!"
Nice picture BTW. This chap is still a national hero over there - and this fact alone tells you a lot about British sympathies with the Arabs which is akin to Chinese Communists' feelings towards North Korea.
The Italian Embassy in Beirut had helped 420 foreigners, including 300 Italians, to evacuate from Beirut by bus to safer areas in northern Lebanon,
They could have moved my dumb ass by plane back to the land of Spaghetti in one quick move. safer areas in Leabanon?????.nahhhhhhh I dont think so.
It reminds me of Mark Steyn's comment that when an upper crust, public-school-educated Briton beholds a Bedouin living in tent, in penury and obscurity, nursing grudges and living in a fantasy world of ancestral glory he sees.... a soul mate.
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