Posted on 07/14/2006 1:57:35 PM PDT by Pyro7480
US tells citizens to consider leaving Lebanon
WASHINGTON - The United States has urged U.S. citizens to consider leaving Lebanon when conditions permit, the State Department said on Friday as Israel attacked Hizbollah targets and civilian installations.
But no U.S. official or American citizen has left Lebanon because there is no way to leave, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said, and the U.S. government is discussing contingency plans to help Americans leave.
"Conditions permitting, we have urged American citizens to consider leaving Lebanon," McCormack told reporters.
He said the U.S. government was advising U.S. citizens in Lebanon to "assess their personal security situation" amid violence which escalated when the Lebanese guerrilla group Hizbollah captured two Israeli soldiers on the Israeli-Lebanese border on Wednesday.
Israeli aircraft rocketed runways at Beirut's already closed international airport and warplanes blasted the main Beirut-Damascus highway overnight, tightening an air, sea and land blockade of Lebanon.
The State Department estimates that about 25,000 U.S. citizens, including people with dual citizenship, live in Lebanon, although summer visits could expand that community.
"Right now ... from the U.S. government perspective, there aren't any ways to get out -- reliable ways to get out by air, land or sea," McCormack said.
He said if conditions allowed, some U.S. officials, nonemergency personnel and family members would leave.
"We would, as part of that planning, see how we can accommodate those American citizens who want to leave that are in the country," McCormack said.
Pentagon officials have said the U.S. military was closely monitoring the situation and has ships in the region that could be used in the event U.S. officials order an evacuation of American citizens from Lebanon.
The military has the helicopter carrier USS Iwo Jima heading a seven-ship group taking part in an exercise off the coast of Jordan, officials said.
And more importantly, the Warden message from U.S. Embassy Beirut:
http://beirut.usembassy.gov/lebanon/PR_07_14_06_Situation_PR_3_2.html
press releases
U.S. Embassy Situation Update
July 14, 2006
The U.S. Embassy issued a Warden Message to update Americans about the ongoing security concerns in Lebanon, July 14, 2006. The Warden Message encourages Americans to register with the U.S. Embassy, preferably on line at http://lebanon.usembassy.gov or by fax at +961 4 544 209 or +961 4 544 037.
The first concern of the U.S. Embassy is for the safety and well-being of its citizens. The Embassy is monitoring the situation in Lebanon very carefully and is reviewing all options for assisting Americans who wish to depart Lebanon. The Embassy will provide additional information to the American community as it becomes available.
The Embassy recommends that American citizens remain in a secure location indoors, monitor the media and follow the instructions of local authorities. Americans in areas where military action is ongoing should consider leaving those areas if it is safe to do so. Exercise caution when using major roads.
CNN is still touting a military evac.
DO NOT COUNT ON IT.
It may happen, but the journos are notorious for this kind of BS. They have no idea what's going on.
Don't believe it unless it comes from a Warden or directly from the embassy in Beirut.
"...consider leaving Lebanon." Yeah, duh! Get the heck out before your a$$ is toast!
Even if an announcement is made on the Pentagon Channel and carried by CSPAN, the mods make it their business to delete pertinent, clear information from the threads.
I dont think it will happen, for the fact that Hezbollah will target them with missiles. I can just imagine the propoganda that will bring in the Arab world...
Right now every one of you is considered trapped and we will make every effort to get you out.
But if you choose to stay Good Luck!
Why would a US citizen be in Lebanon? Found a need for more excitement than he could find in his own country? Huge amounts of money to be made? Needed an exotic vacation? Already seen every square inch of the USA? Way beyond me. No thanks.
Thanks for the ping. Bombs are going off as I write this. More Israeli airstrikes here in Beirut. The safest way to get us out would be using landing craft from the Iwo Jima. They could come into the Harbor by the Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel, which would make a logical staging point. Of course, this is right where Hariri was blown up last January. I just wish they would get on with the evacuation because we want to get out of here!
That Freeper is STILL here in Beirut trapped behind enemy lines.
Sometimes, people get caught on the wrong side of the border when war breaks out. If State is there and can help, great, but if not, you are on your own.
The situation is critical. Yesterday, parts of the country had only one hour power supply.
While many Europeans leave the country through Syria to Turkey, that exit is not a good choice for American citizens, due to the possibility to be taken hostage by Hezbollah groups.
How many hours did you have power yesterday? Make sure that you reload your batteries of laptop and cell/satellite phone. You´re not yet at risk, but that could become the case if a civil war breaks out and different groups try to get foreign hostages. It´s not predictable how the crisis develops. From my viewpoint everything between occupation of south Lebanon and another civil war are possible.
Bingo.
I think the European/US military should step in. Israel should allow evacuations for foreigners, immediately! Who has said that it´s a bad idea to have strategic air force bases in Europe?? ;-)
Is this your only means of communication? Any hopes of evac? Stay Well!
"You need to make your own plans, make your own contacts and be aware of what is happening.... If State is there and can help, great, but if not, you are on your own."
Good advice, and unfortunately not understood by many Americans who are new to traveling abroad.
State has very, very limited abilities to do anything outside the bureaucratic mission, and playing Big Daddy is not within their area of responsibility.
I have seen them go above and beyond the call (guaranteeing the hospital bills for an acquaintance who'd gotten food poisoning and gone comatose from dehydration), but it's unusual.
Outside of Western civilization, you pretty much have to live on your own wits.
"Israel should allow evacuations for foreigners, immediately!"
They will.
And then all hell is gonna' break loose.
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