I just saw Rebel_yell2 on another thread about the State Department telling people to stay put.
Here's his post:
From what I've heard, it going to take several days for the military to put assets (such as the Iwo Jima battle group) into place. The advance team is setting up communications and scouting out safe staging points. I'm resigned to being here for several more days. The Brits also have a carrier group heading this way.
That was posted by Rebel_yell2 much earlier this morning before the news of the helicopter with the accessment team was reported.
Fox: Tony Snow said that Chirac is wrong about the ceasefire
Oh sorry about that Peach, Rebel_yell2 has posted again. The last time I checked he had not posted since earlier this a.m..
That's essentially what I heard from my loved ones also stuck in (South) Lebanon about what "stay put" and not safe to evacuate right now...that it was more a "don't everyone rush to the embassy thinking we're putting you all on the two choppers and taking you all at once" type thing.
That apparently, from what they were hearing talking to the embassy from where they are holed up, that when word got out that American forces were on the ground to begin evacuations, that the embassy was being inundated and that THAT wasn't safe (people congregated, out in the open, nowhere to get for cover quickly, and night coming quickly, etc.) and all those people need to "stay put" until the advance team has everything set and THEN they are STILL planning to evacuate the Americans (that want to/can be reached/etc.)