First group of Americans evacuated from Lebanon arrive in Cyprus

AFP via Babelfish translation | July 17, 2006

[HAL9000]

Arrival in Cyprus of the first evacuated Americans of Lebanon

NICOSIE - a score of Americans, first natives of the United States to being evacuated of Lebanon, arrived Monday at Cyprus on board a helicopter. A ferry chartered by France for its part left the island bound for Beirut.

American nationals arrived on the tarmac of the airport of Cyprus after being evacuated by a helicopter of the American Navy. "Some were under medical treatment, in particular a dialysis", specified a spokesman of the army.

France also will evacuate its nationals who wish to flee the bombardment Israelis. A Greek ferry of 1000 places, arrived Sunday evening at Limassol (Cyprus), was to accost Monday at the semi-day in Beirut, in order to ensure the first rotation, declared Hadelin of the Tower of the Pine, ambassador from France to Cyprus.

The ship must evacuate some 900 French and 300 Europeans, it added. Places could be reserved for Swiss nationals, indicated to Sunday the federal Department of the Foreign Affairs (DFAE).

A possible evacuation of the British natives of Lebanon could begin as of Monday in the course of the day, affirmed for its part the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in London.

That depends now on the situation in the field of safety, specified the ministry. Such an operation depends on the co-operation of the Israelis and the Lebanese one.

British warships arrived in the zone. An aircraft carrier and an amphibious ship of attack, which installed for Lebanon, are waited Wednesday or Thursday.

[HAL9000]

fyi

[A.A. Cunningham]

Typical AFP BS. The Marine Corps flew the NEOs to Cyprus on Sunday.

In this photo released by the Department of Defense, U.S. citizens exit a U.S. Marine Corps CH-53 helicopter in Cyprus following their transportation from the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, July 16, 2006. At the request of the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon and at the direction of the Secretary of Defense, the United States Central Command and U.S. Marines are assisting with the authorized departure of U.S. citizens from Lebanon. (AP Photo/Department of Defense, Demetrio J. Espinosa)

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

Greta had a State Dept evacuation guy on tonite.....he said that at least 18,000 of the Americans currently in Lebanon are "lebanese-americans" who have been living permanently in Lebanon all along.

I think a (type of) visa-based priority for evacuation of American citizens is in order. I'm gonna get Pee Cee'd for saying it, but I don't mind one little bit.

[maine-iac7]

I see these massive evacuations as a positive sign that no one intends on asking Israel to cease it's operations anytime soon///

[austinaero]

Yeah, but you know, the Marine Corps does not have its own department. It is technically under the Department of the Navy.

Freep on!

[A.A. Cunningham]

STFU pogue

[tflabo]

Interesting link describing Lebanese Christians in favor of Israeli attacks on Hizbullah in Lebanon.

http://www.free-lebanon.com/LFPNews/2006/July/July16/July16a/july16a.html

[DoughtyOne]

I'm bracing for the typical blame Israel or U.S. comments that will eminate from some of these evacuees. It sure would be nice if we could forgoe that eventuality.

[stumpy]

Yes, but we're the GROWN UP part of the Navy. Hoorah and Semper Fi

[shield]

Excellent...wonder if our FReeper is one of those evacees?

[rebel_yell2]

I wasn't going to raise the issue, but there IS a priority system in place to determine who gets to evacuate and in what order. Tourists go before permanent residents.

I MAY get out on the French-chartered ferry today or tomorrow. If I do, I promise that I will make no more French jokes for the rest of my life (as hard as that may be).

[sasha123]

They feel their country has been hijacked. I've been reading and listening to some interesting stories today by Lebanese saying the same thing. It definitely started giving me a new understanding on how far back this problem has gone.

Try this one by a Lebanese woman:

www.Americancongressfortruth/activityreport.html
Her interviews are very, very interesting to listen to.

[sasha123]

Her name is Brigitte Gabriel

[Ingtar]

Hang in there. Help is coming. (Unless you were in this group?)

[Rte66]

Wow, I was going to tell you earlier to go out and get a little English-French pocket dictionary for your survival kit - so you could pretend to be French.

Little did I know ... "je suis français" might help. Not sure "je suis acadienne (or cajun) (or coon-butt)" will work, tho.

Still praying for you!

[SunnyUsa]

I'm still praying for you and everyone else caught in this horrible situation!

viva la France (only if they get you out safely!!!)

[sheikdetailfeather]

We will be glad when you return safely. If it is by the French, so be it!

[GovernmentShrinker]

there IS a priority system in place to determine who gets to evacuate and in what order. Tourists go before permanent residents.

It makes sense. Tourists are a lot more likely to be clueless and get themselves killed, and also a lot less likely to have an even marginally safe place to stay with a small stockpile of necessities on hand (i.e. permanent residents and regular business visitors are likely to have access to their own home or the home of a friend or colleague in a safer area).

[sheikdetailfeather]

Fox News has this at the bottom of their screen continuously:

STATE: "AMERICANS WHO WANT TO LEAVE LEBANON NEED TO GET READY."