If I told you, I'd have to kill you ; ) A friend's son is there with the 24th MEU Beirut Battalion.
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 ...
LOL. Well, you could be right about that. Hah!
I will only add that I can well imagine that there are a fair number of Bush administration officials who truly wish that the port and the airport were available for us to get people out and aren't exactly delighted that Israel did this without notice so we could send out warnings to people.
And so, it doesn't strike me as strange whatsoever that Rebel wishes that he could get out of the country before the easiest ways to get out were made unavailable. I think any one of us would have that reaction.
How do you misinterpret this??
To: cinives
snip...I am NOT happy with the Israelis right now. I understand their concerns about their kidnapped soldiers but bombing the Beirut Airport was not going to help them in any way. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1665153/posts?page=47#47
Thank you. Excellant points. Hope you are doing well, and in safety soon. Take care.
1,044 Americans on the Orient Queen have just landed in Larnaca, Cyprus, 45 minutes ago. It was an 8 hour trip. People are just now getting off the ship.
Three charter flights of 300 each will leave tomorrow afternoon for Baltimore. Everyone is welcome to make their own flight arrangements for other flights elsewhere, if they wish to. (Reporter said something about "if they have their cell phones" which I didn't quite get.)
Hope that you are on your way home by now. If not, please do call that number I sent you earlier. They have gotten 100 home by private evac and another 100 are still in-country, but in safety in the north, some leaving today and some tomorrow.
Just wanted you to know - the man I talked to on your behalf was just on our local TV news telling that. I was kinda hoping you were one of the 200 he was talking about!
Any word?
Any word?
I can't speak for other freepers, but he seriously ticked me off by claiming at least twice that he and other foreigners were being held hostage by Israel. Even when several freepers tried to tell him that it might seem that way, but that he was in reality NOT a "hostage" of Israel. He is stuck in the middle of hostilities and yes Israel has a blockade but geez he is not a hostage. I for one don't like to let statements like that stand. I know he was stressed- but he seemed to be blaming Israel for his situation especially early on. It was only after he was called on some of his statements that he started saying he thought differently about what is happening. Maybe it's just me, but the blaming and whining were too much. I understand one goes through a lot of emotions under stress and men do not like to show fear or weakness- but men are not usually so whiney either.
I don't know he just came off wrong to me, he was critical of the US Navy, they were not moving fast enough or whatever. Would he like for them to just dash in with no advance planning and take a chance that the rescue mission would fail? To me it seemed like he was critical of the military, Israel, the State Department- you name it, no one was pleasing him. Even when told of rescue efforts and plans it never seemed good enough.
Whatever, I do hope he is rescued and returns home safe and sound. I will stand by my previoius post to him that he may not be cut out for work out of this country.
Many on this thread never did grasp the fact that once you leave the US, the US is not obligated to you. The US rightfully does try very hard to help citizens in a jamb in other countries, as they should- but people who travel to other countries need to not plan on Uncle Sam to arrive right away if things go wrong.
The other thing many did not get is that the State Department and embassies are not there to rescue stranded citizens. They have important diplomatic and other functions so to expect them to be geared to help stranded citizens amid chaos in an instant is pretty unrealistic.
It is obviously a quagmire, we should pull out asap.
Love it there! It's such a beautiful city and so much fun.
I'll give her your regards!
Frankly, what is anyone's justification for going there.... Odds are high that the sympathies for the ex-pat and vistors does NOT run with Israel...
If you take changes, then be prepared for snake-eyes on the dice...
Why don't you take time to read the 1,000+ posts on this thread before you post any more?
Tammy, that was the kicker for me too.
I was sitting here last night with my sister reading the threads and when I read that, I kicked her off and logged in myself. I had set up an account a few years ago when I was in the States.
I couldn't let that "hostage" stuff stand.
That is my only beef with Rebel. In fact, I totally sympathized with the guy before that nonsense--but for the Grace of God and all that. Believe me, it could easily be me one of these days!!
I also was insulted by some others who insinuated that many posters are merely keyboard commandos who never leave the confines of their own town. In my limited experience here, I have noticed that people are incredibly well traveled and well informed.
Travel is not for everyone. But I have some cred because I live overseas and travel constantly (no kids and a husband whose job takes him all over the world). I'm not going to publicize where I live, but it's a country where things could easily turn bad and y'all would think I'm an idiot for choosing to live there. I even made fun of myself for that.
There have been some silly and ignorant posts, that's true, but when are there not? Most people sympatized with his plight but were sick of the "poor me" mentality and the blaming of Israel. Perhaps because the local media certainly won't be friendly to Israel (and CNNI and BBC, which are pretty much all you can get over there) he doesn't realize that Hezbollah STARTED THIS!!
The United States is a target of terrorists. France and the Netherlands, et.al. not as much. We need to be alot more careful in our planning and logistics. Not to mention, many of our military ships in the Med and Red Sea are doing a more important job than running a ferry service for wayward Americans. It's not just the ships in the Gulf that are at work.
This is my last word on this. I'll be here for another week or so and I'll check in. I'd love to talk travel with anyone of like mind :-)
Rebel_Yell2,
I hope your silence today means you are on the way home. Either that, or you're sleeping off your all nighter from last night. Which I hope not because that would mean you're still there. We're pulling for ya! MCC
Before you sound foolish, why don't you check Rebel's posts. He is working there, not vacationing. And registered with the Israelis and the UN before getting there.
I'd like to see you link that post where you think that Rebel was critical of the US Navy.
I've read all his posts and haven't seen that. As to his being ticked off at the State Department, he'll have to get in line on that one. The State Dept. ticks most of us off for far less serious issues than this. LOL
I read every single one of rebel_yell2 posts .
I Can still Love Israel , & be upset that I couldn't get out of Lebanon.
He stated he wanted Iran & Syria to be cut off at the head !
He stated he wanted Hizoblaah to be destroyed !
He wishes that Israel didn't blockade , so he could escape .
He has been a freeper for a long time , & was accused of being a LIAR - One freeper said I Don't believe your in Lebanon.
You can Love BOTH The USA & ISRAEL . And WHILE LOVING Them still have issuses .
In Example I LOVE AMERICA But I WAS DISGUSTED That Bill & Hillary Clinton treated The Lincoln Bedroom "like a whorehouse !!!
I Can dislike Clinton but still love the USA !
If I told you, I'd have to kill you ; ) A friend's son is there with the 24th MEU Beirut Battalion.
If I told you, I'd have to kill you ; ) A friend's son is there with the 24th MEU Beirut Battalion.
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