Skip to comments.
U.S. Rescue Bogs Down in Lebanon
LATimes ^
| July 18, 2006
| Megan K. Stack
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 ...
TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Israel
KEYWORDS: 2006israeliwar; 6thwardvisitors; bogdown; expats; imfnwo; lebanonevacuation; prayers4rebelyell2; quagmire; quagmiretemplate; rebelyell2; rescue; shepsmith; statedeptadvisory; usembassy; wgaf; whinegrouses; womenchildren1st
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80 ... 1,401-1,409 next last
To: Ditter
I have never thought of Beirut as vacation destination but what do I know. Beirut used to be an island of sanity inside of Lebanon. For the most part it was a decent city, especially in the last year with the reduced power of Syria over the affairs of Lebanon.
Part of the reason I think Hezbollah attacked Israel in the way that they did was to gain support to derail the democratic process that was taking place in Lebanon, especially in Beirut (which has over half the population of Lebanon). Hezbollah thinks that if they can force Israel to destroy enough of Beirut, then they will be able to either return to Syrian rule or form an equally repressive government.
21
posted on
07/18/2006 1:07:23 AM PDT
by
burzum
(Despair not! I shall inspire you by charging blindly on!--Minsc, BG2)
To: Southack
Here it comes-Katrina Part II..
22
posted on
07/18/2006 1:07:30 AM PDT
by
cardinal4
(America, despite the usual suspects, stands firmly with Israel..)
To: Southack
Try calling one of those numbers. You will be lucky if they answer in the next hour.
As for the large number of "citizens" in Beirut, the blame again lays at the feet of the State Dept., which has granted dual citizenship to thousands of Lebanese, many of whom are Hizbollah sympathizers.
I can see leaving those with Lebanese citizenship on their own to get out.
Canada has it worse; they estimate 40,000 "citizens" with Canadian passports. The number registered at their embassy has doubled from 10,000 to 20,000 in the past week.
How about getting out non-residents out first, then worry about the "dual-citizen" problem.
To: cardinal4
Nobody's complaining about marauders in the streets of Beirut, the only worry being voiced is about Israel's shelling.
To: rebel_yell2
"How quickly will this escalate if Hizbollah goes over to American University Beirut and takes 50 U.S. college students hostage? That will change your tune, I'm guessing." Despicable acts of terrorism won't change the fact that the article for this thread is filled with editorial comments, with which you may agree, rather than with news.
One of the things that Free Republic does is to sort out opinions/bias from hard facts in news stories. In this case, your ox got gored because you are mad because you are stuck in a war zone....which, while understandable, hardly makes you objective.
Read the CNN news that I posted above. The first cruise ship arrives today to begin evacuating large numbers of Americans. Airliners are likewise being chartered, and U.S. naval vessels are en route to you.
Sure, our State Department sucks (I'd like for a Geraldo type of news show to sneak a video camera into such bureaucratic offices in order to film the utter contempt that State Department employees have for American citizens).
If you thought otherwise when you planned your trip, you were under a grave misimpression.
25
posted on
07/18/2006 1:09:53 AM PDT
by
Southack
(Media Bias means that Castro won't be punished for Cuban war crimes against Black Angolans in Africa)
To: cardinal4
I'm beginning to think that Blanco and Nagin are in charge.
To: cardinal4
What I would like to know is how long the State Department has taken in other evacuations. On Fox, they said the last big evacuation they did was after the tsunami in Indonesia. How long did that take?
Are we looking at a SNAFU or SOP for this type of operation?
27
posted on
07/18/2006 1:10:14 AM PDT
by
Miss Marple
(Lord, please look after Mozart Lover's and Jemian's sons and keep them strong.)
To: Southack
Nothing in the article appeared to be obviously incorrect.
To: Echo Talon
We could fit that many on 2-3 amphib carriers.
29
posted on
07/18/2006 1:12:17 AM PDT
by
RandallFlagg
(Roll your own cigarettes! You'll save $$$ and smoke less!(Magnetic bumper stickers-click my name)
To: Ditter
Some people have close family there, and the place has a rich history.
To: rebel_yell2
would you feel safe leaving Labanon by ferry knowing that Hezbollah has the silkworm?
To: RandallFlagg
We could fit that many on 2-3 amphib carriers. would you feel safe leaving Labanon by ferry knowing that Hezbollah has the silkworm?
To: Southack
I'm here on the ground so I think I'm in a bit better position to ascertain what is "fact" from what is fiction.
Certainly, the Slimes is trying to editorialize, but I see a number of "facts" in the article. I'm sorry your partisanship has blinded you to what is "fact" and what is "editorial."
FWIW, I came here with State Dept. approval and under protection of the U.N. So much for both. The U.N. evacuated this morning by bus through Syria.
To: rebel_yell2
I have a friend who is trying to get IN to Beirut. He was already to planning to come there before all heck broke loose. He'll have to fly in through Damascus and get there somehow. A few years ago, he walked into the North Korean embassy in Hanoi and wandered around unescorted, poking around in their offices - a real adrenaline junkie.
I wore my "Hard Rock Cafe - Beirut" tee-shirt in your honor yesterday.
34
posted on
07/18/2006 1:14:29 AM PDT
by
HAL9000
(Get a Mac - The Ultimate FReeping Machine)
To: rebel_yell2
Problem is that you are in a war zone and I am sure anything connected with the American or British government is closed down there right now.
You would think, OK send helicopters and ships, but they would be going to an unsecured area where there are terrorists with Iranian supplied stuff that could knock a helicopter in flight down or sink any number of ships they want to that come into rescue.
Outside of Jews going to Israel, I can't believe since we started in Afghanistan that any American would go to the Middle East.
You had to know it was risky?
I can't believe 25.000 are there unless they are mostly related by blood to citizens of Lebanon.
I would expect helicopters and ships will be too dangerous and the US military can't go in without it looking like an invasion.
I wouldn't know where to begin, the way I see it someone will have to try and march everyone out of there or something.
American government coming in looks like an invasion, all transportation going in for evacuation would be targeted for missiles by terrorist.
I think they will send people to march you folks out in the near future, but to where I don't know. I can't think of one secure way to move people out shy of invasion by the USA which won't happen.
35
posted on
07/18/2006 1:15:23 AM PDT
by
A CA Guy
(God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
To: Echo Talon
would you feel safe leaving Labanon by ferry knowing that Hezbollah has the silkworm?
Amphib carriers have the CIWS which could easily hit silkworm.
We need to mobilize our Naval forces for this.
36
posted on
07/18/2006 1:15:36 AM PDT
by
RandallFlagg
(Roll your own cigarettes! You'll save $$$ and smoke less!(Magnetic bumper stickers-click my name)
To: rebel_yell2
Well hang in there...If worse comes to worse we will find a way to get you some MREs, powdered Gatorade, and sealed water pouches.
37
posted on
07/18/2006 1:16:36 AM PDT
by
happinesswithoutpeace
(Loose lips sink ships and the NYT is the Bermuda triangle.)
To: rebel_yell2
The UN ran off?!?!
Figures. Be damn careful there, FRiend.
38
posted on
07/18/2006 1:16:47 AM PDT
by
RandallFlagg
(Roll your own cigarettes! You'll save $$$ and smoke less!(Magnetic bumper stickers-click my name)
To: Echo Talon
I agree, anything flying or floating will probably get taken out by forced connected to Iran who will blame Hezbollah or the Jews.
I can't think of a secure way out.
39
posted on
07/18/2006 1:16:47 AM PDT
by
A CA Guy
(God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
To: RandallFlagg
if they sunk a ship with 1000's of Americans that would be a huge "Beirut"..
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80 ... 1,401-1,409 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson