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 ...
Try presenting that to your boss as a reason for turning down a business trip
Funny as in strange, odd, weird, queer.
"Damn those Jews," is that where you're going with this, YA?
How dare they attack just because of kidnappings, rockets, bombings....
/sarcasm
Blind leaders of the blind.
Looking for those Hezbollah members mixed in with the expats? Something is up?
Well it might have been nice if, say, 24 hours beforehand Olmert had gotten on Fox news and did a Reagan ("in 5 minutes, the bombs start falling"). I guess Israel has played punching bag so long that nobody expected it to step out of "character."
Amazingly, there was discussion yesterday of sending Bubba because he had a better hand on the ME than W and Condi.
Fox News was saying something like 25,000 Americans were in Beirut. That's more than in John Murtha's Johnstown.
Been there, done that.
Anyone who doesn't follow the State Deptmt advisories and inform others is willfully blind.
The article said "vacation & business." Anyone who "vacations" in Lebanon deserves to wait in line for rescue; hopefully, without air conditioning.
There have been DOS travel warnings issued for Lebanon since April 2005.
:>)
How dare they not announce their military moves ahead of time! /sarc.
reb, you need to check your egeo. Israel isn't isolationg the hezzie installations and turfs because they're trying to keep you hostage. I think the Israelis and Americans have a right to check those ships to ensure enemy leaders aren't being pulled back outrightly or under false identification. Why should Israel work hard at protecting you by balking at using heavier and broader firepower against the hezzies while you hemmed and hawed and write posts about getTing out The more they hold back firepower to gt you out. the more Israelis will fall victim of the aagression on,their coul
I see the problem clearly. You stated, and now you're whing about, about what's on their
I was pretty surprised to hear this too. It was also reported that some citizens were being evacuated by boat yesterday and IDF called whomever was in charge of the evac and said they were bombing the harbor within the hour. I don't understand the urgency.
You're right. The company has got our backs. But, there are limits to what can be expected, even there.
I don't disagree with what you say: it is in our national interest, and it is also good politics.
But, it is not an obligation. It is something we would do because of who we are as a nation.
But, I'll go back again to my initial point, and that was really nothing more than to note that embassy/consulate phone systems are not geared to hundreds of calls an hour.
Let's cut them some slack. They are working night and day, I am certain.
It'll escalate very fast if suicide bombers start mixing in with the evacuees. Be very careful. Good luck to you.
Whenever I see the words "bogged down" anymore, I question the party affiliation of the person who wrote the article. The dems are communists and the pubs are fools, the dems are much more evil.
I'm beginning to worry that State is trying to set up the Administration for a mini-Katrina situation. I have lots of faith in Americans being able to do what they WANT to do. That doesn't help you, of course and we continue to hope you can get the h#ll out of there.
May be terrorists mixed in?
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