U.S. Rescue Bogs Down in Lebanon

LATimes ^ | July 18, 2006 | Megan K. Stack

[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.

[Texasforever]

Where can we get corroboration of this?

It was in an interview on Fox with a state department rep. Look, Israel has taken over 800 rocket hits in the last 3 days. They are straining at the bit to stop those attacks by any means necessary but they can't afford to accidentally kill a bunch of tourists. The smart guys are betting that a ground operation will begin shortly and that will be the next escalation. Israel is losing a lot of tactical surprise not to mention that for every hour they lose it allows the odds of a devastating hit in Israel to go up.

[conservative in nyc]

Will someone from the Israeli lobby please explain why the "blockade" of outgoing foreigners is necessary to protect their citizens?

Well, I'm not from the Israel lobby, but I can think of more than a half-dozen reasons why Israel would want to impose a blockade of anyone coming in or out of Lebanon:

1) The stated reason - to stop the bad guys from taking their kidnapped soldiers out of the country.

2) To stop the bad guys from leaving the country. If Israel truly wants to destroy Hezbollah, it would be a disaster - politically and otherwise - for their leaders to slip out of the country and taunt Israel from the comfort of Libya or some other rogue state.

3) To avoid overtaxing their Navy. The last thing Israel want to have to do is board every outgoing ship to make sure the bad guys and the kidnapped soldiers don't slip out. Doing so would be time consuming and wouldn't allow their Navy to complete their main mission. More importantly, keeping outgoing vessels in port makes it easier for the Israeli Navy to interdict incoming ships, which may be bringing missiles into the country.

4) To avoid another U.S.S. Cole-type situation. In addition to creating more work for the Israelis, cluttered seas would make it easier for a ship laden with explosives to blow up a Naval vessel.

5) To keep the radar scope relatively clear so that it's easier for warning systems to pick out real threats like missiles.

6) To control the seas around Lebanon to make sure that no one attacks Israel by sea.

7) The Israelis are thinking two steps ahead. The Israelis bombed the airport in part to stop future problems before they arise. Put yourself in Israel's shoes. Suppose you know that rockets are destined for Hezbollah on a civilian airplane. Do you shoot it down, causing immediate world condemnation and hundreds of civilian casualties? No. You avoid the possibility of this occurring in the first place by taking out the runways of the country's only airport.

Simply put, Israel wants to control the Lebanese land, air and sea battle space. It is in their national interest to do so. Note that Israel has not blocked all exit routes - one or two land routes are available to get to Syria if someone is really determined to go there. But they've created a situation where Israel can better monitor who is getting in and who is getting out. It's obviously not perfect, and the soldiers could theoretically be smuggled through a land border to Syria. But limiting ingress and egress makes that less likely.

I understand that it must be frustrating to be in a war zone where it is difficult to leave due to circumstances beyond your control. Hang in there. Everything should turn out for the best. I and many other FReepers are certainly praying that it will.

[MiniCooperChick]

One more post:

I wouldn't register in those places, either. Possibly in Indonesia in light of the Muslim takeover. I haven't been there since the mid 90's.

You have to assess the risk. If I had found myself held hostage by extremists in Tanzania, I'd expect lots of Freepers to post about what an idiot I was to go to Dar es Salaam, but at least the US would know I exist!!

Those of us who suffer from wanderlust accept the risk. The benefits of world travel far outweigh the drawbacks, even in this day and age. I consider myself incredibly lucky to be able to travel so much and live overseas, although I miss the USA.

Good night!!

[freema]

The S is definitely HTF.

'Regulations' certainly is a little more clearly defined today, isn't it. It really doesn't matter now, unfortunately, does it.

I remember being told that screaming during childbirth would only increase any already present anxiety which would -in turn- increase any pain.

Kinda brings a new dimension to that old saying:
All's fair in love and war ; )

[Chgogal]

Good night and heres to Wanderlust and great sunsets.

Aside, after what Reb has gone through here at the Forum, I'd never admit I was in trouble, not ever! ;)

[kabar]

I am a retired Foreign Service Officer and been involved in overseeing two evacuations, one from Tehran in 1979 and the other from Saudia Arabia during the Gulf War. Once hostilities start, the best thing you can do is to sit tight for a few days, keep in contact with the Embassy, and then decide what is best for you in terms of an evacuation.

The Embassy can't process everyone at once. Based on personal experience, we set up processing centers and controlled the numbers based on lift capacity. We established 24 hour a day answering services to handle questions from amcits. Since you are a traveler, you would not be part of the existing warden system, which is activated in such cases.

Since hostilities are ongoing, you are probably better off staying in place until things quite down. It is a matter of days not weeks. Since the airport has been damaged, I would participate in the Embassy evacuation process to Cyprus. Stay calm, don't panic, and you should be fine. I would not advertise that I am an American.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

That tax free paycheck didn't hurt

Those days are long, long, gone. No such thing as "tax free". One can try to reclaim VAT, but the IRS has been pretty clear (since 1993 that I am aware of) about earnings. Penalties and interest accrue at an alarming rate when there is no withholding or quarterly estimated payments. I still say we could do away with ICE and CBP (used to be INS) if there were IRS agents at the ports and airports. I would rather spend another 3 days in EU administrative detention than have another audit from the IRS.

[Tammy8]

Yes I would be scared, and I would be frustrated with mostly myself. I have been in hairy situations, my instinct is to figure out a way out instead of playing the blame game. I would not expect my country to rescue me I would be thrilled if they were able and did so. I would be saying "What about me?" but I would not expect others to think that way. I would not blame and blast the very ones who are trying and likely will rescue me when possible.

I personally detest the idea of blaming others when things go really wrong for me. I try to remedy the situation, then in retrospect I try to figure out what I might have done differently for future reference. I do not blame others when I am in a jamb, and do not expect others to save my hinney either. I am very greatful if someone does help me out of a tight spot, but don't expect or demand it.

Whatever happened to taking personal responsibility?

[gentlestrength]

How about praying, and trusting in God alone to get you out? Not putting your trust in the government, or friends or family, but Him. If He doesn't, He had other plans for you. Either way, yielding to His will for your life is better than trusting in men who can fail. He will never fail nor forsake you.

And I didn't say Allah's will. God's name is not Allah, contrary to our media's interpretations.

[mtbopfuyn]

I hope to board tomorrow

You're getting out tomorrow? Woohoo! So happy to hear that. I have my fingers crossed for your safe passage. Godspeed. Let us know when you're safe at home with your feet propped up on the couch taking a nice long relaxing breath.

[LowOiL]

All of my life, I have been 100% supportive of Israel, but it has lost me and lots of others on this issue.

Yes sir, I understand that, and a search of your past post proves you are not just shooting the bull here. You are frustrated, tired, and helpless (and I imagine a little scared, I would be if the roles were reversed).

Will someone from the Israeli lobby please explain why the "blockade" of outgoing foreigners

I also am not an "Israeli" war expert. But I know that those in charge of Israel have managed to defend themselves numerous times and have a track record unsurpassed in these matters. I am sure President Bush is being briefed on how/when/where his citizens of good standing will be handed over in good shape the best they can muster.

But then Israel took close to 100,000 foreign nationals hostage by bombing Beirut airport and imposing a blockade.

Israel knows that the airports could be used against them in not only transporting arms, but also in transporting prisoners out of the country to places harder to get to. If you had been gathered up and placed on the airport area as a deterent to bomb the airport, they could use that pressure (world pressure) to prevent Israel from shutting down the airports. So I imagine that, much to the chagrin of the terrorist nations, Israel rushed to shut down the airports before the terrorist had even time to think about using the hostages as human shields.

Again, I am trying to do the job of military planning, a subject I must admit I am not trained in.

BTW... Rebel_yell2 ... I did write my congressman in support of you... (wish we knew your real name) but I did the best I could to convey that we do care for ya and hope to see you in one piece again (even if it is just to wrestle ya).

[freema]

+

[ARealMothersSonForever]

I remember being told that screaming during childbirth would only increase any already present anxiety

My wife never screamed during childbirth. After I finished my contract and was back stateside, I woke up screaming quite a few times. The CNNI, BBC, and "local" news stuff was stuck in a continuous loop. Weirdest thing.

[conservative in nyc]

People who travel to other countries really need to be realistic, and I personally do believe US obligation ends when a citizen leaves here, other than those in military or other gov't capacity.

I really don't think we see things that differently in theory (although I think the US obligation to protect its citizens doesn't completely end when a citizen leaves the country - but it's greatly diminished).

Unfortunately, expectations often become reality. If people who travel to other countries expect the U.S. embassy to bail them out of their troubles while abroad, they will become angry when the embassy doesn't do it or doesn't do it quickly enough. When the TV shows pictures of the French, Swiss and Swedes evacuating their citizens from Lebanon, the U.S. public expects the same for U.S. citizens and wonders why these second-rate powers can get their citizens out while we cannot, regardless of whether those countries are in a position to evacuate their citizens for historic, cultural or simple geographic reasons. And if the reasons why aren't adequately explained, people become increasingly annoyed as their expectations aren't met. Managing expectations is important in any PR war.

Politically, what the administration needs is someone like General Honore to tell the press that Rome wasn't built in a day, their expectations are unrealistic in the real world, we're doing the best we can, and they're (as always) stuck on stupid, BEFORE the inevitable stories about the slow response start appearing in the press.

[freema]

LOL!

I didn't scream either. But I won't bore you with stories of my heroics in the delivery room. LOL! Except to say I was asked to allow a foreign doctor to observe an American woman give birth. I accepted and was honored to be able to represent the United States of America in that capacity. LOLOLOL! No kidding!

You could have cut the tension with a knife. Now I'm kidding.

They only used the knife on the umbilical cord. ROTF!

[freema]

And with that, I bid you good night!

[blu]

Whatever happened to taking personal responsibility?

Ok, think fast. You're in Beirut. You're white, obviously not a local. Airport's closed, boats not running. Oh, did I mention bombs and bullets are flying. You've got 2 days to get to Chicago. And the State Dept. keeps telling you to stay put...as if you could get anywhere, what with being surrounded by hostile countries and all. Go!

[usmcobra]

Hiya Ma!

Just so you know (and this is only between us two) when Marines practice these evac drills (and yes They actually run practices complete with helicopters and ships offshore all the time) there are Marines tasked with being "reluctant refugees" who are told to go out of their way to anger the evac teams including verbal threats, excess luggage, and attempted ordering about i.e: "do you know who I am? I'm Senator Soinso, and you will do as I say. "

Honestly I know from my experiances that somehwere out off the coast of Lebanon there is a boatload of Marines that want to get this Evac over and done with more then any civilian on shore, and it is chafing their butts to hurry up and wait.

[ma bell]

trying to register with the State? You should have done that immediately upon arrival. I wonder if you are even in Beirut or Lebanon.

[Revel]

Just saw an article here on FR. Your evacuation travel fees will be waived. You will not have to pay anything.