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 ...
Can I play? I contact the Jordanian, Russian, and Turkish embassies. Rat out the U.N. child molesters that I met at the shopping center and the hotel bar. Photographs and cell-phone pix help. In an effort to cover their complicity, the EU selects a few dozen Americans to board each of their evac units. The Saudi's, Egyptians, and Emirates play along; yet will pass a resolution forbidding further US involvement.
It is when he's still sitting in his hotel waiting for further notice.
Besides, I'm sure when he sees the marines he will thank them personally, not some Freeper standing by the sidelines kicking him when he's down.
Nightline was reporting that evacuees will not be allowed to bring laptops with them (limit to one bag totalling 30Lbs of personal effects). You may wish to check into that. If that's the case find out if you can take only the HDD. If that's not possible, be sure to destroy it before you leave.
Good luck, prayers being said for your (and everybodys) safety. Godspeed.
I'm not kicking any one. I don't understand or agree with him but I pray he and the others make it out safely. After he's rescued ,I would sure get as far away from Dodge as I could, if I were him though.
I always thought that personal responsibility and self-reliance were conservative values. It seems to me that you're the dim, and a very dim dim at that if you think it's smart to go to such a country in the first place, or else you're a very dim conservative if you think it's conservative to whine about the government not taking good enough or fast enough care of your dumbass when you get stuck somewhere you were stupid to go to in the first place. I expect adults to have better judgment than that. But since you've set the bar lower for yourself and the other whiners, I doubt you can even understand the point.
I do agree.
To add to the above, actually I think both are necessary. Isolate the hezzies and blast Teheran.
I got to be among the "US embassy staff" on such a training exercise on the "suddenly hostile soil of Nation X." We were shuttled to [description of staging redacted] a relatively small Navy ship offshore. Baggage in hand with instructions to give the troops the arrogant civvie treatment, some of the WMs did ham it up pretty good. Nobody got lucky enough to be helevac'd - choppy seas that day.
rebel_yell2, I wish you well and hope you soon return safely to home soil. Give those young Marines and Squids my thanks for their courageous service.
Tip: Don't dawdle between a running APC and the inboard sides of an amphib if that ends up being your transportation. It'd be a shame for a wild wave to shift things and squish your butt after surviving all that onshore bombing. Kinda ... ironic.
Tip 2: Hurry up and wait is the order of the day. Bring a book. And if you're serious about writing up your experience, a camera.
Again - all the best to you and your fellow travellers!
I would not blame anyone but myself for my situation, after all I chose to be there right? I would be praying, and I would not expect the US gov't to save my butt. I would be thrilled beyond belief if they did. I would expect Israel, US, and any other countries involved to do what was best for their country and not expect them to drop everything to rescue me. I would not expect to be told much if any information- if everyone knew rescue or other plans before the time was right they would likely fail in time of hostilities.
If I could post on FR, I would explain my situation without blaming or trashing SD, Israel or others and I would ask if anyone had any suggestions for me. I would show personal responsibility and a little humbleness by saying flat out, I realize now I should have probably done x,y, and z- but I didn't so can anyone offer ideas or help of any sort?
I'm not cranky at all. I saw enough people get themselves into a tight situation through poor judgment during Katrina. Enough with the whining. Sure, I'd be cranky and want out of Leganon, too, if I were he, and I sincerely hope he makes it out safely, but I wouldn't blame our government for me being in that situation, nor would I consider it their responsibility to take care of me, especially if I was sitting there as a target.
Naw, just got bored with the subject for awhile and didn't check my post. And now I'm bored with you (again).
Toodles.
Is it safe to go to Ceader Pointe ?
Makes sense.
Considering: These events came up very quickly>
Air transport (normal means of evac) not available.
US Mediteranean fleet is currently thin
Chartering passenger liners and delivering same to Beruit in LESS than 5 days is NOT something one should expect.
Infrastructure INCLUDING PHONE SERVICE is degraded....
This is about right.
The French got 900 out today, we'll get 2,000 out tomorrow. That's a difference OF ONE DAY. Big deal., the French have enormous experience at rapid retreats, and thanks to ChIraq's constant suck ups to terrorists, don't have to worry about security issues like Hezbollah attacking their operation,
Very well said!
It wouldn't surprise me if Chirac was paying Hizb'allah to not attack any French people as they leave the country. ("Here's some Francs!! Please don't hurt us!")
Dat you, LK?
Absolutely. In an unstable country, you should register with the Embassy. Even if it wasn't unstable when you entered it - at first sign of unrest, etc. - REGISTER. Been there. Done that. Years ago.
Well said. And I can't add to it..except for one thought..We Americans expect "instant"..Instant everything..and watching movies or t.v...everything is solved in scripted two hours. This is not a movie..real life here. How many people in war torn countries have not been able to escape? My heart goes to those trapped in a war torn area. Some people cannot refugee..I realize that. But as in Katrina, some could have left. As in Lebanon, some could have not gone. Hope you will excuse my levity, but think I'll go to the Grand Canyon instead.
Do you really feel the US "took it's time"? Or are you listening to CNN whose whole theme tonight is that?
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