Typical. Get yourself into a bad situation, then cry because the "government" isn't doing enough to help you.
Spare me.
Someone get that halfwit bimbo a new template. I mean, Jesus H. Christ, the poor Marines can't run an obstacle course any more without some ignorant slut in an LA office telling the world they're bogged down.
Does Fwenchman-wannabe Dean Bacquet, and do his mob of infirm-wrist editors, have the slightest scintilla of an inkling of a shadow of a hint of a clue how galactically stupid and biased they look?
I'll answer that. Hell no. If Bacquet ever saw a clue, he'd probably cry "eek" and stand up on his chair till somebody went and found a man somewhere, to kill it.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
The only way to get evacuated is to get to an area where you can be avacuated. In this type of situation, sitting tight and waiting for evacuation may not be the best approach, even if the US Emabssy and Consulates say it is. Things can change in a second, especialy if this goes regional.
That may be dangerous, however, because I can only guess Hizbullah and their cronies are not to pro-American at the moment since we came out firmly on the side of Israel.
Can you get to Jordan or Israel?
Leave it to a FR newbie to get himself in this predicament. :-)
July 18, 2006
By Debbie Schlussel
Most Americans in Lebanon Are Hezbollah Supporters; U.S. Taxes Shouldn't Fund Their Return. One thing is lost in all the press coverage of the whining Americans who went to Lebanon of their own accord and now want us to pick up the tab to get them out.
THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS IN LEBANON ARE HEZBOLLAH SUPPORTERS.
WASHINGTON - The United States on Tuesday stepped up evacuation plans for Americans stranded in Lebanon, preparing to move as many as 1,000 passengers onto a commercial ship that docked in Beirut.
The Orient Queen, a Lebanese cruise ship under contract with the U.S. military, pulled in Tuesday night, said Vice Adm. Patrick Walsh, the top U.S. naval officer in the Mideast. Walsh said passengers would go aboard and leave Beirut at first light on Wednesday morning. More
if you are in lebanon of all places and don't understand this is a given possibility at any time you are dense.
if you are in lebanon of all places and don't understand this is a given possibility at any time you are dense.
... SEZ the L.A. Slimes ....
Emetically speaking.
Here is the latest news about American evacs from Beirut, on a thread just started:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1668096/posts
" ...Nine U.S. Navy ships are converging on Lebanon from U.S. Central Command and from U.S. European Command. The European Command ships are arriving in the "joint operating area" already, Walsh said. The CENTCOM ships are expected over the next few days. DoD also has contracted with the Greek-flagged Orient Queen to evacuate Americans from the Lebanese capital. The ship is pierside in Beirut, Walsh said, and it will take on passengers overnight and leave for Cyprus in the morning. He said he anticipates the vessel will carry between 800 and 1,000 Americans to safety.
The admiral said two more ships will be part of the ferrying activity between Beirut and Cyprus. The Rahmah will arrive in Cyrus tomorrow and begin ferrying refugees shortly thereafter. That vessel has a capacity of around 1,400. The trip to Cyprus from Beirut lasts about five hours, DoD officials said.
The United States also is working with European nations that are evacuating their nationals from Lebanon. Walsh said Navy ships from the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy are operating in the waters off Lebanon.
He said the non-combatant evacuation process "is a complex operation that involves an extraordinary level of effort."
"We're sending the very best we have, and we will move at max speed," he added.
The admiral said he expects U.S. Navy vessels, especially large-capacity amphibious ships, to participate in the evacuation. Amphibious ships are designed to conduct beach landings. They're frequently used for humanitarian operations and disaster relief.
Right now, the threat level in Beirut allows the Navy to ferry Americans to Cyprus with the commercial vessels. "But part of our job is to plan for any contingency," he said. "We will have warships positioned strategically and tactically to ensure the safe and secure passage of Americans from Lebanon to Cyprus."
~~~~~~~~
>>>So, now there are to be 9 instead of 5 ships taking Americans to Cyprus. The first one, the Orient Queen, a cruise ship, takes on passengers tonight and leaves in the morning. It will take 800-1,000 people.
I heard tonight that we expect to take 1,000 per day thru Friday. However, I also heard tonight that the number had gone up from the original estimate of 4,000, then 5,000, to now 8,000. Who knows?
That 1,000 per day must be per vessel, with 2-3 more passenger vessels expected to be carrying Americans to Cyprus within a few more days.
The next ship is the Rahmah, which will get to Cyprus tomorrow and then come on to Beirut. It carries 1,400 - betting that's the one you will get on, tomorrow night or Thursday. It's then 5 hours to Cyprus.
Each of these will be escorted by at least one US Navy warship, perhaps more. There are also UK, Spanish and Italian navy ships operating - the message doesn't say that they will ferry Americans - only that the US Navy is "working with them."
Note also that you may get aboard a large-capacity amphibious vessel. Fun.
While the Navy message said the Orient Queen is "pierside" at this hour, I don't know if that means the "Israeli blockade" of which you spoke has been lifted, or if it was only against small boats all along - or if they have agreed to let these boats pass.
As I told you earlier, the source I spoke with said that it is the Lebanese "government" (at this point, I don't know how anyone differentiates who is Hizbollah and who isn't) who would not allow American ships to dock today.
Has this changed now - or is tonight's departure the first ship of the 48-hour "free pass" that foreign nationals are given to evacuate the country under American auspices?
I'm fretting about the amphibious boats - will they have to run a gauntlet from offshore to retrieve our citizens if our ships are not allowed to dock again - is this a warning concerning that possibility?
Stay extra safe and do try to be in as early a group as you can be. If you're hearing explosions now, it's just going to get worse each day. Israel isn't going to attack an American humanitarian mercy ship, but there's no predicting what the Hizbollah will do. Prayers continuing ....
Sorry but none of the countries with nationals there have gotten many of their people out.
However we must examine the realities with which State must deal.
The State Department must organize a processing infrastructure for evacuation of US citizens in Lebanon , as directed by Homeland Security.
Its not a matter of on the ground capability for transport. All those who return must be vetted before allowing re-entry. Certain male Muslims who fit established terrorist profiles can look forward to an extended vacation in Cyprus before being allowed to "re-enter" the USA.Setting up that capability is what is taking time.
As a security conscious American, I applaud the State Department for organizing the security effort necessary to the evacuation, and not giving in to the Screaming Meemie Liberals who think that the State Department operates an extended tourist retrieval service.
Travelers who are on an extended stay in ANY foreign nation MUST register with a US embassy or consulate in order to take advantage of consular services, and this is the ONLY way to be on an evacuation short list, AND those who did so are the folks being helicoptered out of Lebanon. Darwinism sucks, but it is an established fact of international travel.
Most travelers from the USA abroad enter countries through cities which have US Consulates or Embassies. It takes 20 minutes to go during regular office hours and fill out a registration form. If you have a cell phone with international capability, leave them that number, and believe me, if a security risk is imminent, or you need consular services, you will receive a phone call from them, or a message that you can get from your phone when you are back in range of your service. A SAT phone is best, in unstable areas, it can save your life.
Having said all this Reb, I will invoke the protectors on your behalf, and pray you safe journey and return.
Meanwhile, the Indian navy has docked a Destroyer, two frigates, and a fleet oiler in Beirut, and is evacuating Indian citizens requesting it.
http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=71311
Four Indian warships sail into Beirut
Press Trust of India
Posted online: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at 1803 hours IST
Updated: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at 2011 hours IST
New Delhi, July 19: With the situation in Lebanon becoming increasingly dangerous, about 100 Indians have been evacuated out of the country and over 1,000 others gathered on Wednesday at Beirut jetty to be moved out by four Indian warships which sailed into the harbour.
Besides preparing to evacuate all its willing nationals, India will also be shifting out Sri Lankans and Nepalese on request from these countries. There are an estimated 1 lakh Sri Lankans and Nepalese nationals in Lebanon.
Of the estimated 12,000 Indians living in Lebanon, at least 100 people have reached Damascus by road, facilitated by the Indian embassy in Beirut, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters here.
"It is an evolving situation. Hostilities are taking place and naturally it is a dangerous place," he said.
An advisory has been issued for all the Indians living in Lebanon asking them to be ready to leave.
The government is facilitating evacuation of those who want to move out, he pointed out. On the issue of others who may not prefer to leave Lebanon, Sarna said it depends on the perception of different people of the situation.
Over 1,000 Indians assembled at the jetty as four Indian warships -- INS Mumbai, INS Betwa, INS Brahmaputra and auxiliary tanker INS Shakti, anchored overnight off the Lebanese coast, moved into the port to pull out the anxious Indian nationals and shift them to camps in Larnaca in Cyprus, Navy sources said here.
"The Israelis, who have mounted a sea and air blockade of the Lebanese capital, have allowed the Indian warships to berth at the jetty to evacuate the stranded Indians", they said.
With tens of thousands of foreigners and Lebanese nationals escaping the war zone, the Beirut jetty, according to messages received from the naval warships, was teeming with people.
The Israelis are allowing rescue ships from a number of countries to berth in turns."We are likely to get our turn any time", the messages said.
Sarna said the government was in touch through diplomatic channels with both Israel and Lebanon to seek access to the coast.
The four ships have the total capacity of 1,000 people. If the number of people requesting evacuation is about 900 or so, the ships will bring them directly to India, he said.
However, if their number is more, the warships will ferry them to Larnaca or Damascus from where they can be airlifted.
Governments of Sri Lanka and Nepal have requested India to evacuate their nationals and this will be done depending on the space available on the ships, the MEA spokesman said.
Navy officials about 500 nationals from Sri Lanka and Nepal could be evacuated in the first ferry by the Indian ships.
The fleet commander Rear Admiral Anup Singh is in constant touch with Indian Ambassador to Lebanon Nengcha Lhouvum to coordinate evacuation of stranded Indian nationals.
What about Hizzbollah's rockets? They are not lethal?
Quagmire! Quagmire! < \John Murtha>
It is obviously a quagmire, we should pull out asap.
We pray for your safe return. Tell them dang Hezbollah howdy from Texas ;o) Snatch one of 'em bald headed if you get a chance.
Be safe and God speed, my man. Prayers up.