Posted on 07/24/2006 3:29:34 PM PDT by Republican Wildcat
WASHINGTON — A leading Arab-American advocacy group has sued the U.S. government, claiming that it failed to protect American citizens from the fighting in Lebanon.
The lawsuit, filed Monday on behalf of about 30 American citizens by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, alleges that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld did not take all possible steps to secure the safety and well being of U.S. citizens when fighting erupted between Israel and Hezbollah guerillas.
The committee is asking the U.S. District Court in Detroit to order the U.S. government to request a cease fire and to stop shipments of weapons or any other military support to Israel during the evacuation of U.S. citizens from Lebanon.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
"I admire the Lebanese people, especially those that have emigrated to the US and carried their Maronite culture. But how does one correctly address their cultural origins?"
Just ask them if Danny Thomas was their Grandfather or if their Grandmother is Helen Thomas.
Our schoolbuses were flooded.
A link to the Complaint: http://www.adc.org/Doc/ADC_Complaint.doc
Obviously, this isn't going anywhere. It reeks of "political question" and hopefully the court will boot it at the first opportunity.
I did enjoy this though:
"This lawsuit is by no means an attempt to interfere with or give attention to the war in Lebanon."
Shortly thereafter, they allege:
"50. That according to reliable sources in the New York Times, that United States rush-delivered satellite-guided missiles to Israel on Saturday, July 22, 2006. That the United States is supplying weapons of mass destruction to a country that is bombarding U.S. Citizens that are still in harm’s way and that are unable to evacuate. That the United Nations has declared Israel’s response to the Hezbollah kidnappings disproportionate."
THEN they ask for an injunction barring the government from shipping weapons to Israel. No, I don't see any attempt at interference there.
SAFETY AND SECURITY: Recent events in Lebanon underscore the need for caution and sound personal security precautions. Former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri was assassinated on February 14, 2005 in a car bomb attack in which 22 people were killed and many others seriously wounded; the potential for violence remains. Since February 2005, there have been 15 separate bombings in Lebanon, resulting in ten dead and 121 wounded.
Americans have been the targets of numerous terrorist attacks in Lebanon in the past. The perpetrators of many of these attacks are still present and retain the ability to act. American citizens should thus keep a low profile, varying times and routes for all required travel. Americans should also pay close attention to their personal security at locations where Westerners are generally known to congregate, and should avoid demonstrations and large gatherings. Unofficial travel to Lebanon by U.S. Government employees and their family members requires prior approval by the Department of State.
U.S. citizens who travel to Lebanon should exercise heightened caution when traveling in parts of the southern suburbs of Beirut, portions of the Bekaa Valley and South Lebanon, and the cities of Sidon and Tripoli. Hizballah has not been disarmed. It maintains a strong presence in many of these areas, and there is potential for action by other extremist groups in the city of Tripoli. Tensions remain in Lebanon's southern border with the possibility of Hizballah and Palestinian militant activity at any time.
Palestinian groups hostile to both the Lebanese government and the U.S. operate largely autonomously inside refugee camps in different areas of the country. Intra-communal violence within the camps has resulted in violent incidents such as shootings and explosions. Travel by U.S. citizens to Palestinian camps should be avoided. Asbat al-Ansar, a terrorist group with apparent links to Al-Qaida, has targeted Lebanese, U.S. and other foreign government interests. It has been outlawed by the Lebanese government but continues to maintain a presence in Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp.
In addition, dangers posed by landmines and unexploded ordnance throughout south Lebanon are significant and also exist in other areas where civil war fighting was intense.
Now how do these people find it the US govt's fault again? Lack of prior warning? I think not.
How fast would have been fast enough?
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