Peace and Freedom Response:
I really almost cannot believe this. The United States government went above and beyond the call of duty to rescue people from a war zone . All of the people had been warned of the danger by the U.S. Embassy and all we asked to register, in advance, to allow for a planned evacuation if needed. Almost everyone ignored the Embassy and few registered.
Thatnotwithstanding: everyone who wanted to leave got a fee ride out in comfort (its the American way).
I recorded the events this way on my web site several days ago:
"Unable to effectively manage and organize the evacuation of innocent civilians from Lebanon, the U.N. is enviously eying USS Nashville, USS Trenton, USS Whidbey Island, USS Iwo Jima, USS Gonzalez, a bunch of CH-53 Super Stallion helicopters, the commercial liner " Orient Queen," [leased by the U.S. to evacuate U.S. citizens and their families] the U.S. Marines, and a protective cover including U.S. Navy destroyers.
Americans are leaving Beirut under a security umbrella of protected comfort and moving toward home in a fairly rapid manner. Non-Americans are mostly leaving by cargo ship to make the five hour U.S. vacationer's cruise ship journey in the hold of a hot cargo vessel in a 16 hour manner without toilets.
Today, July 21, the motor ferry Rahmah, with a capacity of 1,400 passengers, arrived in Lebananon and the high-speed ferry Victoria M, with a capacity of 330, also started taking Americans out.
"It feels wonderful to be back in the States. We just want to thank so much the State Department and the people that helped the government, the Marines, to help get us out," said one arrival at BWI. But Americans who left Lebanon with European evacuees on non-U.S. vessels said they encountered a far rougher journey.
"We went on a cargo ship from the port of Lebanon. ... It was horrible. There were no facilities on the ship, just get out alive, that was it. We were on the ship for about 16 hours. It's a trip that takes about 4 or 5 hours," said Tom Charara from Long Beach, Calif.
The cruise ships the U.S. chartered to bring out U.S. citizens — equipped with a duty-free shops, gourmet restaurants and beauty salons — normally carry up to 800 vacationers each on Mediterranean cruises. The U.S. Marine Brigadier General on the scene managing the civilian evacuation said he would wrap up the operation soon; and the Americans may have room for some of the allied civilians.
"That would be my suspicion," said Marine Brig. Gen. Carl B. Jensen, who was leading the operation. "It wouldn't surprise me at all if we had some excess capacity," Jensen said. "We will of course make that available to other nations to assist in their orderly departure," he added.
So I ask: WHERE's THE BEEF?" Having served more than 20 years in the U.S. Navy and rescued Americans in tough spots myself, I am appauled at the ingratitude and spoiled conduct of a good portion of people, sometimes."
EGAD!
John E. Carey
http://peace-and-freedom.blogspot.com/
Certainly colors the "ugly American" image, doesn't it?
What a jerk. He should kiss the captain of that cargo ship on his feet, for getting his sorry carcass out of harms way.
How many of these "passport holders" are true Americans?? How many are actually Hezbollah supporters?? Inquiring minds...........
"fulfill their constitutional and professional obligations and protect US citizens"
I have never seen that the American Government must protect citizens outside the United States.