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.

[rebel_yell2]

You are either a lying twit or evil person who cannot read. I did not ONCE run down the U.S., the Marines, the Navy or the Air Force, only the State Department, and with good reason (if you could read and comprehend).

You take legitimate criticism of an unresponsive bureacracy that has left thousands of Americans without information about what to do in a war zone and twist it to fit your own political ends, much like Hizbollah has been doing here in Lebanaon in the press and on TV.

SHAME ON YOU. YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO FR.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Israel frankly does not care about the plight of the foreigners in Lebanon.

It will probably care later, as folks at the scene who were at worst indifferent about Israel to begin with will loudly become negative and the MSM will spread it all over the world. They'll clean out Hezbollah posthaste now, but have the international pressure put on them to make a zillion hurtful compromises in the future.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

?
I was expat on September 11th. Registered with the Consular office and everything. Had people offering obscene amounts of money for my seat on the flight home, and found out who real friends are. I do not condone people trashing our military (and even State Dept) when they ignore the policies. This guy was never in the service, or thinks the regulations are just "guidelines" until the SHTF, then cries about how unfair it all is.

[CindyDawg]

Thanks. I have to keep reminding myself of this.

[MiniCooperChick]

They can join the crowd. Everyone hates Israel anyhow.

They need to do whatever they need to do to ensure the safety of their citizens.

Political correctness and attempting to bend to world opinion is what gets us in trouble. To hell with the MSM and international pressure. Isn't that the position we want our own country to take?

[MiniCooperChick]

Oh, my goodness 9/11 was surreal overseas wasn't it? CNN International was a trip, to say the least.

[HiTech RedNeck]

If "everybody hates Israel anyhow" we wouldn't have all the gold and technological knowhow flowing from Washington to them.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

SHAME ON YOU. YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO FR.

Once again, I really hope and pray that you are able to get out fine. Yet we must accept responsibility for our decisions. The consequences are often harsh. Took me twice to learn the lesson. Betcha go back again when it cools off. I did.

[rebel_yell2]

Sorry. It is not about me and your ad hominem attack are so typical of the "Israel can do no wrong" lobby.

This one is going to cost them.

Gee, I just heard the IAF dropping more bombs here in Beirut.

Now, THAT is going to help us muster more support, as we try to evacuate Amercians, Brits, Canadians and French.

The true "me first" is not me.

P.S. where can I find out about "that tax free paycheck?" And if you followed the the thread, you'd know that my mission was registered with the IDF, the U.N. and the U.S. But don't let that get in the way of your rant.

[Chgogal]

I have traveled all over (from the Arctic Circle to the Medinas of Morocco to the temples of Bali) admittedly without a driver, and I have never searched out an Embassy to register. I most likely will not do it when traveling to Europe, Thailand, Bali, Australia, Singapore or the Caribbean. I would think about it when traveling to the Mid East, Africa and Indonesia. Each to his/her own.

You do have to keep in mind when traveling in risky areas (risk defined by one's own parameters) that when things go south, they go south fast and hard.

[fatima]

rebel_yell2,try to get some sleep.You might get a call tom. to leave.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Is HB shooting missiles from Beirut?

[Texasforever]

You do know that Israel is actually holding back until ya'll are out of there don't you. They are risking the lives of their own citizens by slowing down their operations for US and other ex-pats.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Where can we get corroboration of this?

Israel has got to stop these incoming missiles, that is clear. Syria is refusing to tell HB to stop.

[Just mythoughts]

Stay safe, ignorance is not the sin staying that way is, and unfortunately there is much sinning on display. Prayers for you and the innocents.

[stevestras]

Sorry you are getting the run around and are stuck there. I can understand some of this antagonism though, I just watched a CNN report that had some hysterical people screaming that the USA/Bush was at fault in not getting them out. Pelosi was one of them, says Bush is back to his Katrina mentality.

Appreciate the first hand reporting. Safe travels.

[MiniCooperChick]

Look, I wish you well, really. Lord knows I could very well easily find myself in your position any time. I simply love traveling and there are very few places on this Earth that I would not visit.

But calling yourself a hostage of Israel is way over the top. I can forgive you, you've obviously been up all night and you're in a war zone.

Sorry to hear your tax free paycheck doesn't exist, but I believe from following the thread that you were complaining that you COULDN'T register with the US and made many posts to that effect. You were under "UN protection" but voluntarily relinquished that protection to avoid going to Damascus. Understandably so. I wouldn't trust Syria or the UN, either.

I'm going to bed, perhaps you should try to get some sleep as well. I'm heading to Rome next week for a lovely vacation and then on home. I won't be registering in Rome by the way. If Termini gets blown to smithereens and I'm in it, too bad for me ;-)

Good luck to you.

[freema]

I hope those bombs are the IDF and not the darlings of Lebanon hitting your "unresponsive bureacracy" that's pulling up to the dock.

[BykrBayb]

You have obviously lost sight of who the enemy is. I can't imagine you would travel to a volatile region without doing a little research, so I have to assume you once knew. It must be the stress and lack of sleep. I wish you the best, and hope you get out of there intact.

[HiTech RedNeck]

You were under "UN protection" but voluntarily relinquished that protection to avoid going to Damascus. Understandably so. I wouldn't trust Syria or the UN, either.

I would be interested to hear what subsequently becomes of the Damascus refugees. If Syria is "bighearted" enough not to use them as human shields we'll shortly see them on flights back to the USA, etc.