Now that you mention it ... if someone is only getting the media's view of what is happening all around you, you do kind of think it's different from what it is.
RY2 had wanted to rent a boat to take him to Larnaca - a few days back, when he started thinking this was getting pretty bad over there. At some point, Israel put up a blockade of Beirut Harbor, keeping all boats, small and large, from going in.
Thus, when he called about renting a boat, no one could rent to him. That's why he was mad at Israel and felt he was a hostage - because he couldn't rent a boat and get out on his own. What wasn't being said to him was that Israel *is* letting evac ships and boats in and out of the harbor.
Then I was told by people who knew the intel in the area at this time, that it was the government of Lebanon that was stopping the evacs (which it was, stopping American evacs, even as late as yesterday morning) by not letting American ships dock in Beirut. I tried to convey that to RY2 so he wouldn't be quite so mad at Israel.
What I thought were mixed signals or crossed wires, were really two separate, true statements. The Lebanese (gov't, not Hezbollah, necessarily) were trying to keep the Americans in Beirut as pawns, not hostages, but as leverage against Beirut being destroyed.
He "got" that part, but not the "keeping them safely in Beirut because they're valuable" part. He felt the walls were closing in on him (we all know that feeling) and just wanted OUT by any means possible and as rapidly as possible.
I tried to reassure him that he was in the least danger of anyone in town at that point, because he had supplies and was not a target of anyone except the Hezbollah, all of whose attention was focused on bombing Israel, not their own "nest."
The major problem, for him, is that the American evacs are taking place with sick and elderly people first, then families with children or any children who are on their own there, and then younger people, such as college students, then women, then men. He would be in the last group chosen out of the 8,000 expected to evacuate.
He couldn't tolerate that thought, so I tried to help him get a private evac, which he could've done - still could - as he had said money wasn't a problem and he might call these people as a last resort. When he never responded after our first few FReepmails and several of my posts - but he spent his posting time arguing with the flamers - I gave up trying to calm his fears.
I sincerely hope he did get out just fine - but I hope he doesn't join the lib chorus who is screaming for Bush's head on a platter because we "looked bad" for not being "allowed" out of Lebanon when French, Italians, Swedes and others had already sailed.
Not being friendly enough with the Hezbollah to *get* to go out in the first wave is not something to hang our heads or rant about! It's quite a point of pride!
This teacher in Lebanon who expects to get out tomorrow has been on our local news by phone to her family here in Houston and ended her rant tonight with "why is my life more important than that of my friends in Lebanon?"
I think alot of freepers are being too hard on rebel_yell2
I BELIEVE a freeper can be frustrated with the state dept & still be a good citizen.
I Know many Americans who work very very VERY hard for health insurance .
i THINK it's HORRIBLE that lawbreakers get FREE health care , & we are shutting down hospitals because of that !
In Mexico USA Citizens are treated horribly ! USA Citizens can NOT buy beach front property in Mexico . USA Citizens Can NOT get A Mexico drivers permit easy & USA Citizens can NOT get work in Mexico easily at ALL !!, & ETC.......
It sounds like you've done a lot to help RB2. Thank you. I think that all the mud that's been thrown at him by fellow freepers, probably a lack of sleep, fear and everything else, he's had his hands full. And maybe not working at highest capacity. I certainly wouldn't be in his shoes. And thanks for your post. There's good and interesting info there, things that I did not know. I see no reason to think the RB2 will join the whining chorus I heard this morning from BWI.