The U.S. thus far has evacuated fewer citizens than the French took out on their ferry yesterday.
Why is the French bureaucracy more efficient than our own?
I'm guessing it is because US citizens are a much more valuable target for terrorists and additional security precautions need to be put in place. Additionally, the State Department is incompetent. They should have transferred the evacuation operation to Central Command.
maybe you forget the muslim population in france and that we are the "great satan" ?
If France has the same size staff as the USA has, but an order of magnitude fewer people in Lebanon, wouldn't you think the French departure would be a LITTLE quicker?
Also, the threat to obvious American ships and people is higher than for other nationalities.
Seems unAmerican, but you could try to pass for Canadian, though simply laying low until contacted by the government would probably work.
France can act quicker with its imperial past ties to the area and the sheer numbers much smaller. Those are combined factors in their favor.
From the TV reports which are probably limited, the targets appear to be based in Southern Beirut and the military assets on the coast. Hopefully, you and others are far away from those hazardous areas.
Can you tell us anything about the attitudes of the local people? It appears from the reporting that people don't want to say much there, so as to not offend anyone and create a "civil war" mindset.
But I also heard a report that the antipathy to Hezzbollah was strong and that when bombs came on their areas, people on the surrounding areas were applauding.
Because the French travellers are more easily spotted with their white flags aloft. ;)
More seriously, I suspect that you'll be getting out soon. US State, like the rest of the fed, is a slow, inefficient blob at times.
Might be because the country of France has a Mediterranean coast line. They have plenty of assets in the area. No excuses, but there has been sea trade between the eastern Med coast and the southern French/Europe coast since ancient times.
< Why is the French bureaucracy more efficient than our own? >
Personally, I don't think it is. Americans are always targets. More and better planning has to be used. Despite what some may think, I believe the enemy, be it Hamas, Hezbollah or Al Quiada would just love to get a bunch of Americans in a group as sitting ducks. They won't target the French and others. They will Americans.
Good question. But then again, we are talking here about the windbags of Foggy Bottom, so the answer should be obvious.
Isn't this also the same crowd who gave blanket US Visas to Saudi terrorists who filled out their applications in crayon with blank spaces and addresses of University parking lots?