What is the U.S. going to do about American citizens in Lebanon outside of Beirut?

Question

My children are currently in Beirut, Lebanon visiting relatives, and supposedly the U.S. state department has plans to evacuate U.S. citizens to Cyprus, but I'm worried about the safety of this evacuation given that there is no cease-fire in place. I also wonder about American citizens located in southern Lebanon who cannot get to Beirut for the evacuation because of the ongoing Israeli bombing. Why doesn't Bush try to negotiate a temporary cease-fire since Iran has apparently announced that it could secure a Hezbollah cease-fire if Israel would do likewise? How does he plan on getting innocent Americans safely out of Lebanon, and what of the innocent civilians (whether American, Lebanese, or of some other nationality) who are left behind? Why isn't Bush being more pro-active in trying to de-escalate this crisis and bring negotiators to the table?

Look, there are 25,0000 Americans in Lebanon right now (at least), and no one saw this coming. The country has been safe for at least a decade, and no one saw this coming. Everyone in the world takes chances when they travel. In fact, almost every major city in the world (including in the U.S.) could be struck at any moment by a terrorist attack or by a natural disaster. There is no completely safe place to live, but there is a responsibility on the part of governments to do what they can to protect their citizens at home and abroad. Those of you who think that any American citizens in Lebanon are "getting what's coming to them" are (a) heartless, (b) ignorant, and (c) pathetic in your attempts to avoid answering questions and solving problems by pointing fingers at innocents. How typical.

Answer 1

I can tell you from experience that the State Department will probably do nothing. If they do I'll be amazed. In 1999 my family was living in Indonesia during their revolution. The Embassy in Jakarta called all the American companies to say that they were shutting down the Embassy, leaving and the companies should probably tell their people to leave.
And that was all they did. My father and brother were among the last Americans to leave Indonesia for Singapore on one of the last planes leaving Indonesia which was a barely flying tin can. No foreign carriers weren't flying back after they left and the Indonesian carriers weren't either.
Unfortunately for us Frank Sinatra died that day so our families attempting to leave Indonesia was relegated to snippets between what Nancy and Frank Jr were going to do and what a great artist Frankie was. Maybe my family was never in any danger, as it was all internal and not a full scale war to destroy the infrastructure of a nation hosting hundreds of thousands foreigners, but knowing what people are going through, it is a very scary experience. It probably is much worse for the people whose families are in Lebanon as we can tell that Israel doesn't seem to care about killing civilians...

Answer 2

All we can do is try. Israel didn't start this mess, the terrorist did. That section of the world has been a hot spot since the beginning of time. It probably wasn't a good idea to visit there. You never know what is going to happen from day to day. The US will do all it can to get those people out. The Lebanese Army has deployed to the border to stop any further attacks on Israel. They are doing the best they can right now. There are more country's involved here and we don't lead ANY of them. Don't even go down the road of blaming this on the American President. That ******* Iranian is the blame and the only one to blame.

Answer 3

Chances are more than likely they will be safe. Israel made the grave mistake of killing 100 civilians in the last fight with Lebanon. I believe neither countries would do something as stupid as attacking the 25000 US citizens in Lebanon. I hope your kids get back safe!

Answer 4

They are sending ships to evacuate.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States flew dozens more U.S. citizens out of Lebanon on Monday and hired a commercial cruise ship to help with the possible evacuation of thousands more, U.S. officials said.

ADVERTISEMENT

The guided missile destroyer USS Gonzalez will escort the cruise ship in the Mediterranean, the Pentagon said.

"We are ... operating on a scale of potentially thousands of people who want to leave," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said, as Israel bombarded Lebanon for a sixth day in the worst fighting across the Israeli-Lebanese border in more than two decades.

The Orient Queen, operated by Lebanon-based Abou Merhi Cruises, will be available starting on Tuesday to transport U.S. citizens to Cyprus, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said. The ship can hold about 750 passengers, he said.

"The intent at this point is to use that vessel as a ferry to Cyprus," Whitman said.

The United States evacuated 43 Americans from Beirut to Cyprus aboard two CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters on Monday after flying 21 out on Sunday, Whitman said.

McCormack said those evacuated to Cyprus thus far were mostly private citizens but also included some embassy workers. The U.S. Embassy in Beirut said it was especially worried about Americans in the south of the country.

"We have started the process of moving people out in groups of tens," McCormack said. "What we hope in the very near future is to start moving people out in groups of hundreds."

McCormack said there are about 25,000 Americans in Lebanon, but a smaller number -- about 15,000 -- have registered with the embassy as living or traveling in Lebanon.

McCormack said the message to U.S. citizens trapped in the conflict is: "Make sure your bags are ready to go."

The helicopter carrier USS Iwo Jima, amphibious transport dock USS Nashville and the dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island, together carrying 2,200 Marines and sailors, have completed exercises with Jordan in the Red Sea and could take part in the evacuation mission, defense officials said.

The three ships were bound for the Suez Canal awaiting word on possible evacuation duty in the Mediterranean, defense officials said.

Whitman said the United States may arrange for additional commercial passenger ships to take part. He said three CH-53s, each able to transport 36 people at a time on a one-hour flight to Cyprus, were available for evacuation operations, and more were due to arrive on Tuesday.

One-way transit by the Orient Queen from the coast of Lebanon to Cyprus will take about five hours, he said.

Answer 5

I'm sorry your children are there but I wouldn't worry to much.If the state dept. knows they are there they will arrange to get them out. The Lebanese people will look after them.I was in Syria duing one war and two coups and the locals looked after us.

Answer 6

Why did you send your children there in the first place? Now US servicemen are going to have to risk their lives to pull your kids out.

We warned you not to go there but you sent you kids there anyway - and now want people to Risk Their Lives because of your poor decision!

Answer 7

I guess they are in deep sh't as Georgie would say.