Missile destroyer USS Gonzalez escorting ship for Lebanon evacuation

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N17303154.htm

U.S. sending ships for Lebanon evacuation duty

WASHINGTON, July 17 (Reuters) - The United States has contracted a commercial cruise ship for a possible broader evacuation of U.S. citizens from Lebanon due to the conflict with Israel, and is sending a Navy destroyer to escort it, the Pentagon said on Monday.

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the Orient Queen, operated by Abou Merhi Cruises, will be available starting on Tuesday for evacuation duties and is heading toward Cyprus. The ship can hold about 750 people, Whitman said. The guided missile destroyer USS Gonzalez will be assigned the task of escorting the cruise ship, he said.

[Ian David]

1. Gulf of Tonkin 2006, standing by! n/t

[Oreo]

2. 750 people?

There are over 25,000 Americans in Lebanon. I'm sure not all will want to leave but 750??

[wakeme2008]

3. Yipes... what an old piece of shit

Overview
Almost 40 years old, this ship is aimed at the Middle Eastern market and operates out of Beirut. The passenger-space ratio is limited and the ship is in need of updating.

Suitability
Suitable for people who want a cut-price cruise around the Middle East, who are prepared to forgo the comfort of the newer cruise ships.

The food is Arabic in style and the whole experience is unlikely to appeal to the UK market.

Hints & Tips
Arabic passengers are heavy smokers and it is hard to escape them.

Cabins are noisy and there are lots of announcements.

[partylessinOhio]

4. Did you hear that the Americans must sign a "Promissory Note"

before they leave to pay back the fare?

Damned old cheapo Fristian Neocons!


Edit to add the proof of the "Promissory Note:"

Escape from Beirut

(CNN) -- The following is the text of a message sent out Saturday to U.S. citizens registered with the U.S. State Department as traveling to or present in Lebanon.

Message to Americans in Lebanon

The Department of State continues to work with the Department of Defense on a plan to help American citizens depart Lebanon.

As of the morning of July 15, we are looking at how we might transport Americans to Cyprus. Once in Cyprus, Americans can then board commercial aircraft for onward travel. Commercial airlines provide the safest and most efficient repatriation options to final destinations.

The Department of State reminds American citizens that the U.S. government does not provide no-cost transportation but does have the authority to provide repatriation loans to those in financial need. For the portion of your trip directly handled by the U.S. Government we will ask you to sign a promissory note and we will bill you at a later date.

In a subsequent message, when we have specific details about the transportation arrangements, we will inform you about the costs you will incur. We will also work with commercial aircraft to ensure that they have adequate flights to help you depart Cyprus and connect to your final destination.

The Department of State continues to work around the clock and will continue to send updates to you as appropriate.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/15/lebanon.advisory/index.html?section=cnn_latest

[Oreo]

5. Did France charge their evacuees?

Did we charge the students in Grenada when Ronnie attacked there?

[nealmhughes]

6. This is all TV drama.

The Syrian ambassador to the US was on C-Span this morning and said all border crossings out of Lebanon were open on the Syrian side and that about 100,000 people had already left Lebanon for Damascus and other points from there. Syria requiring no visa to enter and all schools are open as refugee shelters and free medical care for all emergency cases for non-Syrian citizens who have evacuated.

The smaller EU countries have just rented buses and driven the people out of Beirut to Damascus, then on to other countries, if they wanted to leave Syria.

If people had to have the security of a NATO country, then they could simply rent buses, and travel north to Hatay/Antioch in Turkey, it's only a few more miles north of the Lebanese-Syrian border. Lots of tourist amenities and international flights out of there to the UK and Germany every day.

[gatorboy]

7. 750 very wealthy Amercians...

The other 25,000 can kiss our ass for being so poor.