U.S. family: "Get us out of Lebanon" (this photo is priceless!!)

[truthpusher]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/18/stranded.family/index.html

U.S. family: Get us out of Lebanon

Parents and children hear bomb explosions all night

By Kate King


(CNN) -- The Esseily family was winding up a vacation in Lebanon when the airstrikes began. Nearly a week later, they're still looking for a way to get back to California.

(snip)

"I have two kids a baby, and they're scared. I'm scared," Esseily said. "First time I've ever encountered something like this."

The Esseilys are among tens of thousands of Westerners stranded in Lebanon Tuesday waiting for help to arrive. Monika Esseily said she's in contact with many other Americans in Lebanon and that all of them want to get out.

"They're pulling out their hair, they're crying, they're saying 'What's going on?' They're being rejected from the American Embassy," she said. "The American Embassy is still saying, 'We will call you.' That's all that they will say."

(snip)

The Esseily family registered Thursday with the American Embassy to get on the list to evacuate but so far haven't heard anything, she said.

(snip)

link: http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/18/stranded.family/index.html

[mmonk]

1. How much is it worth to them?

I hear their lives aren't worth that much if they lose them.

[Monkeyman]

2. We moved here from New Orleans

[Pirate Smile]

3. They showed that on CNN yesterday - TV, not just the website. Great photo.

[Ian David]

4. When I think of great places to vacation, I think of Lebanon after 9/11

I could see maybe Lebanon in 1995 to 1998.

But Lebanon after 9/11? Lebanon after the second Gulf War? For an AMERICAN? When the entire mid-east hates Americans?

Remember the scene in, "To Be Or Not To Be" when Mel Brooks, dressed as Hitler, lands in London after the invasion of Poland?

Maybe next year: Sudan?

"Tourists" my ass. That guy isn't a fucking "tourist."

The husband is a spook, and he brings his family along as part of his cover.

Look at him... does he look like a guy who works in a cubicle, or does he look more like someone who takes human lives with his bare hands?

[mmonk]

6. I know two families that visit Lebanon

and have done so lately because they have family there. Jeeez, some of you are losing it.

[melnjones]

7. Why shouldn't they have wanted to go to Lebanon?

Perhaps he has friends there? Perhaps he speaks Arabic? Geez, now we're into insulting people because of their vacation choices?!

Personally, I don't choose the normal vacation spots. If I travel, I want it to be somewhere where I can learn something about another culture. If I have the choice between a week in Miami and a week in rural Honduras where there's limited technology and 105 degree heat, I choose Honduras. After three trips there, I can honestly say it's a beautiful country with plenty of interesting stuff to do.

[jseankil]

8. I assume you're joking? /nm

nm

[Ian David]

23. Sort of half-joking, actually. n/t

[Catherine Vincent]

10. Maybe they have family there?

They may be Lebanese-American.

[mmonk]

18. I couldn' help but notice

how you lump people in the middle east and 9/11 together in the post as well. I think any hatred of us isn't related to the event of Saudi Arabians flying planes into the twin towers.

[Ian David]

22. Anti-American sentiment around the world is record high...

and gawd knows we deserve it.

Anyone in the middle east who doesn't hate America probably works for an oil company.

I didn't mean that to be a slam against people in the mid-east, but an acknowledgment of how badly we have fucked all of them.

[Maven]

21. If he were a spy, don't you think he'd have a more direct route home?

Or, at very least, would he publicize pictures of himself and his family holding their passports?

Doesn't seem likely.

[dionysus]

26. wow, you're pretty fucking omniscient aren't ya?

n/t

[donsu]

28. wow - assuming can get you into a lot of trouble

you sound hysterical

[lectrobyte]

5. Vacation in Lebanon

That sounds like one of my ideas for naming my punk band back in '81. When I draw a Venn diagram of Vacation and Lebanon, the two circles do not intersect.

[melnjones]

9. I'd love to go to Lebanon on vacation...not at the moment , of course...

And why exactly is it that we are judging people for their vacation spot choices? :crazy:

[lectrobyte]

11. Where in my post did I judge anyone? Just saying that

vacationing in Lebanon seems like an alien concept to me. Yes, I know it used to be the Paris of the Middle East, but I'm thinking it's not been a good vacation destination for Americans for the last 25 years or so.

[kestrel91316]

13. It's the PERFECT destination for Americans of Lebanese descent.

You know - home to see Mom and Dad and the cousins???????

[lectrobyte]

14. Good point. I had not considered that one.

[kestrel91316]

17. I have only had one vacation as an adult where I went to a

destination to see the sights (France, 2001) as opposed to going to visit family (annual trips to Wisconsin for 21 yrs).

(Don't feel sorry for me, my dad was in the USAF and we saw EVERYWHERE when I was growing up.)

[melnjones]

15. Sorry...

I was pissed off at a post above yours and thought yours was saying the same thing. My bad. :spank:

[Maven]

20. Beirut is (was) actually still a very beautiful and cosmopolitan city.

High-end shopping, excellent restaurants, clubs, etc. It's also located near absolutely gorgeous beaches and resorts--sort of like the Riviera of the developed Middle East. Although Lebanon is a Muslim country, Beirut is *far* from conservative...it's a very unique place. That's why it's so sad that much of it will probably be destroyed...again.

[whoneedstickets]

12. I'm in a Farking mood....

[Scurrilous]

19. LOL

...:thumbsup:

[w4rma]

16. And this family will have to pay $50,000 to get back to the U.S. on the

GOP evacuation plan.

[OneBlueSky]

24. yeh, we'll get you out . . . just sign an open-ended IOU . . .

for "services rendered" by your government in evacuating you from harm's way . . . and then pay the tab within 90 days . . .

sounds like a deal Tony Soprano migh propose . . .

[truthpusher]

25. More comments here....

This thread was posted after mine, but wasn't tagged as a duplicate:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1669969#1671886

[IronLionZion]

27. I would love to go to Lebanon and Israel on vacation

and know people who have done that even just earlier this year. They have a rich history and many biblical sites. Both are nice places to visit when they are not at war.

There is also the possibility of Americans having family back in the "old country" to visit. I wouldn't judge this family at all. If daddy or mommy is a spook, they'd already be out.

It's damn near impossible to get out when the airport gets bombed and no one is doing international flights and the border crossings are getting bombed.