Israel thread #2

[Regit]

I hear people who are being evacuated from the areas now complaining that the US is not doing enough. What about the UN? Why doesn't anyone complain about them?

I don't know, but who cares? They shouldn't be complaining about anything. It's not the world's job to evacuate people from war zones. I know it may sound cold, but don't go to unstable parts of the world and expect your home country to get you out when things go bad.

[HurricaneHunter914]

Of course in war civilians are killed, no big deal.

Dude, that was harsh. You wouldn't say that if a relative was killed in the war.

[feederband]

I hear people who are being evacuated from the areas now complaining that the US is not doing enough. What about the UN? Why doesn't anyone complain about them?

US has to be very careful when going in there to evacuate Americans...They would be easy targets...And targets Hezbollah would love to hit...

[Janice]

Yes, I agree. It is not a good time to be in the Middle East for any reason unless it is work related and you cannot get a job at home. I do not know how people can visit there now and take women and children too. It is just like Indonesia and a cat 5 cane.
These are all indications of getting out now. I would never go to Indonesia or areas around that because the earthquakes and tsunamis are scary and will probably get worse. I would leave immediately if a super cane came and under no circumstances would I go to the Middle East at all. They would just love to behead an American anywhere. Why people continue to visit these areas is beyond me these days.

[Regit]

Someone (don't know whether it was civilians or troops) were just evacuated from Lebanon. The networks are showing the video and some are saying they're not quite sure who the helicopters belong to, but I'm going to go WAY out on a limb and say the UK, since their flags are on the side.

[sunny]

I hear people who are being evacuated from the areas now complaining that the US is not doing enough. What about the UN? Why doesn't anyone complain about them?

US has to be very careful when going in there to evacuate Americans...They would be easy targets...And targets Hezbollah would love to hit...

Yes, they were talking about this on the news yesterday - 200 Marines killed in 1983 by Hezbollah in Beirut.

I just saw a picture on msnbc.com, people trying to get out and the look of fear on one childs face and he is crying. Sad all the way around.

[Janice]

BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNN) -- A U.S. military helicopter was scheduled to remove another few dozen U.S. citizens from Beirut on Monday as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah militants continues, State Department officials said.

European nations were also taking actions to evacuate their citizens.

On Sunday, 21 Americans were flown to Cyprus, a State Department official said.

Those to be evacuated are priority cases, the official said, including people who are ill, some elderly and some unaccompanied children.

Officials estimate that about 15 percent of the roughly 25,000 Americans in Lebanon will evacuate. (Watch U.S. student trapped in Lebanon -- 1:38 )

A bus filled with German tourists left a hotel in Beirut on Monday, hoping to make it to the Syrian border.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said two ships were on the way to Lebanon to evacuate British citizens. A British helicopter with 40 people on board left Lebanon Monday en route to Cyprus, according to George Stylianou, a spokesman for the British Embassy.

He said those on the flight include children and the elderly, and said there could be another flight later in the day.

France dispatched a ferry from Cyprus late Sunday to help evacuate 1,250 foreign nationals to Cyprus.

According to the French Foreign Ministry, the ship will carry 800 French, 300 of them children, and 400 nationals from Germany, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Spain, Finland, Greece, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland. Another 50 spots will be reserved for Americans.

The French will be flown Tuesday from Cyprus to Paris.

An Italian vessel is also expected to dock in the Cypriot port of Larnaca later Monday, carrying people it evacuated from Beirut, port officials said.

The Americans flown out aboard Marine helicopters on Sunday included a family of four with a sick child, four students, one person with a medical emergency and a person accompanying the patient, said Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Maura Harty.

Harty said the plan over the next several days, once a safe route has been found, is to send Americans first to Cyprus. From there, Americans would be assisted in finding commercial or charter flights elsewhere, she said.

Canadian Foreign Minister Peter MacKay said Ottawa is doing "everything possible" to evacuate the estimated 40,000 Canadians in Lebanon. Eight Canadians were reported killed and six more were critically wounded in Lebanon Sunday, he said.

The foreign ministry warned Canadians in Lebanon to remain indoors "and limit your movement as much as possible" amid the airstrikes and shelling.

MacKay said his government was working with allied countries to line up commercial ships and arrange safe passage through the Israeli blockade to get their citizens out.

"We'll be working closely with the British, Americans and French, who have similar challenges as far as their citizens inside Lebanon," he told Canadian broadcaster CTV.
U.S. Embassy urges Americans to register

U.S. officials said they want Americans seeking to leave Lebanon to register through the State Department either via its Web site or by calling (888) 407-4747.

Family members outside of Lebanon may register family members stranded in Lebanon who do not have access to the internet or fax machines or who are having difficulty reaching the U.S. Embassy by phone, the State Department said.

The elderly, unaccompanied minors, students and people with medical needs or whose medication is running out will receive priority attention, they said.

The officials urged Americans to move to safe locations until the State Department notifies them via e-mail or the news media that departure plans have been completed.

Harty said the officials rejected plans to take U.S. nationals out of Lebanon by land -- something already completed by some European countries -- because those plans were deemed too dangerous.

The officials added that they have received anecdotal reports that some Americans were denied passage to Syria, even though the Syrian government had said they would be able to cross the border unimpeded.

About 800 American visitors of the 25,000 Americans estimated to be in Lebanon have registered with the embassy, Harty said. Many of them are dual nationals who make Lebanon their home.

Though Americans choosing to depart for Cyprus would be responsible for paying any fares from the island to their final destination, the officials said "repatriation loans" would be made available for those without sufficient funds.

State Department official James Jeffrey said an argument against Americans going into Syria was that "there is at least a theoretical possibility" that Syria could wind up being involved in the violence. (Watch people flee danger in Lebanon -- 1:41)

The U.S. Embassy in Beirut remains fully operational and will continue to be after the evacuation, they said.

Officials said the ambassador's office will be open, and political, security and consular services will continue but may be short-staffed. Departures of U.S. personnel would be voluntary, the officials said.

[feederband]

Someone (don't know whether it was civilians or troops) were just evacuated from Lebanon. The networks are showing the video and some are saying they're not quite sure who the helicopters belong to, but I'm going to go WAY out on a limb and say the UK, since their flags are on the side.

Yes they were UK

[bvigal]

I hear people who are being evacuated from the areas now complaining that the US is not doing enough. What about the UN? Why doesn't anyone complain about them?

Good, intuitive catch there, Janice, you are so right! Why, indeed?

Here's my guess. If CNN has to ask 100 people in order to find just 1 who will bad-mouth the U.S., they will. It's not: (reporter with microphone walking toward man on the street) "Let's ask this person what they think about the situation." and then "Let's move on to the next person and see what they think." (The way news media USED TO cover these things.) Instead, it's reporter asking, "Hey, don't you think the U.S. should be doing more?" "Oh, that's a great answer! Let us turn on the camera and you can say it again, and this time, with more anger and bitterness, OK?"

Who knows how many people, if simply asked, "What do you think the world community can do to help this situation?" would have mentioned the U.N. right away?

Sometimes it sounds like U.S. news organizations actually hate the U.S. They will go to any lengths to push their version of "reality." It's brainwashing, not news.

I beg everyone to please not get your information only from news organizations with the same point of view. Look for the widest variety you can possibly find. In today's world, discerning the truth takes a lot of effort.

[Regit]

Ok I thought we had a no bashing rule in effect? Especially bashing in the form of a vast conspiracy.

The 3 networks have handled this story beautifully the last few days and I've been quite proud (Yes, of both CNN and Fox). But I know, giving credit where credit is due isn't the American way.

[Brent]

Ok I thought we had a no bashing rule in effect? Especially bashing in the form of a vast conspiracy.

The 3 networks have handled this story beautifully the last few days and I've been quite proud (Yes, of both CNN and Fox). But I know, giving credit where credit is due isn't the American way.

I've been impressed with everyone too.

[Regit]

Ok I thought we had a no bashing rule in effect? Especially bashing in the form of a vast conspiracy.

The 3 networks have handled this story beautifully the last few days and I've been quite proud (Yes, of both CNN and Fox). But I know, giving credit where credit is due isn't the American way.

I've been impressed with everyone too.

Yes, all three have been very good at showing both sides of the story equally and not taking a side. In terms of getting the breaking news first while still being accurate, the award has to go to MSNBC. They've mentioned several events minutes before the other two.

[nystate]

You guys are being too harsh on the Americans trapped in Lebanon. Lebanon is a stable, beautiful country and a good tourist destination. They didn't know in advance that war was going to break out; no one did. After spending a month within 5 miles of the Gaza strip (as an American civilian) I have to say that I take it personally that you all view us over there as expendable.

[Brent]

Ok I thought we had a no bashing rule in effect? Especially bashing in the form of a vast conspiracy.

The 3 networks have handled this story beautifully the last few days and I've been quite proud (Yes, of both CNN and Fox). But I know, giving credit where credit is due isn't the American way.

I've been impressed with everyone too.

Yes, all three have been very good at showing both sides of the story equally and not taking a side. In terms of getting the breaking news first while still being accurate, the award has to go to MSNBC. They've mentioned several events minutes before the other two.

Yeah, MSNBC has gotten much better the last 2 days. They started off really slow(and on the 4th completely ignored the North Korean missile tests til the next morning), but they pre-empted a lot of their taped junk they usually air over the weekend in favor of news. When they try they can be really good.

[Brent]

Israel claims to have destroyed an Iranian missile capable of reaching Tel Aviv during an airstrike in Lebanon.

U.S. Intelligence believes Hezbollah has enough missiles and rockets to strike Israel for months.

The U.S. is sending a contracted ship capable of holding 5,000 Americans for a large-scale evacuation from Lebanon that will take them to Cyprus. It will have a warship escort.

[JTD]

The war seems to be winding down:

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Oil prices eased from record highs Monday as reports indicated a possible end to fighting between Israel and Lebanese-based Hezbollah soldiers.

[Stephanie]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13897540/

I didn't see this link posted - but it refers to Israel floating a possible solution to ending this, but it does depend a lot upon Hezbollah.

[bvigal]

Ok I thought we had a no bashing rule in effect? Especially bashing in the form of a vast conspiracy.

The 3 networks have handled this story beautifully the last few days and I've been quite proud (Yes, of both CNN and Fox). But I know, giving credit where credit is due isn't the American way.

There is honest propaganda, meant to persuade but based on facts and logic, and there is manipulative, deceptive propaganda, based on lies, and even worse, half truths. Falsehoods can be refuted, but half truths are dangerous because they effectively fool people. The half that is true makes it seem like the whole truth. ...Fred E. Foldvary

Just because the 3 networks you refer to (which, by the way is far from everyone, so not sure why you refer to them as “[the] 3 networks” as if no other media exist) have demonstrated no bias toward either Israel or Lebanon, does not mean all presented is complete, accurate, and fair. Janice’s point was valid. Why continually ask what the United States is going to do about the problem, without even mentioning the United Nations? This is reasonably not an accurate picture of the situation. The United Nations has true authority in the situation, from a world perspective, while the U.S. has not.

Were this just an isolated incident, I wouldn't even comment. But I've seen countless incidents of intentional, obvious slant, regardless of the particular topic, putting the worst possible light on the United States. Accusing me of purporting a conspiracy theory is an historically effective method of squashing free speech. (And more or less insinuating I'm a "nut".) Can we not reasonably discuss and debate, even agree to disagree, without resorting to such tactics?

I have not bashed any members, and am certainly entitled to my opinion about CNN, just as many here give their opinions all day long about one thing or another.

"I beg everyone to please not get your information only from news organizations with the same point of view. Look for the widest variety you can possibly find. In today's world, discerning the truth takes a lot of effort." You'd never hear this statement from a person espousing irrational conspiracy theories, it would work against them selling their point.

[conestogo_flood]

I'm still seeing on the CBC that people in northern Israel are gearing up for more attacks, that may even be worse than previous ones.

[Regit]

Ok I thought we had a no bashing rule in effect? Especially bashing in the form of a vast conspiracy.

The 3 networks have handled this story beautifully the last few days and I've been quite proud (Yes, of both CNN and Fox). But I know, giving credit where credit is due isn't the American way.

There is honest propaganda, meant to persuade but based on facts and logic, and there is manipulative, deceptive propaganda, based on lies, and even worse, half truths. Falsehoods can be refuted, but half truths are dangerous because they effectively fool people. The half that is true makes it seem like the whole truth. ...Fred E. Foldvary

Just because the 3 networks you refer to (which, by the way is far from everyone, so not sure why you refer to them as “[the] 3 networks” as if no other media exist) have demonstrated no bias toward either Israel or Lebanon, does not mean all presented is complete, accurate, and fair. Janice’s point was valid. Why continually ask what the United States is going to do about the problem, without even mentioning the United Nations? This is reasonably not an accurate picture of the situation. The United Nations has true authority in the situation, from a world perspective, while the U.S. has not.

Were this just an isolated incident, I wouldn't even comment. But I've seen countless incidents of intentional, obvious slant, regardless of the particular topic, putting the worst possible light on the United States. Accusing me of purporting a conspiracy theory is an historically effective method of squashing free speech. (And more or less insinuating I'm a "nut".) Can we not reasonably discuss and debate, even agree to disagree, without resorting to such tactics?

I have not bashed any members, and am certainly entitled to my opinion about CNN, just as many here give their opinions all day long about one thing or another.

"I beg everyone to please not get your information only from news organizations with the same point of view. Look for the widest variety you can possibly find. In today's world, discerning the truth takes a lot of effort." You'd never hear this statement from a person espousing irrational conspiracy theories, it would work against them selling their point.

This is classic. You put a whole bunch of words in my mouth and call them "my tactics." Give it a rest. Any further replies will be ignored.