W Fails At The Most Basic Job-US Citizens Screwed Yet Again

This is starting to become a disturbing routine for the Imperial Presidency of King George W Bush, an individual far more at home playing dress up SuperDuperHero than actually working to protect the US citizenry and Constitution from attacks both foreign and domestic

W's Administration failed to protect almost 3000 people killed on September 11

The same thing happened when W decided that air-playing a guitar-complete with Presidential seal-continuing on a fundraising vacation, as opposed to showing strong, decisive leadership, was more important than vigorously leading a federal rescue & relief operation after Katrina hit, New Orleans Drowned and People Died


Add the US citizens stuck in Lebanon to the ever-increasing list of people harmed by the Bush Jr cabal

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U.S. Rescue Bogs Down in Lebanon

And

Hundreds of Americans Evacuate Lebanon

Thousands of Americans whose vacations and business trips to Lebanon have degenerated with sickening speed into stints in a battle zone remained stranded here under Israeli bombardment Monday, their frustration and anger mounting because the U.S. government hasn't gotten them out faster.

Waiting around Beirut with bags packed and fingers crossed, U.S. citizens derided the embassy for busy phone lines, a lack of information and gnawing uncertainty over when and whether they will get out. Hundreds were expected to be shipped to Cyprus today, but how long the full evacuation will take remains uncertain.

"I had heard it might take a week, two weeks. You hear so many things," said Pamela Pattie, a 65-year-old professor. "Why in the world aren't we getting it together?"(LAT)

Excellent Question, just why is this Administration so slow when it comes to helping out the public, why doesn't the Administration put any value on any lives that aren't connected with corrupt cronies and heavy-hitting campaign contributors?

At least 320 Americans left Lebanon by sea and air Tuesday, but hundreds more waited in frustration for a cruise ship hired by the U.S. to take them to Cyprus. The U.S. Embassy tried to calm their fears, saying everyone who wanted to leave will eventually get out.

The move out did not start until a team of U.S. security experts arrived in Lebanon over the weekend to plan the operation, which will bill the evacuees.(Forbes)

This Administration had to know that Lebanon would be targeted with Israeli bombs when Hezbollah launched an attack on Israel that killed 3 soldiers and took 2 more captive, yet didn't start planning to evacuate thousands of US citizens in Lebanon until this past weekend

Once again, the Administration shows it's malign & willful neglect of US citizens for all but photo-ops to push a radical, war-based agenda that profits no one but it's campaign-contributing supporters

The frustration has been intensified by news that other countries have already pulled many of their citizens out of Lebanon, efficiently and free of cost. A ferry chartered by the French government carried about 800 of its citizens and several dozen Americans to Cyprus on Monday. The U.S. military evacuated about 60 Americans by helicopter Sunday and Monday.

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Americans have been told to wait for a telephone call that could come in hours — or days. They've also been told they can't board a ship unless they've signed a contract agreeing to repay the U.S. government for the price of their evacuation.(LAT)

Yes, you read that correctly, the US is REQUIRING it's citizens to pay for their evacuation from a country W's lauded for it's democratically elected Govt

Lebanon Situation Update - July 15, 2006

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 transporation arrangments, 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.

NO other country rescuing it's citizens is charging for their evacuation.

To get on the ship, Americans must sign a note pledging to reimburse the U.S. government. They will be charged the cost of a single commercial flight from Beirut to Cyprus - usually about $150 or $200, although officials refused to specify. If they have no way to fly onward, they also will be asked to reimburse the cost of an airline ticket from Cyprus to the United States.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi objected to billing evacuees.

"A nation that can provide more than $300 billion for a war in Iraq can provide the money to get its people out of Lebanon," Pelosi said.(Forbes)

And considering how this Administration tries to punish those who criticize it publicly, the person quoted next is playing it smart by not being identified

The rules have angered Americans who are already fatigued and nervous after days of explosions. "I'm freaked out that our government is treating us this way," snapped a Rutgers University student who had been studying Arabic at the American University of Beirut. She declined to give her name for fear she would be taken off the passenger list in retribution for criticizing the evacuation effort.

"Are we a Third World country or what?" she said.(LAT)

No

The US is a First World Country which happens to be governed by a Third World Wannabe Dictatorship

And which US citizens are in Lebanon?

Officials estimate that 25,000 Americans have poured into Lebanon this summer. They include tourists, business travelers and students. There are Lebanese who fled the torments of the civil war decades ago and had finally dared take their families back for a visit. There are Lebanese Americans and American Jews, young and old, chasing down lost memories or looking for adventure in this sun-dappled country of pine-studded mountains and pristine beaches.

Now they are all stuck in place, trembling when the bombs shake the ground, sweating because of the broken air conditioners, listening to the roar of Israeli jets — and waiting to be rescued.(LAT)

And lets put a real name to one of those US citizens once again left, by this Administration, to fend for themselves in a crisis not of that person's own making

Jonathan Chakhtoura, a 19-year-old Lebanese-American student, said he registered electronically with the U.S. Embassy to be evacuated, but he has not heard back for three days, except for an e-mail acknowledging his registration.

Chakhtoura, who wants to be back in Boston before school resumes Sept. 6, said he was disappointed with the way the embassy has handled the evacuation.

"Every time I call to see what's going on the lines are busy. When they answer, they say they don't know," he said. "There is so much confusion. If it's security they are worried about, then I think we will be more secure if we know what is going on."(Forbes)

Here's another face to put on the problem

Among the stranded is a 9-year old boy, Noureddine Issa, who received a liver transplant at UCLA Medical Center as an infant. His family, which lives in Los Angeles, was visiting relatives in Beirut when the fighting broke out.

Surgeons at UCLA have been urgently trying to get Noureddine out of the country, fearing he is running out of critical medications.(LAT)

Read the rest of the LA Times piece, see how many others have been abandoned by the Tender Mercies of the Bush Jr Administration

Just what is it with vigorously trying to protect US Citizens that rankles the Administration and rubs this Imperial President the wrong way?