Jared is one of the 200 AUB students who left on the boat yesterday. Get the inside scoop of what happened.
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DISPROPORTIONATE IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT!
Update – We are in Cyprus…and more worried than ever for Lebanon
Please read this entire email – we are struggling to get out real
information. Forward to whoever is concerned.
We left Lebanon yesterday afternoon (Tues) as the first selected
Americans because of our affiliation with AUB. We traveled on a
massive 12 story Norwegian freight boat on the top deck. I was nothing
luxurious but it got us here at about 4 AM. We had the US navy
traveling by our side the entire way (with one stop when they
transferred food to us). There were about 120 Americans while most of
the other 1100 passengers were Norwegian, Finnish or Swedish. The
ride was supposed to be 8 hours but took 10. At one point a crew
member, whom we had befriended, told us we were diverted on our path
because of an Israeli warship which had made contact with us. We
don't know much more than that. The US ambassador to Cyprus was here
to greet us and they were actually quite organized in finding people
hotels but flights are difficult.
We arrived here and our good friend Athena (who is Cypriot/Lebanese)
picked us up and took us to her house (Limassol). The port where we
arrived (Larnaka) seems to be overrun with evacuees. We went to the
travel agent this afternoon to inquire about the cost and availability
of tickets to the states (even though we hope to wait a week here and
see how things will play out). Tickets to Europe are becoming hard to
come by in the next week. Steve, a friend who came with us has been
hounding the State Dept. (which again made us sign these forms asking
us to pay back the costs of evacuation – which was totally
unspecified). Steve was able to get on the first of (many?) chartered
flights from here to NYC roughly 1 hour ago – which are SURPRISINGLY
provided for free. We will be talking to the embassy about this
option (as it is free) and are currently reserved on normal commercial
flights to London on Tuesday.
We must note that at every turn in our journey there were loads of
journalist/photographers/film crews who were looking to interview us
all – especially the Americans. Sadly, they weren't interested in our
views or our stories but they had a particular story in mind. Mainly
the story of "the poor American trapped abroad by terrorists (=
Arabs)." They have their story which will sell and they are looking
for nothing but the tear jerker that supports the stereotypes in the
US today. When our friend was asked for an interview he said he
wanted to not only talk about his hardships getting here, but more
importantly that we are not the unfortunate ones here. The reporter
quickly made it clear that she was not interested in the story – it
wasn't dramatic enough for US news (she was NBC). The media is having
a field day here because of the evacuation and we are noticing how
this is shamefully becoming the focus of the news. Honestly these
contrived stories seem to be distractions for the American people so
they don't question our unconditional support for Israel as it commits
acts of terrorism. We ask you all to please examine the FOREIGN media
for news about the current events. For the first times since leaving
Lebanon we are being exposed to the US media and it is remarkable how
it won't touch ANY evaluation of what is happening. Utterly disgusting
how little is questioned.
As for Lebanon, there is a statement that any truck that is traveling
in the south will be shot by the Israeli Army. One can only imagine
how, on the few navigable roads, people can get water, gas or food.
Yesterday Israel bombed 4 humanitarian vehicles with donations from
the UAE and claimed they were full of weapons – when the truth later
came out that the purpose of the vehicles (humanitarian), Israel
refused to amend their news/press releases and continue today to say
they shot trucks delivering weapons from Syria. Make no mistake; the
hundreds of American/Europeans that we personally know in Lebanon felt
fear for the first time not from Hizballah but Israel. Hizballah does
not target Westerners. They have never made us feel unsafe at all.
The Israeli media machine is trying to make us think they are entirely
to blame, while in reality the crisis is caused by both Hizballah and
Israel (with the Lebanese in the middle). Now there are tens of
thousands of refugees sleeping in buildings, parks, and the street in
Beirut. We donated 2 mattresses and stripped all our beds to donate
sheets/pillows etc. This is the effect of Israeli's "TARGETED STRIKES
ON HIZBALLAH." Our goal isn't to paint Israel as the bad guy – but
they have to be accountable for their actions. We not anti-Israeli
but we need to be anti-injustice. Israel has undertaken unwarranted
operations right now and we can't turn our heads. DISPORTPROTUNATE IS
AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
If any of you get the chance to see HARDBALL or HARDTALK (don't
remember the name on BBC today) – WATCH IT. The interview is amazing
and the reporter is actually questioning the stance of the Israeli
official. At almost every turn he shows the blatant one-sidedness of
his arguments and how the Israelis are twisting the media in general.
Make no mistake, Hizballah is an uncontrolled force that needs to be
solved – but again the Israelis are destroying the ENTIRE INFRASTRUCE
OF LEBANON – and have displaced as of early today over ½ million
Lebanese citizens in one week killed 200 (not including 40 today),
they have started striking Christian Neighborhoods in Beirut (which
not be important for an attack on Shiite Muslims). As an old
professor from AUB who worked in Southern Lebanon for 20 years said,
this is not a war on Hizballah but a war meant to anger the Lebanese
people into turning against Hizballah. What the Israeli's don't seem
to understand is that they are turning the population hostile towards
Israeli. Their attacks might ultimately upset the sensitive sectarian
balance of the country and in the end backfire to ironically
strengthen Hizballah (as people see them defending them against
Israeli's dramatically actions.) This collective punishment is not a
viable solution to the problem – as we have seen from the Palestinian
people.
For those of you who are still in Lebanon – keep calling the embassy
and watching the news. When we asked the State Dept. officials they
all seemed to know nothing…but said that the operation was underway.
They are going to have a massive evacuation ahead of them.
There are two petitions to sign:
http://epetition.net/julywar/
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/50600/
TAKE CARE-
Jared
PICS coming in the next few days - just needed to get this out.
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Also there is some good news. See below:
Last night, the Senate was set to vote on a resolution defending
Israel's attacks on Lebanon. That vote was blocked by Senate Armed
Services Committee Chairman John Warner (R-VA). Warner noted the
following on the Senate floor:
"I urge those...to make sure there is not an ambiguity there because
the people of Lebanon are suffering enormously at this time, as are
the people in Gaza. Many of those people are not aligned with either
Hezbollah or Hamas.
"There is no mention in the resolution of some perhaps 25,000
Americans who are trapped or engulfed in one way in this conflict. How
best do we address this conflict to help protect those 25,000 persons?
That is an essential part of this debate.
"Now we see today that so many nations say the United States must take
a stronger role in trying to work our way through this conflict, yes,
supporting Israel but at the same time trying to bring about some
resolution to spare the life and limb and suffering in Palestine,
Lebanon, and Israel, to see that it not spread to other areas.
"I conclude our support for Israel is very strong, Mr. President, but
it cannot be unconditional."
It is very important that Arab Americans and supporters of peace THANK
SENATOR WARNER for his comments and action!
Thank Senator Warner for:
addressing the suffering of Lebanese and Palestinian civilians
protecting Americans who are currently trapped in Lebanon
advocating for the United States to be a fair and honest broker for
peace in the region
If you are not a Virginia resident, please call Sen. Warner's
Washington office at (202) 224-2023 and ask to speak with his foreign
affairs staff.
If you live in Virginia, call both the Washington office and the
district office closest to your home. Ask for the district
representative and be sure to let them know where you live. Abingdon
(276) 628-8158, Midlothian (804) 739-0247, Norfolk (757) 441-3079,
Roanoke (540) 857-2676
Call us and let us know about your success at (202) 429-9210. Ask for
Rebecca Abou-Chedid or Ryan Dunigan in Government Relations or e-mail
us at rabouchedid@aaiusa.org
Below are Senator Warner's full remarks.
THE MIDDLE EAST -- (Senate - July 17, 2006)
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I thank the distinguished Presiding
Officer.
During the course of the day, there was brought to the attention of
the Members of the Senate a resolution regarding the situation in the
Middle East. It was my understanding this resolution would be brought
to the Senate tonight and that presumably it would be agreed to by the
Senate.
My concern is that there are certain additional matters which
should be included. If the Senate is going to exercise the important
act of bringing this up, seeking unanimous consent, and the message
goes out all over the world that the Senate has spoken, I would
support what is in this resolution. I believe now that is not going to
take place tonight for various reasons.
It is imperative that I address what was to have taken place, what
I was told was to have taken place, assuming the unanimous consent
could be achieved on both sides.
No. 1, this matter is so important, it deserves an opportunity for
a number of Senators to speak on a resolution of this import. I am now
advised by our cloakroom that it will not be taken up tonight, but I
will take this opportunity to address parts of it or at least one part
that I think should bear further careful drafting and possibly be
changed. Otherwise, it is only one section, on page 3, item 3, which
says:
(3) urges the President to continue fully supporting Israel as
Israel exercises its right of self-defense in Lebanon and Gaza;
There is no question about their right of self-defense against
Hezbollah and Hamas, but I wondered whether we should draft it in this
way.
I urge those, since we are not going to take it up tonight, to make
sure there is not an ambiguity there because the people of Lebanon are
suffering enormously at this time, as are the people in Gaza. Many of
those people are not aligned with either Hezbollah or Hamas.
I am also concerned about the Government in Lebanon and the actions
which are taking place now, what do we do if that Government were to
fall.
I would vote for this resolution if it were brought up tonight. I
would have addressed the Senate and brought up other matters which I
will now discuss.
I turn now again to the fact that this is so important, it deserves
the consideration of every Senator and a debate of some length. I
don't know about the schedule of the Senate, but if we are going to go
forward and send a message to the world about our position in the
Senate with respect to the conflicts in Palestine, Lebanon, and
Israel, and the suffering that is taking place on all borders, each
side of the various borders, then it deserves very careful
consideration.
The purpose of me taking the floor is to point out some areas which
deserve full consideration in that debate which are not included. I
don't criticize the drafter of this resolution, but it requires the
consideration of the whole Senate rather than a unanimous consent with
a number of Senators who may not be here tonight.
In the course of that debate, I urge a larger focus. For example,
there is no mention in the resolution of some perhaps 25,000 Americans
who are trapped or engulfed in one way in this conflict. How best do
we address this conflict to help protect those 25,000 persons? That is
an essential part of this debate.
Second, I said the following on Friday night in response to a press
inquiry when I first learned of this conflict:
While I fully recognize that Israel was a victim of provocative
attacks on her people and sovereignty, I urge the Administration to
think through very carefully how Israel's extraordinary reaction could
affect our operations in Iraq and our joint diplomatic efforts to
resolve the Iranian nuclear issue.
This is a very critical time for the United States in the Middle
East, and the Israeli actions will certainly have an impact beyond
just Lebanon and Gaza.
I stand by that statement. That is why I urge, and I am pleased to
say this resolution, at such time as it would be brought up, will be
broadened to cover the other points.
First, are the 25,000 Americans trapped? Second, this Nation has
made a very great sacrifice to achieve goals established by our
President and a coalition of forces associated with our country in
both Iraq and Afghanistan. Over 2,500 have lost their lives in Iraq;
over 300 have lost their lives in Afghanistan. That is U.S. forces.
Our coalition partners have lost. We have 20,000-plus wounded, many
severely wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. And $436 billion is a rough
calculation of just a part, not all, but a significant part of the
investment of our country in achieving our goals in those nations, of
stabilizing their governments now with free elections in both
countries and hopefully enabling those governments to gain the
strength to provide for the peoples of Iraq and Afghanistan, a measure
of liberty and freedom and possibly democracy which we enjoy here and
in other nations.
What is the effect of any statement made by the Senate? What is the
effect on that very fragile situation in both countries? There is a
resurgence in Afghanistan. I was just there a short time ago--and each
of us have followed the news to date--a resurgence in the fighting.
NATO has come in.
We cannot just address one portion of the Middle East conflict
without seeing how the manner in which we address that could affect
the other areas, notably Afghanistan and Iraq.
So I say to my colleagues, as I said Friday night, we urge our
President, our administration, as they take such, hopefully, bold and
firm and convincing initiatives in regard to the conflicts in Israel
and Gaza and Lebanon, to be mindful of how it could impact on our
conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq and our negotiations thus far with
Iran in participating with other nations--not unilaterally--to try to
bring about some resolution of what many of us considered up until
this conflict--and I am not sure how we are going to eventually
characterize the magnitude and the future potential spreading of this
conflict--but certainly up until this conflict, in my judgment, the
potential of Iran gaining nuclear weapons was absolutely--there was
nothing more serious, in my judgment, than to try to resolve that.
There is no reference in here to the other Arab nations. It is
quite interesting; some of those nations have come forward in strong
condemnation, joined our country, joined other nations, in condemning
Hamas and Hezbollah. That is of importance.
Now we see today that so many nations say the United States must
take a stronger role in trying to work our way through this conflict,
yes, supporting Israel but at the same time trying to bring about some
resolution to spare the life and limb and suffering in Palestine,
Lebanon, and Israel, to see that it not spread to other areas.
Now, our President has indicated that the Secretary of State will
soon embark on a mission. What we say in the Senate must be carefully
drafted so it does not remove the flexibility that our Secretary of
State--a very able person--will need in helping to resolve this
problem.
So I say that historically this Nation has stood steadfast, and I
am proud that I have been among those in this Chamber in my 28 years
here, to strongly support Israel. Our Nation is viewed upon as an
honest broker--recognizing our support of Israel but as an honest
broker. If the world is going to look to us as to how we can provide
that leadership, I do not want any loss of flexibility on the part of
the President and the Secretary of State and such others who may be
tasked to try to work out this situation.
Yes, I conclude our support for Israel is very strong, Mr.
President, but it cannot be unconditional.
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