http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/20/middleeast...index.html

Quote:"My son served in the army for four years. In Iraq. He served because we love our country. As we should. Now look at us?"

Muna Mansour is gesturing around her at the slatted cargo hold she and her family -- all nine of them -- are trying to get comfortable in. They're squeezed in with two other families. On the ground by my feet, Muna's middle grandchild is sleeping, curled up beside an oil drum.

"There's nowhere to sleep, there's no food -- you can see how people are just thrown around all over the place," she said.

Muna is from Buffalo in upstate New York. Her family is among the dozens of Americans caught in the crossfire of warring parties in Yemen. And although many other countries evacuated their citizens, India most notably ferrying out around 5,000, the United States has said it is too dangerous for them to directly evacuate American nationals.

Quote:"I was there when the Indians picked up 200 of their people from the port. It was embarrassing. We were just sitting there waiting for someone to come and say 'OK where are the Americans, let's pick them up,' " she said.

"I called the Riyadh embassy," she adds, referring to the U.S. Embassy in neighboring Saudi Arabia. "I told them there were about 75 families here waiting at the port. My family has been waiting there for two weeks. We ran out of money, we ran out of food."

The State Department said it is too risky to conduct an evacuation of citizens from the area.

"We have to make a decision based on the security situation and what is feasible to do," State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said earlier this month. "And given the situation in Yemen is quite dangerous and unpredictable, doing something like sending in military assets even for an evacuation could put U.S. citizen lives at greater risk."

Quote:It was purely coincidence that led to Muna being on board this ship, a wooden vessel chartered by CNN to reach the port city of Aden, in Yemen.

Muna was visiting her sick father in Aden when fighting broke out around her. With the Houthi forces to the north and the waters of the Gulf of Aden to the south, the city is essentially besieged. It took us over 30 hours of travel -- and a lull in the fighting -- for us to be able to dock at one of Aden's smaller ports.

She has a "nice, normal life" in New York and said she couldn't wait to get back.

Our ship was the first the port had seen in over a week. We agreed to take back 60 refugees -- including 15 Americans -- who had gathered at the port's gate when news of our arrival spread. But of course that's nowhere near enough. So many more are desperate to leave.

I asked Muna what life in Aden was like. "My daughter-in-law would crouch down and hide in the kitchen," she recalls. "It was just bombs all the time. Gunshots. People running down the street.

Quote:For Muna, her ordeal ended at Djibouti Port where Christina Higgins, the U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission, was among the embassy staff waiting to meet them. I asked Higgins about the sense of abandonment Muna and many of the other Americans trapped in Yemen said they felt.

"We have one of the branches of al Qaeda that's especially active. There's the Houthis -- neither of these two groups friendly to U.S. citizens. We've had to weigh very, very carefully what is the safest way, the best way for us to help them."

Higgins said ultimately each U.S. citizen is going to have to judge what is best for themselves and their families.

"For many U.S. citizens, that's going to mean sheltering in place. For other U.S. citizens, we're actively working at getting information to them on different avenues for travel out of Yemen."

Well, I guess you can scratch Yemen off of my "Places to visit" list.

Frontline (PBS) did a special on Yemen recently. One of the highlights was a memorial for the former leader of one of the factions, where government troops tracked down the cave where they were living, poured gasoline into the entrance, and set it on fire.

I don't think the Houthis or the Saudis are using smart bombs when they attack.

But, don't lose hope... there is common ground for all Yemenis, Saudis, Syrians, and Libyans... They all condemn Israeli brutality in Gaza last summer.

Anybody who has ever lived overseas knows our government is never looking out for you.

Quote:"We have to make a decision based on the security situation and what is feasible to do," State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said earlier this month. "And given the situation in Yemen is quite dangerous and unpredictable, doing something like sending in military assets even for an evacuation could put U.S. citizen lives at greater risk."

"For many U.S. citizens, that's going to mean sheltering in place. For other U.S. citizens, we're actively working at getting information to them on different avenues for travel out of Yemen."

We have an entire branch of service (US Marines) that specializes in these type of scenarios. Instead of telling people to 'shelter in place', why not give them a call. I'm sure an entire CVBG will show up to help if you do.

(04-21-2015 03:46 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Anybody who has ever lived overseas knows our government is never looking out for you.

And, it's that much better here?

... but I'm sure you never appreciate how bad it is until you're stuck in a shipping container for a month with no food...

(04-21-2015 03:48 PM)I45owl Wrote:  

(04-21-2015 03:46 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Anybody who has ever lived overseas knows our government is never looking out for you.

And, it's that much better here?

... but I'm sure you never appreciate how bad it is until you're stuck in a shipping container for a month with no food...

That does sound pretty rough. But then again, being told your EBT won't buy Oreos may be worse.

(04-21-2015 03:46 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Anybody who has ever lived overseas knows our government is never looking out for you.

Maybe these people should seek Indian citizenship since it isn't too dangerous for the Indians to evacuate their citizens.

(04-21-2015 03:49 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(04-21-2015 03:48 PM)I45owl Wrote:  

(04-21-2015 03:46 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Anybody who has ever lived overseas knows our government is never looking out for you.

And, it's that much better here?

... but I'm sure you never appreciate how bad it is until you're stuck in a shipping container for a month with no food...

That does sound pretty rough. But then again, being told your EBT won't buy Oreos may be worse.

Or, maybe we just don't notice it because no-one's trying to pour gasoline into our caves...

(04-21-2015 03:53 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(04-21-2015 03:46 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Anybody who has ever lived overseas knows our government is never looking out for you.

Maybe these people should seek Indian citizenship since it isn't too dangerous for the Indians to evacuate their citizens.

It's always that way.

When we lived in Tunisia when I was a kid we were told that in the event of any sort of problem we were to go to the British or Italians before the US Embassy.

That's because the embassy people suck ass and hated the ex-pats. They aren't there to help you.

(04-21-2015 03:54 PM)I45owl Wrote:  

(04-21-2015 03:49 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(04-21-2015 03:48 PM)I45owl Wrote:  

(04-21-2015 03:46 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Anybody who has ever lived overseas knows our government is never looking out for you.

And, it's that much better here?

... but I'm sure you never appreciate how bad it is until you're stuck in a shipping container for a month with no food...

That does sound pretty rough. But then again, being told your EBT won't buy Oreos may be worse.

Or, maybe we just don't notice it because no-one's trying to pour gasoline into our caves...

If somebody wants my cave that bad they can have it.

(04-21-2015 03:47 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  

Quote:"We have to make a decision based on the security situation and what is feasible to do," State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said earlier this month. "And given the situation in Yemen is quite dangerous and unpredictable, doing something like sending in military assets even for an evacuation could put U.S. citizen lives at greater risk."

"For many U.S. citizens, that's going to mean sheltering in place. For other U.S. citizens, we're actively working at getting information to them on different avenues for travel out of Yemen."

We have an entire branch of service (US Marines) that specializes in these type of scenarios. Instead of telling people to 'shelter in place', why not give them a call. I'm sure an entire CVBG will show up to help if you do.

The Iwo Jima ESG is already off the coast and have been for some time. With about 5000 marines, this scenario is what they're trained for. However orders will have to come from the State Dept or POTUS himself, so unfortunately these American's are SOL. I don't know how it played out, but they should have tried to hitch a ride on first evac.

(04-21-2015 03:55 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(04-21-2015 03:53 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(04-21-2015 03:46 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Anybody who has ever lived overseas knows our government is never looking out for you.

Maybe these people should seek Indian citizenship since it isn't too dangerous for the Indians to evacuate their citizens.

It's always that way.

When we lived in Tunisia when I was a kid we were told that in the event of any sort of problem we were to go to the British or Italians before the US Embassy.

That's because the embassy people suck ass and hated the ex-pats. They aren't there to help you.

The Department of State is notoriously anti-American. They always kiss ass to the local regime.

(04-21-2015 03:55 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(04-21-2015 03:53 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(04-21-2015 03:46 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Anybody who has ever lived overseas knows our government is never looking out for you.

Maybe these people should seek Indian citizenship since it isn't too dangerous for the Indians to evacuate their citizens.

It's always that way.

When we lived in Tunisia when I was a kid we were told that in the event of any sort of problem we were to go to the British or Italians before the US Embassy.

That's because the embassy people suck ass and hated the ex-pats. They aren't there to help you.

No it hasn't.

Places and years troops were used to evacuate American citizens due to conflicts:

Nanking, China 1948-49
Tachen Islands, China 1954-55
Egypt 1956
Congo 1964 (US Air Force provided transport and support to Belgian troops evacuating westerners, including US citizens)
Cyprus 1974
Lebanon 1976
Congo 1978 (Again USAF provided aircraft and support to Belgian and French troops evacuating westerners, including US citizens)
Liberia 1990
Zaire 1991 (USAF supported Belgian troops and evacuated American citizens)
Sierra Leon 1992
Liberia 1996
Central African Republic 1996
Albania 1997
Gabon 1997
Sierra Leon 1997
Cambodia 1997
Sierra Leon 2000
Ivory Coast 2002
Liberia 2003
Lebanon 2006
Chad 2012

So evidently it hasn't always been that way.

(04-21-2015 06:12 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(04-21-2015 03:55 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(04-21-2015 03:53 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(04-21-2015 03:46 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Anybody who has ever lived overseas knows our government is never looking out for you.

Maybe these people should seek Indian citizenship since it isn't too dangerous for the Indians to evacuate their citizens.

It's always that way.

When we lived in Tunisia when I was a kid we were told that in the event of any sort of problem we were to go to the British or Italians before the US Embassy.

That's because the embassy people suck ass and hated the ex-pats. They aren't there to help you.

No it hasn't.

Places and years troops were used to evacuate American citizens due to conflicts:

Nanking, China 1948-49
Tachen Islands, China 1954-55
Egypt 1956
Congo 1964 (US Air Force provided transport and support to Belgian troops evacuating westerners, including US citizens)
Cyprus 1974
Lebanon 1976
Congo 1978 (Again USAF provided aircraft and support to Belgian and French troops evacuating westerners, including US citizens)
Liberia 1990
Zaire 1991 (USAF supported Belgian troops and evacuated American citizens)
Sierra Leon 1992
Liberia 1996
Central African Republic 1996
Albania 1997
Gabon 1997
Sierra Leon 1997
Cambodia 1997
Sierra Leon 2000
Ivory Coast 2002
Liberia 2003
Lebanon 2006
Chad 2012

So evidently it hasn't always been that way.

Cute list, missed a lot.

(04-21-2015 06:15 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(04-21-2015 06:12 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(04-21-2015 03:55 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(04-21-2015 03:53 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(04-21-2015 03:46 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Anybody who has ever lived overseas knows our government is never looking out for you.

Maybe these people should seek Indian citizenship since it isn't too dangerous for the Indians to evacuate their citizens.

It's always that way.

When we lived in Tunisia when I was a kid we were told that in the event of any sort of problem we were to go to the British or Italians before the US Embassy.

That's because the embassy people suck ass and hated the ex-pats. They aren't there to help you.

No it hasn't.

Places and years troops were used to evacuate American citizens due to conflicts:

Nanking, China 1948-49
Tachen Islands, China 1954-55
Egypt 1956
Congo 1964 (US Air Force provided transport and support to Belgian troops evacuating westerners, including US citizens)
Cyprus 1974
Lebanon 1976
Congo 1978 (Again USAF provided aircraft and support to Belgian and French troops evacuating westerners, including US citizens)
Liberia 1990
Zaire 1991 (USAF supported Belgian troops and evacuated American citizens)
Sierra Leon 1992
Liberia 1996
Central African Republic 1996
Albania 1997
Gabon 1997
Sierra Leon 1997
Cambodia 1997
Sierra Leon 2000
Ivory Coast 2002
Liberia 2003
Lebanon 2006
Chad 2012

So evidently it hasn't always been that way.

Cute list, missed a lot.

Cute snark. Doesn't change the fact that it hasn't "always been that way".

(04-21-2015 03:55 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(04-21-2015 03:53 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(04-21-2015 03:46 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Anybody who has ever lived overseas knows our government is never looking out for you.

Maybe these people should seek Indian citizenship since it isn't too dangerous for the Indians to evacuate their citizens.

It's always that way.

When we lived in Tunisia when I was a kid we were told that in the event of any sort of problem we were to go to the British or Italians before the US Embassy.

That's because the embassy people suck ass and hated the ex-pats. They aren't there to help you.

If they aren't there for this, why even have embassies in the first place?

(04-21-2015 05:49 PM)Pyrizzo Wrote:  

(04-21-2015 03:47 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  

Quote:"We have to make a decision based on the security situation and what is feasible to do," State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said earlier this month. "And given the situation in Yemen is quite dangerous and unpredictable, doing something like sending in military assets even for an evacuation could put U.S. citizen lives at greater risk."

"For many U.S. citizens, that's going to mean sheltering in place. For other U.S. citizens, we're actively working at getting information to them on different avenues for travel out of Yemen."

We have an entire branch of service (US Marines) that specializes in these type of scenarios. Instead of telling people to 'shelter in place', why not give them a call. I'm sure an entire CVBG will show up to help if you do.

The Iwo Jima ESG is already off the coast and have been for some time. With about 5000 marines, this scenario is what they're trained for. However orders will have to come from the State Dept or POTUS himself, so unfortunately these American's are SOL. I don't know how it played out, but they should have tried to hitch a ride on first evac.

I figured there had to be one in the vicinity since all transLant and transPac deployment eventually go to the Persian Gulf region. If the get to the embassy, what's the issue with a couple V22's picking them up?

Well the USA is admitting it failed if it's "too dangerous to evacutate citizens now" You would think some planning would have been done to evacuate citizens BEFORE the situation became too dangerous Just another screw up it seems.