two French warships just left for Cyprus and 800 troops are flown in

[tocqueville]

France sends a helicopter carrier and a frigate, several transport planes, and Cobra helicopters besides the ferry. The UK is sending its hangar carrier and an amphibious attack ship. Evacuation is planned though Syria.

this are some of the European measures, other countries are involved too

http://www.afp.com/francais/news/stories/060715204248.9... (French)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060715/ts_nm/mideast_forei... ;_ylt=Ar0P5ifFjRtL2lgymwMyLRUHcggF;_ylu=X3oDMTBjMHVqMTQ4BHNlYwN5bnN1YmNhdA--

[Warpy]

1. So far, it's just evacuations

Meanwhile, the US State Department seems to be sitting with its collective thumbs up its fat, right wing ass, hoping US citizens get caught in the crossfire to give STUPID his next WAR.

[malaise]

27. No the French PM and Foreign Minister

are in The Lebanon

http://www.ttc.org/200607171801.k6hi1cn06733.htm
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1656873

add link

[sarcasmo]

2. If the French carrier gets hit by a Hezbollah missile. Will it officially

be WWIII?

[originalpckelly]

3. I don't know...

but if Israel kills any Americans in Lebanon, there will be hell to pay.

[SPKrazy]

5. I Doubt It

Why would there be hell to pay.

[dmkinsey]

9. I doubt it too

If IDF kills any US citizens it'll just be an unfortunate mistake that could have easily happened to any respectable military machine.

[NYC]

6. Is that why the Americans are not being evacuated

by the American government?

[tocqueville]

8. If the US doesn't have an agreement to use an airfield

by the Lebanese, it must move the Iwo Jima from the Red Sea up to the coast of Lebanon. That can take up to a week, maybe more...

If the Hizbollah start taking Americans as hostages, the consequences can be explosive.

[NYC]

18. Maybe France will volunteer to take some to Cyprus.

Could happen.

[tocqueville]

20. France has evacuated threatened US citizens before

mostly in Africa, latest in Liberia I think

[NYC]

22. I think Liberia was the most recent.

Maybe they'll have room to take some Americans this time. The U.S. hasn't started doing anything yet, still talking about it.

[americanstranger]

26. And they'd probably do it for free!

Unlike our wonderful government, who is charging people to tkae them out of Lebanon.

God, this country is really starting to suck.

- as

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. U.S. plans 'air bridge' out of Lebanon, officials say

Pentagon and U.S. State Department officials are working on contingency plans to get about 25,000 people out of Lebanon to escape Israel's military campaign, launched after two Israeli soldiers were kidnapped by Hezbollah guerrillas.

An "air bridge" is the term for planes that would move in swiftly and ferry people out in quick succession.

Planners are focusing on flying people from the Lebanese capital of Beirut to the island of Cyprus, officials said. (Watch what options the Pentagon has for the trapped Americans -- 1:59)

But the U.S. military is also looking at other options for any evacuation, considering whether it is possible to dock ships or land aircraft in Beirut, given the large number of Hezbollah militants there.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/07/15/lebanon.us.citizens/index.html

[NYC]

17. I read that.

That was after I read they didn't have any plans.

However, they are still in the planning stage, and France is on the way.

[Igel]

16. Americans have been killed in Israel,

by Palestinian gunmen and suiciders, and there was local indignation wherever they originated here, but not hell to pay.

Even DU barely noticed.

I'm fairly sure Shalit is French.

[tocqueville]

4. The Hizbollah isn't that stupid

they won't interfere with evacuation

[shadowknows69]

15. Will it really be a hizbollah missle

or will it just look like one. why didn't our or the israeli's intelligence know about this "unmaned drone" that hit the israeli ship yesterday. There's still the question why the US moved on of our ships away from Haifa before it was attacked? Tin foil hat? Only kind I wear anymore.

[lastknowngood]

7. Why should Syria allow any other country to invade it's country

to extract who knows who. They should prohibit the intrusion in their country.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Syria would probably be glad to help in the evacuation

because it would make them look like a responsible country who wants to save lives.

[malaise]

28. Syria has already been helping Americans get out of Lebanon

by waving visa regulations. I heard the Ambassador on BBC this morning.

[Renew Deal]

11. Because that's what you do

when your not completely insane. They help your citizens this time, you help theirs next time.

[Bjornsdotter]

13. French Link

...didn't work, however this one worked for me.

Cheers

http://www.afp.com/francais/news/stories/060715225113.nqsbfe68.html

[tocqueville]

14. they probably updated it, thanks

I cannot edit this post now

[Bjornsdotter]

23. You're quite welcome! n/t

[Solo_in_MD]

19. Minor Point

France does not use Cobra Helicopters...

[tocqueville]

21. right it's Cougars (or Super Pumas) my mistake

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurocopter_Super_Puma

[DFLer4edu]

24. neither link works, both give error messages

[tocqueville]

25. sorry about that I should have posted permalinks