Tango01 | 14 Apr 2015 10:06 p.m. PST |
"Claire is 24, pregnant and trapped in Yemen with her new husband, two kittens and two huskies named Phoenix and Miska. The Brooklyn native, who asked ABC News not to use her real first name and withhold her last name to protect her identity, described the last two weeks as a blur of window-rattling bombings -- but mostly misinformation, disconnected phone lines and automated emails. "It's been a big mess," she says. "And I'm sorry, it's really f----- up." Claire is one of at least 400 Americans still in Yemen, according to the Council on America-Islamic Relations (CAIR), an Arab American group who along with the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee have filed lawsuits against the U.S. State Department and Department of Defense for failing to evacuate its citizens…" Full article here link Kiote, this is for your next wargame! (smile) Amicalement Armand |
Mako11 | 14 Apr 2015 11:28 p.m. PST |
What I find interesting is that the Russians and Chinese were able to get their people out, and usually we do, but sadly, not this time, apparently. Doesn't seem like there is any effort at all, and that they've been abandoned. Not even a support tweet on the subject, which I find rather shocking! |
Barin1 | 15 Apr 2015 3:30 a.m. PST |
Some US citizens were evacuated on Russian planes, but these were those, specifically mentioned in State Dep correspondence. probably some embassy/corp staff… Edit: it seems that we were trying to get all…more foreigners than Russians evacuated. link |
panzerCDR | 15 Apr 2015 5:01 a.m. PST |
Hmmm . . . Don't put your finger in an energized light socket. Don't play in the highway. Don't try to take a bone out of a dog's mouth. Don't go to a war zone. And leave it (early) if you see political discourse being conducted with heavy artillery. Is this so hard? It is not like Yemen hasn't been a garden spot for years and the Department of State hasn't been warning people . . . |
jdpintex | 15 Apr 2015 5:47 a.m. PST |
The US had been telling people to get out of Yemen for months. They were also told they could leave with the help of other nations. They decided to stay. Big clue to those folks should have been when the embassy was abandoned and our troops pulled out. I don't have a lot of sympathy for them. |
John Treadaway | 15 Apr 2015 7:22 a.m. PST |
jdpintex & panzerCDR +1 I'm afraid. I don't want to see anyone get hurt but the continued presence in Yemen in the current circumstances of anyone with a western passport is insane. John T |
Legion 4 | 15 Apr 2015 8:04 a.m. PST |
All true … but happens when another American captured in this case, Yemen ends up on an Daesh/AQ, etc. "snuff" video ? Frankly, IMO, any non-moslem needs to get the out of the entire region … a long, long time ago … Easier said than done, I know. But hope it not a good course of action. |
Cyrus the Great | 15 Apr 2015 8:42 a.m. PST |
Most, if not all, the Americans remaining are of Yemeni extraction visiting relatives, getting married, keeping in touch with family businesses that they send money to help out, etc. It seems that at least some of them were in remote areas and might not have gotten the warning to get out. |
Tango01 | 15 Apr 2015 11:28 a.m. PST |
"It's kyote, I will never understand why US citizens would go to the middle east…" My dear friend, yesterday a very good couple of friends travel to Saudi Arabian… she is from North Carolina, he is Argentine. His job is with house included… she have to buyed a burka… etc. She have to signed not to walk in the street alone… etc. Why?. FOR MONEY!!!. That's the only way people go to those Ancient places. Amicalement Armand |
Mithmee | 15 Apr 2015 11:56 a.m. PST |
They should have known not to go there in the first place. If they get themselves killed, well… It is their own damm fault. |
tuscaloosa | 15 Apr 2015 1:12 p.m. PST |
"What I find interesting is that the Russians and Chinese were able to get their people out, and usually we do, but sadly, not this time, apparently." Sorry Mako, but that's utter nonsense. When the U.S. Embassy and official presence pulled out most recently, there was still regularly scheduled airliner traffic flying in and out. Any U.S. citizen who wanted to leave (and they were all urged to) could have gone to the airport and booked a flight out. No need at all for helicopters or U.S. Navy intervention. Now, even though the most recent evacuation was the second step of a process that started in August 2013, and the U.S. Embassy has had very specific and clear warnings that U.S. citizens should avoid travel to Yemen, these clueless individuals ignored the warnings, and ignored the Embassy packing up and driving to the airport, and now suddenly think the U.S. government owes them something. Nope, their fault. I don't want my tax dollars spent on idiots (this is a chance to upgrade our gene pool!). When you ignore repeated warnings not to remain in an area, and pass up your chance to take your own flight out, it's not the U.S. government's priority to help you out, like jdp and others have posted. |
Legion 4 | 15 Apr 2015 3:29 p.m. PST |
When the Embassy and any military presence leaves … if you are a civilian and are not out of Dodge … You better get out … and fast ! |
Mako11 | 15 Apr 2015 9:43 p.m. PST |
I agree that its inadvisable for them to be there, and/or remain there, however, our embassy personnel and their Marine guards had to rush out, leaving sensitive data behind, and destroying their weapons, so it clearly wasn't/isn't as easy as you portray. Plus, whatever happened to that time worn slogan, "leave no American behind"? Apparently, that only applies to deserters/traitors, when exchanging them for Gitmo terrorists who want to get back into the fight. |
Legion 4 | 16 Apr 2015 6:48 a.m. PST |
"leave no American behind"? That should still apply to any Americans or even our close allies … But yet sooner of later we and maybe some of our other allies may have to go in. And "rescue" those who for whatever reasons did not get out. Like all the ops trying save our hostages from Daesh in Syria, etc. … It can be a very dicey endeavor. And hopefully the only losses will be to the enemy. Which as far as I can tell, may include the Persians ? |
Cacique Caribe | 16 Apr 2015 8:15 a.m. PST |
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Legion 4 | 16 Apr 2015 8:52 a.m. PST |
I'm sure the Chinese would help out their old buddy, the USA ! |
Cacique Caribe | 16 Apr 2015 9:43 a.m. PST |
Yep. China, "our last best hope for Earth"! Dan PS. Or was that Babylon 5? |
Tango01 | 16 Apr 2015 11:59 a.m. PST |
You have to post here in "Gallery" my friend!! (smile) Amicalement Armand |
Cacique Caribe | 16 Apr 2015 12:36 p.m. PST |
Legion: "I'm sure the Chinese would help out their old buddy, the USA ! huh?" Well, if they want the majority of Americans to think we should continue "trading" with them, and to continue sharing our technological IP by transferring our plants over there … Who knows? Stranger things have happened these last six years or so. Most of us are just sheep entertained by trinkets we think are absolutely necessary for living, putting our most personal data on social media, so they can better plan our continued dependence. We are just waiting for the illusion of freedom and endless consumption to suddenly break, and then reality will set in. But it may be too late for most. YouTube link YouTube link Dan |
tuscaloosa | 16 Apr 2015 1:54 p.m. PST |
"whatever happened to that time worn slogan, "leave no American behind?" What do you propose, sending Marines to their homes and physically forcing them to leave? All were urged to leave. What more could U.S. forces have done, other than round up Americans at gunpoint to force them to the airport? |
cwlinsj | 16 Apr 2015 5:32 p.m. PST |
What makes you think the remaining Americans need to be forced at gunpoint? Every article I've read is showing Americans pleading for evacuation and being ignored. If China and India are helping to evacuate, the situation is bad. The ones who don't want to leave can stay. Nobody will force them. We're discussing the ones who don't want to stay. Why are they there? Most have family, and the rest are mainly teachers and relief workers. |
Tango01 | 16 Apr 2015 11:31 p.m. PST |
Sorry for that my friend. Amicalement ARmand |
tuscaloosa | 17 Apr 2015 5:11 a.m. PST |
"We're discussing the ones who don't want to stay. Why are they there?" Because they've ignored consistent, dire warnings from the U.S. Embassy to avoid travel to Yemen since August 2013. Since they've ignored repeated warnings, and could have easily left themselves just a few months ago, why is the U.S. gov't under a particular obligation now to risk lives to save them? |
Legion 4 | 17 Apr 2015 8:13 a.m. PST |
I have to agree Dan … "The Chinese are our friends …" Pass the egg rolls, please … |
Tango01 | 19 Apr 2015 8:27 p.m. PST |
The U.S. Evacuation Of Its Nationals From Yemen Has Been A Disaster "The Obama administration once pointed to Yemen as the proof that the application of what it calls "smart power" works. Today, from John Zarocostas, writing for McClatchy, we learn that: American citizens escaping Yemen, including small children and some frail elderly, are arriving exhausted in Djibouti after harrowing journeys from the besieged country … The U.S. ambassador: … Tom Kelly, said hundreds of Americans have arrived in Djibouti in recent days aboard foreign ships and aircraft after journeys that for some included hundreds of miles of dangerous land travel from Yemen's capital, Sanaa, to the ports of Hodeidah and Aden…" Full article here link Amicalement Armand |
Tango01 | 20 Apr 2015 9:49 p.m. PST |
The U.S. Has ‘Abandoned' the Americans in Yemen "Unlike China and India, the United States has conducted no large-scale evacuations of its citizens since the civil war began. Now Yemeni Americans say their relatives are stranded. For most Americans, Yemen's civil war is the latest flashpoint in what seems like a remote, never-ending crisis in the Middle East. But for many in New York City's Yemeni community, it's a personal tragedy as they try to help family members, some of them American citizens, who are stranded in Yemen without any U.S. plan to evacuate them. "Thousands of Yemeni Americans are stuck in Yemen, and no one in the U.S. is talking about it," said Ibraham Qatabi, a legal worker at the Center for Constitutional Rights and Yemeni-American activist…" Full article here link YouTube link Amicalement Armand |
Cacique Caribe | 20 Apr 2015 11:13 p.m. PST |
"and two huskies named Phoenix and Miska" I demand that something be done, and NOW!!!! Dan PS. I like some people, but love all dogs. |
Legion 4 | 21 Apr 2015 9:52 a.m. PST |
Here ! Here !! Save the Dawgs at least !!!!!!!!!!! |
cwlinsj | 21 Apr 2015 10:29 a.m. PST |
Because they've ignored consistent, dire warnings from the U.S. Embassy to avoid travel to Yemen since August 2013. Since they've ignored repeated warnings, and could have easily left themselves just a few months ago, why is the U.S. gov't under a particular obligation now to risk lives to save them? You've been making up your own facts to bolster an argument that anybody can see is wrong. From claiming that anyone could easily take a non-existant commercial flight out of Sana'a airport, to the USA needing to go force Americans to leave Yemen at gunpoint to your latest post.
Up until the emergency abandonment of the US Embassy, the USA has been touting the success of its policies and stability of its allies in Yemen. Even CNN reporters felt terrible-enough to "become the story" by helping to evacuate people on their chartered boat. Once again, this is a dire situation and there are Americans trapped in Yemen, in real danger from Houthis, rebels and Al Qaeda. Other countries readily admit to this and have made elaborate efforts to evacuate their citizens, yet the USA is still doing nothing, -and we have military assets just offshore This is an indicator that there is refusal to deal with this at the highest levels. |
Visceral Impact Studios | 21 Apr 2015 11:25 a.m. PST |
U.S. government doesn't help people overcome the results of their poor decisions (e.g. staying in a country with a raging insurgency for YEARS)…"Failures of leadership at the highest level!" U.S. government helps people overcome the results of their poor decisions (e.g. failing into poverty due to a variety of lifestyle choices)…"Nanny state!" Darned if you do, darned if you don't. :-D |
Cacique Caribe | 21 Apr 2015 11:42 a.m. PST |
At least they weren't like reporters who specifically look for violence and brutality. For the most part, these others here were simply stupid, ignorant citizens, who flew there after things got bad, because they think the whole world is open to them and a big loving family, and that intrusive government warnings don't matter until it's too late. Then it's "save us, save us". And then run telling the media they've been abandoned. They hear the weather warnings, see the river already flowing over the road and still decide to push on the gas pedal. I for one have a soft spot for idiots (a teeny, tiny, minuscule spot mind you), even ungrateful ones. As long as it doesn't cost any lives of their rescuers. Dan |
cwlinsj | 21 Apr 2015 11:47 a.m. PST |
Like I've posted before, the ones stuck in Yemen are people with family, relief workers and teachers. The relief workers and most of the teachers are people who really believe in trying to help those who most need to be helped. Most of these work for bare subsistence wages, they are not profiteers or adventurers. Those with family… if you can't understand, you can't understand. Like we really need new headlines of entire families of American hostages being executed, or of their women & children being sold as slaves and wives. |
Cacique Caribe | 21 Apr 2015 11:54 a.m. PST |
"The relief workers and most of the teachers are people who really believe in trying to help those who most need to be helped. … they are not profiteers or adventurers. Those with family… if you can't understand, you can't understand." You are absolutely right! I can't understand, event though I'm really, really trying to. Everyone who was old enough to make a choice, even when there was still time to do something safer, still made a choice. And the fact they made such a choice when they had children with them borders on the criminal. Dan |
cwlinsj | 21 Apr 2015 12:08 p.m. PST |
You don't seem to understand that not all Americans can afford airline tickets. Not all of their family members have US passports either. Those with families, farms/businesses and/or responsibilities in other countries cannot just abandon them. People who work for NGOs like Doctors Without Borders really believe in helping others. they enter the worst places on earth because that's where they are most needed. Let's not forget that the US Embassy in Yemen claimed their evacuation would only be "temporary" until things settled back down. I guess things haven't settled back down yet. |
Cacique Caribe | 21 Apr 2015 12:15 p.m. PST |
I know all of that, my friend. And you have already succeeded in proving, and making me admit, that I can't understand, thought I've been trying to for a very long time! And rumors of the Navy going to that area to "stand up" to Iran's flow or weapons are only going to raise and dash their hopes again. TMP link Even when weather warnings are "conservative" (and I don't mean politically, of course), each person or head of household should go above and beyond those basic recommendations and act sooner and more proactively than that. And, even here in the US, that means to be prepared to go without any assistance for several days AFTER the danger has passed. That requires acceptance of personal accountability for ones' actions and choices, including the making of realistic preparations for ourselves and those who depend on us directly. Stay or go. If stay, then prepare for the worst. Dan |
Cacique Caribe | 21 Apr 2015 1:59 p.m. PST |
Everyone who was old enough to make a choice, even when there was still time to do something, still made a choice. And the fact they made such a choice when they had children with them borders on the criminal. Dan |
Visceral Impact Studios | 21 Apr 2015 2:16 p.m. PST |
"Those with families, farms/businesses and/or responsibilities in other countries cannot just abandon them." Hmmm… Keep working the farm or run the risk of having your wife or child's head sawed off by a jihadi… Sounds like one of those horror movies where the idiot keeps wandering around the blood splattered house filled with mutilated corpses. :-) |
tuscaloosa | 21 Apr 2015 2:29 p.m. PST |
VIS and CC have addressed the issues pretty thoroughly. "You don't seem to understand that not all Americans can afford airline tickets." Send in the Marine Amphibious Group! Backpacker Timmy lost his wallet! Now, my views on this are somewhat jaded by many, many experiences interviewing U.S. citizens overseas as a Consular Officer in U.S. Embassies or Consulates overseas. I recall one young man who had a fight with his foreign girlfriend, and had decided to go back home, and needed money for a plane ticket. So he approached the Embassy. I asked him if he had asked his family for money. He said yes, but they had told him to go to the Embassy! Now, if you're an American and you really are in desperate straits and have no other alternative, the U.S. Embassy will loan you the money to fly home. And, as a taxpayer, it's nice to know that the payback rate on these loans is something like 99%. But travelers who repeatedly and consistently ignore warnings, for going on two years, are not the kind of people for whom it's worth risking Marines' lives. It seems like you just want another political drum to beat. But any administration of either party would do the same in this instance. |
Lion in the Stars | 21 Apr 2015 3:46 p.m. PST |
I am reminded of the gentleman trapped on the roof of his house in the middle of a flood, refusing all aid and saying that God would protect him. A swiftwater rescue team comes while the water is still low, but he refuses to evacuate with the SWR team, because God will protect him. The waters continue to rise, a rescue boat comes up, and he refuses to get into the boat, because God would protect him. The waters continue to rise, a helicopter comes, and he refuses to get into the helicopter basket because God will protect him. The man dies, and goes to the Pearly Gates. "Lord, why did you not protect me?" "I sent you a swiftwater rescue team, a boat, and even a helicopter. How much more help do I need to give you?!?" |
Cacique Caribe | 21 Apr 2015 4:51 p.m. PST |
Lion, LOL. I've always like that joke, regardless of the version and occasional embellishments. I think I first heard it from an old Cajun gentleman in Lafayette, and he made sure to stretch the tale to about 5 minutes long. I enjoyed every second too. There were some old, poor and/or infirm stuck on roofs and taller buildings after Katrina (2005). I had never before been told "God bless you" so many times as I did from that one relatively small group. However, the great majority of the ones stuck there were healthy people with fairly good cars and homes, who simply decided to ride it out. Most of those were the ones who somehow expected thousands of government/military helicopters to miraculously appear after the storm and pluck them from their self-imposed predicament. And many of them had little ones!!! They were also the very same ones who, after we got them to dry land, spat on us and called us names when we offered them MREs, even though that's what we ourselves were also eating. And they ran to every reporter that showed up to complain about us on camera or print. The federal government and weather services might give their advice, warnings and recommendations, and the local officials may or may not declare mandatory evacuations when they still actually have a chance at success, but it still boils down to individual choice and personal accountability. Stay or leave. And if you stay, make sure you have prepared for the worst. Plain and simple. Dan |
Cacique Caribe | 24 Apr 2015 2:44 p.m. PST |
I still say call China. They are absolutely desperate for the positive PR. Plus, based on their nearly unopposed recent rescue mission, and the impeccable way they knew where all their objectives were currently held or stranded … they might have already befriended many of the hostiles for quite a while now. TMP link Dan |