In an ever-changing environment like Lebanon these days, it's not a shock that the evacuation system for Americans is not running at 100% but for the US undersecretary of state for political affairs to attempt to make a claim that all is well, is almost beyond belief. One only has to look at Iraq and read the rosy statements by the administration for it to all make sense. You can plug in just about any disaster situation with this administration and instead of recognizing problems, they have to spin and spin and spin. Is it so difficult to admit failure or problems? If anyone in the administration wonders why they are sagging in public approval polls, this constant inability to face reality and assume that the public is ignorant just might have something to do with it.
"I just would love them to contact the Americans and say ... 'Hey, we know you're here, and we'll protect you, and we'll get you out.' Even if we have to pay, I don't care... They need to contact us," she said.Nicholas Burns, the U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs, defended the evacuation so far as "very well thought out."
"We have an open line to all American citizens. We're in touch with them by Web site. Those Americans who wish to leave will obviously go out," he told CNN Tuesday.
This brings back memories of 9/11 when Bush went MIA and left a nation wondering what the hell was going on. Back at that time I found it cowardly not to mention frustrating that the president could not be bothered with taking two minutes to address the American public. This young family stuck in Lebanon is probably looking for some kind of feedback themselves and a simple recognition of their situation but that seems to be asking for too much.
