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Europe
France mobilizes military for potential evacuation of Lebanon
2006-07-15
(KUNA) -- France decided Saturday to take a number of precautionary, military measures in view of the deteriorating situation in Lebanon and the continued Israeli attacks against targets, both civilian and Hezbollah, in that country. A statement from the Defense Ministry said "the safety of French nationals is a primary concern for the Minister of Defense" and as a result units were being deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean.

These units will be in place to allow French nationals desirous of leaving Lebanon, because of the ongoing turmoil, to leave the country. The statement said that an air group made up of transport planes and helicopters was being deployed to Cyprus and the "Jean de Vienne" frigate had received orders to make for the Eastern Mediterranean.

In addition, a landing ship with four helicopters and a hospital unit with two operating theatres is heading to the area on Sunday, the statement said. France has also put additional military resources on alert and has chartered a number of civilian aircraft and maritime vessels to be ready for an evacuation. The French government on Friday warned its nationals not to travel to Lebanon and told the 15,000 or so nationals and dual nationals to stay indoors because of the Israeli bombings.
Posted by:Fred

#15  I'm afraid that I - the eternal pessimist - agree with Jack.
Posted by: xbalanke   2006-07-15 23:24  

#14  Evacuate? What for? Give it a week and shit will be back to normal, complete with group hugs at the UN. Israel will pull back after first inflicting some heavy damage here and there. We've seen this movie before.

Not sure about the prisoners though. They might be dead by now. If not, they will used as bargaining chips. A prisoner exchange, and things are back to the way they were. I give it a week.
Posted by: Jack Shiraq   2006-07-15 22:47  

#13  Love the pic of Laurel and Hardy in Sons of the Desert, I believe. These guys won the battle with total incompetence. The movie was a riot!
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2006-07-15 20:48  

#12  #8 T: "Or they are so dependent on big brother making their decisions for them, even their own survival needs to be ordered from above?"

They're EUros - whaddaya want?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2006-07-15 19:38  

#11  It's almost August, the French are heading to the Med anyway...except for the old people
Posted by: Frank G   2006-07-15 19:24  

#10  Oui, oui, oui. All the way home.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-07-15 19:13  

#9  We are all French now.
Posted by: Hezbollah   2006-07-15 19:10  

#8  Am I the only one who chuckled over advice the French government give their nationals and "dual-nationals"? Would a normal person need a GOVERNMENT telling you to stay indoors if there are bombs falling outside? Or they are so dependent on big brother making their decisions for them, even their own survival needs to be ordered from above?

I'll like to see whom those ships will take aboard...
Posted by: T   2006-07-15 16:45  

#7  I can't wait till I tell my wife about my generated name. Me thinks she'sgonnalikeit.
Posted by: Thramp Ebbaise4171   2006-07-15 15:39  

#6  LOL, anon5089.
Posted by: lotp   2006-07-15 15:38  

#5  (desirous? Even war is sexual, with these people.)

Désirous = bad translation for désireux, willing to/wishing to; as for sexuality, your generated name phonetically "dip it and f*ck".
Posted by: anonymous5089   2006-07-15 15:34  

#4  "the safety of French nationals is a primary concern for the Minister of Defense" and as a result units eunuch's were being deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean."

"These units eunuch's will be in place to allow French nationals desirous (desirous? Even war is sexual, with these people.) of leaving Lebanon, because of the ongoing turmoil, to leave the country."
Posted by: Thramp Ebbaise4171   2006-07-15 15:31  

#3  I feel much safer (sarcasm on).
Posted by: Whaling Unomoger7693   2006-07-15 15:17  

#2  Maybe they can fly them out on an Airbus 380?
Posted by: Perfesser   2006-07-15 14:49  

#1  Let's see if they keep it to that, or try to overtly meddle.
Posted by: lotp   2006-07-15 14:30  

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