<p>"Among those enrolled in the summer Arabic program at the American University of Beirut, students told ABC News, those from Harvard, Yale and Princeton were in the first group evacuated by high-end private security firms. Students from other American schools were left behind, waiting it out for days while the U.S. embassy formulated its plan."</p>
<p>Is a university's use of private security going to be a new criterion for evaluating where to enroll? Sheesh.</p>
<p>Here's an article from the Crimson about Harvar's use of International SOS..</p>
<p>I vaguely remember reading that Harvard only recently contracted with ISOS (but before this crisis). Also, that Lebanon had been on a list of countries where students were discouraged from going, but the university caved in to students and faculty. </p>
<p>D has been trying to track friends from her first year Arabic class via email. Some are still MIA. We heard how Beirut was the most stable place in the Middle East, a great place to go study. Go figure. I do appreciate that Harvard decided to take care of their own instead of waiting for someone else to do it.</p>
<p>gotta protect the future of our country i guess....geez. its like 1st class passengers on the titanic.</p>
<p>At least the HYP kids will appreciate the value of independent contractors. If by some chance their rescuers get killed and hung from bridges in the future, perhaps the HYP rescuees will recognize the true offensiveness of Kos's "screw them" remark with regard to "mercenaries."</p>
<p>I still have to question the sanity of anyone who sends their kids to Beirut, the kidnapping capital of the world. I was stunned to learn that there were 25,000 American citizens there that needed evacuating.</p>
<p>Well Harvard did contract ISOS for its own students. I expect YP did the same. Instead of lamenting that HYP students are being helped by their own colleges, the better question is why other colleges did not prepare for eventualities such as this?</p>
<p>Lack of 40 billion dollar endowments?</p>
<p>driver if you think that Beirut is actually a dangerous place and people get kidnapped there everyday you defintely haven't been there in the past decade or so. I've been there several times and I can say for sure that not oce did I ever feel any danger towards me-ever</p>
<p>Well, since our government has already proven itself to be completely incompetent with emergency evacuations, you can't really blame them for planning accordingly I guess...</p>
<p>garland:</p>
<p>I would assume that just, as other colleges can send their students overseas through other universities' programs, they can pool their resources to contract organizations such as ISOS. In fact, Harvard decided to contract ISOS because it stepped up its study abroad program, and it was concerned about all sorts of emergencies including SARS, Avian flu, terrorist attacks, etc... </p>
<p>Perhaps this will persuade other universities to take similar precautions. Meanwhile, let us hope that the US embassy manages to evacuate American citizens.</p>
<p>I wonder if after this is all done, that we will hear some stories about people in dire straits being turned away by contractors...maybe maybe not</p>
<p>From what i have heard on the radio, difficulty in getting any information at all</p>
<p>One 14 year old Americn boy with visiting family, who are MIA, somehow got out by himself...I can't even imagine</p>
<p>My Ds friend went earlier this year to visit their family...felt safe, had no issues and defineately have the American "look"...clothes, etc...</p>
<p>Too bad so many people don't see that changes Lebanon was trying to make in the last few years, aside from hezzbulah, </p>
<p>Sad that people don't keep up and jsut think about how it used to be</p>
<p>Something is up...HYP planned for what happened in Beirut, but how could they know? Harvard Yale and Princeton are definitely somehow responsible for whats going on in Beirut..but why? That's the question we should all be asking. Is this "war" just a smokescreen for something else? Something so dastardly that only the minds at HYP could think it up....</p>
<p>I've definitely not been to Beirut in the last decade or so. When I was there in the 60s as a kid we called it Paris-by-the-Sea. But I did once have a security clearance high enough that I know what happened to poor William F. Buckley--the CIA station chief Beirut, not the conservative commentator. The plastic bag containing his shredded remnants after a year of what those Hezbollah pigs did to him now resides in Arlington Cemetery alongside our other heroes. They even video-taped the torture to really get at Reagan. He saw it all, and that's where the "arms for hostages" thing came from. He was trying to get him out of the torture chamber--our best Delta force guys just couldn't find him. It's a tough part of the world. Glad you got out OK. Have you ever heard of the infamous Spetznaz Afghanistan tapes? Spetznaz are/were USSR Special Forces. During their Afghanistan mess, three of them were captured, and skinned alive, videos of the entire long and hideous event sent to the Russian leaders to make an impression. If you ever have the occasion to go back to that part of the world, superwizard, I hope you will take care. I doubt I'll ever go back.</p>
<p>boxesarefun:</p>
<p>HYP were not prescient. And that's precisely why they contracted with ISOS. I recall years ago, someone who was in charge of an overseas program for some university having to cope with flying back a student who'd develop meningitis and how helpless she felt not knowing where to turn. I know about ISOS because its availability was posted on the Harvard website months ago.</p>
<p>Driver:</p>
<p>I, too, remember when Beirut was called Paris-by-the-sea.</p>
<p>Several years ago we had to be evacuated. Prior to the ultimate event the US ambassador notified all US citizens to expect to have to fend for themselves and indeed that was what took place for the most part. Embassies from nearly every other imaginable country were present at the airport providing emergency papers for those who neede them, arranging flights out on their national carriers. When a friend of mine contacted the consular office of the US embassy to ask about getting a replacement passport (Hers was in the immigration office at the time- not accessible)- she was told 'tough luck.' </p>
<p>Among those poorly served at that time by the US embassy was the sister of a future presidential candidate, at that time a powerful senator. THe following year a visit was made to the ambassador by that senator, and shortly thereafter the ambassador was cycled out, perhaps a coincidence.</p>
<p>What exactly was the status of the State Department position on Lebanon at this point? Was there an alert in place prior to last week? </p>
<p>As for the suggestion that HYP 'planned'- !! Anyone traveling to an area where there is potential for medical or political emergency is simply wise to arrange for evacuation insurance.... the contractors are well paid for what they do and at least in my experience do an excellent job in difficult circumstances.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I, too, remember when Beirut was called Paris-by-the-sea.
[/quote]
It was so beautiful then!! People who didn't see it then have no idea of what a calamity has befallen Lebanon.</p>
<p>marite: I'm sorry you misunderstood my post #12, it was my attempt (a poor one at that) at a little tongue in cheek. It's just that whenever some information like this pops up, there's always some conspiracy theorists out there (think the Saudi evacuation following 9/11)..Anyway, I apologize if I've offended anyone, please don't take it seriously.</p>
<p>Boxesarefun: no need to apologize. I did think your post was tongue-in-cheek, but I used it to stress the importance of planning for the unpredictable.<br>
A few years ago, I was traveling abroad and came down with food poisoning. I was extremely glad that the company on whose behalf I was traveling had contracted with International SOS which describes itself as follows:</p>
<p>International SOS is the worlds leading provider of medical assistance, international healthcare, security services and outsourced customer care.</p>
<p>With over 4,400 professionals operating in 65 countries, we help organizations manage the health and safety risks facing their travelers, global workforce and customers.
<a href="http://www.internationalsos.com/en/index.htm?CFID=7706777&CFTOKEN=82302099%5B/url%5D">http://www.internationalsos.com/en/index.htm?CFID=7706777&CFTOKEN=82302099</a></p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>I, too, remember when Beirut was called Paris-by-the-sea<<</p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>Yep, and beloved San Francisco newspaper writer, the late Herb Caen used to praise San Francisco by calling it "Baghdad by the Bay" in his columns. I bet nobody uses that term any more.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I wonder if after this is all done, that we will hear some stories about people in dire straits being turned away by contractors...maybe maybe not
[/quote]
CGM, why are you always looking for a conspiracy or someone to blame?</p>