urban_memories [the unfinished polaroids]

The United States has finally started evacuation. The process is slow and not very well organized. There are about 25,000 Americans living in Lebanon. Not all will choose to leave, but even if half want to leave and one ship holds 1,000 people, well you can do the math…..

Yesterday, during the day our area was quiet, but they were bombing in the south, although we could not hear it. However, we were bolted awake in the middle of the morning, as in 3:30 a.m. (Wednesday) with a slew of explosions. We are fine. Not sleeping well, but we are still safe.

In my note yesterday, there was an incorrect word. I had written: “I know many, many, many Arabs of different nationalities and they are not terrorists, but they will defend their country. And they will defend their country against aggressions that are perpetuated by Israel.” It should have read: “perpetrated.” Maybe it was a Freudian slip…

I am so upset that I can barely think let alone write, but I am determined to get this information out. This is not a war; this is a blitzkrieg. A total destruction of a country while the world watches. This is abominable! I can’t believe it, if I weren’t living it, I wouldn’t be able to believe it. And President Bush refuses a cease-fire because he thinks that the Israelis are defending themselves when in actuality they are using this line of rhetoric to destroy Lebanon.

As of this morning the Lebanese death toll was close to 300, with nearly 500 wounded, depending on your source. Death toll for Israelis is about 24. (Always keep in mind the 10-15:1 ratio of Lebanese deaths to Israeli deaths, so if you don’t hear about the Lebanese deaths and just about the Israeli deaths you know by which factor to multiply to estimate the deaths in Lebanon.)

The Israelis bombed Gallery Semaan, famous for being at the center of the Green Line during the prior war period in Lebanon. It is a furniture store that imports fine Italian furniture from where we bought some of our furniture nearly nine years ago. This is also the area that has the Ford service agency where we have our two Ford cars maintained. True this is in a Hizbullah area, but did the Israelis think that Hizbullah was hiding under the furniture?

Two dairies were destroyed, Candia/Liban Lait, Lebanon’s largest dairy, and Tanayyel. Liban Lait was not hit just once but six times! It took years for the Lebanese to finally restart producing fresh milk after their war, and now the Israelis destroy these. These dairies, both owned by Christians, are located in the Bekaa Valley, the heartland of Lebanese agriculture. Hizbullah has nothing to do with these dairies. So what is the meaning when the Israelis pummel them six times? The Americans are okay with this? Are you?

The Israelis destroyed or disabled a paper mill, a packaging firm and a pharmaceutical plant. The local newspapers quoted industry insiders as saying that “the losses will cripple the economy for decades to come.” The Israelis know exactly what they are hitting! Why is the international community doing nothing???????

This morning, Israel targeted a truck on Abdel Wahab Englizi street, in the heart of a Christian section of Beirut. They are targeting trucks to paralyze the transportation of supplies to the different regions. Transportation costs have skyrocketed; in some instances going from $67 to $500 to transport the same load. You can imagine what will be the cost of fruits, vegetables, fuel and pharmaceuticals, for example, with this increase in transportation costs; a burden that the already impoverished Lebanese can hardly sustain.

Gas stations are targeted, not only in the south but in Beirut as well.

This is all very, very bad news.

Zahlé, a Christian town in the east, where my husband’s family has many homes and relatives, was bombed.

My friend from St. Jude Cancer Center for Children, which is included as part of the American University hospital, said this morning that they are trying their best to get the patients from the south of Lebanon. And those that are able to make it up to the hospital are not able to make it back of course, so they are doing “their best to find housing for them, which is costing [this non-profit organization] a fortune.” Both St. Jude Cancer Center for children and the American University of Beirut Pediatric Cardiac Care Center need donations badly.

I had stated in a prior email that close to a third of the population was displaced. Although that may eventually be the reality, published statistics range from 400,000 to 500,000, still no small number in a country of 3.5 million. The public school in our small village already houses several displaced families from the southern suburb of the capital.

A friend of mine from the British Embassy, who lives in the Christian section of downtown Beirut told me there is now a nasty smell in the air from all the explosives. The Israelis are using phosphorescent bombs that burn everything around after they explode; their use is forbidden by the UN. The long term affects of this war will only be realized later, unfortunately when it will be too late.

In the today’s edition of the local English paper, The Daily Star, Israeli General Gadi Eisenkot is quoted as saying, “We don’t see Syria or the Lebanese Army as a target….” But they are targeting the Lebanese army bases: they have already hit at least two army caserns, radar stations owned and operated by the Lebanese army.

The Israelis say one thing and do another. They say they are targeting Hizbullah infrastructure, but in reality most of this destruction is to the civilian population. What is the effect of the naval blockade? It is to prevent oil and fuel from reaching the average Lebanese. Today, we could not fill our diesel container. I hope we can tomorrow as we have only enough reserve fuel for our generator for 24 hours. For the moment we have electricity for at least half the day.

Other shortages are just around the corner as damaged or destroyed roads and bridges will prevent food from be transported.

THE ISRAELIS LONG AGO STOPPED FOCUSSING SOLEY ON HIZBULLAH TARGETS; THEY ARE TARGETING CIVILIAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND CRITICAL SUPPLIES.

United States Secretary of State, Condolezza Rice “said she was primed to visit the region when it will be ‘helpful and necessary.’” If she waits another day, her job will be easier, because Lebanon will cease to exist.

And all the while, President Bush is sitting with his feet up on the desk relaxing:

“WASHINGTON, July 19, 2006 (AFP) - The United States and Israel have initially agreed to wait one week, while the pounding of Hezbollah targets continues, before seeking a buffer zone and an international force in southern Lebanon, The New York Times said Wednesday.”

President Bush has agreed with Israel, agreed with Israel? What is this??? Lebanon doesn’t exist? The Lebanese people don’t exist? How can the United States of America, the pillar of democracy and justice, simply ignore the illegal attacks that Israel is making into Lebanon? The Lebanese people are the sacrifice. That’s all there is to it. They are the sacrificial lambs so that Israel and the United States can have their will in the Middle East.

These have been the headlines in the local English Newspaper in the last few days:

Friday, July 14, 2006 “War comes back to Lebanon”

Saturday, July 15, 2006 “Lebanese brace for long war”

Monday, July 17, 2006 “War takes even deadlier turn”

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 “The ruin of a nation”

Wednesday, July 19, 2006 “Wasteland in the making”

Please, anyone, let me know what country in modern civilization has intentionally destroyed another country over two kidnapped soldiers? I admit I am not a history expert, so let me know.
I need your help. The Lebanese need your help. Please send this email to all your friends and family, to newspapers and other media. Put it on your blog if you have one. Thank you.

You can address your comments to Rosie.AKL@gmail.com

Rosie AKL

P.S.: It’s around 8:15 p.m. The Israelis just bombed the southern suburb of Beirut. I am surprised that I am not afraid when I hear the explosions. Maybe because I know that my area is safe, knock on wood. Anyway, I really don’t have time to be afraid.