Qantas to operate 2 evacuation flights from Lebanon via Cyprus to Sydney

[Quickstatus]

I also wonder what message the government paid evacuation will be giving people in a similar position in the future.

Message was sent loud and clear in 2006. Debt raised against cost of flights then written off

 

[Cloud9]

Message was sent loud and clear in 2006. Debt raised against cost of flights then written off

Great that we have no national debt or deficit then...

 

[kangarooflyer88]

What system does the US use? For instance, what details of US citizens living in Australia are 'known' to the US government that might contact them in the event of a crisis? ?

The program the U.S. government uses is the Smart Traveler Enrolment Program (STEP):

https://mytravel.state.gov/s/step

I should also point out that the government of Canada also has a similar service too:

Registration of Canadians Abroad - travel.gc.ca

Government of Canada's official one-stop-shop for comprehensive international travel information.

travel.gc.ca

Additionally, it shouldn’t be too hard to keep people notified. For instance, to vote in Canadian Federal and Provincial elections I have to register for the overseas voters register. Doing so means I get a mail in ballot when an election is called. Crucially the government checks in from time to time to ensure they got the correct details (and whether I need to remain on the register). Surely we could have a similar thing here. One must also wonder too how hard it would be for the government to know where you are travelling to. After all your passport has to be provided for overseas travel, surely an Australian government system gets pinged somewhere. I cannot see why these alerts cannot be made automatic

 

[Sprucegoose]

Maybe it's just me, but I think there is a HELL of a difference between the BEF at the end of the phoney war and a bunch of private citizens who should have had the common sense to get themselves out of dodge before the taxpayer had to step in to bail them out.

I agree with you. I don't want to unfairly characterise the people now deciding to repatriate but allowing Hezbollah to establish a state within a state has proven to be disastrous. The analogy I used shows their complete lack of control over fundamental decision-making and government functions.

The Federal Government has decided to offer free flights. Who gets to ride in J class?


."

 

[TheInsider]

The Federal Government has decided to offer free flights. Who gets to ride in J class?
."

Hopefully Qantas groundstaff, air crew, and diplomatic officials.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

One thing that’s unclear from this story is whether Australians could board the flight from Sydney for Cyprus should they require repatriation to Lebanon and who will pay for that

 

[Cloud9]

One thing that’s unclear from this story is whether Australians could board the flight from Sydney for Cyprus should they require repatriation to Lebanon and who will pay for that

With the current administration, might well be free flights out...

 

[Sprucegoose]

Hopefully Qantas groundstaff, air crew, and diplomatic officials.

One would certainly hope so—it's a complete uplift. I suppose you will have engineers and baggage handlers, which will be a coordination and logistics challenge. Do catering, fuel, parts, and service accounts all need to be in place, or do pilots still carry an Amex to pay for fuel and consumables?

 

[Cloud9]

I agree with you. I don't want to unfairly characterise the people now deciding to repatriate but allowing Hezbollah to establish a state within a state has proven to be disastrous. The analogy I used shows their complete lack of control over fundamental decision-making and government functions.

The Federal Government has decided to offer free flights. Who gets to ride in J class?


."

Fair enough, mate. I just don't like the idea of someone taking the piss by equivocating the expeditionary force to a bunch of wanktards.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Fair enough, mate.

You can address me as Mr Spruce.

someone taking the piss by equivocating the expeditionary force to a bunch of wanktards

Certainly not, and while it's not a formal military operation or a declared war, there will be grief and loss suffered by those being repatriated from what is a war zone and has been so for many decades.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Heck, Canada gave citizenship to US diplomats stuck in Iran in the 70s to ensure they could get safe passage back to America.

Too often, Canadians are overlooked on the world stage. Operation 'Canadian Caper' was brilliantly orchestrated. Fake passports and posing as a film crew allowed the Americans to escape. Some serious buy-in from Hollywood, the CIA, and Joe Clark, the Canadian PM, supported its success.

Did you see the film or any other documentaries on this? America was profoundly grateful for the efforts of those brave Canadians led by
Ambassador Ken Taylor.

Would that happen today? Probably not; that part of the world remains as volatile as it was then.

 

[Sprucegoose]

What system does the US use? For instance, what details of US citizens living in Australia are 'known' to the US government that might contact them in the event of a crisis? ?

Their tax returns! No, try STEP - similar to our Smart Traveller Program

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service that allows U.S. citizens traveling or living abroad to enroll with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

travel.state.gov

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Too often, Canadians are overlooked on the world stage. Operation 'Canadian Caper' was brilliantly orchestrated. Fake passports and posing as a film crew allowed the Americans to escape. Some serious buy-in from Hollywood, the CIA, and Joe Clark, the Canadian PM, supported its success.

Technically there was no fake passports involved. The diplomats were given Canadian citizenship and were issued with valid Canadian passports (there was an order in council made to swear them all in as Canadians inabsentia).

In terms of the politics there was a lot of keeping the other side in the dark (remember that Joe Clark and Pierre Trudeau were PMs during that short period of time)

Did you see the film or any other documentaries on this? America was profoundly grateful for the efforts of those brave Canadians led by
Ambassador Ken Taylor.

I did! It was either W5, CBC or the National Film Board of Canada (I forget which one). But there are quite a few misconceptions about the whole thing.

Would that happen today? Probably not; that part of the world remains as volatile as it was then.

Oh I wouldn’t doubt it would happen again if push came to shove. You know as much as us Canadians love to act like we’re totally different from Americans we share a lot of values, culture, economic interests and the largest border in the world between nations. Canada has and will stick its neck out for the U.S. be it operation Yellow Ribbon during 9/11or NORAD. Sure we won’t do send out men and women out to adventures like Vietnam or Iraq but we’re there when it counts. As a further aside and I know this is now venturing OT, but Canada has until recently had been world renowned for peace keeping. I think if you look at our history when it comes to calling attention to the genocide that happened in Rwanda in 94 and doing our bit to protect those vulnerable over there it certainly reflects the vision for Canada our great PM Lester B Pearson had for the country. Pity we aren’t at that calibre anymore.


-RooFlyer88

 

[Sprucegoose]

this whole thing unfolded relatively quickly over the past 2-3 weeks

No, this has been in the making for many years. It is profoundly historical and now includes a complete meltdown of the political and economic systems. This was aided by many different groups of terror-related proxies operating out of Lebanon. The Prime Minister was assassinated there in 2005, on top of a civil war, post-war instability, the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, and recently, they have had an economic and political crisis that has crippled the country's leadership - again. There is a fragmented, corrupt political system, the humanitarian crisis means essential goods are in rare supply, there is hyperinflation, and the World Bank declared it one of the most severe economic crises historically and globally.

In short, the place is a basket case.

Certainly if you went to Lebanon over the winter to escape the cold Australian winter in favour of warmer climes

No one in their right would visit Lebanon for a holiday these days; however, if you feel moved enough, the North will have less conflict.

It was once a great place -referred to as the Paris of the Middle East. I have never been there, and I think that horse has bolted.

 

[Sprucegoose]

As a further aside and I know this is now venturing OT, but Canada has until recently had been world renowned for peace keeping. I think if you look at our history when it comes to calling attention to the genocide that happened in Rwanda in 94 and doing our bit to protect those vulnerable over there it certainly reflects the vision for Canada our great PM Lester B Pearson had for the country. Pity we aren’t at that calibre anymore.

Agreed. I am studying their WW! and WW2 contributions, which were substantial, especially considering their population at the time.

We will now revert to the topic!