Anthony Bourdain Evacuates From Beruit

I'm happy that Anthony saw our Marines for who they truely are. Hey Anthony! Your upset with Bush is understandable when you believe and "buy" the repeat footage that our media bombards you with into believing that he is careless. He was eating!!! We all eat even in times of trouble. The repeat bagel biting was a sensational ploy to wash your brain. You're too smart. Don't buy the media. You were rescued. I'm happy for that. We don't all live in TV land. This war was unexpected. It takes time to plan and react. If we acted too quickly and failed thaen what would you say? You got out. What other country would risk, pay and bother? I ask you that.

While I was watching Anthony in Beirut, a lot of questions were going through my mind. I couldn't even imagine how terrifying it is to be in a situation where one moment it is peaceful (usual life in the city) to hearing gunfire and watching lives being destroyed during the bombings. I am very grateful that Anthony and his crew finally evacuated. I am "extremely" grateful for our marines who helped our evacuees.

I like Anthony, but his comment about Bush was really a bit pompous - "How dare the President of the United States eat a buttered roll while I'm stuck in Beirut!" Anthony, you're a genius when it comes to food and how it relates to people and culture, leave the politics at home dude! I remember being in the UK when the invasion of Iraq started. The BBC made it look like the streets of the US were full of rioters. We called home to see if our families were safe. They were so worried about us - because the US media made it look like the streets of the UK were full of rioters ... PS I work with a Marine reservist. Believe it or not, they are human beings. Everyone looks on the evacuation of Americans from Beirut as "the Cadillac of Evacuations," thanks to those young men and women!

I'm a fan of Bourdain's show, and the Beirut episode was particularly interesting. I think he was pretty justified in his comments about Bush. Bourdain wasn't criticizing Bush for eating during a crisis; he was criticizing Bush for being more interested in that buttered roll than in what Blair was trying to discuss with him about the important issue that needed attention.

I think it was perhaps more obvious on the show than in the article, but Bourdain and his crew--along with many other US citizens--were essentially trapped in Beirut without any news from the US Government about when they would be able to get out. The Italians, the French, and others were able to get out while Americans were just stuck there. And all along they had no idea why. Instead of seeing any such news on television, they watched the image of their President chowing down and pretty much blowing off the whole issue at the time.

Travelling internationally can be pretty scary, especially in our age. If I had been Bourdain, stuck in such a hostile situation with no news from my government about when I could leave and why I haven't been able to leave yet, I would be pretty bitter about it and the buttered roll, as well.

Just my thought, though. :)

Jenna, I think you hit the nail on the head :)