View Full Version : US Embassy in Paris Refuses to Help American Citizens
An American couple, the wife 6-months pregnant, sought refuge at the US Embassy during the terrorist attacks in Paris. They were turned away. Is this standard operating procedure for embassy personnel, lock-down and hide and leave American citizens seeking shelter to fend for themselves? It appears they have implemented the DHS active shooter response (http://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/DHS-Active%20Shooter%20Educational%20Sheet_0.pdf) protocol, Run, hide, then fight...as a last resort.
Passengers arrive at Atlanta airport safely after Paris ordeal (http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/georgia-couple-arrives-home-safely-after-paris-ord/npNMN/)
...In the midst of the chaos that erupted in Paris Friday night, Rebecca Hill-Bogle started to wonder how she and her husband, Will Bogle, were going to get back home to Georgia.
They were in Paris to celebrate Will’s birthday and were having dinner when Will looked at his phone and realized something was going on. The server at their restaurant told them they were about 10 minutes away from one of the deadly explosions that occurred during Friday night’s wave of terrorist attacks in the heart of the city.
“We saw a lot of police and ambulances; they were scurrying through the streets,” Will Bogle said.
The Macon couple tried to get a cab to get back to their hotel, but all the taxis were full.
Hill-Bogle is six months pregnant and she was starting to panic. They decided to walk two miles to the U.S. Embassy, hoping they could take shelter there.
But, her husband said, they were turned away.
“I was pretty disheartened that we weren’t allowed to get in,” he said.
An American couple sought refuge at the US Embassy during the terrorist attacks in Paris. They were turned away while the Embassy went into lock-down and left American citizens seeking shelter to fend for themselves.
Two things everyone should keep in the back of their heads while we ponder situations like this...
1) An American Embassy in a foreign land is the DIRECT representation of the current executive administration of the United States of America.
2) Benghazi.
so...
1) If the current administration has a track record of smacking someone in the lips when they become unruly, the Embassy will most likely be similar in their response to any situation. If the current administration has a 'lead from behind' approach that defers to others in order to avoid the appearance of American Imperialism, then you should expect a like response. If the administration is bold and unafraid, the Embassy is likely going to behave in a matter that is bold and unafraid because that is the image they are expected to project. If an administration is afraid of the dark, then the Embassy will probably NOT answer the door during those darkest of moments.
2) If you were part of the US Embassy in a foreign land AND as a result PART of the current administration, and you KNEW how Benghazi was handled...
...would you be behind a locked door wondering if this was going to be attributed to an offensive anti-Islamic video?
...would you be waiting behind a locked door knowing that no one was coming to save you?
...would you be throwing open the doors to all comers because you have a toasty warm campfire, with Muslims, Jews, Christians, and Atheists all sitting around singing kumbaya?
The reaction by the American embassy in Paris should come as no surprise to anyone; they were probably busy wringing their hands wondering how something like this could happen, or busy changing their faceBook profile pictures to the French flag and wondering how this would impact the Summit on Climate Change. The diplomats at the embassy in Paris are probably not known for their warrior spirit. The type of diplomat that is posted in Paris is NOT the same type of diplomat posted in Jakarta, Khartoum, or Lebanon.
Not all diplomats are cut from the same cloth just like not all Americans are cut from the same cloth...
...Jihadists, on the other hand, all have a pretty voracious taste for the blood of the weak and aren't likely to sit down and sing kumbaya if you open the gates.
Just because some Americans are weak doesn't mean they are stupid.
...as a result, some folks simply will not open the door to let you in.
Just my two cents... I could be wrong.
Team Sergeant
11-16-2015, 14:11
DHS active shooter response[/URL] protocol, Run, hide, then fight...as a last resort.
Shirley you jest, fight, seriously? Not what Zero thinks, those State Department idiots are on their own. Hitlery would just allow them to be murdered in place, no one cares anyway.
Fight, lol, you made me laugh.
The US Embassy would be the last place I'd go.
Team Sergeant
11-16-2015, 14:18
The US Embassy would be the last place I'd go.
I agree. And I'm, surprised they were not also attacked.
No one at the embassy is going to help, not in a time of crisis and not when a incompetent left-wing libtard government is calling the shots.
Unless you're sitting on ground zero shelter in place.
Old Dog New Trick
11-16-2015, 14:22
Billy's post:
3) They were busy typing their relocation letters to a posting in Cuba and couldn't be bothered.
Divemaster
11-16-2015, 19:46
If you were an American in Paris at the time, the AMEMB didn't want to hear from you:
Travel - State Dept @TravelGov Nov 13
US citizens in Paris please check in w/ your families instead of with the US Embassy. Emergency hotlines are 4 those checking on US citizens
From the DOS web page.
"Not sure what an Embassy really is? Well, it’s not just another building full of bureaucrats. In many ways, the U.S. Embassy is your 911 when overseas. Whether you’ve lost your passport, need to evacuate the country, or someone back in the U.S. needs to get in touch with you, the U.S. Embassy is your point of contact for assistance in many different situations. During a natural disaster, political upheaval, or other emergency, consular officers assist American citizens with transportation, evacuation, and in keeping them safe. This is just one of the many reasons that we encourage you to register your trip before you depart."
http://travel.state.gov/content/studentsabroad/en/embassies/their-role.html
From the DOS web page.
"Not sure what an Embassy really is? Well, it’s not just another building full of bureaucrats. In many ways, the U.S. Embassy is your 911 when overseas. Whether you’ve lost your passport, need to evacuate the country, or someone back in the U.S. needs to get in touch with you, the U.S. Embassy is your point of contact for assistance in many different situations. During a natural disaster, political upheaval, or other emergency, consular officers assist American citizens with transportation, evacuation, and in keeping them safe. This is just one of the many reasons that we encourage you to register your trip before you depart."
http://travel.state.gov/content/studentsabroad/en/embassies/their-role.html
The problem no one at a US Embassy or at the state department has read their own web site or their regulations.
I know that it's fashionable nowadays to say that someone should lose their jobs over a mistake... but that' exactly what should happen in this case. US citizens in a foreign country asking the AMEMB for assistance and getting turned away at the gate. Everyone from the Marine guards to the Ambassador should be ashamed.
Everyone from the Marine guards to the Ambassador should be ashamed.
If the Marines were as noisy as the SEALS perhaps we'd learn what really went on inside the walls.
Pat
Old Dog New Trick
11-16-2015, 21:54
Now if...this pregnant couple had had Syrian passports in their possession they would have been sent to the infirmary, given a full check up and escorted to a waiting military transport plane with a fruit basket.
Anything wrong here?
I'd like to hear the 'entire' story on this one before passing judgment.
I was in the US Embassy-Bonn when we were attacked in February 1991 by the RAF in response to DS/DS. The embassy, as well as the consular housing area in the Plittersdorf suburb bordering the Rhein, was closed to all for several hours - nobody could leave and nobody could enter - until security forces (ours and our host nation's) could determine the extent of the RAF's efforts, the likelihood of further attacks, and the execution of enhanced security controls. I couldn't leave the DAO. My family was at the movie theater, which was placed under guard, and nobody was allowed to leave it to return to their residences until the area was cleared and a security cordon had been established.
In the case of the US embassy in Paris, located adjacent to the Place de la Concorde in one of the busiest trafficked areas and at a time when there would be minimum staffing with the majority of the 'decision makers' out of embassy, the closing of the embassy experienced by that couple may have been the execution of a security response plan in conjunction with a directive by the French security forces pending clarification of the situation, the possibility of further attacks, and their efforts to execute further security plans.
So it goes...
Richard
Paris was experiencing a terrorist attack.
US citizens (one of them a pregnant woman) went to the US Embassy because they were afraid and wanted to be somewhere safe.
They got turned away from American territory.
Unless those facts change, the "rest of the story" is just noise.
Hey American citizens! "F- Off!" The government will protect itself. You? You're on your own!
Paris was experiencing a terrorist attack.
US citizens (one of them a pregnant woman) went to the US Embassy because they were afraid and wanted to be somewhere safe.
They got turned away from American territory.
Unless those facts change, the "rest of the story" is just noise.
Hey American citizens! "F- Off!" The government will protect itself. You? You're on your own!
At this point, what difference does it make?
At this point, what difference does it make?
It doesn't make any difference. Don't let American citizens into the Embassy but arrange to take in hordes fo refugee who have no skills and do nothing but drain our economy, have kids at rabbit-speed that automatically become citizens ...
I think i need to volunteer for that one-way mission to Mars... because I sure don't understand what we are doing down here.
It doesn't make any difference. Don't let American citizens into the Embassy but arrange to take in hordes fo refugee who have no skills and do nothing but drain our economy, have kids at rabbit-speed that automatically become citizens ...
I think i need to volunteer for that one-way mission to Mars... because I sure don't understand what we are doing down here.
I was alluding to HilClint's remarks at the Benghazi investigation when asked to explain a similar lapse in duty.
Paris was experiencing a terrorist attack.
US citizens (one of them a pregnant woman) went to the US Embassy because they were afraid and wanted to be somewhere safe.
They got turned away from American territory.
Unless those facts change, the "rest of the story" is just noise.
Hey American citizens! "F- Off!" The government will protect itself. You? You're on your own!
Were it so simple...but valid US passport holders have supported various Islamist group efforts over the last decade and women have been used in suicide attacks from such groups.
I'll wait to hear the whole story.
Richard
Now if...this pregnant couple had had Syrian passports in their possession they would have been sent to the infirmary, given a full check up and escorted to a waiting military transport plane with a fruit basket.
Anything wrong here?
That's the sad freaking truth.
...and yet, valid passport holders that MIGHT be affiliated with bad guys get turned away while 10's of 1000's that have NO passport and NO stated loyalty to the USA that are known to be tainted with bad guys are being welcomed with open arms?
so...
I am to believe that we should believe that the government can properly vet all of these so called "refugees" but for US citizens abroad, the vetting process is a bridge too far?
"sorry ma'am, we need to screen your passport and we just can't get it done with this equipment. You're going to have to wait outside...
...hey Farouk, that's a nice briefcase clock you have there, come on in."
I am going to go ahead and lean heavily on my bullshit horn on that one...
Were it so simple...but valid US passport holders have supported various Islamist group efforts over the last decade and women have been used in suicide attacks from such groups.
I'll wait to hear the whole story.
Richard
That's kinda like me with Benghazi.
Still haven't heard the whole story...
That's kinda like me with Benghazi.
Still haven't heard the whole story...
One possible scenario is that in-extremis force couldn't deploy because the embassy wasn't finished vetting their passports...
...you know, since service members have supported various Islamic groups over the last decade
"Now you know the REST of the story...
...good day"
blacksmoke
11-17-2015, 10:12
You'd figure Embassy complex Paris had a few LN security guards at the entrances, metal detectors in hand etc, probably a cozy couch inside for a pregnant woman to take a load off while shit storm outside was brewing? I thought embassies were designed to be welcoming? I'm sure the RSO had his hands full at that moment, but still...
I'd like to think as Richard wrote there is more to this,
Plan B, under those circumstances, maybe head for the Canadian Embassy, they saved our people in Tehran?
Team Sergeant
11-17-2015, 11:55
From the DOS web page.
"Not sure what an Embassy really is? Well, it’s not just another building full of bureaucrats. In many ways, the U.S. Embassy is your 911 when overseas. Whether you’ve lost your passport, need to evacuate the country, or someone back in the U.S. needs to get in touch with you, the U.S. Embassy is your point of contact for assistance in many different situations. During a natural disaster, political upheaval, or other emergency, consular officers assist American citizens with transportation, evacuation, and in keeping them safe. This is just one of the many reasons that we encourage you to register your trip before you depart."
http://travel.state.gov/content/studentsabroad/en/embassies/their-role.html
The only time I was ever in an American Embassy that was not full of liberal, white knuckle, pillow biting bureaucrats was while in Kuwait City, 1991. We could not find a single one! ;)
And we sure as hell would not have ever turned away a frightened American. :munchin
I'd like to think as Richard wrote there is more to this,
Plan B, under those circumstances, maybe head for the Canadian Embassy, they saved our people in Tehran?
Agree...there is usually "more."
But, effectively US citizens were reportedly turned away in a crisis.
The burden is on the government to provide the "more..."
...I realize they may need more time to find that damn YouTube video.
Agree, in hindsight the Canadiens may have been a better option...even a plan B...that speaks f:$&king volumes.
bushmaster11
11-17-2015, 12:08
I agree that there may have a memo/SOP/general orders etc dealing with protection of the embassy. But I think this is akin to the "I was only following orders" defense. Assuming there was no mass protest or other crowd close enough and large enough to overpower the sentry. Two Americans needing protection or they would not be there. I think a general examination of documents and pat down and call for the sergeant of the guard would at least gotten them off the street.
I think that there should be room for responsible initiative. If not my solution, then some other creative, field expedient solution.
Not there, under the gun. Will not second guess, but would certainly address the issue with higher powers if they would want this type of event to be reevaluated.
J R sends
DOL
Unless those facts change, the "rest of the story" is just noise.
Considering what's on their own website, I would have to agree.
Divemaster
11-19-2015, 00:07
State Dept. clarifying the situation in 140 characters or less:
Travel - State Dept @TravelGov Nov 16
.@TopherConner US Embassies offer emergency services to US cits in times of crisis, in general, we dont offer shelter to US cits (1/3)
American in an emergency? Go away, we've already got one.
The only time I was ever in an American Embassy that was not full of liberal, white knuckle, pillow biting bureaucrats was while in Kuwait City, 1991. We could not find a single one! ;)
And we sure as hell would not have ever turned away a frightened American. :munchin
The good ol' days.
They'll come back around soon...
Keep in mind... this is a department with a secretary that has explicitly stated an understanding for the rationale behind the slaughter of Charlie Hebdo employees, and the associated attacks.
...and if you can find "a legitimacy in terms of — not a legitimacy, but a rationale that you could attach yourself to somehow and say, okay, they’re really angry" over a fucking series of editorial cartoons, then certainly you can find "a legitimacy in terms of — not a legitimacy, but a rationale that you could attach yourself to somehow and say, okay", the people at the American Embassy in Paris were really angry that the last time a terrorist incident took place near an Embassy, they were abandoned by their country.
So, in the spirit of supporting Secretary Kerry, I formally put all of my support behind the Embassy in Paris; Fuck those silly Americans living in Paris.
...they should have stayed home.
Maybe if they'd stayed in college in the USA or gone on vacation in the USA or done business in the USA, then they wouldn't be stuck dealing with terrorism in Paris.
Stupid Americans.
It is late Friday night in Paris.
There are no eminent threat warnings and the embassies are staffed with a couple of duty personnel (usually a low-level FSO and minimum security).
A series of terrorist attacks occur in several Paris administrative departments.
French authorities alert the foreign embassies and put out a general bulletin to the public that a curfew has been declared and its borders closed as they surge their security forces to deal with the developing situation.
The embassies execute their emergency security plans, locking down their facilities and severely limiting access and operations to emergency services.
American embassies (as are Israeli, UK, and Turkish consulates) are a potential priority target for such attacks.
Terrorists have been known to use a ruse to attempt to gain access to secure facilities, including women (a female suicide bomber planning further attacks detonated her bomb yesterday in Paris) and children, as well as US passport holders.
A couple claim to have traveled safely several miles to arrive at the embassy, claiming to be American and seeking access to the embassy grounds.
They are not injured or under attack, but the woman claims to be pregnant and they claim to be frightened by the events happening elsewhere in the city.
They are told the embassy is closed and to do as the French authorities have ordered, to return to their hotel.
They report their experience to the press and...voila'...they become a celebrated government bashing version of the Joseph and Mary legend seeking an inn in Bethlehem and being turned away.
When we were under attack by the RAF in Bonn, they would have been turned away there, too. All area embassies went into lock-down, and we couldn't leave, were confined to our work areas, and nobody was coming in until the situation was assessed, enhanced security measures executed, and revised operational schedules for limited services in place. The same applied to our consulates in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and Stuttgart.
In 1973 I was in Bangkok when there was a student revolt and the sitting government was overthrown. There were no security forces in sight and foreigners were being advised to leave. I contacted our LNO detachment and was told to sit tight as there was nothing to be done at the moment. Three days later I was given the OK to leave and able to return up-country to our camp.
It's easy to 'Monday morning quarterback' such a matter - it's not so easy being on the field and playing the game...especially when the 3rd string quarterback (the junior FSO duty officer in this instance) is called into play.
I'll await the full story on this one. :munchin
MOO.
Richard
Just curious; what story should we be waiting for?
The one from the media that shines a prettier picture on the embassy?
The one from the government that tell the truth about terrorism and embassies?
I don't need to play Monday morning quarter back to identify a fumble.
Just curious; what story should we be waiting for?
The one from the media that shines a prettier picture on the embassy?
The one from the government that tell the truth about terrorism and embassies?
I don't need to play Monday morning quarter back to identify a fumble.If a high number of refugees from Detroit, Chicago, etc. were coming into my town...
"Common sense would tell me/us that there is a 'eminent' threat to us locals...":munchin:confused:
BTW...You can throw in #blacklivesmatter!
Not running the play you think should have been run doesn't mean it was a 'fumble'...
Richard
Not running the play you think should have been run doesn't mean it was a 'fumble'...
Richard
If you drop the ball...
And sideline perception trumps in the game reality yet again.
__
BT
Richard
If only there would have been a CST on duty, they could have been able to see under her burka or pat her down to really see that she might just actually be a pregnant woman. Oh, wait, she was american.
Embassy: "hey, you claim to be pregnant... but you are a terrorist that has a huge bomb under your burka."
Woman: "Here is some ID, I'm not wearing a burka, and see this? this is my belly button."
Embassy: "um... i'm still not sure"
Woman: "ok I'll turn around so you can see my bare back. Now, can I let my shirt down?"
Embassy: Um...
Woman: "how about you pat me down?"
Embassy: "hey, good idea! maybe you aren't a terrorist after all. maybe you really are a pregnant american citizen with her husband.... But we can't take all you thousands of people. Its' against the rules and we will be overwhelmed. Remember Benghazi? We can't have that happening here!"
Woman: " Um, it's just the two of us, and we are Americans. My husband and I promise to be good."
Guard: No way! Rules are rules! You're on your own!
Team Sergeant
11-19-2015, 09:07
I'm betting that POS that told her "NO" slept well that night knowing there is a frightened pregnant American was out there in full panic mode.
I now feel ashamed to have been part of a CIF.
It seems now all the CIF's are for is to rescue "politicians".
Oh wait, they do not do that if it's in a muslim country.
Progress.
Would someone, anyone, tell me just what we're fighting for?
And sideline perception trumps in the game reality yet again.
__
BT
Richard
Really? An American couple was denied assistance by the US Embassy, Paris during an active terrorist attack. I have seen no reporting that the embassy was under attack or they were overrun with American citizens seeking shelter. It was Friday. So what? Phones and radios don't work? They don't have SOP's for this type of situation already in place? Or they do, and their SOP is to deny entry to American citizens when they most need help.
Bottom line, an American couple, the wife pregnant, were denied assistance by the US Embassy, Paris when terrorist attacks were ongoing. You can say it is nuanced. I say it is wrong. Either way, it should be clear to Americans that with Obama at the helm, you can't rely on the US government to assist you in times of need while in foreign lands. But that should have been obvious eight years ago.
Team Sergeant
11-19-2015, 09:16
And sideline perception trumps in the game reality yet again.
__
BT
Richard
You mean your idea of "reality". You've been out of the game so long you've forgotten why we take up arms in the first place.
Personally had I been there and witnessed that happening I would have walked off the job and stayed with those folks instead of guarding the embassy.
We have become nothing more than a disgusting, pathetic America sheeple. And this "administration" needs to be impeached and thrown in prison.
ISIS is far from "contained" when our own embassy fears its own people with documents may be strapped with bombs.
Can our administration not get that visual...our enemies certainly do.
Strike that...
Shit be bad.
Team Sergeant
11-19-2015, 09:32
ISIS is far from "contained" when our own embassy fears its own people with documents may be a strapped with bombs.
Can our administration not see the visual...our enemies certainly do.
Strike that...
Shit be bad.
Exactly. How to embolden the enemy 101. First chapter, "Act like Cowards".
Blind loyalty is admirable, but I am little more than a distrustful cynic that has spent a third of my adult life traveling to foreign countries full of people that would prefer to do harm to Americans if given the chance so I am at quite familiar with being on the field. I also know that when someone drops the ball in the middle of a play (regardless of what play is being run) it is called a fumble.
...doesn't matter if it was the third string quarterback
...doesn't matter if it was a day game or a night game
I know what a fumble looks like because I've fumbled the ball. I've fumbled the ball while people were shooting at Americans that it was my responsibility to protect.
There are probably even a few folks on this board that have been on the blunt end of one of my many fumbles but unlike many modern day americans, I don't need someone to tell me what I read, or what I heard, or what I saw.
So... yeah, I'll wait on the rest of the story but mostly because I am interested in seeing how it is spun. I can't wait to see how an outlet depicts these Americans as the antagonists in this situation.
I'd LOVE to see a good, trustworthy version of this story that paints this as the third string quarterback throwing a touchdown pass.
...but I'm not holding my breath. Lord only knows that we have to be wary of suicide bombers masquerading as pregnant Americans living abroad - some people just cant be trusted...
Well, some people cant be trusted unless they are Syrian refuges in which case they can ALL be trusted or else we aren't worthy of our status as Americans.
No fake US passports here, just humble Syrian pilgrims looking for a safe place to lay their head.
Like the statue says...
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Yep, nothing to see here...
...move along
nousdefions
11-19-2015, 10:48
The good ol' days.
They'll come back around soon...
I found this most appropriate
Divemaster
11-20-2015, 02:46
No absolving the AMEMB of anything, but it has been said before, this is nothing new.
Companies, schools, and individual travelers, need to understand Travel Risk Management, something that SF guys understand well. Obviously American Embassies should not fit into your plan during a crisis.
Salesforce, a San Francisco based cloud computing company, had 451 employees in Paris during the attacks. Even while the events were unfolding just over 200 had checked in with the company saying they were safe. Within a few hours all 451 had reported in.
This company had a plan. The employees knew who to call. Too many companies don't have a plan for their employees traveling abroad. In part this is because they view programs like this as an expense, and they possibly aren't aware of their duty of care responsibilities.
Individual travelers need to get smart in this area too, even if they are only traveling to friendly Europe.
Divemaster,
Excellent advice and kudos to the security department at Salesforce for developing a plan and ensuring all employees knew the plan. Also, good job on all the employees that executed the plan.