US Embassy in Paris Refuses to Help American Citizens

[SF-TX]

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 protocol, Run, hide, then fight...as a last resort.

Passengers arrive at Atlanta airport safely after Paris ordeal

...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.

[Box]

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]

Originally Posted by SF-TX

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.

[head]

The US Embassy would be the last place I'd go.

[Team Sergeant]

Originally Posted by head

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]

Billy's post:

3) They were busy typing their relocation letters to a posting in Cuba and couldn't be bothered.

[Divemaster]

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

[tonyz]

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/stud...heir-role.html

[SF_BHT]

Originally Posted by tonyz

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/stud...heir-role.html

The problem no one at a US Embassy or at the state department has read their own web site or their regulations.

[abc_123]

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.

[PSM]

Originally Posted by abc_123

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]

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?

[Richard]

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

[abc_123]

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!

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by abc_123

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?