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This file contains materials relating to conditions in Lebanon and the possible evacuation of American citizens.

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1561507
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Lebanon Crisis
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document
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1561507
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document
title
Lebanon Crisis
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This file contains materials relating to conditions in Lebanon and the possible evacuation of American citizens.
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Richard B. Cheney Files
Richard Cheney's General Subject Files
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Lebanon
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1561507
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1976-06-30
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6
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1976
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1976-04-01
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4
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1976
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The original documents are located in Box 9, folder "Lebanon Crisis" of the Richard B. Cheney Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Copyright Notice The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Digitized from Box 9 of the Richard B. Cheney Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS SERVICE WITHDRAWAL SHEET (PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARIES) FORM OF CORRESPONDENTS OR TITLE DATE RESTRICTION DOCUMENT 1. Chart Helicopter Lift Capability (1 p.) Undated A ₫ 22. Chart Aircraft Embarked or the USS America (1 p.) Undated A 3. Chart Potential Evacuation Population (1 p.) 6/12/76 A opened 6/30/00 4. Map Bastern Mediterranean (1 p.) 6/16/76 A KBH 5. Chart Non-Combatant Evacuation from Lebanon (1 p.) 6/16/76 A 6. Schedule Evacuation Schedule (2 pp.) 6/17-21/76 A sunitized KBH 6/30/00 FILE LOCATION Cheney Files General Subject File Lebanon Evacuation Box 9 RESTRICTION CODES (A) Closed by Executive Order 12356 governing access to national security information. (B) Closed by statute or by the agency which originated the document. (C) Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in the donor's deed of gift. WHM, 5/28/75 GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION GSA FORM 7122 (REV. 5-82) THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON SECRET (GDS) MEETING OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL LEBANON Wednesday, April 7, 1976 2:30 p.m. The Cabinet Room From: Brent Scówcroft I. PURPOSE To review the current situation in Lebanon and its potential impact upon broader United States interests in the Middle East: a possible renewal of major Arab-Israeli hostilities should Syrian and Israeli troops both enter Lebanon; a possible reversal of the moderate Arab trend we have successfully fostered over the past two years should Syrian efforts in Lebanon fail; and possible strongly negative Arab reactions against the United States should our current efforts fail to bring a political solution. II. BACKGROUND, PARTICIPANTS & PRESS ARRANGEMENTS A. Background: In early March, Syria, acting at the request of Lebanese President Frangie, sent into Lebanon units of the Palestine Liberation Army in an effort to stop the fighting by Lebanese left-wing forces, (led by Kemal Jumblatt and other lesser leaders) supported by the PLO and rejectionist Palestinians. These forces were refusing to accept the ceasefire and political agreement reached with Syrian help on January 22, and were demanding the immediate resignation of President Frangie. Within a week, it was Subject to GDS of EO 11652 Automatically Downgraded at Two SECRET (GDS) Year Intervals and Declassified on DAD, 6/27/85 GERALDA December 31, 1984 SECRET (GDS) - 2 - only the resistance of the PLA and Saiqa a Palestinian organization loyal to Syria--which prevented the Presi- dential Palace from being occupied and Frangie overthrown by force. At this point, Syria asked our advice on deploying regular Syrian army units to separate the combatants and bring about an orderly transfer of power from President Frangie to a new government. We strongly advised Syria against any direct intervention and urged other governments, in- cluding Jordan and Saudi Arabia, to warn the Syrians against such a move. We immediately asked Israel what its response would be to a Syrian intervention and urged them to remain calm while the situation was being clarified. Israel replied that it would move into South Lebanon if Syrian regulars intervened. In the face of our negative reactions, Syria turned to a renewed major effort to bring about a cease- fire and legal governmental succession by political means, while reinforcing somewhat its irregular military presence in the form of Saiqa and PLA units incorporating some regular troops. This has included closing the Syrian border and key Lebanese ports and airfields to arms supply for leftist forces. Israel has not indicated any intention of moving into Lebanon, despite its awareness of a sizeable irregular Syrian presence. To reinforce our serious concern at the continued fighting and our support for an orderly political solution, we sent Dean Brown to take charge of our Embassy in Beirut, to analyze the situation at first hand and to consult with the various Lebanese parties. Units of the Sixth Fleet were moved closer to Lebanon to be available should the evacuation of American citizens appear necessary, as well as to show our serious concern. Our efforts, together with those of Syria, have produced a ten-day ceasefire during which the Lebanese hope to agree upon the succession to Presi- dent Frangie. The Lebanese Parliament may meet on April 8 to tackle this problem. If it fails, the ceasefire is most unlikely to hold past April 12. SECRET (GDS) SECRET (GDS) - 3 - Should the ceasefire break down again, we could be faced with any of several extremely difficult scenarios: 1) tacitly accepting intervention by Syrian regular army units (probably at leas: a division) and making every possible effort to prevent an Israeli counter-intervention in South Lebanon; 2) making every effort to prevent further Syrian action with the likelihood that this would not only mean more bloody fighting and eventual leftist domination in Lebanon, but could very well mean the collapse of the moderate Syrian regime of Hafez Asad and its replacement by radical elements; or 3) witnessing military intervention by both Israel and Syria with the likelihood that this would produce a closing of Arab ranks and renewed Arab-Israeli hostilities on a major scale. The first choice could offer hope of protecting our substantial investment in the peace process and better bilateral relations with the Arab states but it would be the toughest for us to carry out successfully, given the very strong Israeli hatred and distrust of Syria, and would be hard to explain in this country. The second choice could spell the end of present hopes for the peace process, and would over time be seriously damaging to our relations with such key Arab states as Jordan, Egypt and Saudia Arabia who would tend to see us as having exposed to them a rising tide of Arab radicalism. The third choice could produce a much more rapid negative Arab reaction against the United States as well as killing hopes for the peace process. It could also produce full-scale hostilities, with all that implies for the US-Soviet relationship in the Middle East, and another oil embargo. Our objective is to generate an array of moderate Lebanese forces which, together with our support and that of the Syrians and other moderate Arabs, can move the political process ahead through the Presidential succession to needed reforms in the social, economic and political fields. In parallel with our diplomatic efforts, we have under- taken an urgent review of our contingency planning in the event there should be another eruption of major hostilities in Lebanon or on an even broader scale. Existing plans SECRET (GDS) SECRET (GDS) - 4 - in the following fields have been reviewed and are being updated: political/diplomatic contingencies; military readiness of United States units for either evacuation of United States citizens or to meet foreign threats; economic contingencies (oil and financial); and improved. intelligence collection and dissemination. B. Participants: List at Tab A C. Press Arrangements: The meeting but not the subject will be announced. White House photo only. III. TALKING POINTS 1. I have been following developments in Lebanon very closely. We have been in close touch with all other governments in the particularly Israel and Syria-- and other interested powers to try to prevent outside inter- vention, stop the fighting and see what can be done to move toward a satisfactory political outcome. 2. The situation is extremely dangerous since failure to end the fighting and find a moderate political solution could confront us either with an early renewel of Arab-Israeli hostilities or a serious setback for the peace process and the forces of Arab moderation in which we have invested SO much. 3. We have sent Dean Brown to survey the situation first hand and be available to the various parties. He has already met with a wide spectrum of key Lebanese leaders. We have also moved some units of the Sixth Fleet to where they would be in position to evacuate American citizens should that become necessary and to demonstrate our concern. 4. We consider President Asad's behaviour in the Lebanese situation to be moderate and responsible and we are working closely with him. 5. Henry, will you discuss this situation in more detail? SEGRET (GDS) SECRET (GDS) - 5 - 6. [At the conclusion of the meeting]I want us all to work closely together in this dangerous period. I would like the WSAG to remain abreast of the situation. We must make every effort to help the parties directly concerned find a peaceful, moderate solution. SECRET (GDS) DECLASSIFIED E.O. 12958 Sec. 3.6 With PORTIONS EXEMPTED E.O. 12958 Sec. 1.5 (a) MR 98-9,#6 DOD ltr. 3/17/00 By KBH NARA, Date 6/27/00 SECRET DATE TIME EVACUATION SCHEDULE FOR FLUID DRIVE (Wash./Beirut) (Wash./Beirut) June Send a message to American Embassy Beirut announcing the evacuation decision and providing detailed evacuation guidance. Information copies of the same message should be sent to Using Alert June Meet with Arrange for 6 Despatch 98-11-0068 2PM SECRET -2- DATE TIME EVACUATION SCHEDULE FOR FLUID DRIVE (cont'd) (Wash./Beirut) (Wash./Beirut) June Also using Release press guidance in the U.S. and to wire services for worldwide distribution announcing our decision to evacuate and the reasons behind decision. June Task Force leaves station June Launch June arrives at U.S. Embassy. Broadcast on an hourly basis for six hours instructions to anyone left behind in evacuation June Evacuees arrive at safehaven. P. 6/16/76 Labonon HAK, VP, Buch, Scowerft, Cleants, chy - - 1 Camb + staffer apparants dead- delate 1 P.- send commercial revel close to Being - posible emergency evoust also and military faces - Sundresnd-et TO gradual 12 has away from 24 his. away - HAR notify soviets of movents - Sand Dear Brownout Press statement Q+A's and Brown to Lebanor get and to prole strong statement conding the entivity BERALD A 5:30 p. m., Thursday, June 17, 1976 Meeting with the President, re Lebanon Evacuation Oval Office Save Mr. Cheney 3511 THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON SECRET (GDS) MEETING ON LEBANON SITUATION Thursday, June 17, 1976 5:30 p.m. The Cabinet Room From: Brent Scowcroft BD I. PURPOSE To review the current situation in Lebanon and to determine the need for an evacuation of American citizens, including the options for conducting an evacuation. II. BACKGROUND, PARTICIPANTS & PRESS ARRANGEMENTS A. Background: The general security situation in Lebanon and particularly in Beirut, remains much the same as yesterday. Sporadic fighting between Syrian and leftist/Moslem forces has continued through the day, but the Syrian blockade of Beirut has been partially lifted to permit some gasoline and foodstuffs to enter the city and there are reports that Beirut Airport might reopen in a day or two. The Ameri- can Embassy in Beirut reports, moreover, that the shock of Ambassador Meloy's and Robert Waring's murder may in fact have helped the security situation in the short run. Nevertheless, there is no definitive break in the political situation sufficient to permit optimism that a country-wide improvement will occur shortly, and if the present political maneuvering between Lebanese factions, the Palestinians, Arab League members and Syria leads to another deadlock, it is very possible that fighting will resume on a broad- scale, further imperiling the lives of Americans, particu- larly in the capital city. In addition to this possibility, there are other factors which will further reduce the incentives for members of the Ameri- can community to stay. These include the strong possibility SECRET (GDS) GERALD R. FORD DAO 6/27/85 SECRET (GDS) - 2 - that Ambassador Meloy was specifically targeted for execution by a Lebanese or Palestinian splinter group, and that killings of other Americans may occur; and the evacuation of members of other foreign communities from Beirut, particularly the French, UN and British (HMG announced this morning that British subjects should depart Beirut, and the British Embassy is arranging for the departure of a convoy of evacuees to drive overland to Damascus tomorrow). Under these circumstances, pressures for at least the partial evacuation from Beirut of remaining American citizens is high, and a basic decision on whether or not the US should announce an evacuation is now needed. To a certain extent such a decision will depend on the current security situation in Beirut and the means available for the large-scale departure of Americans from the city. In essence, these break down into two general categories--evacuation by non-military means or the use of military assets to try to bring out those US citizens who wish to leave. Various possible options under each of these categories are described at Tab A. It is important that no option is risk-free and all involve one degree or another of hazard: All of the non-military options require the cooperation of one or more Lebanese or Palestinian groups, and in the case of overland evacuation to Damascus, of Syrian authorities. Even granted such cooperation, however, certain options could expose evacuees to hostile fire by one side or another or to individual snipers. It is also possible that an overland evacuation could stall at mid-point creating further complication. The various military options would to one degree or another provide US control over the evacuation operation. At the same time, they raise the strong risk of reactive fire from snipers or larger groups and of hostile reaction to those Americans who must remain within the country. Moreover any US military operation which saw Arabs killed by American weapons could have broad-scale implications for the United States in the Middle East. SECRET (GDS) GERALO SECRET (GDS) -3- Whatever the circumstance, there will be certain specific consequences of any decision, whether it is to evacuate or not. If the former, it will raise the perception that the US is reacting precipitously to Ambassador Meloy's murder. If, on the other hand, the US does not at least provide the means for Americans to leave Beirut if they so wish, as other nations have done for their communities, American lives could be later lost as a result. Finally, there will be consequences flowing from the choice of non-military or military options if a decision to evacuate is made. The loss of civilian life in connection with a diffi- cult overland convoy would be seen as the result of an error of decision in not using military protection. On the other hand, a decision to use US military capabilities which drew fire on civilian evacuees could be seen as one which was an overreaction which needlessly imperiled American lives. B. Participants: Secretary Kissinger, Mr. Clements, Director Bush, Mr. Marsh, Mr. Cheney, Brent Scowcroft, General Brown SECRET (GDS) SECRET (GDS) LEBANON EVACUATION - OPTIONS Options These alternatives consist of: I. OVERLAND: A. Evacuation by road to Damascus. The French Embassy on Tuesday and the UN yesterday successfully evacuated a number of their personnel using a route that went south of Beirut, then in major part through Syrian-controlled Lebanese territory to Damascus. The British are planning a small convoy on this route tomorrow, Friday, which may contain some Americans and which will probably include the remains of Ambassador Meloy and Robert Waring. Depending on the success of this convoy, other British-sponsored convoys will be moved to Syria. Our Beirut Embassy is currently exploring the possibility of includ- ing Americans in a Saturday convoy with the British, but is rely- ing on the British Embassy to negotiate safe passage. -- This is considered generally safe and non-provocative; but if convoys are blocked or attached, the evacuees are vulner- able; military support would have to come from the Sixth Fleet gunships or aircraft; B. Overland Northward to Jounieh Bay, thence by sea. This route is short -- less than 15 miles to Jounieh port -- and is the one recommended by Syrian Chief of Staff Shihabi to Ambassador Murphy yesterday. Nevertheless, it involves crossing the Moslem/Christian lines and several very dangerous areas near the port, and could expose evacuees to hostile fire. -- Our Beirut Embassy considers departure by this route very risky. II. AIR/FIXEDWING Use of Beirut Airport, when it reopens. Shihabi specifically warned against the use of Beirut Airport in view of the threat of SA-7 missiles against U.S. aircraft involved in evacuation aircraft. Nevertheless, our Beirut Embassy views the reopening of the airport to commercial aircraft during the next several days as a real possibility, probably SECRET (GDS) DAO, 6/27/85 SECRET (GDS) 2 under some sort of joint Syrian-Palestinian or other multilateral arrangement, and believes that the threat of hostile fire on civilian flights is smaller than Shihabi stated. The Embassy further believes that some Americans might want to hold out until the airport reopens. The road to the airport is dangerous; waiting for it to reopen may be hazardous. III. SEALIFT Evacuation over the Beaches: either the Western part of Beirut (Bain Mili taire) or Bain Jamal near the Embassy; for example, an LCU could carry up to 400 people; This option would assume a permissive environment, in view of the exposure of ships moving to and from Beirut to possible hostile fire from high-rise buildings and other locations in the near vicinity. Of the above options, evacuation by road to Damascus appears to be the most practicable and least risky at this time. Preferably, it would be an international operation, involving British or other evacuees, and have UN or Red Cross cover. It would necessarily mean coordination with Lebanese Moslem leftist groups and Palestinians as well as Syrians, although contact with Palestinian organizations could be handled indirectly, through the British for example. State and the Embassy tend to favor the road evacuation to Damascus option in the absence of better alternatives, each of the other options involving greater risk or practical problems (such as whether the Beirut Airport will in fact open at all during the next several weeks). Our Beirut Embassy, which is in the best position to judge the local security situation, has stated that while it does not like this option, it judges the risks to be tolerable in the absence of viable alternatives. IV. MILITARY OPTION (FLUID DRIVE) General Brown will brief on the options for evacuation that involve possible hostilities. Basically the operation is: the landing of heli- copters at the American University to bring out the American com- munity. $ECRET (GDS) SECRET (GDS) 3 The least exposure to risk, involves the lowest number of people engaged in the operation, and is, in effect, the lowest profile military option available. -- Under optimum conditions, 1,000 could be evacuated in one hour; it invites harrassing fire, and firefights. If fighting occurs, then if Embassy remains, it will be under great risk. SECRET (GDS) AMERICAN UNIVERSITY NMCC AMERICAN EMBASSY BRITISH EMBASSY Port Area RAS BEIRUT LEBANON SITUATION MEDITERRANEAN SEA BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT NAUTICAL MILES 0 1 0 1 KILOMETERS DECLASSIFIED 45 EO 12058 Sec. 3.6 MR-28-9 3/0/90 EAST MED NMCC by 6/27/00 B L BEACK S&A A Istanbul 40° AMERICA (CARRIER) Izmir YARNELL (CRUISER) 10: Athens Musadasi VOGE (FRIGATE) Mikonos CONNOLE (FRIGATE) Iškenderun Kithira Rhodes (788) GUADALCANAL (AMPHIB) Souda Bay 4 HH 53 CRETE (538) RALEIGH (AMPHIB) 35° CYPRUS 3 HC 130 Akrotiri (173) CHARLESTON (AMPHIB) ESTHER Beirut (269) BARNSTABLE CTY [AMPHIB] MOINESTER (FRIGATE) Haifa (148) SPIEGEL GROVE (AMPHIB) KOELSCH (FRIGATE) CONYNGHAM (DEST) MCCLOY (FRIGATE) Alexandria Port Said TOTAL 1916 SOURCE: NCSC MOVREP 0 150 300 Suez 20° 161200Z JUN 76 Aqaba NM 45° 25° 30° 35° 40° CONFIDENTIAL TF 61/62 SHIPBOARD CAPACITY FOR EVACUEES NORMAL EMERGENCY CONDITIONS CONDITIONS SHORT SEA TRIP USS GUADALCANAL (LPH - 71 400 6,000 USS RALEIGH (LPD - 1) 200 1,600 USS CHARLESTON (LKA - 113) 60 300 USS SPIEGEL GROVE (LSD - 32) 100 600 USS BARNSTABLE COUNTY ILST - 1197) 140 700 TOTAL 900 9,200 EVACUEE NUMBERS ARE APPROXIMATE TF 61/62 SHIPBOARD CAPACITY FOR EVACUEES NORMAL EMERGENCY CONDITIONS CONDITIONS SHORT SEA TRIP USS GUADALCANAL (LPH - 71 400 6,000 USS RALEIGH (LPD - 1) 200 1,600 USS CHARLESTON (LKA - 113) 60 300 USS SPIEGEL GROVE (LSD - 321 100 600 USS BARNSTABLE COUNTY ILST - 11971 140 700 TOTAL 900 9,200 EVACUEE NUMBERS ARE APPROXIMATE CONFIDENTIAL AIRCRAFT EMBARKED ON THE USS AMERICA VF-142 12 F-14A VF-143 12 F-14A VFP-63 3 RF-8G VA-15 10 A-7E VA-87 9 A-7E VA-176 9 A-6E, 4 KA-6D VAW-124 4 E-2C VAQ-137 4 EA-6B HS-15 8 SH-3H 1 C-1A DECLASSIFIED E.O. 12958 Sec. 3.6 MR 98-9 #2 DOD Hr. 3/17/00 CONFIDENTIAL By KBH NARA, Date 6/27/00 SECRET POTENTIAL EVACUATION POPULATION LEBANON APPROXIMATE BEIRUT N/LEBANON S/LEBANON BEKAA DOD 18 18 0 0 0 DOD DEP 0 0 0 0 O USG 35 35 0 O 0 USG DEP 0 0 0 0 0 US RESIDENTS 1575 1450 30 45 50 OTHER 700 700 0 0 0 THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS 4000 4000 0 0 0 TOTALS 6328 6203 30 45 50 SOURCE: AMEMB BEIRUT DECLASSIFIED E.O. 12958 Sec. 3.6 121528Z JUN 76 MR 98-9, #3 DOD ltr. 7/17/00 SECRET By KBH NARA, Date 6/27/00 DECLASSIFIED NON-COMBATANT EVACUATION FROM LEBANON NMCC E.O. 12958 Sec. 3.6 (FLUID DRIVE) MR 98-9, #5 soo ltr. 3/17/00 By KBH NARA, Date 6/27/00 RESPONSE CAPABILITIES 1. 6th FLEET FLAGSHIP LOCATION * RESPONSE TIME TF 61/62 GUADALCANAL AT SEA 21 HRS TG 60.1 SARATOGA AT SEA 79 HRS TG 60.2 AMERICA AT SEA 24 HRS RESPONSE TIME INDICATES ELAPSED TIME FROM NOTIFICATION TO ON STATION 2. MSC-CONTROLLED SHIPPING / US FLAG MERCHANTMEN WITHIN 72 HRS - - O WITHIN 72 HRS - - 9 3. MAC ASSETS WITHIN 12 HRS - 21 C-141, 5 C-5, 32 C-130E, 0 COMMERCIAL SOURCE: NCSC/AFOC 161200Z JUN 76 CONFIDENTIAL SECRET COMBINED FORCE HELICOPTER LIFT CAPABILITY PASSENGERS PER AIRCRAFT AIRCRAFT LOCATION TYPE NORMAL EMERGENCY POSSESSED GUADALCANAL CH-46D 21 23 10 CH-53D 35 52 4 UH-1N 13 13 2 AKROTIRI HH-53 35 55 4 DECLASSIFIED E.O. 12958 Sec. 3.6 SECRET MR 98-9,# / DOD ltr. 3/17/00 By KBH NARA, Date 6/27/00 MSC CONTROLLED SHIPPING AS OF 161200z JUN 76 NAME TYPE DISTANCE FROM LEBANON COULD ARRIVE REMARKS MSC CONTROLLED SHIPPING 1004 070839 NE U.S. FLAG OTHER THAN MSC CONTROLLED EXPORT DIPLOMAT DRY CARGO ENR ISTANBUL 2 DAYS 20 KNOTS LASH ITALIA LASH 1189 NM NAPLES 2-3 DAYS 22.5 KNOTS EXPORT AIDE DRY CARGO ENR SUEZ 1 DAY 18.5 KNOTS ELIZABETH LYKES DRY CARGO 340 NM ALEXANDRIA 1 DAY 20 KNOTS LOUISE LYKES DRY CARGO 340 NM ALEXANDRIA 1 DAY 20 KNOTS LASH TURKIYE LASH ENR IZMIR 2 DAYS 22.5 KNOTS GREEN ISLAND LASH ENR PORT SAID 1 DAY 22.0 KNOTS SAM HOUSTON LASH 315 NM SUEZ 1-2 DAYS 22.0 KNOTS JOHN PENN DRY CARGO ENR PORT SAID 3 DAYS 20.0 KNOTS NMCC EUROCEAN DESK AMERICAN UNIVERSITY NMCC AMERICAN EMBASSY BRITISH EMBASSY Port Area RAS BEIRUT LEBANON SITUATION MEDITERRANEAN SEA BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT NAUTICAL MILES 0 0 1 KILOMETERS Chopper Option - boat optin 1.) Libelihood of drawing fire 2. Reartion - carmelties on both rides 3. Have leave ambersy in there 4. Carab opposition 5.) Other nations will make pullic their opposition if we hit a smog. 1 6) What if only a hand for show up Wive waited this long - why not wait longer- What not of circumstances requires such a high rish option Compain of peanful consuation of Freends, British + UN personnel Man an The rene - what does he think - coast allows gind reaction time Why not road compay - class to the to trouble - Eerry to Cypons SERALD $ 16 June 1976 10:00 a.m. The State Department has released the following statement to the press: We can confirm that our Ambassador in Beirut, Francis E. Meloy, Jr., and the Economic Counselor of the Embass y Robert O. Waring, have been missing since late Wednesday morning Beirut time June 16. The two men were travelling by car to make an appointment with President-elect Sarkis but failed to reach their destination. We are making every effort to locate the two men and are in touch with governments in the area. We have no further information to provide at this time.