To my friends in Beirut

For all the folks posted to Beirut, especially Julie, you have both my admiration and my sincerest sympathy right now. To be fair, you have had it (my admiration and sympathy that is) for a good two weeks, what with the bombings and evacuating thousands of American citizens (what do you mean four consular officers can't handle 25,000 people in the blink of an eye? What do you mean America can't just barge its way in and save them? And of course, do it for free!)

But to be in the middle of all of that and then have the Secretary pop in...I am afraid my little head would pop off! My hat is off to you!