Report:U.S. Diplomats in Beirut Burning Classified Material
Diplomats at the U.S. embassy in Beirut have started to destroy classified material as a security precaution amid anti-American protests in Lebanon and elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa.
A State Department status report obtained Monday by The Associated Press said the embassy had "reviewed its emergency procedures and is beginning to destroy classified holdings."
It also said that local Lebanese employees were sent home early due to protests by Hizbullah over an anti-Muslim film produced in the U.S.
In Washington, a State Department official said there was no imminent threat to the heavily fortified embassy in Awkar, which is about an hour away from where the nearest demonstration is planned.
The official said the decision to "reduce classified holdings" was routine and made by embassy staff.
Protesters have breached the walls or compounds of several U.S. diplomatic missions, including the consulate in Benghazi, Libya where the ambassador and three other Americans were killed, Cairo and Tunis since last Tuesday.
After Tuesday's incidents, the State Department ordered all U.S. embassies and consulates around the world to review their security postures. As a result, a number of missions decided to destroy classified material, the official said. It was not immediately clear which other missions besides the one in Beirut had taken that step.
The official stressed it was normal under circumstances such as those of last week for embassies to reduce the amount of classified material that they hold. Classified documents are also routinely culled as part of normal embassy operations.
Earlier Monday, the State Department renewed its warning to U.S. citizens to "avoid all travel to Lebanon because of current safety and security concerns."
12 years
Hey Einstein,
America IS our friend. Do you now how tens of thousands of Lebanese, Christians and Muslims, make a good living in the U.S. and send money home every month? Do you know how many people of Lebanese descent made it to the highest echelons of political and corporate America?
Why don't you go to your sweetheart Iran and try to build a future there if you hate freedom so so much.
12 years
Go back to balestine my friend
12 years
FT, you made great comment about the lebanese. I guess Jabal and why, think the only place lebanese people made it, is in the US. How about Mexico, the poor country and of course many other countries.
12 years
The Americans seem to have gotten wind that the region is going to go up in flames very soon and are doing like any intelligent entity would do and reduce its personal losses. Not a good sign...
12 years
Lebanese still think they are a superior set of people? Lebanese make trouble wherever they go. Brutal rapes, terrorism, murder, robbery, drugs, prostitution and human smuggling, you name it, lebanese are over represented in all these activities in europe, Australia, Africa, the americas and the arab world. The human smuggling industry in dubai is lebanese-operated. Grow up you guys. You didnt make it, rather humans made it as thats in the blood of humans to make it when they are given job opportunities. Every single developing people who was giving opportunities in other countries made it. The only thing lebanese did diffirently is to produce a higher percantage of criminals.
12 years
Excellent comment, I think you have from both sides , bad and good apples, i just like that you mention that no one should be considered superior to others just by there nationality, were all human beings, we shouldn't judge people by how much money they made or status but rather by there good deeds
12 years
bunch of idiots all you who comment go get a life you all and stop blaming your misery on others
The American embassy is were all the spies operating from. America is guilty and deserves the anti American sentiment. Obviously you have uncle SAMs who actually think America is our friend. Down Down USA