April 01, 2005
Announcement
This weekend I'm going to Beirut, Lebanon with Spirit of America Founder Jim Hake. On Tuesday we’re kicking off a new project to support the Lebanese people in their fight for independence. I’d love to give you the juicy details right now. But we aren’t quite there yet, so stay tuned.
I’ll be in the Middle East for a couple of weeks. Guest bloggers Mary Madigan and Jeremy Brown will fill in for me here and take care of all your opinionated blather needs. Wouldn’t want to leave ya hanging.
In the meantime, I have to pack and get ready to roll. You’ll hear from me next live from Beirut.
Good Luck! Take lot's of pictures!
Posted by: buffpilot at April 1, 2005 10:14 AMMichael,
Please give it to us straight. Don't dress any of it up.. If some of the democracy advocates are blatantly anti-American, anti-semitic or conspiracy wackos as much of the Arab world is, please give it to us straight.
Thanks.
Mike
Enjoy! Glad you're getting to go!
Posted by: Nathan Hamm at April 1, 2005 10:53 AMMan, Michael, you take more exotic trips halfway around the world than anyone I know. How DO you afford your rock and roll lifestyle?!
Posted by: Grant McEntire at April 1, 2005 12:10 PMWill you please let me know if there are as many hot protesters as I have been led to believe. Stay safe.
-the third Mike
Posted by: Mike at April 1, 2005 12:12 PMGrant,
I very carefully steered my career path in such a way that I get paid to go.
Posted by: Michael J. Totten at April 1, 2005 12:23 PMI never get tired of seeing that picture.
Go safely. :)
Posted by: Achillea at April 1, 2005 12:57 PMDamn. When I got the SOA email from Jim Hake, I suspected this was what you would be doing. But I never made it back to coment. Best of luck, be safe, and have fun. You are doing good work.
Posted by: Bill Roggio at April 1, 2005 12:59 PMI hear they make good food with nuts in it in Lebanon...
Can I go? I don't take up much room.
Your Favorite Squirrel ;-)
Posted by: Ratatosk, Squirrel of Discord at April 1, 2005 01:37 PMTosk,
Fly yourself out there and we'll hang out. Lebanon is cheap right now. They're having a fire sale at the hotels.
Posted by: Michael J. Totten at April 1, 2005 01:51 PMThe chance to contribute to a great historical event is the chance of a lifetime. Yet I suspect you will be getting more of these chances in the future.
Good luck.
Posted by: Peter G at April 1, 2005 01:55 PMI'm jealous. Maybe I should be steering my career path that way. :)
And as the other guys said...tell us the whole story, and especially about the babes.
Good luck -- won't Shelly be going?
Contributions to history are almost certainly appreciated -- and taken mostly for granted.
Posted by: Tom Grey - Liberty Dad at April 1, 2005 04:11 PMPeter, Michael will get to participate in a great historical event and Benjamin will get to sneer at a great historical event. Everyone wins (_)
Oh and sorry for sniping at the Dean post, I was having a bad week...
Your blog security system stopped out twice. I expect it to ask if I let anyone else pack my bags or let my post out of my sight...
Posted by: Joshua Scholar at April 1, 2005 07:07 PMBe careful! I'm sure the Hezbollah & the Syrian spooks wouldn't look favorably on your project & might expand their '80s flashbacks to include kidnappings in addition to car bombs...
Posted by: Cybrludite at April 2, 2005 07:15 AMWow, that's awesome. Have a great time, and say hi to the protester babes.
Posted by: Stephen Silver at April 2, 2005 11:26 AMWishing you much success and fulfillment on this latest trip.
All of us are living in 'interesting times' after decades of inertia,and viewing history,but you actually are,in a small way,making history.
Rock On !!
I am from Beirut and left there when I was 17 in 1967. I am so jealous! I would love to walk down Rue Bliss and have a schwarma sandwich or go to Zahle and eat a mesa in a restaurant that is built over the melted snow rivers. I hope your experience there is positive and safe!
LibraryLady
Notable use of a fish eye lens in the photo there.
16mm? Notice the distortion.
One word:
"hot chicks".
Lots of pictures, Michael, and be safe.
Posted by: john pike at April 4, 2005 04:23 PM
