This has got to be a new low...

http://www.forbes.com/business/servi...ap2887271.html

The State Department said Monday that it will ask Americans to pay for rides out of Lebanon that include chartered vessels.

"What we have to do in a situation like this is, we have to go out on an emergency basis and rent vessels," Burns said. "That's what we're trying to do ... We do that on behalf of American citizens. We're not quite sure how many of these Americans will come out."

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi objected to billing evacuees.
"A nation that can provide more than $300 billion for a war in Iraq can provide the money to get its people out of Lebanon," Pelosi said in a statement.

Making US citizens pay back the costs to be evacuated? Whose inane idea was this? You'll notice they didnt even bother to mention the actual cost of the evacuation. Somebody explain this to me, we spend millions if not Billions in corporate bailouts, but we refuse to cover the cost of renting a boat to get our people out of a warzone. The French and Italians didnt charge their citizens anything. Anybody?

I'm sorry we're not a maternalistic socialist state that coddles people and helps bail them out when they are in deep doo doo for a decision THEY made. No one made them go to Lebanon. Time for these people to quit their friggin belly aching and take responsibility for their choices or bail out and move to some place that will rub your head and tell you everything will be ok when they up, like France.

Proving the point that again it is the god-almighty dollar that rules the U. S. government.

Man, why did I ever leave Canada .

But seriously, did we forget to put a contingency plan into use or something? Because (and anybody feel free correct me if I'm wrong) I had read that when US civilians were in a danger zone, the Marines would airlift them to a US warship offshore and then get them to a safer place. Boy, nothing like dropping the ball.

If our government was so worried about money, why did they offer to help evacuate in the first place?

Originally Posted by bulldogg

I'm sorry we're not a maternalistic socialist state that coddles people and helps bail them out when they are in deep doo doo for a decision THEY made. No one made them go to Lebanon. Time for these people to quit their friggin belly aching and take responsibility for their choices or bail out and move to some place that will rub your head and tell you everything will be ok when they up, like France.

So what you are saying is people should never leave the USA? May I ask why you are living in China? . There were 3 major revolts in China in the last century alone, I think you'd be mighty glad if Uncle Sam came to pick you up if you got stuck there during another revolt. The truth is you never know what sh** storm you can wake yourself into. I never imagined the violent riots in Paris until they happened last November and again in April. Heck you dont even need to leave home to have some BS happen to you, look at 9-11, Katrina, and the great Chicago Fire. Not everything is predictable. This war came out of nowhere, the people didnt even have 24 hours to get out. They were advised to leave after the airport was bombed and all the routes out were cut off.

I agree with TomTom. Anyone know the Lyrics to 'Taxman' by the Beatles?

People can leave the USA, but dont expect the gov't to pick up your slack. If you want to leave, then leave, but dont come crying back to the mother country just cause yours got bombed and expect free passage with benefits.

Originally Posted by C/1Lt Henderson

People can leave the USA, but dont expect the gov't to pick up your slack. If you want to leave, then leave, but dont come crying back to the mother country just cause yours got bombed and expect free passage with benefits.

Thats never been the policy of the US. The government has always gone to the aid of its citizens abroad or at home. Its even invaded countries to protect its citizens abroad. A country is in a pretty sad state of affairs if its policy is 'we dont give a damn about our citizenry'. If thats the case now, why the heck am I paying taxes if my government doesnt care about my well being? Living in another country doesnt make you less of a citizen. There is no such thing as a 2nd class US citizen. Your the same US citizen if you live in Honduras, Paris, or Atlanta.

Just you wait, they get away doing this, how long do you think it will take before they decide not to fund rescue efforts WITHIN the USA.

I think this is both good and bad.

The US State Department told these folks before going over there that it's not a good idea. It told these folks that by going over there, they are risking their lives and the lives of other Americans that would rescue them if the SHTF.

This was all before thhey left the USA. Should the government (aka me because I pay taxes) have to pay the bill for peoples' stupidity? Nope, sorry. You went to Lebanon on your own accord. You knew the risk and said to hell with it anyways.

It doesn't mean that the government isn't going to rescue your dumb ass, but you got to pay the bill.

Lebanon isn't like Grenada. There wasn't a islamic revoluntionary coup in a day and make Lebanon the rats nest that it is today.

Grenada was all normal one day and had Cuban Military forces and other communists on the island the next day. Lebanon isn't like that. Sorry, life sucks. But If you play with fire you're going to get burned.

Lebanon has been the hell whole rats nest that's its been for the last twenty years. Hell, they just ended a 18 year civil war. That's gotta tell you something.

Once again, it says one thing that I tell folks everyday.

YOU GOTTA COVER YOUR OWN ASS.

Same with Hurricane Katrina, you didn't store food and water before the storm. Tough ****, it's not my job to make sure you prepare for the SHTF.

Please Nancy Pelosi lives in the uber ultra liberal part of American society. they believe that they should have armed body guards and carry concealed firearms on their person but the normal joe blow every day worker on the street shouldn't be allowed to own firearms for personal protection and should really on Law Enforcement for protect and help.

Hurricane Katrina said one important thing. Folks will help you int time. But not fast enough. Cover your own ass, make sure you got what yopu need. And if you don't do anything, don't bitch afterwords. You have no right too.

Samething with the folks in Lebanon. They knew Hezzbola was a major power there, they knew that Hezzbola targets and attacks Israeli people. They knew that Syria and Iran are trying to stirr the fire in the middle east but they still went for their own reasons. Sorry, but I'm not paying for your idiot actions.

Originally Posted by mmarsh

So what you are saying is people should never leave the USA? May I ask why you are living in China? . There were 3 major revolts in China in the last century alone, I think you'd be mighty glad if Uncle Sam came to pick you up if you got stuck there during another revolt. The truth is you never know what sh** storm you can wake yourself into. I never imagined the violent riots in Paris until they happened last November and again in April. Heck you dont even need to leave home to have some BS happen to you, look at 9-11, Katrina, and the great Chicago Fire. Not everything is predictable. This war came out of nowhere, the people didnt even have 24 hours to get out. They were advised to leave after the airport was bombed and all the routes out were cut off.

I agree with TomTom. Anyone know the Lyrics to 'Taxman' by the Beatles?

I am living here because I am making sick money but should the merde hit the fan I will not expect the US government to bail me out because I chose to come here of my own free will. I take responsibility for my family's safety I don't leave it to anyone else. I chose the cities I live/lived in for their "escapability". At this very moment I have six contingency plans for getting out of Mainland China should the circumstances call for it and none of them count on Uncle Sugar coming to bundle me up, change my diaper and sing me a lullaby about how life is fair as I am whisked home on Air Force One.

Were these hostilities in Lebanon the result of American action and not the Israelis I would expect the US to evacuate them non gratis. Or if those people were SENT there I would expect them to be evacuated for free as well. But this isn't the case Uncle Sam is not your mommy and daddy. They don't exist to come save you each time you of your own free will step on your . But then with this sense of entitlement people have where they are owed everything and always a bloody victim I am not surprised by this whinging, disappointed again, but not surprised.