U.S. Gov charging american citizens for "ferry" out of Beirut????

[sonar732]

I just finished watching a video on cnn.com that stated the U.S. Government is charging their own citizens to board the Marine helicopters waiting for them on U.S. Embassy grounds. WTF????:damn::stare::nope:

What a way for our own government to show how much they care.

Guy standing in the door of U.S. Embassy looking at the chopper to freedom and safety. "What do you mean I have to pay the government back? Last time I checked, you were here to protect us, and if that means flying us out of here, so be it."

Mostly everyone here knows that I'm a middle conservative who supports our government, but come on.

[blue3golf]

CNN would say anything to make the current incumbents look bad. Wouldn't watch that channel for anything.

[bigboywooly]

Am not from the US but from England and while I share your sentiments what you have to remember is the large amount of people that are in Lebanon purely for money - and lots of it - tax free too
Always a sticky situation - people flood to danger zones for big bucks then when it kicks off expect everyone else to come running to save them
Its a risk they are putting themselves in

At least your government is on the ball whether they charge or not
I think the British government has supplied a man and a rowboat to get them off:o

[sonar732]

Update....

After a fury of debates on the Senate floor, the White House has reversed the "standard" policy and are NOT charging.

[Ducimus]

*shrug*

Im honestly not suprised that they orginaly charged for it. Goverment does alot of stupid crap. Only thing i dont understand, is why.. why would any US citizen want to go and live in Lebenon or any other country in that part of the world?! When it comes to "bad things that can happen to you", i would think living anywhere near that part of the world is just asking for it.

[bradclark1]

It's what bigboywooly (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/member.php?u=224922) said. It's the draw of the dollar.

[Ducimus]

Thats not saying much. How so? What are they dong that make so much money? And i dont mean dodging taxes either.

Money would have to be pretty damn good to put your head in a place where someone might want to cut it off when you least expect it.

[bigboywooly]

Theres an awfull lot of construction going on over there to rebuild the last lot of trouble
And typically these sort of countries look to the west for the expertise
Hell there are already western companies in Iraq rebuilding
But like Decimus says - if you put yourself in that position you have noone to blame but yourself

[Onkel Neal]

Theres an awfull lot of construction going on over there to rebuild the last lot of trouble
And typically these sort of countries look to the west for the expertise
Hell there are already western companies in Iraq rebuilding
But like Decimus says - if you put yourself in that position you have noone to blame but yourself

No kidding. There are lots of civilized parts of the world I haven't seen yet, I'll skip those places.

[August]

Theres an awfull lot of construction going on over there to rebuild the last lot of trouble
And typically these sort of countries look to the west for the expertise
Hell there are already western companies in Iraq rebuilding
But like Decimus says - if you put yourself in that position you have noone to blame but yourself

Yep. I would make 10 years pay in 6 months working in my field in the ME. Of course 10 years pay doesn't do me any good if I get my head chopped off by some fanatic or get blown up by a stray bomb or missle.

[scandium]

#1 Lebanon was not a war zone until Israel began bombing and ivaded it.

#2 Lebanon is not Iraq or Saudi Arabia. They are a small democratic country (population: 4 million total), and one of the most progressive countries in the region. To talk about it as though it were Saudi Arabia not only does the place a disservice, it makes the poster appear ignorant.

#3 Not only is it a democracy, half of its Parliment is Christian, and English, French, and Armenian are widely spoken there just as Arabic is.

The hypocracy on display here astounds me. Lebanon is precisely the kind of peaceful progressive democracy that the US envisioned Iraq as becoming after the toppling of Saddam Hussein, one of the "dominoes" that once knocked over would cause democracy to spread like wildfire through the ME (the Republican domino democracy theory).

Unfortunately a group of militants formed to fight the IDF during the Israeli occupation of Lebanon commits the tragic stupidity of firing rockets at an Israeli town and kidnapping a pair of Israeli soldiers, and even though this was done without the knowledge, approval, sanction, or plan of the democratic Lebanesegovernment, Isreal - a US client state - decides to undo all of this progress and reduce the country to the same kind of stone age that so much of the rest ME is, and the attitude is "what a hell hole, and people who live there ask for it anyway". :damn:

[joea]

Don't forget, I don't know about the United States, but there are loads of immigrants in Canada who have family and visit often. 21,000 registered alone, weren't there lots of Lebanese Christians who went to the USA too??

[scandium]

Don't forget, I don't know about the United States, but there are loads of immigrants in Canada who have family and visit often. 21,000 registered alone, weren't there lots of Lebanese Christians who went to the USA too??
Indeed. Our Foreign minister puts the number of Canadians in Lebanon at somewhere between 16,000 - 40,000. And at least 8 Canadians have been killed so far by the IDF, and 6 more critically injured. 5 of them were killed when an Israeli aircraft destroyed a house in Southern Lebanon.

Meanwhie:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/israel-hits-lebanon-from-air-and-by-land/2006/07/19/1153166441755.html

Israel pounded Lebanon from the air and launched limited land attacks across the border today as thousands awaited evacuation. The death toll mounted as the conflict entered its second week with no end in sight.

The Israeli army said its ground troops crossed into southern Lebanon to hit Hezbollah guerilla outposts in "restricted" attacks while Israeli jets pounded the group's Beirut stronghold and the Shweifat area outside the capital.

At least 10 villagers were killed in an Israeli air strike that destroyed several houses in the southern village of Srifa.

At least 17 other people were killed in overnight air strikes on other parts of south and east Lebanon, security sources said.

A big explosion also shook Beirut's southern suburbs not far from its airport during on air raid. Widespread damage was reported.

The conflict has forced around 100,000 Lebanese to flee their homes and many foreigners to flee the country.

One has to wonder where this 100,000 Lebanese nationals are fleeing to and what they're going to do when they get there...

[basilio]

The hypocracy on display here astounds me.

I totally agree.
I usually visit the SH3's section forum, and was absolutely shocked to read on this board how many people think that this war is "justified".
While I FULLY respect everybody's opinion, I can't stop worring about all the civilians that were/are being killed everyday.

[STEED]

I think the British government has supplied a man and a rowboat to get them off:o

If they could get away with it they would.;)

[Kurushio]

Charge them by the minute...why not? Chopper fuel doesn;t come cheap...humans come quite cheaply. Better still, give 'em a choice. A helicopter ride for $1000 or an M16 for $16.99 (special discount).

Make the lazy bastards fight it out

[Ducimus]

I love how this thread was orginally addressing the issue of the US goverment charging its own citizens for evacutation, and why there where there to begin with; and then Scandium injects his totally unrelated personal lebense agenda.

[scandium]

I love how this thread was orginally addressing the issue of the US goverment charging its own citizens for evacutation, and why there where there to begin with; and then Scandium injects his totally unrelated personal lebense agenda.

I love it when people who lecture me on my posting habits can't even do it in a coherent sentence.

[Iceman]

Arizona has the "Dumb Motorist Law"...why not ...why enter into a flooded wash when storm watters are rising and jeporadize your family and vehicle/property...heck ya charge em...same thing here...This thing did not happen over night and anyone with eyes can see the signs and get out before trouble hit full out...but for greed or sniveling over losing a job or house or whatever they tarryed...then if a bomb from Israel happens to land in there lap they can't cry spilled milk.

Same thing me and my wife said about Katrina here...the people had "Days" to prepare and heed the warnings about that storm....I would have taken my kids and "Hitchhiked" out of that area and stayed inland in a field in a tent rather than stay....I grant you the elderly/alone should be the only exempt from this and get a front seat on the choppers leaving the storm/or war but the rest should have "Beat Feet"...

[Ducimus]

I love how this thread was orginally addressing the issue of the US goverment charging its own citizens for evacutation, and why there where there to begin with; and then Scandium injects his totally unrelated personal lebense agenda.

I love it when people who lecture me on my posting habits can't even do it in a coherent sentence.

My my aren't we touchy. Spelling mistakes or not, you understood what I said. Infact i think my point was made because the only rebuttle you could come back with, was a scathing reply attacking my grammer. I find that highly amusing, thanks :up: !

[scandium]

I love how this thread was orginally addressing the issue of the US goverment charging its own citizens for evacutation, and why there where there to begin with; and then Scandium injects his totally unrelated personal lebense agenda.

I love it when people who lecture me on my posting habits can't even do it in a coherent sentence.
My my aren't we touchy. Spelling mistakes or not, you understood what I said. Infact i think my point was made because the only rebuttle you could come back with, was a scathing reply attacking my grammer. I find that highly amusing, thanks :up: !

Your welcome. :D

[scandium]

Arizona has the "Dumb Motorist Law"...why not ...why enter into a flooded wash when storm watters are rising and jeporadize your family and vehicle/property...heck ya charge em...same thing here...This thing did not happen over night and anyone with eyes can see the signs and get out before trouble hit full out...but for greed or sniveling over losing a job or house or whatever they tarryed...then if a bomb from Israel happens to land in there lap they can't cry spilled milk.
If this is true then Israel deliberately allowed Hezbollah to stock up on rockets that it knew would be used against it, and had to have seen the kidnappings coming - after all, if some dumb American tourist could see it coming then how could Israel which is right next door, and only just withdrew after a 22 year occupation, and has one of the most active intelligence services in the world, NOT see it coming? :hmm: Nah, following your line of reasoning just leads to places that I don't wish to go.

You have the Christian right to believe that everything that happens to someone is their own damn fault, and if they're blown apart by a bomb dropping in their laps because the IDF assault, which blew up the roads, bridges, and international airport, began in full force the same day as the kidnappings then that is your right to believe that. After all, if they really wanted out instead of snivelling over their house while waiting a week for a ship to arrive through the IDF Naval blockade, well they could have simply walked across the desert and into neighbouring Israel or Syria? I mean really, people are such snivelling cry babies. Or better still, you could take your chances and just try driving across the border, as these folks did:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200607/s1688899.htm


Twelve Lebanese civilians have been killed when an Israeli missile hit their minibus, police said, bringing the civilian toll from six days of Israeli bombardment to at least 182 dead.

The vehicle, transporting two families, came under attack in the seaside town of Rmeileh, south of Beirut, as it was racing north to the capital to flee raids in the area.

Those killed included two women and three children.

The Lebanese death toll from the Israeli bombardment launched last Wednesday following the capture of two soldiers by Hezbollah militants now totals 182 civilians and 12 soldiers.

On the Israeli side, 12 civilians and 12 soldiers have been killed in the violence on either side of the frontier.

[August]

Do you notice these casualty estimates never include Hezbollah losses?

[scandium]

Do you notice these casualty estimates never include Hezbollah losses?

Yeah I've noticed it. No, I don't know what to make of it though. I'm open to any interpretations or numbers that anyone can dig up though.

[John Channing]

I love how this thread was orginally addressing the issue of the US goverment charging its own citizens for evacutation, and why there where there to begin with; and then Scandium injects his totally unrelated personal lebense agenda.

I love it when people who lecture me on my posting habits can't even do it in a coherent sentence.
My my aren't we touchy. Spelling mistakes or not, you understood what I said. Infact i think my point was made because the only rebuttle you could come back with, was a scathing reply attacking my grammer. I find that highly amusing, thanks :up: !

Your welcome. :D

As long as we are on the subject of the incorrect use of language, I think you mean "you're welcome".

Now both of you knock off the personal attacks.

We have had one banning already. Lets keep it at one>

Thanks

JCC

[scandium]

I love how this thread was orginally addressing the issue of the US goverment charging its own citizens for evacutation, and why there where there to begin with; and then Scandium injects his totally unrelated personal lebense agenda.

I love it when people who lecture me on my posting habits can't even do it in a coherent sentence.
My my aren't we touchy. Spelling mistakes or not, you understood what I said. Infact i think my point was made because the only rebuttle you could come back with, was a scathing reply attacking my grammer. I find that highly amusing, thanks :up: !
Your welcome. :D
As long as we are on the subject of the incorrect use of language, I think you mean "you're welcome".

Now both of you knock off the personal attacks.

We have had one banning already. Lets keep it at one>

Thanks

JCC

Fair enough. My apologies Ducimus, for my scathing attack on your grammar. In reality, as you can see above, you need not look far to see me make the same mistakes - so who am I to criticize? I blame my own declining language skills on the internet. :arrgh!:

[tycho102]

Tycho's 5-minute guide to International Travel for American Dummies.

1.
Don't go to Columbia.
Don't go to Indonesia.
Don't go to Pakistan.
Don't go to Afghanistan.
Don't go to Iran.
Don't go to Somalia.
Don't go to Spain, France, Russia, Turkey, Cypress-Turkey (the north side), Italy, Morocco, Nigeria, Algeria, Chad, Liberia, Thailand, China, North Korea, East Timor, Venezuela, Paraguay, Bolivia, Equador, Argentina, Mexico, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, or Lebanon.

If you do, you're on your own because you're an idiot. You're beyond being just a dummie. Americans are tired of subsidizing idiots (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/01/katrina.fema.brown/). If you are not prepared to be on your own, don't go to these countries.


2.
Think carefully before going to Puerto Rico.
Think carefully before going to the Virgin Islands.
Think carefully before going to Britian.
Think carefully before going to the Phillipines.
Think carefully before going to South Korea, Japan, Israel, Brazil, Chile, or Peru.


3.
Christ. Think carefully before you go to Hawaii, these days. Sheesh!


4.
Australia is still mostly friendly with the Yanks -- please don't be an ass if you go down there.
Denmark and Poland are fairly safe, if they'll even have you.

[scandium]

Tycho's 5-minute guide to International Travel for American Dummies.

1.
Don't go to Columbia.
Don't go to Indonesia.
Don't go to Pakistan.
Don't go to Afghanistan.
Don't go to Iran.
Don't go to Somalia.
Don't go to Spain, France, Russia, Turkey, Cypress-Turkey (the north side), Italy, Morocco, Nigeria, Algeria, Chad, Liberia, Thailand, China, North Korea, East Timor, Venezuela, Paraguay, Bolivia, Equador, Argentina, Mexico, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, or Lebanon.

If you do, you're on your own because you're an idiot. You're beyond being just a dummie. Americans are tired of subsidizing idiots (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/01/katrina.fema.brown/). If you are not prepared to be on your own, don't go to these countries.


2.
Think carefully before going to Puerto Rico.
Think carefully before going to the Virgin Islands.
Think carefully before going to Britian.
Think carefully before going to the Phillipines.
Think carefully before going to South Korea, Japan, Israel, Brazil, Chile, or Peru.


3.
Christ. Think carefully before you go to Hawaii, these days. Sheesh!


4.
Australia is still mostly friendly with the Yanks -- please don't be an ass if you go down there.
Denmark and Poland are fairly safe, if they'll even have you.

Canada's 5 second travel guide for Tycho:

Be afraid of your own shadow, everyone is out to kill you, best to stay home within the nice safe US of A (but stay out of NYC). :roll:

[August]

I just found out that i am forever banned from donating blood because i once lived in Europe for three consequtive months after Jan 1980. Never mind i've donated almost 3 gallons of blood in the years since then and yesterday, never mind i'm blood type O-neg which means i'm a universal donor.

Why, you ask? Because the CDC now considers me a potential risk for having contracted mad cow disease 26 years ago.

[Iceman]

Tycho's 5-minute guide to International Travel for American Dummies.

1.
Don't go to Columbia.
Don't go to Indonesia.
Don't go to Pakistan.
Don't go to Afghanistan.
Don't go to Iran.
Don't go to Somalia.
Don't go to Spain, France, Russia, Turkey, Cypress-Turkey (the north side), Italy, Morocco, Nigeria, Algeria, Chad, Liberia, Thailand, China, North Korea, East Timor, Venezuela, Paraguay, Bolivia, Equador, Argentina, Mexico, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, or Lebanon.

If you do, you're on your own because you're an idiot. You're beyond being just a dummie. Americans are tired of subsidizing idiots (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/01/katrina.fema.brown/). If you are not prepared to be on your own, don't go to these countries.


2.
Think carefully before going to Puerto Rico.
Think carefully before going to the Virgin Islands.
Think carefully before going to Britian.
Think carefully before going to the Phillipines.
Think carefully before going to South Korea, Japan, Israel, Brazil, Chile, or Peru.


3.
Christ. Think carefully before you go to Hawaii, these days. Sheesh!


4.
Australia is still mostly friendly with the Yanks -- please don't be an ass if you go down there.
Denmark and Poland are fairly safe, if they'll even have you.

Bravo Bravo!!!!!! :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Hey Scandium relax....this is and was the point....Don't piss in the fan and tell us it's rain.

Anyone can do whatever they want with consequences.I teach this to my son and to have to be telling you is like I have another child.I don't and will never live in a cave like Saddam and Osama but hey...to each his own.I won't live in California either cause I don't like having to worry about a freeway overpass squashing me...but I have visited.Do what ya like buddy, but to try to come off like the people living in Lebanon don't have a clue ,then maybe they are better off having a bomb in there lap some would say.Natures natural selection for you evolutionists. :) Have a great day!

[Vinay]

It's a very bad thing that the U.S is charging its citizens during such difficult times.

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB115306760246608000-aC9JLHSn5Kn6cCdR4X1jlOAoFgQ_20060820.html?mod=tff_ main_tff_top
6:25 p.m.: The storm over evacuation charges continued. U.S. House Democratic Leader Pelosi said that Americans shouldn't have to pay to be evacuated from Lebanon. To get on board ships headed for Cyprus, Americans must sign a note pledging to reimburse the U.S. government. They will be charged the price of a flight from Beirut to Cyprus - usually about $150 or $200, although officials refused to specify. The White House defended the charges. White House spokesman Tony Snow said the government had to charge evacuees because of a 2003 law. "I dare say that it's something that is causing heartburn for a number of people, but it's the law," he said. Beirut embassy note. (http://beirut.usembassy.gov/lebanon/Lebanon_Situation_Update.html)


Am not from the US but from England and while I share your sentiments what you have to remember is the large amount of people that are in Lebanon purely for money - and lots of it - tax free too
Always a sticky situation - people flood to danger zones for big bucks then when it kicks off expect everyone else to come running to save them
Its a risk they are putting themselves in

At least your government is on the ball whether they charge or not
I think the British government has supplied a man and a rowboat to get them off:o

People may be rich or poor the government is not supposed to charge people under such difficult conditions. It is the responsiblity of the goverment to evacuate them. The government is not providing any Cruise.

There are a lot of poor people also who may be mechanics, labourers etc.

[P_Funk]

Know why there are so many people in Lebanon making money off of construction? Because every 20 years Israel blasts thier infrastructure back to WW2! It's kinda like halliburton in Iraq. War benefits business. Reconstruction is expensive and whenever you spend a dime someone else makes a million.

[joea]

Tycho's 5-minute guide to International Travel for American Dummies.

1.
Don't go to Columbia.
Don't go to Indonesia.
Don't go to Pakistan.
Don't go to Afghanistan.
Don't go to Iran.
Don't go to Somalia.
Don't go to Spain, France, Russia, Turkey, Cypress-Turkey (the north side), Italy, Morocco, Nigeria, Algeria, Chad, Liberia, Thailand, China, North Korea, East Timor, Venezuela, Paraguay, Bolivia, Equador, Argentina, Mexico, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, or Lebanon.

If you do, you're on your own because you're an idiot. You're beyond being just a dummie. Americans are tired of subsidizing idiots (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/01/katrina.fema.brown/). If you are not prepared to be on your own, don't go to these countries.


2.
Think carefully before going to Puerto Rico.
Think carefully before going to the Virgin Islands.
Think carefully before going to Britian.
Think carefully before going to the Phillipines.
Think carefully before going to South Korea, Japan, Israel, Brazil, Chile, or Peru.


3.
Christ. Think carefully before you go to Hawaii, these days. Sheesh!


4.
Australia is still mostly friendly with the Yanks -- please don't be an ass if you go down there.
Denmark and Poland are fairly safe, if they'll even have you.

Bravo Bravo!!!!!! :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Hey Scandium relax....this is and was the point....Don't piss in the fan and tell us it's rain.

Anyone can do whatever they want with consequences.I teach this to my son and to have to be telling you is like I have another child.I don't and will never live in a cave like Saddam and Osama but hey...to each his own.I won't live in California either cause I don't like having to worry about a freeway overpass squashing me...but I have visited.Do what ya like buddy, but to try to come off like the people living in Lebanon don't have a clue ,then maybe they are better off having a bomb in there lap some would say.Natures natural selection for you evolutionists. :) Have a great day!

Honestly some of you don't get it!!! I said it on the other thread, a lot of peopel are visiting family in Lebanon???? How is that being a greedy irresponsible twat??? :nope: Maybe they should forget about their family and friends...

Plus Tychos list is a bit dumb, most Euro countries are ok, or do you really think Americans are risking anything other than bad service in Paris?? (Which everyone gets):know:

[Vinay]

http://www.outlookindia.com/images/photoessays/ins_mumbai_indian_lebonan_evacuation_2_060720.jpgh ttp://www.outlookindia.com/images/photoessays/ins_mumbai_indian_lebonan_evacuation_2_060720.jpgh ttp://www.outlookindia.com/images/photoessays/ins_mumbai_indian_lebonan_evacuation_2_060720.jpg

This people are lucky. They don't pay.