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

sonar732 · 07-18-06, 08:47 PM

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????

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 · 07-18-06, 09:08 PM

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

bigboywooly · 07-18-06, 09:08 PM

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

sonar732 · 07-18-06, 09:38 PM

Update....

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

Ducimus · 07-18-06, 09:46 PM

*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 · 07-18-06, 10:07 PM

It's what bigboywooly said. It's the draw of the dollar.

Ducimus · 07-18-06, 10:42 PM

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.

STEED · 07-19-06, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigboywooly

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

If they could get away with it they would.

07-19-06, 09:19 AM

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 · 07-19-06, 12:17 PM

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 · 07-19-06, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

Vinay · 07-21-06, 01:19 AM

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

http://online.wsj.com/public/article...f_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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

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 · 07-21-06, 01:56 AM

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.

Vinay · 07-21-06, 05:35 AM

http://www.outlookindia.com/images/p...n_2_060720.jpg

This people are lucky. They don't pay.

07-18-06, 08:47 PM	#1
sonar732 The Old Man Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Central MO Posts: 1,562 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	U.S. Gov charging american citizens for "ferry" out of Beirut???? 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???? 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.

07-18-06, 09:08 PM	#3
bigboywooly Rear Admiral Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Swindon, England Posts: 10,151 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	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 __________________ My mediafire page http://www.mediafire.com/?11eoq19bq9r41

07-21-06, 01:56 AM	#13
P_Funk Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Canada, eh? Posts: 2,537 Downloads: 129 Uploads: 0	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. __________________

07-18-06, 09:08 PM	#2
blue3golf Weps Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Traverse City, MI Posts: 352 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	CNN would say anything to make the current incumbents look bad. Wouldn't watch that channel for anything.

07-18-06, 09:38 PM	#4
sonar732 The Old Man Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Central MO Posts: 1,562 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Update.... After a fury of debates on the Senate floor, the White House has reversed the "standard" policy and are *NOT* charging.

07-18-06, 09:46 PM	#5
Ducimus Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,987 Downloads: 67 Uploads: 2	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.

07-18-06, 10:07 PM	#6
bradclark1 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Connecticut, USA. Posts: 2,794 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	It's what bigboywooly said. It's the draw of the dollar.

07-18-06, 10:42 PM	#7
Ducimus Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,987 Downloads: 67 Uploads: 2	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.

07-19-06, 09:19 AM	#9
Kurushio Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	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

07-19-06, 12:17 PM	#10
Ducimus Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,987 Downloads: 67 Uploads: 2	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.

07-21-06, 05:35 AM	#14
Vinay Torpedoman Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: INDIA Posts: 120 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	http://www.outlookindia.com/images/p...n_2_060720.jpg This people are lucky. They don't pay.