US Gov. to citizens: pay us for evacuating you from Beirut

[arctangent]

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13903377/

A U.S. Embassy statement instructed American citizens to be ready to leave and said further instructions would be publicized by local media and on the embassy’s Web site. The embassy said each person would be allowed to carry one bag weighing no more than 30 pounds.

"As of now, the talk of sleeping on streets and not being able to put laptops in the one bag we do take with us are unconfirmed rumors that we are desperately hoping are untrue," Nucho said. "However, we do know for a fact that the French have just left and they were allowed to take entire suitcases, whereas we will only be able to take a tote bag."

Nucho added that all evacuees have signed promissory notes pledging to pay the U.S. back for safe passage to Cyprus, plus interest. Once in Cyprus, she said the government would not pay for hotel fees nor a return flight to the U.S.

In statements e-mailed to Americans in Lebanon and posted on the embassy's Web site, the State Department has stressed "that the U.S. government does not provide no-cost transportation but does have the authority to provide repatriation loans to those in financial need. For the portion of your trip directly handled by the U.S. Government we will ask you to sign a promissory note and we will bill you at a later date."

The department added that "we will also work with commercial aircraft to ensure that they have adequate flights to help you depart Cyprus and connect to your final destination."

NBC News reported that it is standard procedure for the State Department to charge citizens fees for evacuations.

Cheap-ass mother-fuckers.

Even Thailand pays to evacuate it's citizens (http://www.manager.co.th/IHT/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9490000091751).

[Qenan]

Gotta pay for the war in Iraq somehow...

[deccan]

When the Malaysian Air Force sent us a plane to evacuate people from the Solomon Islands in 2000, they made us sign promissory notes as well, but never billed them later. Personally, I think that not charging would create all sorts of problems that people could exploit.

[extarbags]

What the fuck?

[Ed Solomon]

When the Malaysian Air Force sent us a plane to evacuate people from the Solomon Islands in 2000, they made us sign promissory notes as well, but never billed them later. Personally, I think that not charging would create all sorts of problems that people could exploit.
Like people flying to warzones so they can vacation without paying for return airfare?

[Enidigm]

Like people flying to warzones so they can vacation without paying for return airfare?

You need to link this idea in a Hot Deals Forum!

A+++ GET FREE AIRFARE TO EXOTIC VACATION SPOTS NO HASSLE GUARANTEED!! (see inside)

[deccan]

Like people flying to warzones so they can vacation without paying for return airfare?

Or expat workers and businesspeople who know what they are doing and will be heading right back a week later.

Listen, I know that there are real innocents caught up in this, and I agree that they deserve help and that charging for it is secondary to making sure they're safe, but I also know from personal experience that there are people who make a conscious and voluntary decision to live dangerously and make a fortune from doing it, and expecting their respective governments to send them a get-out-of-jail free card each and every time they run into something just rankles with me.

[Woolen Horde]

Or expat workers and businesspeople who know what they are doing and will be heading right back a week later.

Listen, I know that there are real innocents caught up in this, and I agree that they deserve help and that charging for it is secondary to making sure they're safe, but I also know from personal experience that there are people who make a conscious and voluntary decision to live dangerously and make a fortune from doing it, and expecting their respective governments to send them a get-out-of-jail free card each and every time they run into something just rankles with me.

Oh, come on. Until 6 days ago, Beirut was perfectly safe (at least, as safe as any other city in the Middle East, outside of anything in Iraq). It wasn't on a State Department travel list. Everyone who was there didn't go there to "live dangerously and make a fortune from doing it."

[deccan]

Then I could be wrong, but I didn't perceive Beirut as being perfectly safe until 6 days ago. Of course, that could have been because I watched Syriana last week.

Edit: added Syriana quotes:

Am I going to be safe there?

(Long pause)

Clear it with Hezbullah.

[Ed Solomon]

Or expat workers and businesspeople who know what they are doing and will be heading right back a week later.

Listen, I know that there are real innocents caught up in this, and I agree that they deserve help and that charging for it is secondary to making sure they're safe, but I also know from personal experience that there are people who make a conscious and voluntary decision to live dangerously and make a fortune from doing it, and expecting their respective governments to send them a get-out-of-jail free card each and every time they run into something just rankles with me.
I don't think southern Lebanon falls in this category, but generally you make a valid point.

[Jason McCullough]

I wasn't aware Beirut was a warzone as of, oh, last week.

Is there a single other country that does this?

[Anders Hallin]

The Swedish media is so ready to pounce on the Swedish version of the State Department that they wouldn't dare pull anything like that, after the tsunami.

[Midnight Son]

I bet Halliburton will get the dough!

[Lizard_King]

It's a damned good idea, though. I hope they start applying this principle more broadly and start charging members of the military airfare to Iraq.

[forgeforsaken]

Then I could be wrong, but I didn't perceive Beirut as being perfectly safe until 6 days ago. Of course, that could have been because I watched Syriana last week.

Edit: added Syriana quotes:

Am I going to be safe there?

(Long pause)

Clear it with Hezbullah.

You do realize he was portraying a CIA agent who had had a run in with folks there in the past right?

[Midnight Son]

It's a damned good idea, though. I hope they start applying this principle more broadly and start charging members of the military airfare to Iraq.

They still owe me frequent flyer miles from '91!

[Incendiary Lemon]

It's a damned good idea, though. I hope they start applying this principle more broadly and start charging members of the military airfare to Iraq.

"I'm sorry sir, but we won't send you to Iraq unless you agree to pay the fuel charge."

[olaf]

It does seem kind of fucked up on the surface, but its a law they are following. Or that is what I heard on the radio, something passed in 2003.

But, thinking more about it, its not that surprising. Why shouldnt (or, more accurately why wouldnt they?) they bill for this? Most other unexpected shit like this has a cost. Ambulance rides are not free (or cheap, especially if they are using a chopper), you get billed for them. If you get stuck on a mountain skiing or mountain climbing and they have to come get you in a helicopter, I bet they bill you.

Also I cant imagine anyone from the US planning a trip to the Middle East now, a week ago or 20 years ago and not considering their personal safety to be at risk. You have to know there is some risk involved there...come on.

olaf

[Guido Jones]

If you get stuck on a mountain skiing or mountain climbing and they have to come get you in a helicopter, I bet they bill you.

Most places I'm aware of do.

[Dirt]

And yet, Louisiana is spending the money to evacuate dogs and cats.

[Jason McCullough]

But, thinking more about it, its not that surprising. Why shouldnt (or, more accurately why wouldnt they?) they bill for this?

It's wrong for the state to discriminate by income for the most basic service it provides - protecting your ass from foreigners.

[Incendiary Lemon]

But, thinking more about it, its not that surprising. Why shouldnt (or, more accurately why wouldnt they?) they bill for this? Most other unexpected shit like this has a cost. Ambulance rides are not free (or cheap, especially if they are using a chopper), you get billed for them. If you get stuck on a mountain skiing or mountain climbing and they have to come get you in a helicopter, I bet they bill you.

The Conflict was not forseeable. Its not an issue of someone pleasure boating in a Hurricane (where it becomes your responsibility.) The Embassy is the only way out at this point with the airport bombed, the roads blown, and the port blockaded. Charging for extraction demands that every Citizen put a price on their safety when it is the essential function of Goverment to provide it regardless of means and ability.

[Nick Walter]

It's wrong for the state to discriminate by income for the most basic service it provides - protecting your ass from foreigners.

Sure, domestically the government has a duty to protect lands and people. But overseas?

[extarbags]

Yes..

[Matthew Gallant]

Sure, domestically the government has a duty to protect lands and people. But overseas?
YES, OVERSEAS.

Damn you is stupid.

[Nick Walter]

YES, OVERSEAS.

Damn you is stupid.

So the government should send the army into foreign warzones if any American life or property is endangered?

[Mehrunes]

This would be a great place to put that "head explodes" gif, if only I knew where to find it.

[Not One Of Us]

http://www.esplatter.com/images/am/explode.gif

[Jason McCullough]

So the government should send the army into foreign warzones if any American life or property is endangered?

Actually, yes, though there's different levels of involvement/escape/fighting the war for you. Invading Grenada was the silliest use of this, but there you go.

[Lum]

A week ago, Beirut was one of the safest places in the Middle East for Americans to visit. I can easily, easily see people being trapped there suddenly, and I'd kind of expect Marine choppers showing up and picking me up as just, you know, something our government DOES. And as for paying for it, they can put it on my tab. You know, the one I've paid every April 15 for almost MY ENTIRE LIFE. If the state department thinks Israel started bombing Lebanon to the neolithic age just to get me a free trip to Cyprus, well, they can eat the frequent flier miles.

[Woolen Horde]

Good news! Free evacuations for everyone (American)!

[Mark Crump]

Didn't I read that a lot of the Americans over there are dual citizens?

[Uncle Larry]

Good news! Free evacuations for everyone (American)!

link. (http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/18/lebanon.evacuation/index.html)

[Kareem]

Also I cant imagine anyone from the US planning a trip to the Middle East now, a week ago or 20 years ago and not considering their personal safety to be at risk. You have to know there is some risk involved there...come on.

Not more so than tourist destinations around the world. Aside from Iraq and possibly Saudi Arabia, as well as that whole circle of violence region (Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Israel) the area is quite safe. I've lived in Dubai, UAE for 18 years and haven't really perceived any real threat. Well except for reckless driving issues.

We too keep our doors unlocked.

[ExecutionerFive]

According to news reports this morning the people evacuating were made to sign promissory notes.

[Midnight Son]

According to news reports this morning the people evacuating were made to sign promissory notes.

Hey, can't we privatize everything?

[metta]

Edit: added Syriana quotes:

Am I going to be safe there?

(Long pause)

Clear it with Hezbullah.


My favourite Syriana quote:

A country that has 5% of the worlds population and 50% of the military spending is one whose powers of persuasion are clearly on the decline.