Israel frankly does not care about the plight of the foreigners in Lebanon. They're not "preventing" you from leaving because it's not about you. They are doing what they have to do and attacking strategic sites. Every warrior knows that airports, ports, roads and bridges are the primary targets.
Sorry if you feel you are "hostage" in Lebanon but you are not. Don't try to glorify yourself. You were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. You chose to take a job there. That tax free paycheck didn't hurt until now, huh?
I am quite connected to the Middle East expat community and I can guarantee you that it is standard practice to make sure the government knows where we are if we are in hostile territory. Perhaps because you don't live there, you are not aware of how expats do things.
It will probably care later, as folks at the scene who were at worst indifferent about Israel to begin with will loudly become negative and the MSM will spread it all over the world. They'll clean out Hezbollah posthaste now, but have the international pressure put on them to make a zillion hurtful compromises in the future.
This one is going to cost them.
Gee, I just heard the IAF dropping more bombs here in Beirut.
Now, THAT is going to help us muster more support, as we try to evacuate Amercians, Brits, Canadians and French.
The true "me first" is not me.
P.S. where can I find out about "that tax free paycheck?" And if you followed the the thread, you'd know that my mission was registered with the IDF, the U.N. and the U.S. But don't let that get in the way of your rant.
Those days are long, long, gone. No such thing as "tax free". One can try to reclaim VAT, but the IRS has been pretty clear (since 1993 that I am aware of) about earnings. Penalties and interest accrue at an alarming rate when there is no withholding or quarterly estimated payments. I still say we could do away with ICE and CBP (used to be INS) if there were IRS agents at the ports and airports. I would rather spend another 3 days in EU administrative detention than have another audit from the IRS.
Absolutely. In an unstable country, you should register with the Embassy. Even if it wasn't unstable when you entered it - at first sign of unrest, etc. - REGISTER. Been there. Done that. Years ago.