However, if any of those civilian Americans (business execs, students, reporters, family members, tourists, missionaries, whatever) stuck there suddenly could show up on satellite photos as wearing American military uniforms, we'd have had nonstop shuttles in there extracting them in the first 12 hours of this Israeli offensive.
So we the taxpayer have pay for the poor judgment of people who chose to vacation in war zones? And yes, I would expect the US govt. to act far more quickly to protect the lives of soldiers and diplomats, people the govt. placed in harm's way should they be somewhere where hostilities suddenly break out. The govt. didn't ask for people to vacation or to do missionary work in Lebanon. In the end we'll pay to get them out and that's fine. I just don't like the bitching that it's not suitable to their idea of how fast it should happen.
I'm not sure, but I think it may be more complicated than that. I was thinking that way several days ago, but from what I've heard, most of these people are either visiting relatives (and the state department updated its travel warnings lately) or either live there permanently as American citizens. I would have to think that the reason the State Dept has emphasized getting the names of the people needing evacuation is to run checks on them. Personally, I really hope they are doing that! And getting them to sign prommisary notes about payments. At first, I as appalled. But now that I've learned that most people are either living there on America passports or are visiting against the advise of our State Dept, I am GLAD that our government is doing this.
There is a difference in their being civilian. If they were wearing military uniforms, the situation would be entirely different. As time has gone on, it seems to me that we are probably doing this correctly. Time will tell as more is revealed.