U.S. Plans to Evacuate 1,000 From Lebanon [pay your own way plan]

Forbes ^

[ChessMan]

The State Department said Monday that it will ask Americans to pay for rides out of Lebanon that include chartered vessels.

"What we have to do in a situation like this is, we have to go out on an emergency basis and rent vessels," Burns said. "That's what we're trying to do ... We do that on behalf of American citizens. We're not quite sure how many of these Americans will come out."

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi objected to billing evacuees.

"A nation that can provide more than $300 billion for a war in Iraq can provide the money to get its people out of Lebanon," Pelosi said in a statement.

[napscoordinator]

I actually agreed with Pelosi on this, until I read further and found out she voted for a bill that said if you get evacuated you will pay. Gosh, how gullible am I even to agree with her on anything...damn stupid me.

[Drew68]

Lebanon might have been the "low rent" Las Vegas, but Dubai holds that moniker, and rightly so, I believe.

They certainly do now! Dubai flourished while Lebanon fell victim to civil war, Hezbollah and Syria.

Been to Dubai several times. Loved the place!

[mware]

I think you are correct I believe it began in 1953, but that was a blurb from the Grapevine. I did not want to change the way it was written.

[kabar]

Understood. I know I am correct because I personally handed out and collected the repayment agreements from amcits in Tehran and Saudi Arabia.

[HitmanLV]

I agree. As far as the dem strategy goes, they are just playing the role of chronic, perpetual critic. If help comes in 4 days, why didn't it come in 3 or 2 days?

They also argue inconsistent positions - one one hand, bash the admin for not connecting the dots prior to 9/11, and on the other hand, criticize attempts to collect and connect the dots as violations of civil rights.

Lost in all this is any idea of exactly what they would do. In that event, arguing for inconsistent positions doesn't work.

Dr Dean flipped out recently (again) saying that this Israel-Lebanon situation wouldn't even be happening if the dems were in charge. Increasingly it's clear that this guy is a bona fide nutjob.

As for the stranded, angry Americans who want out of Lebanon (and fast), they clearly have poor judgment when it comes to places to visit. They know the dangers, and they know the risks. I have no doubt the USA will get its citizens out of Lebanon (the ones that want to leave), but the perpetual whiners will just continue to do what they do best: complain and not even seem to appreciate that they have some responsibility for being in the situation that they are in.

[hoosierham]

People who CHOOSE to go anywhere should live with the known and foreseeable consequences,whether it is living in a city below sea level,on the side of an active volcano or going to areas known for a high level of violence. Don't demand I pay for your mistakes.

[HitmanLV]

I dunno about that - they are American citizens and are in danger. I have no problem at all with our state department and government getting them to safety.

My problem is with the folks who will find fault no matter what - if they get evacuated in 4 days, they complain. 3 days, complain. We should do what we can do, and avoid saying stuff like 'do everything possible' since that's a crazy high standard that can't be practical always.

Rescuing the American citizens on the public dime is fine by me. They should just show some poise and maturity. If I was there, I'd be anxious to get out, too. But I wouldn't be whining about it for every journalist with a video camera and a dream.

[hoosierham]

Well that is why some Americans go places better left alone:the feeling that just because they are Americans no one would dare harm a hair on their empty heads.

I pity the child of stupid parents.

Ignorance is curable by learning;stupidity is often fatal.

[HitmanLV]

You never know. Some folks could be over there for work, and were too cowardly to say no to their bosses. In a culture where very few seems to have the stones to say no to a boss about anything, that wouldn't be so surprising.

Some businessfolks or vacationers could have been getting a connecting flight and just were on an extended layover.

Being at the wrong place at the wrong time doesn't necessarily make someone stupid. In many cases, you are right. But not all cases.

Hope you don't ever wind up in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[Dog Gone]

Why ever pay to leave a dangerous area? Just wait until Uncle Sam comes to the rescue and gives you a free ride.

[hoosierham]

Notice I said KNOWN to be dangerous;the Mideast has been very dangerous ever since that goofy grinning Cahtuh gave France the green light to set the Ayatollah Khomenini loose to terrorize Persia;and Ronnie Reagan's response to the Marine barracks destruction was lacking.

Anyway,all my life the television and radio have brought story after story of the violent terrorists in the Mideast and I don't mean the Jews!

[MiniCooperChick]

It's great down there. It's a quick weekend getaway for us!

Haven't stayed at the Burj, too rich for our blood, but I'm gonna get there one day! Maybe when we leave the Middle East for good, we'll splurge on a night!

Or we can go to the "real" Las Vegas and get a much better deal...

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Why ever pay to leave a dangerous area? Just wait until Uncle Sam comes to the rescue and gives you a free ride.

Good way to end up dead and not exactly fair in this case.

Very likely that most of these people had a ticket back to the States but because the airport, port and roads are closed they were unable to use them. It's not as if they lost all their money in a poker game and went to the consulate begging for a free ride back to the States. (Yes that does happen!)

There is literally no safe way for them to get out except this way.

[plain talk]

Oh yeah?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1668210/posts

post #11

[Dog Gone]

But that begs the question. If they were ready, willing, and able to pay to get out on their own, why should they get a free cruise to Cypress merely because this arguably caught them by surprise?

[Drew68]

Haven't stayed at the Burj, too rich for our blood, but I'm gonna get there one day!

LOL! Ain't that the truth! The world's only 7-star hotel is a wee bit out of my budget. I've laid my head down at the Astoria and the Admiral a few times. Both pretty nice places.

[ladyjane]

I was wondering the same thing. His name was rebel2 or rebelyell2 or something like that. Anybody have an update?

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

They shouldn't.

Never said they should.

I was just pointing out that in this particular case it wasn't exactly fair to expect them to get out on their own as that is impossible.

Personally I would have stayed put and waited for rescue because I would hate to become the latest leftist bloody shirt because the car I was fleeing in got hit by an Israeli rocket.

BTW They are not "cruising to Cypress" evacs tend to be rather bare bones. Usually one small bag and bring at least some food and water with you.

About as pleasant as a having to ride out a storm in a school gym except in this case the floor will be going up and down and up and down and up and down and...

Excuse me, I need to get a Dramamine.

[Dog Gone]

Well, I'm glad they can now get out, although I don't think they're in any real danger in the first place. The civilians who being killed in Lebanon tend to live in houses where rockets are being fired into Israel.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Oops happen in war.

But their biggest threat was not Israel but Hezbollah. A few thousand Americans can look like very attractive shields when the Israelis are pounding you to jello.