And the Republicans think the US is the great liberator?
If the government is so tight fisted, why not have Haliburton pay for these people's displacement? They after all have been the #1 plunderers of this war.
[via Lebanon Situation Update - July 15, 2006 - US Embassy Beirut Lebanon]:
Frontpage Headline
Lebanon Situation Update - July 15, 2006
July 15, 2006This information is current as of today, Sat Jul 15 12:20:12 2006.
A message to the American citizens in Lebanon:
The Department of State continues to work with the Department of Defense on a plan to help American citizens depart Lebanon. As of the morning of July 15, we are looking at how we might transport Americans to Cyprus. Once in Cyprus, Americans can then board commercial aircraft for onward travel. Commercial airlines provide the safest and most efficient repatriation options to final destinations.
The Department of State reminds American citizens 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. In a subsequent message, when we have specific details about the transporation arrangments, we will inform you about the costs you will incur. 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.
The Department of State continues to work around the clock and will continue to send updates as appropriate.
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Military | Money | War | WTF | State Department
Nonplussed on this one
Submitted by JJ Ross on 18 July 2006 - 11:20am.
Maybe this springs from outrage related to other war issues, part of a larger strategy of attacking the current administration, but just in case anyone seriously sees this specific emergency travel rescue policy as some corrupt outrage, I'd be interested in their reasoning --
Just from what I see here, this particular policy reads less like an affront to little-people citizens than like the general fiscal prudence and accountability to the larger taxpaying public we need MORE of, not less. Perhaps akin to billing privately adventuring individuals who knowingly risk their own lives skiing or mountain-climbing, and then need highly expensive government-provided rescues?
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This is what conservative government is all about
...after all, somebody has to pay for those tax cuts, and it might as well be U.S. civilians trying to get out of a war zone. Don't expect a free lunch, people; that's only for campaign donors. You little people just don't matter that much.
November can't come soon enough.