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Extreme Capitalism: Charging for EvacuationComments
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I hope the didn't leave home without their Amercian Express cards
history repeats itself ....... i heard that on the very first lecture of HISTORY101.
whats going on in lebanon today is what was happening in WWII with de jews what israel's doing today to the innocent lebanese is what hitler did to them in conc. camps all across europe
The U.S should deduct the citizen evacuation cost from the 2 Billion they give to Israel every year.
right on anonymous I think American Citizens have already paid and then some
and I think its 3 billion not 2 billion but then whats one billion between friends :-)
My government gets more and more pathetic as each day passes. I don't doubt this money will be used to help Israel with their future terrorist attacks.
I don't feel it is unreasonable to require reimbursement for the manhours, machines (ships and aircraft) and fuel costs that is being used to "rescue" these people from harm's way. Why should "mine and everyone else's" taxes do this. I/We didn't "invite" those citizens to live and work (with up to $80,000 tax free) there.
As an American (And I am very careful when I state that fact) nothing surprises any of us anymore. Frequently, I find myself in disbelief when otherwise intelligent people seem aloof to all that surrounds them. In America, the lay person graciously accepts what he or she is told and rarely looks beyond the propaganda he or she is fed. At times, I am ashamed! This government doesn't represent all of its citizens. Unfortunately, the few that do recognize the man behind the curtain are greatly out flanked by the many who see themselves as the "world's chosen" people. What a crock!
The US govt. did not initiate this conflict, the militant Hezbollah did. If your a citizen there on vacation or live there for years then why should the US govt be responsible for "saving"" you from your own choice to be there?
Plus France only had a few hundred people there, there are over 25,000 US citizens in Lebanon. Imagine the cost of evacuateing that many people. The cost to the American taxpayer would be enormous! If I were there I would have no problem paying for a US Marine escort out of that shit hole. Proud to be an American.
You wouldn't be an ex-marine would you? At this juncture, I am more afraid of our government than I will ever be of terrorist or terrorism. Perhaps you believe all that you are hand fed too! Lets assume that a handful of folks in Lebannon don't have the ability to pay for their evacuations, should we leave them there? Be consistent!
Im proud to NOT be an American. Me and about 8 billion others.
And what the heck does your' stupid pride have anything to do with Isreal attacking Lebanon? And the ONLY shit hole Jay is your' mind. We need more Americans like Beverly and Katie and The Don speaking up because there are entirely too many Americans like Jay who get a microphone and platform to spew their ignorance and false patriotism. woohoo for Beverly, Katie and The Don.
First of all Jay, you have the right to be "proud to be american" but you don't have the right to call other peoples' countries "shit holes". I live in Texas and I'm not going to tell you what I think of it, and most us states for that matter, because I don't want to get down to such a level of uncultured, ignorant conversation. FYI, France has more than 30 thousand citizens in Lebanon and only a fraction of those want to leave. similarly nnot all 25000 americans want to leave and if they do, I think it's a gouverments responsability to help its citizens abroad no matter what the circumstances are and independetly of political issues. Maybe you want to think about the destination of most of your taxpayers money, which is thrown into the iraqui quagmire among others, before getting stingy on the evacuation of a couple of thousands of your countrymen. Oh, you have to excuse me, I forgot that some of them might have the dual citizenship and be lebanese too and, god forbid, some of them might even be muslim. So as far as your concerned these are "untermenshen" subhumans and their lives are not worth those of 100% american and peoud of it, they might not be as proud as you are to be american.
Please spare us you enlightening thoughts. You're free not to and you can keep enriching our culture with your words but in that case you have no right to disrespect us and our country.
Thanks Don. I think this is a place for people to discuss issues and get to understand each other and find some common ground, not for ignorants to come in, guns blazing, and insult people and their countries.
A source close to the US embassy says they are not expecting to evacuate any more than 15% of the total US citizen population in lebanon (tha would make it 3750 evacuees; http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/16/lebanon.evacuation/index.html), but more to the point, the french community in Lebanon numbers an approximate 27.000 according to the French embassy in Beirut, 20.000 according to bbc.com (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5192990.stm). Get your facts straight, an ignorant may be proud to be an american, but america is certainly not proud of the ignorant.
An American
Hey, Jay before you call any country a "shit hole" I suggest you live there first. And apparently you have not ever even gone to lebanon and probally have not seen any pictures of it because if you had you would not have called it what you did. I myself have never been to Lebanon ( i am an american ) but i have family there and I have seen many pictures of Lebanon, and it is a VERY beautiful country. Jay, I dont know if you will come back to this page to see what people have replied to your comment, but if you do and you read what i am saying to you, i suggest (highly recomend) that on the home page of "BloggingBeirut.com" you scroll down to where it says "virtual tour" (or something like that) on the left column and click it. (It may take a while for it to load up, but wait any way. When it comes up click the snowflake (Winter pictures) and take a look at the photos of the snow-covered Mountains in Lebanon. I hope this changes your oppinion of Lebanon being a "shit hole"
Wonder if George W. and his boys rely on "1984" as their handbook to government?
My tax dollars, once again, playing to haul your butt outa the hole you put yourself in? I don't think so... P.F., You sound like the Welfare Wenches in New Orleans, "Da Gov'ment didn't do for me fast enough." These people put themselves in harm's way, it is not the governments' (the taxpayers) responsibility to get them out. That is what free will is all about. You screw up -- you unscrew it. Don't expect someone else to do it for you. Isreal is a democratic society being hounded by the dogs of war. Societies that have no sanctity of human worth or life. Yes, Israel's reaction has killed innocent civilians. That is the horror of war and not one that they started. But I hope that they have the power to finish it.
I am sorry you are in Iraq Greg, but didn't you enlist? Seems sort of like the same thing. Based on your comments, I guess we shouldn't feel sorry for you--right? I suspect that we can all feel a bit sorry for you since it probably isn't your fault that you've been socialized around this missplaced patriotism.
Oh yeah, you aren't protecting me from anything in Iraq because I have no interest there and don't regard them a threat. Apparently you and the rest of the country bought into "hub for terrorism" crap!
Greg maybe if you were fighting in the Revolutionary War or WW II you would be defending our right to trash our government, but in Iraq not so much.
Greg -in -Iraq....I am so sorry that you are stuck in that terrible war. You are not there, however, protecting your country's rights. You are there because of greed...and the political agenda of a few very rich, very powerful people. I truly wish you well...and trust you will return safely to your loved ones very soon.
After reading the blogs here, I can barely believe how some of these people have such a cavalier attitude regarding human suffering. People make decisions to live in places like Lebanon, OR WHEREVER, for their own reasons, but they shouldn't have to pay to come back to their own country. We've spent so much money over there, who cares if more is spent??? At least THIS time I'm SURE where most of the money IS GOING for a change!!! I can't be so close minded and discompassionate to say that if they can't pay, to HELL with them....make em pay!!! Let's not forget they ARE AMERICANS. Im sorry that the innocent people in Lebanon are being forced to flee. They didn't want this nor did they do anything to MAKE it happen....the only question that I have is...why did the people in the Lebanese government allow Hezbullah to be part of Lebonese run govt. there? All that did, to me, was give them MORE power to do as they please. They are a violent faction and surely Lebenon officials in the govt. MUST have known that. Not that the Lebonese people DESERVE this, they DON'T....I just want to understand why. And I disagree with ANYONE who can't find it inside themselves to be decent compassionate human beings!!!!! You know who you are. Don't lower yourselves any more then you already have. Thanks for listening. :-)
Your a brain washed Fox News watching redneck. The Jewish media got you brain washed. Wake up you idiot!!!!
My my my!! "Ye protest too much!!!"...lmaoo I Knew someone would go off the deepend and reveal their ignorance. First of all, I'm not a redneck...lol Secondly, I don't let ANY news program skew my view of the crisis in the mideast. I make up my own mind and have my own opinions, thankyouverymuch!!!! And thirdly, for someone to respond to ANYONE on this site in such a demeaning manner, must obviously have huge ISSUES. I, however, won't stoop to that level, but don't get me wrong....this site isn't about ME or YOU. It's a forum to express opinions and views about what's going on in the world. I had an opinion and I stated it. There's no need to get ugly! I do, however, understand that this is a very touchy subject with alot of people. So many people have lost loved ones and have had to leave their homes and families behind....alot have DIED. If caring about such things makes me a "brainwashed redneck" welllll....that's fine!!!!!....lmao So settle down...geeez!!! MY thoughts are with the innocent people that have to endure this chaos. I explained in my last blog how I felt about the exodus of Americans out of the mideast right now. I feel the same way now as I did then. People like you don't phase me in the least....lmao But thank you SO very much for the words of wisdom, Mike.....lmaoooo Have a good day! :-)
I hate to tell you Greg, if you say New Orleans put themselves in harms way, not sure what you mean there. Considering many cities in the USA can be put in a similar situation with disasters. I think any Americans and other nationalities that want to leave Lebanon shouldn't be charged, that is ridiculous. We can send billions to other countries--yet when it comes to our own citizens we say "screw-you". BTW the cost to evacuate people from Lebanon would be extremely small, less than blowing money on the trips Bush takes to his ranch or how bout' those FEMA trailors in the south USA going to waste? Why don't you complain about the costs of that?
I am proud to be an American too, but you sure wont see me degrading any country. As you would know Greg it is our right to speak out about things we do not like so you shouldn't have a problem if people trash the government or not. Thank you...
Greg-in-Iraq-etc., didn't you smell some corruption around the last two elections in the U.S.? Or did the smell of cordite cover it? I wish that every military person in Iraq could just come home, but it won't work like that. The military doesn't protect our rights where the government is concerned; the military is perforce the might behind U.S. foreign policy, and that's why our people are in Iraq -- to force all variables there to serve U.S. interests (as well as Halliburton's interests, and we know a little of where that leads). The U.S. military is significantly populated with recruits from a comparatively low economic demographic, no kidding, right? -- lots of people see the military as an opportunity to make better than they would have had otherwise. So don't ditch on poor people, man ("Welfare Wenches"). They're the ones who pay the price in all circumstances, whether they can't get out of New Orleans, or they take a gamble on joining the military, or when they can't evacuate when they get stuck between a group like Hezbollah, which serves a mulitplicity of political interests, and the Israeli army, also serving a mulitplicity of political interests. Some Lebanese can't evacuate, even if Americans there can pay to get out. I sure as hell would rather have my tax dollars save lives, any lives of any nationality, than destroy them with bombs and missiles.
Yep - just on NPR - a ship has pulled up in the Beirut port and U.S. citizens will be responsible for paying their passage out. Nancy Pelosi, Rep. D-CA, is protesting.
Wow - CNN mentions this blog and suddenly it's turned into a breeding ground for the US arguments about Iraq War/Hurricaine Katrina and where US government should and shouldn't spend their money.
Personally I loved coming here when it was giving me the Lebanese point of view through finkployd and the well wishes to him from visitors....without listening to age old US debates - we could just turn on the TV for that.
very true anonymous,
but dialogue is only healthy, and in the end the structure of this blog keeps those who want to make trouble at bay, by pushing old posts out of the front page. i'll keep adding photos/posts, and eventually those who are arguing aimlessly will find their way elsewhere. pax
As of Tues 18th 4:30pm USA time. CNN Has stated that there will be NO paymets Needed. No Signing of promisary notes. FREE Thank God, God Bless you all, and try to stay safe.
This reply is to John and all those arguing the US' case of why US citizens have to pay for their evacuation from an area that is now war-torn.....
BECAUSE THEY PAY TAXES........does it get any simpler than that? What is the use of paying taxes if it's not for protection? Allah knows that the taxes aren't being used to fight the War on Drugs, or the War against Illiteracy/ignorance (20% of US citizens believe that the sun orbits the earth!!!)....what is it being used on besides the war on Iraq??? I think using a billion (or a billion and a half) on your own citizens is not going to break a country that sends 3 billion a year to Israel (whose citizens don't pay ANY taxes to the US).... let me put it into perspective for you guys....Over $9 billion dollars per year is spent on ice cream in the US....a billion should be no problem for a "super power" like yours....unless.........you're not as super as u claim.... remember, you're not a country if you don't have people who want to live there..I sure would not care to get a US citizenship if I knew all it was good for was to pay the salary of a man who chokes on his pretzel, and not for my protection.... hey, where's Bin Laden? If even a small percentage of the money spent on trying to find this man (who travels with a dialysis machine) had been saved, this cost issue would not be a problem... Peace
Here is some perspective for you on payment to be rescued it happens to be US law passed by congress and which Nancy Pilosi voted for:
"1956 law amended for fiscal year 2003 to authorize the State Department to evacuate Americans endangered in foreign country by war, civil unrest or natural disaster on a "reimbursable basis to the maximum extent practicable"
How practicable is it that someone must pay TWICE for the same service...is that not what citizens pay taxes for?? for amenities, roads, social welfare and protection??? That is why there is such a thing as citizenship and passports -- to identify someone as belonging to a certain nation so that they can count on that nation's protection if and when they need it...otherwise, there would be no need for passports or citizenships...we'd just drift from one place to another....
It's enough that you have to pay for health care in the States, but leaving your own people stranded...man, and you wonder why most of the world isn't so quick to trust ya... but, cooler heads prevailed in your country and now people don't have to pay.... |
Blogging Beirut CommentsMon, 14.03.2011 21:53
Firstly, the fines are a perfect deterrant for people. Let me let you in on a little secret: THIS IS CALLED BLIND JUSTICE!!
Lady justice is a perfect dipiction; she wears a "blindfold which r [...]
Mon, 14.03.2011 21:53
Firstly, the fines are a perfect deterrant for people. Let me let you in on a little secret: THIS IS CALLED BLIND JUSTICE!!
Lady justice is a perfect dipiction; she wears a "blindfold which r [...]
Thu, 10.03.2011 13:55
how does someone contact Ziad Baroud? It's not like he's accessible! He's the Interior Minister!
Thu, 10.03.2011 13:41
send this pic to baroud and he will take action
about Naqoura Road Trip
Tue, 08.03.2011 13:56
Love the pictures. Amazing photos and lovely places. Naqoura is my home town and I feel more home sick than ever :)
Sun, 06.03.2011 00:37
i think this song belong's to SabaH's relative cousin i think, his last name faghally i am trying to ramamber his full name, he is lebanese he has another good song goes like,, haw can i live if [...]
Mon, 28.02.2011 01:22
yes, i have to say the best club in lebanon,for the fist year..........
Fri, 25.02.2011 18:21
correct, but you miss the point.
1) the less important point:
technically speaking, you can scan the stub only once, and modify it photoshop also once to produce many stubs to cover the enti [...]
Fri, 25.02.2011 11:06
Interesting! however, for me, the time spent on scanning and photoshoping and printing the ticket is worth more than the 500 LL i was going to pay
Wed, 09.02.2011 06:18
I am an American whose great-grandparents Amen Soffa and his wife Nazera Kimmel (sometimes spelled Lazera Cammel and various other ways) came to America in the late 1800s. I am looking for anyo [...]
Tue, 08.02.2011 23:17
i am from algeria my name is olso berbara jamel..hope you are ok you and your family...
Fri, 28.01.2011 14:34
wow, how'd you stumble upon this?
Fri, 28.01.2011 08:00
We the Native Americans support our brothers and sisters in spirit who are struggling for Freedom and Justice in Egypt.
May the Great Spirit guide and bless your endeavors. El-Hamdallah.
Fri, 28.01.2011 03:26
On fb, an egyptioan guy said he was selected as a finalist on January 26th..I am still waiting for a feedback ..what about your friend ?
Btw, the workshop is in Abu Dhabi :)
Sun, 23.01.2011 14:52
saludos.. yo no soy politico ni hizbi.. soy libanes muhajjar waiting to back to my country libnan sine lon time.. now i know is very dif. situation for you mr president,we hope that you demopstr [...]
Sun, 23.01.2011 13:29
Is it just me or does the first ad aim to enlarge your Balls ?! Who would ever want to do THAT ?!
Thu, 20.01.2011 21:35
Thank you for the information! I was just wondering how much time it takes to give a feedback to the applicants. One of my friends applied by the January 3 deadline and she still didn't get any [...]
Wed, 19.01.2011 12:56
I just stumbled on this review and I totally agree with you. I nicknamed this play the "UNacceptable play" and I still rave about how horrible it was. I love the theatre - but this kind of self- [...]
Fri, 14.01.2011 20:27
Dear Sir
is there more competitions for 2011?
Fri, 14.01.2011 07:47
sannine the best freindly mountain ( allah ylhallih b3id 3an iden the ennemies of pure nature)
Wed, 12.01.2011 22:00
Good work. Money seems to bulldoze beautiful buildings in capitals round the globe. So inspiring to see young people involved in this action.
Nina
Thu, 23.12.2010 11:53
do you have a site to check if I have fine ? because I paid about 12 tickets some are 10,000 and some about 40,000LL .
I called the employee she shsid still 5 tickets ,and it will cost me 200, [...]
Wed, 15.12.2010 22:12
thank you samer for reposting this, i'm honored. notes have been getting amazing feedback! i'm humbled by the whole experience.
i would also like to announce the new "nicer" link which makes [...]
about Les Filles du Basement
Sat, 11.12.2010 02:18
salut
l'amitié c'est savoire tendre l' oreille sans juger .ouvir son coeur ,vraiment l' écouter .partager ensemble ses joies , ses peines est ses doutes aimer sans arriére pensée , juste suivre [...]
about Paul Frank in Lebanon
Wed, 08.12.2010 17:49
That's very good news I didn't know that, I became a fan of Julius the Monkey around 4. However, is this a stand alone store like the one they have in NY, or store that sells Paul Frank. It does [...]
Thu, 25.11.2010 18:44
ra7 ib3atlak wa7ad 3a baytak tay farjeek what ya walad
Thu, 25.11.2010 15:50
So what if this info is available.. In what can it harm you??? People should be able to find out these things... so what hein? so what?>
Wed, 17.11.2010 18:17
If you think facebook is invading your personal privacy don't go online, or get registred. On allmost every site in the world the owner of the site gives you the question "do you accept these te [...]
Tue, 16.11.2010 18:15
Thanks for the post. I have been wondering what is all about the Ehden Reserve. I am just trying to learn as much as I can about Beirut before I come out and visit. I really want to as soon as I [...]
Tue, 16.11.2010 12:17
mabrouk samer and all the best from berlin! sarah
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Victoria El Ghali says: As of Tues 18th 4:30pm USA time. CNN Has stated that there will be NO paymets Needed. And No Signing of promisary notes. i cannot confirm this, but this is the word going 'round. i'll confirm later in the day. We had a p
Tracked: Jul 19, 09:12