Cafferty's critique of the US regarding getting its citizens out of a

[babylonsister]

war zone was scathing! Be sure to catch the tape of it when it's available later!

[Pirate Smile]

1. I hope someone caught the video. I love Jack's slams.

Another great example of a Republican controlled Congress in action.

[Idioteque]

2. CNN justshowed John Sununu talking about getting Americans out of Lebanon

Let's hope that Sen. Sununu, as the only Arab-American in the Senate and someone of Lebanese descent, will lead the opposition to the killing of innocent Lebanese citizens caught in the middle of the battle.

[eleny]

3. It has to translate into more lost votes

[indepat]

5. It doesn't matter who votes proffered Stalin, what matter is who counts

the votes. Neocondrals are implementing facets of almost everything evil in his regime and the fascist regimes of the era and the Amerikan people, it numbers too large to comprehend, are eating it up, lock, stock, and barrel or are wholly indifferent to what's going on.

[spanone]

4. He reported that the Bush* adm. began charging folks to come home

Legislation that bush* signed in 2003.

[babylonsister]

6. He also compared the current inaction to the inaction during Katrina.

Crooks and Liars should have it soon.

[MrTriumph]

7. Okay, pls straighten me out on this one

So the Congress passed a law that requires the US gov't to charge to evacuate citizens.

I can understand US taxpayers picking up the tabs for evacuating those employed by the US gov't.

But didn't business people in Lebanon KNOW that something like war in the Middle East happens from time to time. It is NOT like this is a surprise.

Secondly, many US citizens working abroad do NOT pay US income taxes on those earnings. It is something that makes working there attractive. Why should those of us who pay income taxes pay to evacuate American business people in Lebanon who do not?

[babylonsister]

8. Cafferty's contention is that never before in our history have

Americans, when finding themselves suddenly thrust into a war zone, been left there for days w/o rescue. He also mentioned the billions being shoveled into that hellhole known as Iraq (paraphrasing), but the government can't afford to evacuate a relatively few amount of Americans. I don't know who's right.

I'm wondering if that bill that was passed in 03 had anything to do with people being rescued by the Coast Guard when they got in trouble on the water. I know the CG was going to start charging, but evacuation from a war zone is a far cry from a water rescue off the coast of the US.

[MrTriumph]

9. 'suddenly thrust into a war zone' ? I don't buy that .

Thanks for the response. I think adult US citizens in the Middle East know violence & war could erupt at any time.

Agreed we are throwing a large chunk of our treasury into the Halliburton-Rummy-Condi rat hole in Iraq, but I do not see how that justifies spending money for a free ride out of Lebanon.

[babylonsister]

11. If you think the citizens should have been prepared to evacuate

should violence erupt, how about the US government having the same mindset? They had no transportation at the ready, nor apparently any plans. So I don't know how much anyone assumed 'it could happen' and were prepared.
Americans in danger in a foreign land have traditionally been 'rescued' by the government. I don't know what makes this situation any different.

[MrTriumph]

13. 'violence erupt' is a common occurrence in the Middle East

Surprise! Fighting in the Middle East! Who'd have thought it? Completely from out-of-the-blue!!

[jsamuel]

20. "Surprise hurricane in NO"

???

[MrTriumph]

22. Precaustions were taken... the levees. What precautions did the

American business people in Lebanon take? Oh, they are counting on our service men and women to put their lives on the line to get them out and the US treasury to foot the bill.

[jsamuel]

23. You sound just like those who criticized the poor/black people for

being too stupid to leave before the hurricane. "It's their own fault, they deserve what they get."

[MrTriumph]

24. No it is not the same

My point is people in NO had the levees to depend upon. Yes they failed, but citizens knew they were there. Precautions had been made.

What precautions did Americans in Lebanon make before going there? Oh, that's right. Let's put another soldier or sailor in danger.

[jsamuel]

28. levees protect people from floods, not hurricanes

while the flooding from the broken levees did destroy part of NO, a large amount of the flooding and other damage was actually from the hurricane.

I see no difference.

Californians know there are earthquakes.
Texans know there are tornados.
New Yorkers know there are terrorists.

Does that mean all of them are to blame for knowing about it and still live there and should be thrown to the wind if something happens?

[Fleshdancer]

10. You don't charge your countrymen for evacuation period.

I don't care where they work or who they work for. They are Americans in need help. Does it really matter how much, if any taxes they pay? Is that how we value one another now?

[MrTriumph]

12. Hey, GloriaSmith, they did not have to go to Lebanon

Why is my tax dollar responsible for their choice to go to the volatile Middle East?

[FUGW]

25. Being a citizen of the U.S. should mean more than your tax liability.

[mark414]

14. because they're your countrymen

and we're all supposed to help each other out when it's needed

[MrTriumph]

15. Fine, ask them to pay federal income tax on their foreign earnings

Otherwise, they can use Mastercard

[mark414]

16. so should we cancel welfare too?

or cancel unemployment coverage for people who don't have any income? they're not paying taxes so why should my tax dollars go to help them? worker's comp? they can't work and pay taxes so fuck em! :sarcasm:

you can't honestly tell me that a country can't be expected to take care of and insure the safety of its own citizens. selfish attitudes like yours don't help.

[MrTriumph]

17. Mark- They made a choice for crying out loud.

Are you saying people on welfare CHOOSE to be on welfare? of course not. But the choice to live overseas is a decision that carries some responsibility. And it is not a surprise the Middle East is in flames.

And is it fair to our service men and women that they be put in harm's way to evacuate Americans that have chosen to live overseas in dangerous areas? NO MARK, IT IS NOT. Now tell me who is being selfish!

How about you enlist and put your life on the line so you can rescue some businessman that's overseas making tax free dollars?

[mark414]

18. cause they're fucking americans dude

fellow countrymen, that used to mean something - i guess it doesn't mean anything to you, whether they made a choice to be there or not. that's all i have to say.

[FUGW]

26. MrChump, don't you think we look bad enough around the world?

[MrTriumph]

27. Yes. And taxpayers look like fools when the treasury is plundered.

If one of our servicemen is killed evacuating American businessmen & vacationers will you send them a condolence letter?

"Gee, thanks for saving me. I was only in Lebanon trying to may some tax free bucks. Oh, I knew it was dangerous, but I did not mind because I knew you'd put your life at risk top save me."

[FUGW]

29. It's our tax $ being used to fund Israel's military. I don't hear you

bitching about that.

[MrTriumph]

31. FUGW, what is the price of tea in China?

The justification or lack thereof of in the use of our tax dollars to build Israel's war machine is NOT the issue.

As a policy I wish the US was far more restrictive in use of tax dollars in the support of others. We have a history of throwing money away supporting regimes that are later shown to be opposed to the very values we claim to hold.

[Libby2]

19. What about the people that are there on vacation?

[MrTriumph]

21. On vacation? Good question. Easy answer.

Let's see. Americans overseas on vacation in the Middle East? Hmm. They choose one of the world's least safe regions.

Well, if they can afford a ticket IN, they can afford a ticket OUT.

[FUGW]

30. Israel bombed the airport using U.S. made and paid weapons

the only way out is through the evacuation ships. As far as Americans vacationing in the Middle East did you ever think they might be visiting family, you half witt.