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July 18, 2006

I'm (not) Leaving on a Jet Plane

No matter your opinion on the current situation in the Middle East, most agree that now is not a good time for foreigners to be trapped in Lebanon. News stories this week have repeatedly told of the actions of governments to quickly evacuate their citizens. The Japanese and Swedish embassies have rented taxis and buses to drive their citizens out of the country, while the Canadians and British have used aircraft and the French even sent their Prime Minister to meet their nationals on the ferry that would take them home.

The one exception to this vast mobilization: The United States.

ABC News reported last night on hotels, universities and hostels that are emptied of most foreigners...except for Americans who have been told to wait. The U.S. still hasn't initiated a full-scale evacuation like other countries, only sending a limited number of helicopters to evacuate Americans. Those fortunate to have been evacuated by the U.S. goverment have been told that they will be charged for the evacuation. It seems that evacuating American citizens from an unsuspected conflict area would be a basic service that our government should provide. This administration has found a way to mess that up.

Posted by John at July 18, 2006 09:50 AM