Titchski

Heard on the news last night that the charge has been rescinded and that it was a "clerical error"

dan_alford

or translated from politik to English:

We thought we could get away with it but we screwed up and so we fired a bunch of low level guys to cover our (_(_)

TruBrit

lol clerical error....oh yeah right

Partystar

Clerical error, my arse!

Jerseygirl

CNN yesterday said it was government policy that US citizens pay their own evacuation fees.

gruffbrown

So much of an error it was passed by Congress in 2003

Reimbursements for Emergency Overseas Evacuation. Section 201 would allow the State Department to seek reimbursements for the emergency evacuation of employees of the U.S. government, their dependents, private U.S. citizens, and foreign nationals. According to the department, this section of the bill codifies existing practice and would have no impact on the budget.

Budget 2003

gruffbrown

It reads "no more than the price of a Commericial Airline Ticket."

Jerseygirl

CNN also said once the citizens are in Cyprus its then down to them to arrange to stay there or move to another country.

Over to you Gruff.

gruffbrown

So your standing on the Runway in Cyprus with your Family and 1 suitcase each, wishing you'd upped the Credit Limit on your Mastercard.

Yorkieabroad

That is unbelievable - its one thing charging 'regular' citizens to evacuate them (which I don't happen to agree with) but another step entirely to charge Govt employees - the govt sends them over there then when the cr@p hits the fan they've got to pay to get out?? Yeah, right - where do I sign up


And did you see that english mum complaining yesterday - apparentlythe norwegians have send a cruise ship, and we sent a destroyer and she thinks its unacceptable....well I guess you could always stay then you ungrateful bugger!!

dan_alford

Trip to Lebanon - $2000
Flak Jacket - $500
Taxi Cab to Dock -$300
Being stranded in a foriegn country because your government wants you to pay to get home - Priceless

gruffbrown

gruffbrown

Then you're told the only available accomodation is in Ayia Napa in a Hotel full of pissed up young Brits, to quote Manc,"Giving it large" until 6 in the morning and throwing up their Kebabs in the Lobby. It's then you wonder if you made the right decision to leave Beirut.

dan_alford

Yeah the locals in Lebanon would be more friendly than the drunk tourists

Tolos

I guess that's my own main gripe about the US. All my little peeves and gripes fall under the umbrella that America is basically a money obsessed nation. It truly is a land of tolls, fees, costs and prices. Not only do you have to contend with various nonsense like "Set up fees", "Admin costs", "registration fees", etc, but you can't even so much as grab a luggage trolly at the airport without having to feed a dollar into a machine.

American airlines now enforce additional charges for an inflight meal. Most banks charge a $10 monthly fee simply for being a customer. You will routinely pay anything from $25 to $100 for visiting a doctor.

And don't even get me started on the bombardment of radio ads, TV ads, windscreen flyers, billboards and telemarketing calls that are desperately trying to part me from my dollars.

And yet Americans happily accept this. I often wonder if they have any idea just how much money they are being conned out of. Land of the Free? Don't make me laugh! You can't even fart in the US without someone trying slap you with a 'hygiene intolerance tax'.