The Israelis Should Foot The Bill

Is that such an harsh request on my part? After all, the reason our people are fleeing Lebanon is because of their attack, which, according to this Common Dreams article, violates U.S. law...I wonder if this means that the U.S. will now suspend arms sales to Israel (I can dream, can’t I?).

And as far as the 2003 amendment requiring U.S. citizens to reimburse the government for costs related to disaster evacuation (from ThinkProgress commenter Chase; what smart people visit that site)…

1. SEC. 201. EMERGENCY EVACUATION SERVICES.

Section 4(b)(2)(A) of the State Department Basic Authorities
Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2671(b)(2)(A)) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(A) the evacuation when their lives are endangered by
war, civil unrest, or natural disaster of—
‘‘(i) United States Government employees and their
dependents; and
‘‘(ii) private United States citizens or third-country
nationals, on a reimbursable basis to the maximum extent
practicable, with such reimbursements to be credited to
the applicable Department of State appropriation and to
remain available until expended, except that no reimbursement
under this clause shall be paid that is greater than
the amount the person evacuated would have been charged
for a reasonable commercial air fare immediately prior
to the events giving rise to the evacuation;’’.

The comments were linked to this TP story in which Bushco flip-flops on whether or not the evacuees will have to pay (right now, they don’t)

Every time I think that this administration can’t possibly sicken or disgust me more than it does, it manages to find a way.

I wouldn’t say that “freedom is on the march,” by the way. I’d say it’s in full retreat to save its ass.