Is the United States government obligated to get U.S citizens out of Lebanon or are the citizens responsible?

cricket

The US govt is not obligated to get US citizens out of Lebanon. It's done simply because it's the right thing to do. Most countries offer to help their citizens out when wars start. Canada, France, Sweden, Australia and Great Britain have all helped their citizens out. There are many many others.

I found this link that has a list in fact: http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/20/lebanon.evacuation.facts.reut/index.html

mcp_hot

u are messed up in the head for that pi c

STEVEN F

It is the individual's responsibility. Remember the government did not send these people into the war zone. The State Department does issue warnings not to travel to or to leave areas where violence is considers likely. The US does make a habit of assisting our citizens in evacuating war zones.

msim225

America should but we haven't that chartered cruise ship that was coming for them the Orient Queen, those people will be billed if they decide to take it.

stick to my guns

Yes the State Department is sending the Marines in to Beirut to evacuate American citizens to Cyprus by Navy Boats. But there is a little problem because everyone has a ticket to return to the United States from Beirut airport, but it doesn't exist anymore. So you will have to buy a new plane ticket in Cyprus.

The US is doing a good job though!

tonalc1

Of course we are. They're citizens of our country and they need help. Or should we let them die for being in the wrong place at the wrong time?

tianjingabi

Officially, it is the responsibility of the individual. However, the US generally does the best it can in these situations. If a person lives in another country, he or she is supposed to register with the US embassy in that country. If anything happens, the US will pull out all the stops to get each registered individual out.

The US actually does make a habit of evacuating its citizens from war zones, especially if war breaks out after the citizen has arrived. This is different from some other first world countries. But again, serving American citizens abroad is not the main purpose of an embassy. In addition, it is almost impossible for the US to know how many citizens it has inside a foreign country unless they are registered with the embassy. Therefore, tourists may be left behind, and after a certain point, it may be too difficult to get them out.

lucky_j_2003

If I was president they could get out like they got in not the country's job to help the stupid

missmonica513

Serving American citizens abroad actually IS the main concern of an embassy. Second to that is diplomacy. (I work in an embassy right now as an intern)

Yes, it is the responsibility of an individual to get themselves out of a country. But, when an emergency occurs, the US will try its best to protect American citizens. This doesn't necessarily mean paying for a citizen to leave, but it does mean securing their safe passage out of country (in the case of Lebanon, chartering a cruise ship, warning Americans not to travel to Syria to avoid the fighting, etc).

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