Good.......
Jul. 19th, 2006 05:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
patgundGovernment will foot the bill for American evacuation of Lebanon
"The State Department, bowing to congressional criticism, abandoned on Tuesday its plan to bill U.S. citizens for evacuation from war-torn Lebanon.
The White House and State Department cited federal law requiring such reimbursement. But Democratic congressional leaders, charging that the administration was slow in its evacuation response, urged President Bush to waive any charges.
"It's too bad this is being treated as a mini-Katrina," said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. And House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., declared that it was not the "intent of Congress" that Americans sign papers promising payment before they are taken out of harm's way.
Hours later, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reversed course.
"We want to do everything we can to facilitate the departure of American citizens from Lebanon," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. "Today's step removes one potential worry for our citizens at this difficult time."
"The State Department, bowing to congressional criticism, abandoned on Tuesday its plan to bill U.S. citizens for evacuation from war-torn Lebanon.
The White House and State Department cited federal law requiring such reimbursement. But Democratic congressional leaders, charging that the administration was slow in its evacuation response, urged President Bush to waive any charges.
"It's too bad this is being treated as a mini-Katrina," said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. And House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., declared that it was not the "intent of Congress" that Americans sign papers promising payment before they are taken out of harm's way.
Hours later, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reversed course.
"We want to do everything we can to facilitate the departure of American citizens from Lebanon," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. "Today's step removes one potential worry for our citizens at this difficult time."
