primitives discuss prisoners and hostages in foreign lands

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026977112

Oh my.

catnhatnh (7,209 posts)    Wed Jul 15, 2015, 02:30 PM

On prisoners and hostages in foreign lands...
 
...not to be unsympathetic but a large majority of these people put themselves in harms way. From the PTSD ex-marine who crossed the Mexican border with illegal weapons, to Christians passing out bibles in China, and onto "tourists" wandering into hostile lands for suspicious/clandestine/idiotic purposes.

Now every time we seek to free one of these people it seems to involve the valuable time of US senators and representatives or highly placed State Dept. employees and often the use of US Air Force transports and sometimes even the irreplaceable time of our sitting President. Often the politicians on the right wing even advocate war as a response and damn the cost-an American is being held...

My question is this-why is it we can't raise SS benefits to save millions of Americans who have done nothing wrong but we can spend millions or even start a war to save a handful of Americans who put themselves at risk?

<<<suspects the primitive receives checks from social security, and is pissed because some large increase in monthly benefits wasn't dished out.

yeoman6987 (7,393 posts)    Wed Jul 15, 2015, 03:36 PM

1. Regardless of why they are there, I think it is our duty
 
to go get them regardless of the cost. If they did something illegal then our justice system can take action if they want but keeping them a prisoner in a foreign prison is not acceptable. Probably some will disagree but I will never change my mind on this. And SS is not even a logical use to compare as both are very different pots of money and programs.

The mineral-headed Minnesota Moses:

MineralMan (74,255 posts)    Wed Jul 15, 2015, 03:45 PM

3. Actually, US citizens are still subject to the laws of
 
countries they are in. We don't have a policy of getting them out of jail. Only in certain circumstances does the government work to get them released from prison if they commit crimes in other countries. There are thousands of US Citizens imprisoned around the world. The State Department will help them find attorneys and check on their welfare, but that's about it.

When US citizens are held as political prisoners, that's another matter, and efforts will be made to gain their release, but not for criminal activity. When US citizens travel, or become expatriates, they're responsible for following the laws of the countries they are in. The State Department offers information about other countries that can help people avoid problems. 

JonLP24 (18,788 posts)   Wed Jul 15, 2015, 03:42 PM

2. There are times we don't do anything at all
 
we don't hear about them like Americans trying to flee Yemen being pounded by airstrikes. I certainly do believe we shouldn't be so much money on defense and saving a hostage or two isn't why we are spending all that money. If we limited it to just spending it save Americans that would be OK.

[Rebel]

UN****INGBELIEVABLE how quickly they changed their tune. Berghdal ALSO put himself in that position by dropping his firearm and deserting the damn compound.

[thundley4]

UN****INGBELIEVABLE how quickly they changed their tune. Berghdal ALSO put himself in that position by dropping his firearm and deserting the damn compound.

Exactly.

[BannedFromDU]

     Lurking DUmmies: your president and his monkeyboy made a deal with another country and left US citizens in their jails.

     That tells anyone all they need to know about the regard this Administration has for anyone not on its direct payroll. Disgusting. I hope an H1-B from Iran takes your job, DUmmies, and leaves you dependent on 0bama's largesse for even generic Cheetos.

     

[Carl]

There are no words to describe how much I have grown to despise these inhuman pieces of shit.