To those who wish to be rescued (by the US Marine or any other US military) …
Subject: Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Updated Travel Warning for Yemen
TRAVEL WARNING – YEMEN
1. The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the high security threat level in Yemen due to terrorist activities and civil unrest. On February 11, 2015 due to the deteriorating security situation in Sanaa, the Department of State suspended embassy operations and U.S. Embassy Sanaa American staff have been relocated out of the country. All consular services, routine and/or emergency, have been suspended until further notice. The Department urges U.S. citizens to defer travel to Yemen and those U.S. citizens currently living in Yemen to depart when you are able to safely do so. This supersedes the Travel Warning for Yemen issued on February 11, 2015.
2. The level of instability and ongoing threats in Yemen remain severe. There are no plans for a U.S. government-coordinated evacuation of U.S. citizens at this time. We encourage all U.S. citizens to shelter in a secure location until they are able to depart safely. U.S. citizens wishing to depart should do so via commercial transportation options when they become available. Keep vital records and travel documents close at hand; U.S. citizens should be prepared to depart at a moment’s notice. The airports are currently closed, but may open unexpectedly; other unforseen opportunities to depart may also suddenly arise.
3. Additionally, some foreign governments may arrange transportation for their nationals and may be willing to offer assistance to others. There is no guarantee that foreign governments will assist U.S. citizens in leaving Yemen. U.S. citizens who choose to seek foreign government assistance in leaving Yemen should only do so if they can safely make their way to the point of embarkation and have received confirmation that there is space available. Even if assured there is space aboard transportation, U.S. citizens should be aware that there is no guarantee that they will be permitted to board the transport, or may have to wait an indefinite period until they can do so. There is also no guarantee of where travelers will go.For U.S. citizen inquiries, you may send an email to YEMENEMERGENCYUSC@state.gov.
4. Terrorist organizations, including Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), continue to be active throughout Yemen. The U.S. government remains extremely concerned about possible attacks on U.S. citizens (whether visiting or residing in Yemen), and U.S. facilities, businesses, and perceived U.S. and Western interests. In addition, piracy in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Indian Ocean is a security threat to maritime activities in the region. See our International Maritime Piracy Fact Sheet.
5. U.S. citizens remaining in Yemen despite this Travel Warning should limit nonessential travel within the country, make their own contingency emergency plans, enroll their presence in Yemen through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), and provide their current contact information and next-of-kin or emergency contact information. You may inform the Department of State of U.S. citizens located in Yemen by visiting https://tfa.state.gov/ccd, selecting “2015 Yemen Unrest,” and providing as much information as possible. You can also contact us at 1-888-407-4747 (from the U.S. & Canada), +1-202-501-4444 (from overseas), and YemenEmergencyUSC@state.gov if you have additional questions or concerns.
6. For the latest security information, U.S. citizens living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings, and Country Specific Information for Yemen can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada or, for callers in other countries, by calling a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
@Barbara
Robert Stack will probably say concerns about Yeman banks data mining for Americans is a myth as well. It would be good to re-post the above list over at RO FB page.
Here is the actual State Department form/promissory note (DS-3072) a US person has to fill in to be evacuated during an emergency overseas:
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/80109.pdf
Kindly note Part 2, Box 89, Promissory Note and Repayment Agreement which reads:
“I promise to repay the U.S. Government in U.S. dollars or the foreign currency equivalent, within 30 days of initial billing, and if not repaid within 60 days of initial billing at an interest rate established in accordance with Federal law, for Emergency, Medical and Dietary Assistance or Repatriation loans. This loan is in addition to any other U.S. Government loans received for other purposes. I will keep the Department of State’s Accounts Receivable Branch informed of my address(es) until I repay my loan in full. If I am unable to pay this loan in full, the Department of State may, at its discretion and upon my request, forward to me an installment agreement containing an installment plan for repayment of my loan.”
So much for CBT meant to cover evacuation costs. But then again, Uncle Sam is exceptional. So double billing US persons is indeed permissible.
Do they even have any idea what “fair” means?
DS-3072 is no longer being used. The new form for evacuation payment is DS-5528.
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/211837.pdf
I don’t officially join any such Facebook groups, only lurk, out of paranoia at being singled out by the NSA, IRS and other acronymous agencies. Perhaps someone less chicken will post it there?
I do think this list of banks should be sent to the Senate Finance Committee. It packs a powerful and unambiguous message. And send to all Republican lawmakers, to light a fire under their anti-FATCA talk. It would be a waste of effort to send to Democrats. Yes, I’ll write to some myself.
This thread reminds me of a past threads where the threat to US persons was discussed
http://isaacbrocksociety.ca/2014/05/15/safety-of-us-nationals-or-death-by-fatca/
http://isaacbrocksociety.ca/2012/12/07/fatca-facilitating-attacks-by-terrorists-on-citizens-abroad/
It’s not just war and ISIS you have to worry about. Poorly paid banking clerks will be a way to get FATCA data or crooked IT contractors. How about this? Someone is working in somewhere in Europe and is offered €2500 cash for their bank’s FATCA data. You really think some underpaid 18 year old is going to care about the consequences of their actions? There you have it. A terrorist group has a ready made list to do out of the blue door to door murders – completely random killings that the police would have an extremely difficult time solving.
That’s how much Senators Schumer and Warren value US ex-pats safety so the US Government can pull in such a small amount of revenue.
This is typical government double speak that can be boiled down to a short statement…..We have cut and run our small force so get the hell out any way you can.
I wil post this Yemen banks meeting on RO repeal fatca site later on today. I am sure they’ll pick up on that
No mention of whether Russia has evacuated any Americans, but other news sources claim that Canadians are among them.
…”The Ministry added that 67 Russians and 245 citizens of other countries, including those from Belarus, Ukraine, Cuba, Egypt, Syria and Yemen are already evacuated. The evacuation was conducted in cooperation with the authorities of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Yemen.
Russia have evacuated about 600 people, mostly women and children, from Yemen over the past few days.”…
Read more: http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20150405/1020494564.html#ixzz3WRwrhxut
Just a thought – perhaps people could sue banks in small claims courts to start with and perhaps make some money over FATCA.
http://www.stonewall.org.uk/at_home/discrimination_in_goods_and_services/2636.asp
In the UK, you pay about £50-60, the bank must respond or else you win. At least it makes the bank go through the hassle of having to send a solicitors around the UK to defend these cases.
If you lose, it only the £50 or so you lose and the bank can’t ask for costs back.
The banks have the resources to handle these cases when you look at the bank charges debacle a few years ago which I personally won £3000 off my banks.
It’s worth looking into it if someone wants to have a punt.
If they do what would help is to post a prepared PDF document with instructions, a letter to the bank threatening to sue (which they’ll ignore), and how to do the small claims court application (which can be done online in the UK these days I believe and pay the fee by credit card).
Everyone loves to sue banks so think about it.
I bet everyone here has been told “THEN WHY DON’T YOU MOVE TO SOMALIA!!!!??!!1//?1!1!!!” by some idiot Homelander who thinks that’s a relevant rebuttal to complaints about the US tax system. With that in mind:
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Raid-in-Yemen:-India,-China,-Pakistan-and-Somalia-evacuate-their-citizens-33871.html
The U.S. refusal to evacuate US citizens from Yemen made the BBC news this morning, quoting some of what is posted here. The US has said it is ‘unsafe’ to evacuate citizens. The news piece said ‘it makes no sense for the U.S. to say that given they have the largest and most powerful military in the world – and other countries are doing it. US citizenship should be the ultimate protection.’ Yemini Americans have launched a website called Stuck in Yemen.
Bet those dual Yemini Americans are glad they are tax compliant and paying their ‘fair share’.
On the morning news today, they reported on the fact that Canadians are being evacuated from Yemen, but said they didn’t know how. It wouldn’t surprise me that Harper would put the lid on revealing it’s Russia.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/canadians-taken-out-of-yemen-with-help-of-kremlin-russian-media-says-1.3021424; http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/ottawa-confirms-canadians-evacuated-from-yemen-1.2311934 — most want Harper to have the decency to say thank you to Russia. Will he?
These Canadians should be returning home by now.
My reply to idiot “homelanders” with that “Move to Somalia” comment has always been that I would never move to the USA since It’s too dangerous in East St. Louis, East Palo Alto, Gary Indiana, much of Chicago etc. etc. Isn’t that the equivalent “US Based” argument that they’re making?
UK and US paid $millions for stolen bank data. Proof that it will be done
My retort, all too often resorted to, is that the USA is too dangerous everywhere! I feel more genuine freedom walking down the street anywhere in China, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, etc., where private gun ownership is illegal and strictly enforced, than in the “land of the free”, where you’re taking your life in your own hands if you wear the wrong sweater in front of a Stand Your Ground patriot, or go near a toddler whose mother carries a loaded gun in her purse. To me, freedom from fear of random lethal violence is true freedom. Add to that freedom of expression, freedom to travel, and freedom to do what I want with my hard-earned money, as I can experience in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Europe, Canada, and so many other places, and ‘Murrica holds no advantage for me. Now, if only I could be free of the US tax jihad, life would be pretty damn good.
An interview with an American who escaped Yemen.
http://www.democracynow.org/2015/4/9/is_us_abandoning_americans_in_yemen
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/04/10/state-dept-sued-for-failing-to-evacuate-us-citizens-stranded-in-yemen/?intcmp=latestnews
I thought this was one of our “perks” of USA citizenship and a reason why we should have to file with the IRS?????
McClatchyDC says in the linked article:
“Civil rights groups say that between 3,000 and 4,000 Americans remain in the country;”
“Most of the remaining Americans are of Yemeni origin, according to the rights advocates. Some have lived in Yemen for years for family or business reasons. Many others were in the impoverished country to visit family members whom they support through remittances from the United States.”
“The lawsuit cited local reports that Houthi rebels and their military allies had ordered Yemenis to report all U.S. citizens in their midst.”
If the Yemeni banks have been doing their job as agreed in the Fatca IGA, the rebels could use bank records to identify U.S. citizens in the country.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2015/04/09/262695/desperation-for-americans-in-yemen.html
@Phil
Its all a lie- a bunch of lies. People love a scapegoat and those disgusting “tax cheats” are great for that. I mean somebody has to take the blame for the huge national debt. Gotta get that frustration and anger out on somebody. Heaven forbid it could actually be a problem in the homeland. No- its OVER YONDER.
Instead of actually evacuating people, the State Department is asking for public comments on the forms which prospective evacuees fill out to apply for a repatriation loan.
https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/04/14/2015-08597/agency-information-collection-activities-proposals-submissions-and-approvals-repatriationemergency
https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/04/14/2015-08595/agency-information-collection-activities-proposals-submissions-and-approvals-evacuee-manifest-and
Trapped inn Yemen’s Armageddon
http://www.npr.org/2015/04/11/399002842/trapped-in-yemens-armageddon-an-american-made-a-dangerous-escape
On Red Sea, no navigational equipment, pirates in the ocean, waves crashing into the boat. “It wasn’t an easy place to be.”