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What is a shame is that the US spends any time and/or any resources trying to get people released who willingly travel to places like NK. Places like that should be 100% travel at your own risk as we can't/won't help you.
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Originally Posted by phetaroi
I agree with you. If a country has no formal diplomatic relationship with another country (and I don't mean through third parties), then the American government should do exactly as you suggest.
People assume that the State Dept./U.S. Embassies in foreign countries will help you if you get into legal trouble in another country. They can't - they might offer advice on how to retain a lawyer based in that country but they can't extract you from the situation, even in countries that the US has diplomatic relationships with. Each country retains sovereignty, which is why Amanda Knox served time in an Italian prison when she was found guilty by an Italian court.
That is why you need to be familiar with the laws of the country that you are planning to visit.
I remember some years ago I wanted to go to Cuba. I was plotting all the places I could leave from, then how to get back into the US. I never went though, because the US government said I couldn't. Right or wrong, I couldn't go. I could never see any Cubans doing anything remotely like these insane North Koreans, but still, if something happened to me over there, I would be on my own. Then I'd be in a whole lot of trouble back in the US!
This incident is upsetting, but the bottom line is, stay out of places like this!!!
I hope that fat midget with the bad hair-do gets an inoperable brain tumor. Then when he goes for treatment, oooops! Dear Midget just slipped into a coma!
I think if you went to Cuba and were imprisoned and had people here in the US lobbying for you the actions would be the same. The US Government would get involved, it would try to do something and it may or may not fail. The difference is we have a much closer relationship with Cuba, even though we ain't close. We have shared history and ties, they drive old American care but North Korea is just alien.
We have gone to wars for worse reasons or no reason at all. Kissing and hugging the enemy and singing Kumbaya and holding candlelight vigils won't solve anything. Never have. It's time to send the message that killing innocent Americans is a mistake our enemies can't afford to make.
Except, according to them, he wasn't innocent. Do you think other countries should be able to attack us when we convict one of their citizens that they have decided is innocent?
People assume that the State Dept./U.S. Embassies in foreign countries will help you if you get into legal trouble in another country. They can't - they might offer advice on how to retain a lawyer based in that country but they can't extract you from the situation, even in countries that the US has diplomatic relationships with. Each country retains sovereignty, which is why Amanda Knox served time in an Italian prison when she was found guilty by an Italian court.
That is why you need to be familiar with the laws of the country that you are planning to visit.
I don't think anyone here is naive enough to think the U.S. government just gets someone out of trouble and whisks you away.
I don't think anyone here is naive enough to think the U.S. government just gets someone out of trouble and whisks you away.
I agree that no one posting in this thread is that naive. I do think some young people are, though; being young they think nothing bad will ever happen, and anyway being an American protects them. Sadly, too many of them learn the hard way (but the lesson usually involves a harsh jail sentence, not being sentenced to 15 years in a gulag and certainly not brain death).
And US residents really should check out travel.state.gov and the travel section on the CDC website before they go abroad. Both are a treasure trove of useful information!
Sure they do. They kill people without reason every single day.
Exactly!
If the tables were turned (impossible - I know).. that fatboy in NK would be screaming in his diaper that we were declaring war and all his usual mumbo jumbo. Has he said anything?
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