Japan's reasoning seems logical and fair and consistent and yet so very, very wrong.Justene is a very nice person, but I think Japan's actions should be applauded, not denigrated as wrong. Right now the US is advising all non-essential Americans to leave Saudi Arabia. Let's say 4 Americans enter Saudi Arabia next week despite this strong recommendation and get kidnapped by terrorists.
Should the rest of us should pick up the tab if our government can save them and fly them home?
For my part, I'd like my government to try to save them. But I certainly hope we'd bill these folks for at least part of the expense. Their foolhardy actions would be wasting our taxes. The least they could do is cover a small portion of the costs they incurred. (I say small portion, because neither Japan or the US seems to ever charge the actual costs for rescuing foolish citizens. Even the time of just one high-level negotiator is worth many hundreds of dollars per hour and the efforts to rescue foolish folks involves many people).
My thoughts are also guided by my belief that actions should have consequences. If those who foolishly rush into trouble are always bailed out by their governments, are not we endorsing and enabling similar behavior in the future?