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Comment by dasudasu | Hacker News Reader

It's not true to say they necessarily don't use any of the services. The US still defend its citizens abroad, and might evacuate you in case some disaster happens, do hostage rescue using the full power of its military and intelligence agencies, and will generally provide consular help and speak on your behalf should you get into trouble.

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Odd then that no other country (except Eritrea) follows the US footsteps. The UK and many other countries have the ability to defend its citizens abroad, evacuate them, engage in hostage negotiations, etc.

(As I recall, in the UK that cost is paid via part of your passport fees. Not via world-wide taxation and monetary oversight.)

That should be "most of its citizens abroad." As we know from Anwar al-Awlaki, the US may decide to remove due-process rights of its citizens and use its military power to kill them.

I don't buy it. We're talking here about people who have literally never lived in America since they were too young to even remember. They have lived in another country, paid taxes in that other country, and probably have a passport for that other country. If anything happens to them there would likely be an expectation that their adopted country would look after them, not the US.

Speaking from personal experience - not really. My employer rescued me. The US did nothing. Maybe you are thinking of France?

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