Comment by lhopki01
Not sure why US citizens believe this. I've been in situations where there was genuine peril and the look of shock the US citizens had when someone from their embassy said the only thing they'd do is organize a convoy of private vehicles if everyone turned up at x time and place. They really expected the US army to turn up to save them. Honestly I don't think I've seen the US do any more than any other western country for their citizens in these situations.
I'm not an American, but I have seen similar cases from my own country. The reactions varies a lot. Some people are well connected or are lucky enough to get media coverage, that forces the government to act.
Example:
1. A "stoner" didn't have enough money to pay a bribe in India after a "random" drug search (small amount of cannabis) and spent several years in prison and was sick most of the time due to the conditions. Almost no reaction from the government... in the end someone in the Indian government pardoned him for humanitarian reasons because he had suffered enough.
2. Two upper-class young girls smuggled several kg of heroin and was caught. The government moved heaven and earth to get them to serve prison time in their home country.