White House says it will offer largest military package in US history

[n2doc]

Source: Ynetnews, Reuters

The United States plans to offer Israel the largest military assistance package in US history, according to an Obama administration official.

"We are prepared to sign an MOU (memorandum of understanding) with Israel that would constitute the largest single pledge of military assistance to any country in US history," a White House official told Reuters.

The statement came hours after 83 US senators sent a letter to President Obama, urging him to reach a military assistance deal with Israel.

"In light of Israel's dramatically rising defense challenges, we stand ready to support a substantially enhanced new long-term agreement to help provide Israel the resources it requires to defend itself and preserve its qualitative military edge," said the letter.

Read more: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4796369,00.html

[EdwardBernays]

1. Fucking stupid

We just keep making the same mistakes over and over again.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Why? Horrible.

[larkrake]

3. Just plain stupid

[SoapBox]

4. Another disappointment from Obama.

[PoliticAverse]

5. And the 83 senators support tax increases to pay for this? n/t

[n2doc]

7. Nope, nor reductions in subsidies to big corporations, nor cuts in US Military spending

But expect another round of "we have to save social security and medicare by privatizing them" BS to start up.

[Equinox Moon]

6. And we can't pay for social programs for US citizens

[oldandhappy]

8. Just what the world needs

War War War

Dear 83 senators, Israel is a rich country. It could make peace if it wished. Why are we spending our money for more war instead of spending it on infrastructure, free public universities, health care for all as other developed peaceful countries do? If you want war, go live in and support Sudan.

[fred v]

24. Talk about a Welfare Bum!

[Kip Humphrey]

9. See that gasoline fire over there? Let's drown it in more gasoline.

[ReRe]

10. There you go...

... setting the stage for HRC's term at the helm.

[Paper Roses]

12. ...you nailed it. n/t

[snort]

14. Bingo

[wendylaroux]

11. WTF!!!!!!!!!!!???????????????Here ya go hills take over.

[valerief]

13. And more tax breaks for the wealthy all around!

[Skwmom]

21. Well considering they already made the last tax breaks for the wealthy permanent

you would think that would feed the greed for awhile. But then again, the more you feed the greed the hungrier it gets.

[valerief]

79. The rich always want what they have and a little more. Always. nt

[Skwmom]

80. Enough is enough also applies to when is enough is enough. How much do you need.

[allan01]

15. this is to make the arms merchents richer .

[Skwmom]

18. When you calculate how much we will have to pay in interest when we add this to our debt the

amount this will cost us will skyrocket.

[Equinox Moon]

16. This actually is for supporting military contractors/manufactures

This has nothing to do with "supporting" Israel.

We need a complete turn-around. Let's focus on peace and a healthy Earth.

[Skwmom]

17. So I guess we'll just add that to our $19 TRILLION dollar debt. Makes perfect sense.

[Karmadillo]

19. Pay up, losers, and drink your leaded water and go to your hollowed out schools.

[geardaddy]

20. Do we have a list of the 83 senators?

I'd like to see if mine were in on it.

[n2doc]

28. pdf of letter here

http://www.aipac.org/-/media/publications/policy-and-politics/legislative-action/2016/coonsgraham42516.ashx

The letter was initiated by Sens. Chris Coons (D-DE) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and was signed by a broad cross-section of the Senate—including the two leaders, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).

Sanders was not on it.

[geardaddy]

29. Thank you.

One of my senators (Klobachar) was on it but Franken was not. I'm a little surprised to see Elizabeth Warren's name on there.

[Paper Roses]

37. RE: Elizabeth Warren. I am shocked.

I support her, she is my Senator but this position does not please me at all.

[herding cats]

59. You shouldn't be.

Her stance on Israel has been pretty well documented, and it mirrors Hilary's for the most part.

Here's what Warren said in 2014:

At a town-hall meeting on Cape Cod last month, Warren answered critics of her vote in favor of a Senate measure to send an additional $225 million in military funding to Israel during the war. Here is a report on the town-hall meeting from the Cape Cod Times:

“I think the vote was right, and I'll tell you why I think the vote was right," [Warren] said. "America has a very special relationship with Israel. Israel lives in a very dangerous part of the world, and a part of the world where there aren't many liberal democracies and democracies that are controlled by the rule of law. And we very much need an ally in that part of the world.”

Warren said Hamas has attacked Israel ‘indiscriminately,’ but with the Iron Dome defense system, the missiles have "not had the terrorist effect Hamas hoped for." When pressed by another member of the crowd about civilian casualties from Israel's attacks, Warren said she believes those casualties are the "last thing Israel wants.”

“But when Hamas puts its rocket launchers next to hospitals, next to schools, they're using their civilian population to protect their military assets. And I believe Israel has a right, at that point, to defend itself," Warren said, drawing applause.
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/09/hillary-elizabeth-warren-and-israel/379721/

Sometimes we have to accept that our politicians may not mirror our beliefs exactly, but they're still good choices for us in the areas where they do.

[NYCButterfinger]

22. I'm not happy about how large it is, but if you keep attacking Israel you only

increase the Republicans' belief that the Democratic Party is anti-Semitic. Israel has done some wrongs in the past, but you should not be defending Palestine either. This is why a lot of people still wonder about this party and Jewish voters.

[Human101948]

32. Most of the Republicans want Jews to die..

Hagee: Jews Will Make End Times Deal With The Antichrist, 9/11 Was God's Judgment
SUBMITTED BY Brian Tashman on Friday, 11/15/2013 2:25 pm
Trinity Broadcasting Network hosted a Praise The Lord prophecy special this month, featuring a number of speakers including televangelist John Hagee. The right-wing pastor explained that during the End Times, the Jewish people will not accept Jesus as the Messiah until he returns “because they have just— three-and-a-half years or seven-years before — made a deal with the Antichrist, who is the false messiah, and they are extremely skeptical of that.”

David Reagan, another Christian Zionist preacher, said the Jewish people will experience a “horrible holocaust” and the vast majority will die during the End Times: “Two-thirds of them are going to die and that one-third that is left at the end is going to finally come to the end of themselves.”

- See more at: http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/hagee-jews-will-make-end-times-deal-antichrist-911-was-gods-judgment#sthash.6467gRVt.dpuf

[Madmiddle]

35. George Bush and Dick Cheney

are the gods behind the 9/11 attack. The explosives inside the building were loaded by a contractor, hired by the United States Government, to level the three buildings on that day. Ignorance is all that stops us from a revolution and fear.,

[DashOneBravo]

42. It was active Army units

Not contractors. It was a LRSU team from FT Drum NY.
I know it's true because I heard it from a guy who heard it from a guy that was at a bar with someone from the team.

They all died in a tragic space shuttle door gunner training exercise.

[Indydem]

51. God damn Space Shuttle

That door gunner on that fucking space glider has killed so many fine Americans!

[DashOneBravo]

64. I was almost assigned there

But I went through Stargate Selection and went to SG-1.

[William Seger]

53. Total baloney!

The magical silent explosives were planted by black ops teams wearing invisibility cloaks supplied by the real-life institute that J.K. Rowling's books are based on (but it's really in Israel).

[DashOneBravo]

65. That's crazy talk!

Everyone knows that magical explosives are not silent.

[warrprayer]

81. ...

f

[EX500rider]

69. Now,now, it was the Trilateral Commission in conjunction with the Bilderbergers and the Free Masons

..with some help from Big Foot and some orcs.
Sheese, everybody knows that

[NYCButterfinger]

47. Stop it. That's bull. Bin Laden was behind it.

[EX500rider]

68. Rigggghhhttt....

"Excuse me, we need to expose these beams and attach some "stuff" to them, and then lay several miles of wiring all through the building..."
But somehow NOBODY noticed......lol


were loaded by a contractor, hired by the United States Government

"Hi, we'd like you to bid on a project to destroy some skyscrapers with the people still in them... but time it so it happens at the same time some terrorists fly big jets into the building, ok?...and DON'T tell anybody!"
lol

[Skittles]

77. LOL

if that was true, surely they would have scripted a notification for Dubya than him sitting in a classroom reading MY PET GOAT

[LanternWaste]

45. I don't think there's a wide-spread perception that the Democratic party is anti-Semitic

I don't think there's a wide-spread perception that the Democratic party is anti-Semitic or hostile to Israel. It's an faux-opinion disingenuously held merely for political opportunism. The only people "still wondering about this party and Jewish voters" are those whose positions will not change regardless of facts.

I would however, be more that open to seeing objective, peer-reviewed numbers and their analyses supporting your position one way or the other,

[sulphurdunn]

71. Bullshit.

Opposing Israeli violations of international law and human decency on one hand, then turning around and pouring billions of dollars into its war machine on the other is symptomatic of the political rot in this country, your false equivalence statements about Palestinians and American Jews notwithstanding. Life for Palestinians is a daily atrocity. American Jews overwhelming vote democratic. The Democratic Party kisses the ring of the Israeli lobby as enthusiastically as the republicans.

[onecaliberal]

23. Now we're helping to kill palestinians indiscriminately and celebrating it. Fuck.

[freebrew]

25. Hey, Obama...

you do realize that there are PEOPLE, CITIZENS in this country that need help?

WRP had it right the first time...

[ebbie15644]

26. OMG This is insane!

[Faux pas]

27. Revolting

[bjo59]

30. When is this ever going to end? NEVER.

What a horror.

[bjo59]

31. We need to carry out a massive tax revolt.

[Madmiddle]

33. America backing a terrorist regime,

will be handed karma 10 fold. Israel is the reason for allthe hate in the middle east

[Mosby]

61. Israel is a liberal democracy surrounded by dictatorships and failed states.

Your views have really strayed far from reality.

[rockfordfile]

67. Israel's leader is a far right fascist

A real dirt-bag.

[Mosby]

70. Netayahu is the leader of a country that is way more liberal than the US

So what exactly makes Bibi a "far right fascist"?

Sure he is a "right winger" in a European sense, but there is nothing fascist about Israel's democracy, or the governments social and economic policies, in fact his government is trying to break up financial and real estate monopolies.

[Phlem]

34. USA! USA! USA!

Right!? And we're getting to elect a Pro War, Pro Corporate candidate.

Coincidence? I think not.

[MynameisBlarney]

36. Dammit

I'm sure this will work out just fine.

[yourpaljoey]

38. Obama putting the final touches on his 'legacy.' Now, if he can only ram that TPP down our throats.

[Populist_Prole]

50. My same thoughts exactly n/t

[Paper Roses]

39. Not good, Mr President. Bad mark for legacy.

Not that we peons have much say in anything any more! Phooey!

What other things will be coming down the pike? Don't support much during the tail end of this term.

[n2doc]

40. Still waiting for the trade screwovers to happen during the 'lame duck' session this fall.... n/t

[socialist_n_TN]

41. Yet there's no money for programs that benefit people.......

"We can't afford it" is the standard line. EXCEPT when it comes to supporting capitalism and empire. Then it's "money is no problem".

[turbinetree]

43. Why...................................

I mean really..............................why??????????????

We have public education being sold off to the highest bidder
We have roads and bridges, that have collapsed and are falling apart
We have drinking water that is undrinkable

Thats just for starters..........................

And Dylan Ratigan got it right.............................review again

Honk------------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016

[villager]

44. And our incumbent Republican strikes again. Way to reward Netanyahu, Mr. President. nt

[Wolf Frankula]

46. US to Israel: Mister Master Boss Sir

May I Please Please Please have the ecstasy of licking your boots? I will happily starve while you get fat. I will gleefully die for you too,

Wolf

[William Seger]

48. Some numbers: $4B per year for 10 years (up from $3B)

... which is about 25% of Israel's defense budget and about 55% of total US military aid. They'll be required to buy about $3B from US suppliers; the other $1B can be Israeli sources.

[hughee99]

54. So basically, it sounds like "stimuluous" since much of it will go to US based suppliers. n/t

[William Seger]

55. Most military aid recipients have to spend ALL of it in the US MIC (n/t)

[lsewpershad]

49. We always knew

this tail wags the {american] dog.

[november3rd]

52. Now

that's what I call reason and foresight in diplomacy.

I say all military aid to belligerent countries has to gain prior approval by the UN Peacekeeping Office.

[tabasco]

56. War profiteers: "We can do business with this new Democratic party."

"No need to install republicans when Democrats keep the money rolling in to the war machine!"

[Doctor_J]

57. Hope and change!

[YOHABLO]

58. What does the U.S. get in return?

Defense challenges my ass. The countries surrounding Israel hate them for their policies. Israel is just a puppet state of the U.S. anyway. Israel would not exist if it were not for U.S. support.

[Cobalt Violet]

60. But no money for free college or single payer healthcare for us.

:

[Paper Roses]

63. Strange, Isn't it. We as a country suffer so that we can support the rest of the world.

I'm trying to keep informed but: So often I read things that do not compute. Why is this happening when so many here are suffering.
Our country is going to fail if we don't wake up and take care of our own.

I see no change in the status quo with some of the candidates. Four or 8 more years of this same old baloney? The prospects make me shudder.
The whole political situation leaves me speechless. President Obama, you have lost me.

[LiberalLovinLug]

62. Obama has been a very good friend to the MIC

His parting gift is a whopper with a giant bow.

[Duckfan]

66. Add it to the list: Obama disapointment # 422

Among the other cluster fu**s.

[sulphurdunn]

72. Israel ranks 21st in global median income, just below France

and above Belgium. It ranks 36th in global GDP, all with a population of around 6 million people. We subsidize every Israeli to the tune of around a $1000 dollars a year. That takes more than a third of our entire Foreign Aid budget besides the estimated $500,000,000 tax exempt donations made by American Zionist organizations every year. How much will it be after our political whores in Washington tack on another billion or two? If the government ups the Israel tribute to $5,000,000,000, it will amount to the cost of sending $100,000,000 dollars to every state. The whole thing is a shameful, stinking travesty and a national disgrace.

[Odin2005]

73. Yay, more aid for an imperialist Fascist state!

[Reter]

74. Who are the 17 patriots who didn't sign?

Sanders? I'd imagine all Democrats except Rand Paul.

[truebrit71]

75. Un-fucking-believable...

But hey, what's a Nobel Peace prize winner to do?

[condoleeza]

76. They're going to need it

If Trump or Clinton are potus.

[Scuba]

78. If we can't afford to educate our children, to heal our sick or to care for our elderly ...

... just what is it the defense budget is defending?