Israel To Ask U.S. For More Military Aid

[Purveyor]

Israel will ask the U.S. government to significantly increase its military assistance to the country as part of a new multi-year aid agreement.

A high-level Israeli economic delegation led by Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer and Finance Ministry Director General Yarom Ariav will meet with an American team in Washington this week.

The present package, which ends this year, covers $2.4 billion in annual military aid.

Israel's request comes due to the military challenges and restraints it will have to face in the upcoming years and the weakening dollar.

---SNIP---

The level of aid to be requested was to be set at the meeting, but Washington asked Israel last week not to ask for a specific amount at this stage, but rather present its needs in principle.

The actual numbers will be raised in negotiations in the upcoming months

---END OF EXCERPT---

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/830502.html

[underpants]

1. How about if we just invade and occupy countries for them?

Hows that sound?

[babylonsister]

18. Isn't that our role already? nt

[Dr.Phool]

2. Gotta replace all them cluster bombs.

And if they're gonna attack Iran for us, they'll need a lot.

[Roland99]

3. My response as a taxpayer? "Cheney", Israel.

[Malikshah]

4. To paraphrase Eleanor of Aquitaine played by the stellar Katherine

Hepburn in the movie "The Lion in Winter"

*In best Kate Hepburn voice, scalding with derision*

"That is the single thing...
of which I would have thought
you had enough."

[donheld]

32. In my best Nancy Reagon voice

"Just say NO!"

[wakeme2008]

5. Raise your taxes

Just another Welfare Queen as Freeper would say :grr:

[saigon68]

25. another Welfare Queen

so true

[ClintonTyree]

6. No

Just, no.

[jody]

7. Israel can pay its own bills. "In 10 years, Israel could be one of the 10 richest countries in the

world,' Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told guests at ICSEP’s first annual United States Awards Dinner. Milton Friedman expressed similar beliefs to those assembled at New York’s St Regis Hotel: 'Israel has the potential of being the Hong Kong of the Middle East,' he said in his video address. During dinner, Israel’s minister of economic affairs in America, Ron Dermer, presented the awards."

Fri 08 Jul 2005 Binyamin Netanyahu

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[rodeodance]

11. u m.. sounds a tad bit optimistic!

[Tom Joad]

21. It's policies of occupation and dispossession of Palestine are morally bankrupt.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[IA_Seth]

12. Who will support this?

It will be interesting to see who among our potential nominees supports this crap. I have a feeling I will be disappointed.

[Purveyor]

13. They all will support it so it will be a 'non-issue' unless we make it one.

The only candidate from either party that most likely would object is Rep. Ron Paul.

[Tom Joad]

20. June 10th. The World says no to Israel's occupation! Make history.

http://www.endtheoccupation.org/

[ddbaj]

14. This is so wrong...

Makes me want to barf that while millions starve we waste our money on this already well off country so they can buy weapons.

[angstlessk]

15. Why dosen't Israel just borrow directly from China...any money we

give them will be borrowed from China!

[Purveyor]

16. Because any loan from China would actually have to be paid back...

[donkeyotay]

17. There won't be a peep from Washington

A rubber stamp and a check. Kind of funny that they mentioned the dollar. Wish we had an alternative. Heck, if interest rates go up the payments on the existing debt are going to kill us.

[Tom Joad]

19. Strangely, those few who oppose Bush's occupation, and even seem willing to

place some financial restriction on it, will line-up to support any request of Prime Minister Olmert, and support the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

People-power must change that. June 10th, 40th anniversary of the occupation of West Bank and Gaza. We will tell the world we say NO to occupation.

http://www.endtheoccupation.org/

[Jax]

22. Thank you

for this outstanding link and your stellar efforts on these forums at DU Tom Joad! :thumbsup:

(edit: spelling)

[AnOhioan]

23. And here I thought we were already doing the Israeli...

governments dirty work.

[Scurrilous]

24. Meanwhile:

Rafael to provide armored vehicles to U.S. Marines in Iraq

<snip>

"Rafael, the Israel Arms Development Authority, is one of the winners of a U.S. Marines tender for the supply of armored vehicles to its troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A preliminary deal for the purchase of 60 armored vehicles at a cost of $37 million has already been signed.

The U.S. Marines are seeking to purchase a total of 4,000 armored vehicles.

A number of companies from around the world vied for the tender, all of which were required to comply requirements such as protection from roadside bombs, mines and RPGs.

The U.S. Marines selected five vehicle designs among the available options.

One of them is the Golan armored vehicle, manufactured by Rafael and the U.S. firm PIA."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/830931.html

[entanglement]

26. I am a firm supporter of no-strings attached aid for worthy, PEACEFUL causes worldwide

Military aid to Israel isn't one of them, not by a long shot.

[annabanana]

27. Jeez. . With our economy in the state it's in,

they should be giving US aid. Seriously, who are we borrowing from to be able to do this?

[goforit]

28. Unbelievable!

[talkinghead]

29. If we cut aid to Israel they will be forced to reexamine their policies.

Their actions are made knowing they have the unconditional backing of the US, which encourages irrational policies. We should cut military funding to Israel and be more critical of their actions. We should also realize that their fights aren't necessarily linked to our interests. As Brzenski wrote in his book The Choice, our overarching war on terror has allowed regional conflicts such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the conflict in Chechnya to be co-opted into the broader war on terror. Military aid should not be given to countries unless it is in our absolute best interests and even those claims are questionable.

[cali]

30. contact your reps and Senators

let them know that people out there- lots of us- are opposed to military aid for Israel.

[HuffleClaw]

31. i don't see why they should get ANY 'aid' at all

not even a dime.