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U.S. to give Israel record $30 billion in military aid
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| Krypton |
Israel as a nation ain't going NOWHERE!!
I have no problem with the US bolstering stable open governments in the Middle East. If the US doesn't do anything more stupid than invading Iraq, we might see some sort of stability in the region.
| quote: | JERUSALEM - The United States offered Israel an unprecedented $30 billion of military aid over 10 years on Thursday, bolstering its closest Mideast ally and ensuring the state's military edge over its neighbors long into the future.
The package was meant in part to offset U.S. plans to offer Saudi Arabia advanced weapons and air systems that would greatly improve the Arab country's air force. Israel has said it has no opposition to the Saudi aid.
The deal represents a 25 percent rise in U.S. military aid to Israel, from a current $2.4 billion a year to $3 billion a year over the next 10 years.
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns said the package was meant to back peace-seeking countries like Israel and moderate Arab states in the region to counter U.S. adversaries such as Iran.
"The only way to peace is to show countries like Iran and Syria that the U.S. will remain the primary factor of stability in this region," Burns said at Israel's Foreign Ministry. "We are going to stand up for our friends."
The U.S. has expressed grave concern over Iran and Syria's backing of the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon. In addition, the United States charges Iran is backing Shiite insurgents in its war in Iraq and trying to develop nuclear weapons.
The United States and Israel also accuse Iran of developing nuclear bombs, a charge Tehran denies. Iran's president has said Israel should be wiped off the map and Israel considers Iran its main enemy.
Burns said the deal would ensure Israel's qualitative edge over its neighbors. The United States is also proposing a large weapons package to Saudi Arabia, which has historically been an Israeli enemy but has indicated a willingness to attend a U.S.-backed peace conference with Israel in the fall. Saudi Arabia and other Sunni-led Arab allies of the United States are also wary of Iran's increasing influence in the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he understands the U.S. need to bolster Saudi Arabia in the face of Iran. The increase in military aid to Israel would guarantee its strategic superiority despite upgrades to other Arab countries' defense systems, Olmert has said.
Burns and Israeli Foreign Minister Director-General Aharon Abramovitch signed the memorandum of understanding that stated the "unshakable commitment of the United States to Israel's security."
The aid package to Israel was finalized in June in Washington by President Bush and Olmert.
The U.S. has long-standing commitments to Israel and to Egypt, which in 1979 became the first Arab state to make peace with Israel. Egypt currently receives $1.3 billion a year in military assistance.
Israel's central bank chief, Stanley Fischer, said the U.S. aid is of "critical importance" to Israel, whose defense budget constitutes about 10 percent of its Gross Domestic Product.
The Bush administration must still receive congressional approval for the aid deal, but Burns said he believed there would be little opposition.
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| hardcore trancer |
yaaa I say give them even more millitary power,it is not like they have a load of weapons already.:rolleyes:
I mean after all Israel has to protect itself from those evil terrorists somehow right? |
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| pkcRAISTLIN |
i dont have a problem with the aid as long as it comes with pressure to refrain from actions like we saw in lebanon. really, the US should use this kind of measure to prevent all kinds of things. like the wall that's being built for instance.
free, "no-strings" aid to israel isn't something i agree with. |
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| Krypton |
| quote: | Originally posted by hardcore trancer
yaaa I say give them even more millitary power,it is not like they have a load of weapons already.:rolleyes:
I mean after all Israel has to protect itself from those evil terrorists somehow right? |
Yep.:rolleyes:
If I was surrounded by my enemies, I'de sure as hell make sure I was protected. It's a natural reaction. Do you actually think Israel will let anyone walk all over them? As the 4 wars against Israel has shown, they still believe themselves to be threatened by numerous enemies.
I find it unfortunate that to forge the nation of Israel, millions of Palestineans would have to give up their land. Then again, the land known as Israel, Palestine, Canaan, whatever has been fought over ever since recorded history began to write about it. It's insane. |
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| shaolin_Z |
| Is this supposed to be a surprise or something? The US has alwayds been subservient to the Zionist state of Israel, it's to be expected. An overwhelming majority of the NeoCons and it's prominent member are Zionists anywas, what the do you expect lol. |
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| hardcore trancer |
| quote: | Originally posted by Krypton
Yep.:rolleyes:
If I was surrounded by my enemies, I'de sure as hell make sure I was protected. It's a natural reaction. Do you actually think Israel will let anyone walk all over them? As the 4 wars against Israel has shown, they still believe themselves to be threatened by numerous enemies.
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Then why is it hard for you and others like yourself to uderstand when it comes to lets say Iran wanting to protect itself from its enemies? What makes Israel so precious that the U.S needs to spend billions of your money to them? to me this so so called "aid" is part of a bigger agenda,more like an offensive one then anything else. |
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| shaolin_Z |
| quote: | Originally posted by hardcore trancer
Then why is it hard for you and others like yourself to uderstand when it comes to lets say Iran wanting to protect itself from its enemies? What makes Israel so precious that the U.S needs to spend billions of your money to them? to me this so so called "aid" is part of a bigger agenda,more like an offensive one then anything else. |
Plus Uno! The euphemistic and dishonest language in political discourse is quite disgusting and hypocritical. |
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| Sunsnail |
| quote: | Originally posted by hardcore trancer
Then why is it hard for you and others like yourself to uderstand when it comes to lets say Iran wanting to protect itself from its enemies? What makes Israel so precious that the U.S needs to spend billions of your money to them? to me this so so called "aid" is part of a bigger agenda,more like an offensive one then anything else. |
The US has allies and enemies. If the US were some impartial entity, then that would be different. But, the US has its own interests in mind, just as it should. |
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| shaolin_Z |
| quote: | Originally posted by Sunsnail
The US has allies and enemies. If the US were some impartial entity, then that would be different. But, the US has its own interests in mind, just as it should. |
And how the does our irrational support for Israel factor in to our national interests? That's the most ing retarded statement I've read here in a while. :conf: Israel is a ing leach sucking us dry and driving our foreighn policy through AIPAC, the Israeli lobby, and the Zionist dominated NeoCons, or the "crazies" as Ray McGovern and old school intelligence veterans used to call 'em. |
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| Sunsnail |
| God said so :conf: |
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| shaolin_Z |
| quote: | Originally posted by Sunsnail
God said so :conf: |
:D |
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| Krypton |
| quote: | Originally posted by hardcore trancer
Then why is it hard for you and others like yourself to uderstand when it comes to lets say Iran wanting to protect itself from its enemies? What makes Israel so precious that the U.S needs to spend billions of your money to them? to me this so so called "aid" is part of a bigger agenda,more like an offensive one then anything else. |
Until Admadinijad and Bush are out of office, negociation will be extremely difficult with Iran and will continue to be stalled. Israel has been attacked or was going to be attacked by at least 5 of its neighbors at least 4 different times its first 60 years of existance. For the last 30 years, Israel has been continuously attacked by rockets, suicide bombers, and gunmen. Does Iran have such a problem? I don't think so.
I think the theocratic mullah system of government in Iran is a bloated corpse of itself, totally outdated with the times, in a country in which the average Iranian has no memory of the revelution, let alone the Iran-Iraq war. The ayatollahs are losing their grip a people who want their basic human rights. Therefore, the ayatollahs have to do something to maintain their power. Or else the government would be a secular government like its neighbors.
So what does a theocratic leadership do to maintain their power on a people increasing not caring about revolution and strict theocratic rule? They create an external enemy to distract the people from the truth. That their own government is true problem. They go to war. Iranians are constantly reminded of the 'Zionist' threat, and of satanic america there to destroy islam. Propaganda is everywhere, on STATE-RUN media, in their mosques, by their president, and by the Grand Council of ayatollahs in their decrees.
Meanwhile, while the Iranian president tries to rile up the world over a secretive nuclear program, inflation remains at 15.8%. Unemployment is at 15% according to the Iranian government's own stats. 40% of the population lives below the poverty line! These are huge catalysts for anger, and reform. But the Old Guard will not have it, and so they focus the people's fears, anger, and frustration at external enemies egging them on to do something drastic so they can point their fingers and say, "AH HA! See, the West really is evil, look what they did. Jihad!"
That's my opinion about the Iranian leadership. |
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