Numerous American leaders over the decades have expressed their perception that Israel and the USA have a “special relationship,” [1] that Israel’s enemies are America’s enemies, and that American aid to Israel is money well spent. Most recently, these sentiments were articulated by House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, Senator Harry Reid, Vice President Joe Biden, and President Barack Obama. They continue to be in favor of the continued American financial support for Israel, amounting to about $3,000,000,000 per year in recent years. [2]
Yet critics of Israel complain that the USA gives too much money to Israel and that the “special relationship” is a liability for the USA. [3] These critics support their assessments with wildly exaggerated claims regarding the size of US aid to Israel, with accusations that Israel is bankrupting the USA, and with the warning that US money encourages Israeli obduracy, stokes the Israel-Arab conflict and generates anti-American sentiment in Muslim countries. In short, they blame Israel for America’s difficulties abroad.
While it is undeniable that the enemies of both the USA and Israel exploit American support for Israel to foment anti-American sentiment, it is a grave strategic error to place credence in such anti-Israel propaganda. Yet that is what the critics do, with the apparent intent to undermine the “special relationship.”
Since US support is of vital importance to Israel’s security, an examination of these critics’ claims seems worthwhile.
There are five questions that arise in the context of US aid to Israel and these accusations:
1.) Why is there an Israel-USA “special relationship,” an alliance which includes generous American aid and political support at the UN and other international venues?
2.) What is the real number of US dollars in US aid to Israel?
3.) How do we know that the critics offer exaggerated assessments of the dollar amount and spurious claims regarding its political valence and liabilities?
4.) What is the value to the USA of its generous financial support to Israel, compared to the value of similar aid to those countries which are Israel’s avowed enemies?
5.) What is the real impact of the USA’s “special relationship” with Israel upon America’s position in the Middle East and in the broader Muslim world?
The following article will address the first question. The remaining four will be answered in subsequent articles.
At the most obvious level, Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. Democracies are an endangered species, so they can be expected to support one another and to have mutually beneficial relationships stronger than those between democracies and totalitarian states.
The U.S.–Israel “special relationship” grows in part from the resonance of a common Bible and a host of Judeo-Christian features. As western democracies, Israel and the USA have shared strategic interests, shared civic and political values, and the personal, cultural, and political bonds that exist naturally between free peoples. The supreme commander of NATO operations in Europe and head of the U.S. European Command (EUCOM), General John Craddock, speaking before the U.S. House Armed Services Committee in 2007, called Israel a “model state” and America’s closest ally in the Middle East. He noted that Israel consistently and directly supports U.S. interests and U.S. policy in the region.
In fact, Israel is among the few countries in the world, and the only Middle Eastern state, to consistently stand alongside the United States on strategic issues in the UN and in other venues for international cooperation. Israel votes with the USA in the UN about 94% of the time. No other nation holds that record.
But amicable support alone cannot justify tens of billions of taxpayer dollars in US aid to Israel. Happily, the USA has two very strong reasons to conclude that money to Israel is an investment for which the American people get a truly excellent return.
First, there is a financial reciprocity in this “special relationship” quite unlike any other that the USA has. Much, and in many years most, of the money that the USA gives Israel has been used by Israel to purchase goods and services, both military and civilian, from the USA, so that American aid money is recycled back into the American economy. Nearly 90% of US aid to Israel is military, and Israel spends about 75% of that buying U.S. goods. This aid has been described as an indirect American subsidy to U.S. arms manufacturers.
But, second, there is more to this issue than merely Israel’s using American money to help the US economy. Israel is a very powerful military ally as well. The security cooperation between Israel and the United States is vast, and Israel has consistently been a major security asset to the United States, an asset upon which America can rely, far more so than have been other state recipients of American largesse.[4]
In the field of military intelligence Israel is arguably the world’s leading expert in collecting intelligence on terrorist groups and in counter-terrorism. It provides intelligence and know-how to the U.S. According to Maj. Gen. George J. Keegan Jr., former head of U.S. Air Force intelligence, America’s military defense capability “owes more to the Israeli intelligence input than it does to any single source of intelligence,” the worth of which input, he estimated, exceeds “five CIAs.” He further stated that between 1974 and 1990, Israel received $18.3 billion in U.S. military grants. During the same period Israel provided the U.S. with $50-$80 billion in intelligence, research and development savings, and Soviet weapons systems captured and transferred to the U.S.[5]
Israeli and American intelligence agencies continuously exchange information, analyses, and operational experience in counterterrorism and counter-proliferation. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and its Israeli counterpart share technical know-how in defending against terrorist attacks, countering unconventional weapons and cyber-threats, and combating the drug trade. On the battlefield, Israeli armaments protect Bradley and Stryker units from rocket-propelled grenades, while Israeli-made drones and reconnaissance devices allow for safe surveillance of hostile territory. U.S. fighter aircraft and helicopters incorporate Israeli concepts and components, as do modern-class U.S. warships. The IDF has furnished U.S. forces with its expertise in the detection and neutralization of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the largest cause of American casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Former Supreme Commander of NATO and U.S. Secretary of State Gen. Alexander Haig (deceased) described Israel as “the largest US aircraft carrier, which does not require even one US soldier, cannot be sunk, is the most cost-effective and battle-tested, located in a region which is critical to vital US interests. If there would not be an Israel, the US would have to deploy real aircraft carriers, along with tens of thousands of US soldiers, which would cost tens of billions of dollars annually, dragging the US unnecessarily into local, regional and global conflicts.”[6]
In short, support for Israel has been a very profitable investment for the USA. Israel is an ideal ally for America in the Middle East. Haifa is one of the safest and most hospitable ports for the 6th Fleet, a dependable base for pre-positioning emergency military stores for deployment in neighboring countries, and a base for close-by sophisticated medical services.
The Mearsheimer and Walt report counters all of this author's claims with great efficacy.
http://web.hks.harvard.edu/publications/workingpa…
I worked for and still contribute to the US DoD at Senior-Fellow level.
Please let us know if either one of those two ever participated on US national defense.
Harvard, my friend produced some of the worst "graduated" junk ever. Granted that in cases it also produced fine scholars. But…
I worked with a huge industrial firm including over 120000 employees world wide.
In the Defense Division, not a single Harvard graduate led a thing.
Just as I did, many other Israeli experts did then and do now give their best for the US National Defense. And of course Israel's national defense.
Isn't your last sentence a case of dual loyalties?
Good question.
President Bush visited our facility and was made aware of a Patent I had developed for one of the most critical Programs. Military Avionics that is.
He did not quite feel the way you do, nor did the pilots but then again who cares about what you think, fellow. LOL
I'm honored that you consider me a fellow. Perhaps in time I can aspire to Senior Fellow status like yourself.
It is a good opportunity for readers to have a better understanding "maturing20".
Allow me to report to you the following.
Professor Daniel "Dan" Shechtman born in Tel Aviv, is this year's Nobel Prize Laureate in Chemistry.
He is a Professor at the Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, Eretz Israel.
AND he is also a staff member of the…
US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AMES LABORATORY
as well as:
Professor at Iowa State University
That is how "double loyalty" works…
I hope you like it.
Of course I am not a Nobel Laureate but I am one of the best Engineers in my specialty. Patent holder and book writer on behalf of US interests and Israeli as well. Hardly any aircraft serving the US and many others would not include some of my work.
Proud of my loyalty may friend.
Cheers!
Is it wise to have such a close relationship with another state?
They have been totally discredited
A number of people have demonstrated the major errors in Mearsheimer and Walt's work. You should try reading those as carefully as you read M&W.
For your convenience, here's a rather long list: http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=8&x…
Thanks for the list, I have started reading them. What I'm most struck by is how the different respondents treat Mearsheimer and Walt's claim that Israel's security is not a long-term US interest.
With all due respect, Mearsheimer and Walt are both anti-Semitic bigots and unhinged morons just like you.
In addition, show me a moron who is obsessed with bashing Israel and I'll show you a moron who also is completely ignorant of Islam and the grave existential threat it represents to freedom in the world. Not to mention that leftwing Marxists are unhinged totalitarians as well, which also explains their natural affinity for Islam.
Their sentence structure is better than yours.
Israel is no longer the "only democracy" in the middle east. I am not anti-Israel, but I am definitely pro American. Give Israel credit for knowing our political system better than we do. AIPAC and their affiliates donate 200,000,000 every election cycle (2 years) and the US "donates" 3.5 Billion of US taxpayer money every year to a wealthy country, Israel. The US is hated by Arab nations because of our support for Israel, General Petraius noted we lose American lives because of it. We ask Israel to stop developing realestate on occupied land to further peace objectives, they tell our President to go fish, then the US Congress applauds Israel's prime minitster like he is a king of peace. Israel must think Americans are a bunch of chumps, and we are. It's absolutely pathetic. I am not angry with Israel, but I am very angry at American politicians. Last I checked, the US constitution seperated the church from the state, why are we supporting a Jewish state again? WAKE UP!
How much does Saudi Arabia donate? Why does America continue to pander to the Saudis, and continue to buy their unethical oil?
Answers those two questions, then tell us why you are so pissed off about US aid to Israel.
Concerning this first question, our author greatly misses the larger point: sure, India is a democracy, too, but only Israel is Western in thought, the demarcation of which, is religious—our G0D seeks us, and fellowship with us ("Come now, let us reason together, . . .") and the notions of gods of the heathen nations, have them seeking their gods and trying to placate them.
And for example, my friend, who was at the head of Sudanese people in Portland, Oregon said: "When the Moslems help people, they ask first, to know whether you are Moslem or, no; when the Christians help, they help everyone."; and arising from the same Source or The Source Who Remains The Same, Israel is the same way, . . .
This natural division between that which is Occidental and that which is Oriental shows also, why the Western nations have so much to give, and the Moslem and others, so very little.
All of Western thought follows from this relationship as things truly are. While the one is sourced in a religion of grace, good times, and fellowship, the other seeks to establish man-made inventions as a religion with weak notions of the Creator—all, religions of mere works of man's hands, the religion of Cain the Rejected, and ultimately dejected and disappointed, . . .
Ardin – you wrote that "the US is hated by Arab nations because of our support for Israel, General Petraius noted we lose American lives because of it." If you research this further you will see this is a mistaken idea. If Israel disappeared tomorrow, the Muslim nations would not hate the U.S. any less. In their eyes, the U.S. is the Great Satan; Israel is only the Little Satan. They hate European civilisation as much as they hate the U.S. – for what they see as its corruption, licenciousness, and for its "infidelity" to the Quran.
I would add that one of the reasons the U.S. is hated by Muslim nations is its wars on Muslim soil, wars which you can hardly blame on Israel. I'm not saying those wars are unjustified, only that Americas own leaders considered it to be vital to their own national interests to wage those wars, whether for access to natural resources, or to spread democracy, or in the hope of implanting pro-US regimes, or for other reasons.
As for Congress giving Netanyahu a warm welcome, I understood this as a reaction to Pres. Obama's clueless policies. Obama thinks that if Israel bares its neck to the Islamic sword, PLO Fatah will turn from a tiger into a pussycat. Thank heaven some Congressmen know better.
The advantage for the US is enormous, not for Israel. The US is twisting the arm of Israel politically. When Israel is in real need the aid seldom came on time. In the Yom Kippur war, thanks to Nixon the aid came, although late. In 1967 (6 day war) we (Israelis) were criticized. We were criticized for bombing the Osirak nuclear reactor in Iraq. And, maybe worst of all the US pushed us to surrender the whole Sinai. Now, a few days ago the US Defense Sec Panetta, ask Israel to surrender the Jordan Valley and many other posts; the US is prepared to give assurances on security (we don't need US assurances!!! All wars were fought alone and the blood is ours). Panetta (the US) is now asking us to prepare for "national suicide". Israel could not sell different weapon platforms to some countries, because of US pressure. The best thing for Israel would be to renounce the $3 Bilion, which frankly we don't need. And be free of political US pressure. Part 1.
I'm not anti American, though I would prefer having leaders here in Israel speaking more frankly to the US. Instead of receiving $3 B. we could bill the US for the valuable intelligence (as you say worth of 5 CIAs during the xyz period), and bill you for ALL the valuable technical changes of the F-16, F-15 aircraft which were adopted throughout the years by the US! (worth Bilions of research) Israel isn't doing it, because its leaders are too comfortable (for the time being) and partly "refuse to see" the reality. In the end we are not ready for national suicide, and if pushed to the brink, we should act accordingly, without phoning first to the White House.
The problem with the US, is the inconsistency of the foreign policy, the rough treatment of allies, the general shortsightedness (partly due to "Harvard producing graduated junk" as Shmuel Halevi commented in this forum) and the US political attention span which isn't longer than the next quarter. I could write a full essay, it is wise to refrain. The future will tell. A last word: The famous historian A. Toynbee said: Civilizations die from suicide not murder. America has to be careful for its own sake. Part 2.
What a brilliant idea – billing the US for what Israel provides. Love it!!!
If Israel is such an enormous asset to the US, then why doesn't any other country stand by Israel at the UN so they can recieve such an enourmous benefit. Can the US get back the American sailers killed by the Israeli airforce when it sunk the USS Liberty? I think our airforce was fine, and is fine, without Israel. Use someone elses military equipment to kill Palistinians, PLEASE.
Canada? Australia? Or haven't you been keeping up on the news lately?
Probably not, as you keep insisting on reminding us about the USS Liberty, no matter how many posters inform you that the Liberty was giving away Israeli positions to the Egyptians and that despite Israeli requests, refused to stop doing so. That episode is over, dealt with, done. Now go away until you can come up with something new and worthwhile to post.
If Israel is such an enormous asset to the US, then why doesn't any other country stand by Israel at the UN so they can recieve such an enourmous benefit.
Several reasons, but clout is a big one. For instance, if a country supports Israel and if it isn't a world superpower like the USA, then it can forget about conducting international trade and commerce with not only the 57 Islamic states currently waging permanent and perpetual jihad against the Jewish unbelievers in Israel, but also all the other states that have been cowered into supporting the Islamic world's genocidal jihad against Israel.
Not to mention that the Islamic world is not only waging jihad against the Jewish unbelievers in Israel, but it is also waging jihad against any and all non-Muslim unbelievers. Indeed, show me a moron addicted to bashing Israel and I will show you a fool totally oblivious of Islam and the very real existential threat it represents to freedom in the world.
Another one is using oil as leverage to influence countries. This was particularly influential during the 1973 oil embargo following the Yom Kippur War when the Euro-Arab Dialogue was created, whereby the Islamic world successfully coerced the ECC, the precursor to the EU, into tossing Israel under the bus in return for cheap, reliable, and uninterrupted supplies of oil.
In fact, as a direct result of the Euro-Arab Dialogue, the Euroloons also agreed to allow mass Muslim immigration into Europe, agreed not to attempt to assimilate or integrate these Muslim immigrants, agreed to allow thousands of mosques and madrassas to be built throughout Europe, agreed to revise all their text books used in schools, colleges, and universities to reflect an Islamic perspective of world history, agreed to allow Muslim professors to head Middle East Studies Departments in colleges and universities, agreed to numerous one sided Islamic biased cultural exchanges, agreed to force their medias to present only an anti-Israeli perspective, agreed to distance itself from the USA and to strive to separate the USA from Israel, etc., etc,, etc. Anyway, all of this is detailed and also copiously documented in Bat Ye'or's book, Eurabia: The Euro-Arab Axis. http://www.reformedreflections.ca/book-reviews/eu…
Also, most countries around the world today have large and restless unassimilated and unintegrated Muslim populations living in Muslim no-go zones ruled by Sharia as fifth columns in them, and anytime the permanent jihad being waged perpetually against the Jewish unbelievers in Israel gets heated up, these restless populations of unassimilated and unintegrated Muslims march and riot to denounce Israel and in support of the jihadists fighting the Jewish unbelievers in Israel, while at the same time also sending a loud and very clear message to the governments of the countries in which they reside, that if they make the mistake of supporting Israel that there will be internal hell to pay.
Thus, when you put all of it together, the clout of 57 Islamic states plus their supporters, the leverage and influence of oil, the huge impact of the Euro-Arab Dialogue since the 70s, the large populations of restless and unassimilated Muslims living as fifth columns in Muslim no-go zones ruled by Sharia inside these countries, etc., and then it becomes easy to understand why so many countries eagerly throw Israel under the bus.
Can the US get back the American sailers killed by the Israeli airforce when it sunk the USS Liberty?
That was irrefutably proven to be an accident when the NSA finally released the copies of the transcripts of the Israeli pilots in 2004. Hence, the fact that you don't know it or otherwise ignore it and still attempt to use the USS Liberty accident to incite hatred and violence against Israel proves unequivocally that you are little more than an unhinged and very obsessed anti-Semitic Jew hating bigot.
I think our airforce was fine, and is fine, without Israel.
Thankfully, most people aren't morons and obsessed Jew haters like you.
Use someone elses military equipment to kill Palistinians, PLEASE.
So-called Palestinians are a proxy created in Moscow in 1964 by the Soviet KGB as a disinformation campaign to camouflage the Islamic world's permanent genocidal jihad being waged perpetually against the Jewish unbelievers in Israel under a cloak of nationalism to dupe gullible useful idiots and Jew hating bigots like you. Nevertheless, anyone who has studied Islam knows that nationalism and nation states are products of Western civilization, and that Islamic civilization only believes in the Dar al Islam (the realm of submission) ruled by a world Caliphate.
@ardinbolt: I agree. What can we expect from these Israeli to say but how great it should be for them but at American lives with American dollars. If they so want their freedom, I'm sure they could have it. Just say no to our blood and money, just so say no. I like how one comment boast of recycling American money as what we give them are given back to us when they buy our weapons. Are they kidding? This kind of logic is dumber than the people who talks of it: I give them a dollar and they give me back the dollar for my bread, so they got the bread for free! Those people are a joke to themselves.
Sadly, as an American, I cannot argue against your arguement. The US has been a horrible ally despite the aid. Periodically, we elect a government (2008 comes to mind) that ignores and puts down our allies. Fortunately, there are still Americans that actually think when they vote. It's just that our media insists on downgrading our country.
@citizen65: What about Israel being a horrible ally to us? They sign treaties that means nothing (to return certain portion of land to Pal), they make promises but never kept (not to build with aid money on occupy territories), etc. Our 911 was specifically because of our support for Israel–find OsB video and hear from the devil's own lips. Why does the rest of the world hate the U.S. and Israel? We weren't hated until the middle of the last century–and it escalated thereafter. I don't know which country of citizen–it sure don't sound like U.S. though you might claim so. China is more of an ally than Israel, your comment is better place at that country than Israel. And yes we do treat our ally's badly as China bought U.S. debt and the Obama declare them a threat and set up military base in Australia. They are no threat, they just don't agree with U.S. and Israel's Middle East views.
Maturin20.It wil be interesting for a Russian to know that your guru-Mearsheimer in an article of 1989 had predicted the great economic success of USSR( that collapsed in 1991).
Spasiba, tovarish.
Great article! Israelis` gratitude is big,too big I think. I agree that 3 billions of help must be returned to Americans and this will be good for Israel.I`m sure that Mearsheimers will continue their propaganda after that. Jew-hate will find a channel.
I tend to agree with J. Rabinowicz above. I would like to see PM Netanyahu begin to make good on his pledge before a joint session of Congress in 1996, to wean Israel off American aid. It would be good for the U.S. and good for Israel. In 1996, U.S. aid was only about 3% of Israel's Gross National Product. In 2008 U.S. aid was reportedly around 1.2% of Israel's GDP. I am not suggesting Israel should not buy state of the art American made weapons on the open market. She should buy US weapons, in addition to other country's weapons. Israel should manufacture as many of her own weapons as possible, including a state of the art jet fighter like the Lavi which was unfortunately abandoned.
Giving up U.S. aid should free Israel of much of the unwarranted American pressure that comes with aid. Israel would be under less pressure to exercise "restraint" in the face of jihad terrorism the way the United States and the Europeans demand. Israel should fight to win her wars. She should not be constrained to stand down before defeating her enemies on the battle field – most recently Lebanon and Gaza come to mind – only because she is receiving American aid. Israel need not be under immoral U.S. pressure to give way to the jihadists; to surrender precious / strategic land to our enemies – to both Israel's enemies and America's enemies. U.S. does not give aid gratis. There are strings attached. Every diplomat worth his or her salt knows it.
I am not saying I disagree with David Meir-Levi's thesis. America gets her money's worth for the aid she has given Israel, and then some. But mostly in terms of Jewish blood and treasure. A more independent Israel is a more healthy Israel.
@wildjew: Pt 1…"Restraint" Israel from setting off your nuclear bombs at anyone who don't agree and give you everything you want like land and money. Israel has no chance alone against the rest of the Middle East, the only way your country would win any war would be to set off a nuclear bomb and of the twisted your mind set to do so. Your view are those of an "absolutist"–absolutely your way. "Free Israel of much of the unwarranted American pressure" who asked for our help to fight your wars in the 50's before we gave you the money to buy our weapons now? And in this respect, who gave you the weapons to buy our weapons? And who gave you the money to give back to us to buy our weapons? We gave you "our money" to "purchase" our "weapons" which means you literally got all your weapons for free. I give you thousand dollars and you give me back the thousand to buy my guns! So I just gave you my guns for free–you follow the logic. Don't play that political bs.
@wildjew: Pt 2…"Jewish blood and treasure" how many Jewish blood lost their lives in Iraq and wasn't Iraq's WMD the "underground" idea of the Jewish intelligence? Hell yes it was and now Israel is using the same "idea" to edge us into war with Iran (Israel's arch enemy, not the U.S.). If it works on convenience then it's scripted. I have no doubt Israel alone will start WW3 and will come crying through the way of anti-American Jewish support in America to "purchase" influence on the greedy corrupt selfish self-serving U.S. Congress to save Israel; so it will be once again our blood and money you will be soaking up.
Being that this is a pro-Israel site, I have no doubt my comments would be (-) out–truth be damned if its against your agenda. Another truth, the Palestinians and Jews had no problem living together until Israel invited Jews from around the world to occupy lands as part of the biggest modern day land grab. That was when the sh*t hit the fan. This is 101 land grab strategy and loosing some Jewish lives was part of 101 propaganda of warfare and getting the public scared and angry give your blind support. Though many in Israel are aware of it's government's ills, the gods never allowed intelligent, fair minded, peaceful people to rule.
We provide "aid" to Israel for our benefit. Israel is the proverbial canary in the coal mine. When the sh*t hits the fan Israel will be front and center. Our problem isn't the $3B to Israel which is paltry compared to the cost without having them there. Our problem is that we also provide AID TO OUR ENEMIES. How much have we given to "Palestine?" or for that matter, Pahk-ee-stahn? Or any other nation-state that does NOT SHARE our values as Israel does? This issue is a non-issue. Israel is us and we are Israel…if we want to maintain a Free America and not become a dhimmi state.
Indeed. What Ben-Meir fails to point out is that Egypt, Jordan, the Palestinians and Lebanon collectively get *more* US aid each year than does Israel. What do *they* do for the US? They do what they want then spit in our face.
Also, as long as the US is arming Israel's neighbors, if it's going to preserve Israel's military edge that means some level of military assistance.
If you're a true Tea Partier, you can't be serious about tax payer dollars sent overseas.
Ohhh, OK then. According to you I should shed one title to wear the other. "Taxed Enough Already" should also mean no aid to Israel right? How much more in taxes will it cost us in the long term without the stipend to Israel when we're paying a Jizya tax? BTW, I am not officially in any TEA Party though I would gladly be since they represent my best interests. I am a long working American (37+ yrs.) who is only 2 paychecks away from going hungry. So the TEA Party, despite the popular concept, isn't all rich white corporate jet owners
I know this may come as a great big shock to you, but Ron Paul and his anarcho-kook acolytes aren't tea partiers, they are self-hating kooks and misfits.
The jihadists are motivated by the core principles of Islam with the goal of converting, killing, or subjugating all non-Muslims. Unfortunately, too many non-Muslims have reverted to a pre-9/11 mentality and do not see the necessity of an offensive war with the Jihadists, or of a defensive war at home. All of us as non-Muslims are going to have to decide to fight for our cultures, freedoms, and values or we are going to lose them. It is our killer instincts which must be harnessed if we expect to survive in a war with the Jihadists. Our weapons are only tools. It is a hard heart that kills. If our killer instincts are not clean and strong we will hesitate at the moment of truth. We will not kill. We will become dead Americans and Jews. And then we all will be in a world of trouble. Why? Because there are a billion Muslims and on a few million of us who will actually fight! Do you understand? Sound off like you have a pair! I can't hear you!
Amazing how the R&D that Israel has performed and enriched American companies is ignored, along with the technological advances that have improved American’s standard of living in exchange for some 3 billion a year in military aide, while some 45 billion gets sent to Mexico each year for giving the gardens a short back & sides in California and other states.
By the way it would do well to have a look at how many of those Silicon Valley groups started out as Israeli start-ups.
By the way can some of those commenting here explain why America gives more than 3 billion a year to Pakistan while the ISI targets Americans using the Taliban?
W., 10/05/11 common era
Israel will soon no longer be a liberal western democracy but a Torah State instead.
No human power can stop this transformation. Israel should start to wean itself off of U.S. foreign aid as quickly as possible. Don't forget about the Allen and John Foster Dulles,
Prescott Bush, Nelson Rockefeller, and Henry Ford.– all good buddies of I.G. Farben during WW2. Read or re-read THE SECRET WAR AGAINST THE JEWS. The U.S. has never let Israel enjoy the full benefits of its military victories. Fear of the Gentile leaders has caused much Jewish death and suffering.
I tend also to agree with WildJew, StephenD and mr bean. My thanks also to Stern. Coming back to the topic US aid to Israel, it's not so much the money, (which is small, and anyway spent in the US,…alas with all strings attached!) it is another level that we must touch. The political and diplomatic one. Let me also remind any reader that all Intel chips are designed here in Israel at Intel Israel, (and many other high tech, medical devices ect) and it is to the benefit to the US, to Israel and eventually the rest of the world. Israeli companies at Nasdaq are second or third in number, after the US and Canada (?). Part 1
Certainly our larger mutual bond is strong and valid. One (and important) of the points was touched by mrbean, the muslim aggressiveness and urge of world dominion. I feel America has the power to counter this fenoma, has it got the will? Aid to Israel also means for America to support Israel politically in world forums, and standing firm; this language would be understood by all, instead, I notice the US is flip-floping. Another note: Egypt today has a large F16 fleet and the US Abrams tank is manufactured (kit assembly) in Egypt. This is now a big concern for the US and for Israel. Ironically Egypt NEEDS also 50% of the flour, courtesy from the USA! Finally, with our small territory we are fighting for our national and naked survival. Part 2
Egypt has one huge weakness there: They lack the ability to maintain their American equipment on their own and as such, are dependent on the US for parts and armaments.
If they become hostile to the West (Of which seems like a certainty at this point) they will lose that support (Any any future President at that point would be stupid to provide them with assistance).
Israel has the ability to manufacture replacement parts and ammunition on their own, the other ME countries don't.
Israel's latest Nobel for Chemistry awarded this year researched "quasicrystals" helping in the production of, for example thin steel needles of exceptional strength made specifically for eye surgery.
But of course some of those commenting here are blind to the implications.
Nice one, Cynic!
What does the US get in return for the 2 billion/year aid to Egypt along with the charity donations of food etc?
The answer (Drumroll): Almost nothing!
I don't think it's aid so much as doing business.
We get a good return, and we don't have to worry about blowback like we have to with places like Egypt…
Years ago State Department official Joseph Cisco was reported to have said that if America did not benefit, Israel would not get a dime. One purpose of that aid is to also addict and entrap Israel into a dependency on that $3 billion to exert pressure. Israeli attempts to become less dependent on American weapons have sometimes met with opposition from the U.S. government. American foreign policy is to keep Israel on a leash that we can use to limit her freedom of action.
To promote American interests we should stop massively arming Israel's enemies which now include Turkey and Egypt. In that case Israel would not require such aid to protect against American weapons in Arab hands.
The help that America derives from Israel is huge and remains largely unknown to the public. This is because the America Jewish leadership is too dumb and too lazy to compile and update the full accounting and to give it the publicity it deserves.
Well said, read above my first 2 comments, I'm saying the same. I gave the only solution possible, which was also discussioned here in Israel among certain politician. Israel should say no to the $3B. (I think there are talks to phase them out) We would be much more at liberty without. As mentioned the israeli political elite is still too comfortable with this arrangement. As for the US Jewish leadership….unfortunately as a Jew, in Israel, I've to say you are correct. And when it comes to the voting pattern it gets even worse.
I am in total support of Israel and would do anything to help them. I have donated and intend to do so again to charities and people who need help through organizations in the US. I do believe at some time as the bible predicts that Israel will stand alone, that is without support from man, but Yeshua will take over the protection for Israel and Israel's enemies will be destroyed…It is written and will happen in all certainty!
It sure must be a "special relationship" when a near bankrupt, recession plagued US economy funds a booming Israel economy with 3 thousand million dollars a year.
God bless AIPAC for its efforts and the US taxpayer for his munificence.
Without the $3bil 2 Israel, the US would be in the far far red! U know what I mean?
Maybe we should send them more money…cut amtrak and send the liquidated funds to israel. Cut the postal service too…we've got empty beds in our new supermax prisons.
Man, i cant wait for the muslims and david duke to work for peace!
The only good thing about those nutters is: they are going to liquidate the feminist and kooks of america one day!
i cant wait!
perhaps david duke will get his own suicide bomber!
Im aware alot of people dont like me, but get this…and make a note of it!
I DONT LOSE A MINUTE OF SLEEP OVER LIBERALS AND MUSLIMS AND SERIAL KILLERS>
$3bil is the "prize" of the veto power of the US at the security council.
Life would be more difficult without it since we cannot count on the Russian and/or Chinese vetoes.
So without Israel big bad voodoo daddy’s gunna occupy Kansas?
Israel is goin down. And if Israel even THINKS about risking 100 million people to a nuclear winter in an attempt to protect a mere 4 million Israeli Jews it’ll be gone even sooner.
Pakistan’s official inquiry into Bin Laden’s presence in the country has come out recommending that the Pakistani Dr. who helped the CIA track BL be charged with treason.
US officials who have given Pakistan some $20.7 billion according to the Congressional Research Service.
So now along with some of those commenting we have US officials as stupid to have thrown away all those greenbacks for nothing in return except betrayal.
Yep, there are several born every minute.