Israel Seeks Increase in Annual US Aid

[Purveyor]

Source: DEFENSE NEWS

Aug. 15, 2013 - 03:51PM | By BARBARA OPALL-ROME

WASHINGTON — Israel is seeking a surge in future US Foreign Military Financing (FMF) grants not only to support its growing security requirements, but to offset the impact of increasingly advanced US arms sales to other counries in the volatile region.

In interviews here, US and Israeli officials said initial work toward a new 10-year military aid package, which would extend through 2027, is focusing on a full spectrum of Israeli concerns, including military modernization needs, new threats from regional instability and the erosion of Israel’s so-called qualitative military edge (QME) due to US arms sales in the Mideast.

Under the existing US $30 billion aid agreement signed in 2007, negotiators from both sides did not specifically address or attempt to calculate Israel’s QME security concerns in annual FMF funding levels prescribed by the 10-year package.

Those concerns — along with US commitments to preserve Israel’s edge over regional adversaries — were dealt with in separate bilateral forums, with significant input by key congressional committees charged with reviewing the regional impact of proposed sales, sources here said.

Read more: http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130815/DEFREG04/308150008/Israel-Seeks-Increase-Annual-US-Aid

[n2doc]

1. And they will probably get it

As they have bribed more than half of Congress to do so. Just another subsidy!

[BlueManFan]

4. It'sdefenders prefer "investment in our strongest ally in the region."

Subsidy is such a perjorative term.

[cstanleytech]

8. They shouldnt imo. nt

[Crow73]

9. The wheel turns

Gaza is run by Hamas, there is no trade into Gaza.
Hamas uses Gaza as a base to attack Israel, which in turn Israel uses the Hamas attacks as a reason to expand settlements without justification.

If Gaza was open to trade and the power structure of Hamas disappeared the settlement expansions could no longer take place.

Trade can't be opened with Gaza. Settlements must be built.
I just don't see a out. The whole this is so screwed up.

[U4ikLefty]

21. There is no justification to stealing land (aka "settlements")

We should sanction Israel until they dismantle ALL of the settlements.

Israel is the bully here, and they use Hamas as an excuse (and 1000 other excuses) to continue to steal Palestine.

I suppose they will achieve "peace" when there is 1 square mile of Palestine left.

[BlueManFan]

2. But wait, I thought our Kenyan, Muslim, socialist, gay, anti-semitic black president hated Israel

and US relations were the worst they've been since the Romans sacked Jerusalem in 70 AD. I'm confused.

[BlueManFan]

3. Sarcasm thingy....hopefully goes without saying.

[azurnoir]

5. wait weren't we hearing how Israel was willing to for go some aid, just a couple of weeks ago?

guess something changed

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014556959

[bemildred]

12. +1. nt

[Wait Wut]

6. We don't dare refuse.

Otherwise the teapers and cons will cry themselves another river.

Deny aid to the poor, under educated, unemployed, sick, starving, victims of natural or man made disasters, etc. But, let's give Israel our heart, soul and money along with our prayers. Because the bible tells them so.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

11. Just the tea party and Republicans?

Perhaps I should introduce you to Carl Levin, Ben Cardin, Mary Landrieu, Kirsten Gillibrand, etc.

http://maplight.org/us-congress/interest/J5100/view/all

[former9thward]

13. President Obama supported aid to Israel when he was a Senator.

[Plucketeer]

7. And as school picks up here after summer "vacation"

My career teacher wife has to buy supplies to hand out to needy students. Has to buy the stuff out of her own pocket. Yeah: WE'RE NUMBER ONE!

[SummerSnow]

10. Why? Shit

[parkia00]

14. Wonder what 30 billion would do for

education, or health care, or welfare, or public transit. Helping a foreign power seems to be more important than helping your own citizens.

[Steviehh]

15. I can't believe they asked

Chutzpah is blushing!

[Nihil]

16. Classic!

> Israel is seeking a surge in future US Foreign Military Financing (FMF) grants
> not only to support its growing security requirements, but to offset the impact
> of increasingly advanced US arms sales to other counries in the volatile region.

The US arms merchants are so busy selling their weapons to everyone in the area
(subsidised by the US taxpayer) that now Israel wants more money (from the US taxpayer)
in order to get more (subsidised) US arms to "defend" against the (subsidised) US arms
held by everyone else.

What an absolute masterpiece of a con-trick to get US taxpayer money into the pockets
of the arms company directors!




And there are obviously loads of Americans who don't work in the US arms industry
who are apparently quite happy about this?

[denverbill]

17. Sorry, we can't possibly do that because we can't raise the debt limit.

You see, we have a SPENDING problem.

Maybe Israel should raise its own taxes or drop its universal health care.

[KamaAina]

18. At last. Something I wouldn't mind seeing sequestered.

[Autumn]

19. Join the millions of Americans that would like an increase in US Aid.

But alas, we are face with cuts on every side. Join the fucking party and tighten your belt.

[carla]

20. Typically,

a parasite increases it's level of feeding as the host animal weakens.