Obama asks Congress for $205 million to upgrade Israeli missile defenses

[unhappycamper]

Obama asks Congress for $205 million to upgrade Israeli missile defenses
By Agence France-Presse
Thursday, May 13th, 2010 -- 10:12 pm

President Barack Obama has asked Congress to approve 205 million dollars to help Israel deploy an anti-missile defense system, the White House said Thursday.

"The president recognizes the threat missiles and rockets fired by Hamas and Hezbollah pose to Israelis, and has therefore decided to seek funding from Congress to support the production of Israel's short range rocket defense system called Iron Dome," White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said.

Israel completed tests in January on its Iron Dome anti-missile system, designed to intercept short-range rockets and artillery shells fired at Israel by Hamas and Hezbollah.

The next phase in its development is to integrate it into the army. Israel hopes the system will provide it with a means to deal with rocket fire from the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip and from Lebanon.

Palestinian militants have fired thousands of home-made rockets into southern Israel, prompting Israel's devastating assault on the Islamist Hamas in Gaza on December 27, 2008.

[doc03]

1. When do we run out of money to give away?

[NorthCarolina]

13. When the printing presses break or run out of ink. n/t

[cali]

2. this is just maddening.

and no, sorry, I don't believe that the missiles fired by those in Gaza pose a serious enough threat to Israel to warrant a missile shield- let alone one the U.S. pays for.

[n2doc]

3. Sure, we gots plenty of money!

Not like there are any unmet needs in this country....

[Robbien]

4. Israel has more money than most nations, much more than us

If they want a shield put it up themselves. Quit with the handouts.

[malaise]

5. What happened to the fucking deficits

or are those only mentioned when ordinary Americans need basics like health care, education or a fairer deal from Wall street banks.

[The Damned]

6. Hey, we've GOT to help Israel out!

After all, it's such a 98-pound weakling of a country!

[MadHound]

7. This is obscene,

With all of the needs that we have here at home, funding another country's missile defense fleet should be the last of our priorities. After all, it isn't like we don't have millions and millions who are out of work that would benefit from having that money put into another jobs bill. It isn't like the education system isn't going to hell in the country, to the point that 205 million would immensely help out many states fix their education budget.

There is so much that could be done with this money, to spend it abroad in this matter is a crime.

[WeDidIt]

8. Smart move on the road to peace.

This is a 100% defensive weapon system.

If the rockets and artillery are intercepted, people don't die from explosions. People not dying is a good thing.

If people don't die in Israel, Israel won't have a reason to kill Palestinians.

When the killing stops, peace can break out.

There's a value add, too. Israel will be on the hook to share this technology with us. I like the idea of our troops have a means of protecting themselves from missiles, rockets, and artillery. If you keep these things from hitting our troops, fewer troops die.

I'd call this a wise investment and a win-win.

[frylock]

9. hey why not?

:fml:

[greencharlie]

10. oh, it's OK... what good would 205 Million $$ do anyways?

not like it'd buy food for homeless Americans or anything...

:sarcasm:

[indepat]

11. What would it cost to beef up the defenses of all whom Israel could potentially

target? :shrug:

[NorthCarolina]

12. One thing about Israel is

they always need more money.

[yellowwood]

14. Outrageous!

I do not support this.

[Union Yes]

15. Arm the Palestinians instead. We chose the wrong side to support. nt