So, uhh, we're not really giving them money, but rather weapons, right? Either way, the taxpayer is footing the bill.
No you're not footing the bill.
Virtually all of the "aid" we have given them has been paid back many times over. We'd be playing a hell of a lot more if Israel was still fighting the Arabs and oil was constantly be threatened.
No weapons delivery to Israel in 2010? Link please.
Look it up yourself. Obama placed a de-facto embargo on foreign military sales to Israel.
Palestinians have received $8B in US aid? Over what period of time? Link please.
Seriously? Why don't you read a book.
$80B in Soviet tech? When? 1973? Link please.[/QUOTE]
Since 1967, Israel has given to the Pentagon Soviet military equipment captured in conflicts with Soviet-supported Arab countries, providing important data. Israel gave the US a full squadron of MiG-21s which was called the Top Gun squadron and used by the U.S. Air Force and Navy for training purposes.
In 1970, Israel forced the withdrawal of the Syrian army from US-ally Jordan while the U.S. was involved militarily in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, helping to prevent the collapse of a pro-American government and the installation of a pro-Soviet regime.
In the 1973 War, Israel defeated Soviet-trained and equipped Egyptian and Syrian armies. Israel shared captured Soviet equipment with the US. Israel emerged the one reliable ally where U.S. troops could land, where U.S. equipment can be pre-positioned and where the U.S. has friendly port facilities, saving the US billions of dollars.
In 1982, Israel destroyed Soviet anti-aircraft systems in Lebanon that were considered impenetrable by American weapons. Israel shared with the US insights from the conflict, estimated to be worth billions of dollars.
Senator Daniel Inouye has stated that Israeli data on the Soviet military has saved the U.S. billions of dollars and that the contribution made by Israeli intelligence to America exceeds information provided by all NATO countries combined.
In 1981, Israel bombed the Iraqi nuclear reactor at Osirak, stalling Saddam Husseins nuclear capabilities and allowing the U.S. to engage in conventional warfare with Iraq.
Israel has provided critical analysis of the F16 to General Dynamics that resulted in 600 improvements, including structural enhancements, software changes, increased capability landing gear, radio improvements and avionic modifications.
In the Gulf War, Israel provided the US with key intelligence, air cover for military cargo and had IDF stationed in the Iraqi desert to rescue American pilots.
The IDF was the sole military force in the region that could successfully challenge the Iraqi army. That fact, which Saddam Hussein understood, was a deterrent to further Iraqi aggression.
The US military benefited from the use of Israeli-made Have Nap air-launched missiles on its B-52 bombers. The Navy used Israeli Pioneer pilotless drones for reconnaissance in the Gulf.
Israel provided mine plows that were used to clear paths for Allied forces through Iraqi minefields.
Mobile bridges flown directly from Israel to Saudi Arabia were used by the U.S. Marine Corps
Israel Aircraft Industries developed conformal fuel tanks that enhanced the range of F15 aircraft used in the Gulf War.
An Israeli-produced targeting system was used to increase the Cobra helicopter's night-fighting capabilities.
Israel manufactured the canister for the highly successful Tomahawk missile.
Night-vision goggles used by U.S. forces were supplied by Israel.
A low-altitude warning system produced and developed in Israel was utilized on Blackhawk helicopters.
Other Israeli equipment provided to U.S. forces included flack vests, gas masks and sandbags.
Israel offered the United States the use of military and hospital facilities. U.S. ships utilized Haifa port shipyard maintenance and support on their way to the Gulf.
General George Keegan, former head of U.S. Air Force Intelligence, has stated that Israel is worth five CIAs. He said that between 1974 and
1990, Israel received $18.3 billion in U.S. military grants, but, that in the same timeframe Israel provided the U.S. with $50-$80 billion in intelligence, research and development savings and Soviet weapons systems given to the U.S.
Israel shares with the US important experience in homeland defense and warfare against suicide bombers and car bombs.
In preparation for the Iraq War, American soldiers trained in IDF facilities and Israeli drones flew above the Sunni Triangle and in Afghanistan providing U.S. Marines with critical intelligence.
In Iraq, Israeli advisers have trained US special forces in aggressive counter-insurgency operations, including the use of assassination squads against guerrilla leaders.
The IDF sent urban warfare specialists to Fort Bragg in North Carolina, the home of US special forces, and Israeli military consultants have also visited Iraq.
The US Army also travelled to Israel to glean lessons learned from their counterterrorist operations in urban areas. The IDF regularly shared its experience in the West Bank and Gaza with the US armed forces. The Pentagon regularly asked the IDF to debrief on operations similar to those engaged in by US military forces.
An American liaison team had been responsible for coordinating efforts and intelligence between the Pentagon, the IDF, and American forces. Major General Charles Simpson, the chief liaison officer for the U.S. Army, met repeatedly with IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon on this joint project.
Joint air force exercises, such as the Juniper Cobra, had taken place between Israeli and the American Patriot artillery in the Negev and radar units from the U.S. Sixth Fleet. Noble Dina, an anti-submarine warfare exercise, were executed with the combined efforts of the Israel Navy and the Sixth Fleet.
American soldiers were in Israel prior to the Iraq war to work with anti-missile defenses, both the U.S.-made Patriot and the Arrow, developed by both Israel and the U.S.
The U.S. sailed an aircraft carrier, the Harry Truman, into the Mediterranean Sea. The aircraft allowed U.S. planes to reach Iraqi targets by flying over Israeli and Jordanian territory. Israel has permitted the use of its air zones.
Israel has been sharing with the US its experience in combating Palestinian terrorism, which has been helpful in the US's war in Afghanistan. The US military benefits from Israels tactics against suicide bombers, car bombs and improvised explosive devices.
Most of the US military aid to Israel must be spent in the United States, which benefits US military contractors.
In contrast to US commitments to Korea, Japan, Germany and numerous other countries in which the US has over 100 military bases, the US has no military bases in Israel.
Former Secretary of State and NATO forces Commander Alexander Haig has said that he is pro-Israeli because Israel is "the largest American aircraft carrier in the world that cannot be sunk, does not carry even one American soldier, and is located in a critical region for American national security
It seems to me that our aid and veto power in the UN has enabled the Israelis for a very long time. The ROTW won't allow them to act the way they do w/o our support. Pretty simple. There's been a downside for us all along, and it's becoming greater and more apparent as time goes on. If Israel wants to have it her own way, peachy- maybe we should just butt out, let 'em see how that works out.
Of the 400 resolutions leveled against Israel, only 40 have been vetoed.
The only countries we have enabled are our muslim allies who have conducted mass genocides since their independence with impunity - whereas Israel is hassled over the most irrelevant happening.
Israel had no issue defeating Arab nation after Arab nation before the USA showed up. If worst comes to worst and the USA goes to the European route, I wouldn't hold it against Israel if it decided to go after Syria, Lebanon, and Iran full-scale rather than dealing with their proxies.
According to this:
http://www.businessweek.com/news/20...dividends-that-exceed-cost-steve-rothman.html.
the amount of # we give to Israel is marginal compared to the money we waste in Iraq, Afghanistan, occupying Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Japan, and Germany.
Absurd!!!
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