Should the U.S. get involved? That was a recent headline of an AOL story regarding Israel and the massacre of Palestinian and Lebanese civilians, mostly women and children. Should the U.S. get involved? We have an interesting quote here at TBV by the Snowman telling us that George Bush isn't a puppeteer; he's not in control of what's going on in the Middle East. What can we do? Those crazy Arabs just like killing each other.
That's all nonsense, of course. The only way the U.S. could be more involved would be by sending troops to help massacre citizens the people of Palestine and Lebanon. It was the U.S., after life, that blocked a cease fire agreement in Rome (link). According to the editor at Truthout:
A senior US official attending the meeting responded in part, "It was never the purpose of this meeting to achieve a cease-fire. That was never the expectation going into this thing ..." However, all other nations in attendance were prepared to do just that had the US not objected. Fierce fighting, wide-spread destruction, death, and severe injury continued today for Palestinians, Lebanese and Israelis alike. - ma/TO
But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Bush's Snowman wants us to believe that Israel is a sovereign nation. The idea that Israel is a sovereign nation and not just one very very potent piece on the chess board of the American Empire doesn't hold a lot of water. Below we will take a look at the amazing amount of money we have given Israel over the years.
Keep three things in mind as we take a look at just what we give Israel in aid. First, over 99% of the billions we have given Israel were given after the 1967 war; that is, they were not given to help prop up a fledgling democracy or nation by any means. The money didn't start flowing until "those Jews" had proven themselves as good killers of Arabs. Second, loans are grants. Third, don't forget that most of this spending is during deficit years, meaning that often we are borrowing this money to give to the Israelis who often enough turn around and charge us interest for the money we just gave them.
Benefits to Israel of U.S. Aid Since 1949 (As of November 1, 1997)
Foreign Aid Grants and Loans $74,157,600,000
Other U.S. Aid (12.2% of Foreign Aid) $9,047,227,200
Interest to Israel from Advanced Payments $1,650,000,000
Grand Total $84,854,827,200
Total Benefits per Israeli $14,630 Cost to U.S. Taxpayers of U.S. Aid to Israel
Grand Total $84,854,827,200
Interest Costs Borne by U.S. $49,936,680,000
Total Cost to U.S. Taxpayers $134,791,507,200
Total Taxpayer Cost per Israeli $23,240
These are usually pretty conservative estimates. Consider the benefits per Israeli versus the cost per Israeli. This is just idiotic. It has cost us $23,240 per Israeli to give them $14,630 per Israeli. If you're going to give someone money as a gift, it's a good idea to have some. Borrowing huge sums of money to give to someone who is going to lend you the money back at interest is insane. Well, it would be insane if it were the rich paying the bulk of this money to Israel, but as usual it is the middle class that bears the heaviest tax burden. Essentially it is merely another way of stealing money from those who work and funnel it back into the hands of wealthy U.S corporations.
Wait a minute. How did U.S. corporations get involved? This is about money we give to Israel. Did you ever notice that the bulk of Israeli weaponry is American made? Did you think they just happened to Apache Helicopters and Caterpillar bulldozers (all the better to bulldoze Palestinian family's with!) So some asshole takes a loan out in our name, gives the money, buckets of it, to a tiny country that is relatively quite wealthy and more than capable of defending itself (remember 1967). We in turn pay an extra $8610 per Israeli through our taxes.
Big deal? You and I work longer each day, get paid less, pay more for social services because so much of our tax money goes to people who don't need it, like the rich. Let's give that money to the victims of Katrina. Let's rebuild our broken down infrastructure. Ninety-one billion could go a long way.
But Israel is our friend! We're pals. Hell, other than the British, Israel's the only other real pal we've got. They've got our back and we've got theirs. They really need the help anyway...But do they?
Total U.S. aid to Israel is approximately one-third of the American foreign-aid budget, even though Israel comprises just .001 percent of the world's population and already has one of the world's higher per capita incomes. Indeed, Israel's GNP is higher than the combined GNP of Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, the West Bank and Gaza. With a per capita income of about $14,000, Israel ranks as the sixteenth wealthiest country in the world; Israelis enjoy a higher per capita income than oil-rich Saudi Arabia and are only slightly less well-off than most Western European countries.
That's welfare for the rich. But it's so much worse. That money could be used in Israel for real humanitarian issues. Instead it is used to buy the weapons of death and destruction the IDF are so fond of using on the poor of Gaza and Lebanon. It is used to build up one of the most advanced militaries in the world. This is an army that has repeatedly invaded and occupied its neighbors, committed war crimes again and again, a country that refuses to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaties. This is a country that has violated dozens of U.N. resolutions and net never suffers for its misbehavior. Take a gander at the numerous U.N. resolutions against Israel. There are dozens of them. Take a gander.
It's time to put the monster back in its cage. Reposess all weapons on loan. End all aid to Israel immediately. Demand repayment of loans. And demand that Israel abide by international law, meet its treaty obligations, and abide by all relevant U.N. resolutions. Demand a cease-fire. Get involved. Be there August 12th.
