US Pays 18 Percent of Israel's Military Budget - DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate

**Dwerfsd** · 10-24-2011, 06:14 AM

What I'd really like to know is how this stacks up against other countries.

By Adam Weinstein
| Tue Oct. 18, 2011 11:55 AM PDT

Leave it to the Washington Post's award-winning national security reporter, Walter Pincus, to put things in perspective. In a new column, Pincus points out a remarkable inequity: While the US faces a fiscal crisis and debates the need for defense cuts, it's footing the bill for one-fifth of Israel's military budget—even as that country cuts its own defense spending to tackle domestic economic ills. You know, the way we always talk about changing our country's budget priorities. Pincus writes: Nine days ago, the Israeli cabinet reacted to months of demonstrations against the high cost of living there and agreed to raise taxes on corporations and people with high incomes ($130,000 a year). It also approved cutting more than $850 million, or about 5 percent, from its roughly $16 billion defense budget in each of the next two years.
If Israel can reduce its defense spending because of its domestic economic problems, shouldn't the United States—which must cut military costs because of its major budget deficit—consider reducing its aid to Israel?
First, a review of what the American taxpayer provides to Israel...Pincus then raps off an impressive list of the ways in which US dollars, considered so precious these days by politicians on both sides of the aisle, are peeled off to keep the Israeli economy and military machine afloat. Among those revelations is an account of Congress' "qualitative military edge" requirement, which mandates that any US sale of arms in the Middle East must not adversely affect Israel's advantage over its enemies in the region. "The formula has an obvious problem," Pincus writes: "Because some neighboring countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt, are US allies but also considered threats by Israel, arms provided to them automatically mean that better weapons must go to Israel. The result is a US-generated arms race."
And, of course, Israel gets favorable terms on its US arms purchases. I'd criticize this scheme, but conservatives and US-based weapons manufacturers would probably just reframe the debate: "The Israel Defense Forces: America's Real Job Creators!"

http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/10/...ilitary-budget
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...ksL_print.html

**AgJ5mNXM** · 10-24-2011, 07:59 AM

Even with that name he will be unemployed forever very soon, or found in a landfill shot in the back 10 times in an "apparent suicide"

**Poreponko** · 10-24-2011, 11:35 AM

By Adam Weinstein

It's probably closer to 81%.

**Affolfembonge** · 10-24-2011, 02:49 PM

It's probably closer to 81%.

Yes, I think it is only the cash given counted, not included is the free samples, discounts, new perfectly working military 'surplus' materials sold at scrapvalue, free drawings and knowhow, and overpriced Israeli defense systems bought by US military, subsidizing their own manufacturing... US May 'only' give Israel $3 Billion per year in cash to buy military supplies, but I wouldn't be surprised if they get $15 Billion worth of weapons...

**gWhya5ct** · 10-24-2011, 03:53 PM

I got about halfway through the book "The Israel Lobby" before the mind-numbing numbers got boring and repetitive and I had to put it down.

The US give Israel a LOT more than that. While there may by 18% that you posted about in the OP, there are countless other way and avenues that the US gives money to Israel. So many in fact, that you couldn't keep track.

I couldn't even finish the book. All it is is page after page of stories about the USA giving money to Israel.

**Affolfembonge** · 10-24-2011, 07:05 PM

I couldn't even finish the book. All it is is page after page of stories about the USA giving money to Israel.

Doesn't all yours generosity make you feel warm and fuzzy inside?

**orbidewa** · 10-24-2011, 07:29 PM

Hahaha.... Yeah. Well I'm Canadian, so only a fraction of our $$ goes to Israel, in comparison to the states.

**Affolfembonge** · 10-24-2011, 07:58 PM

Hahaha.... Yeah. Well I'm Canadian, so only a fraction of our $$ goes to Israel, in comparison to the states.

Even small contributions count, but not as much!

**Old-old-Ivy** · 10-25-2011, 12:08 AM

18% ?? is THAT all?? oh, wait, they just STEAL the other 82%

**himecthekWiff** · 10-25-2011, 01:12 AM

18% ?? is THAT all?? oh, wait, they just STEAL the other 82%

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sad but sooooo true !!!

10-24-2011, 06:14 AM	#1
Dwerfsd Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 387 Senior Member	US Pays 18 Percent of Israel's Military Budget What I'd really like to know is how this stacks up against other countries. By Adam Weinstein \| Tue Oct. 18, 2011 11:55 AM PDT Leave it to the Washington Post's award-winning national security reporter, Walter Pincus, to put things in perspective. In a new column, Pincus points out a remarkable inequity: While the US faces a fiscal crisis and debates the need for defense cuts, it's footing the bill for one-fifth of Israel's military budget—even as that country cuts its own defense spending to tackle domestic economic ills. You know, the way we always talk about changing our country's budget priorities. Pincus writes: Nine days ago, the Israeli cabinet reacted to months of demonstrations against the high cost of living there and agreed to raise taxes on corporations and people with high incomes ($130,000 a year). It also approved cutting more than $850 million, or about 5 percent, from its roughly $16 billion defense budget in each of the next two years. If Israel can reduce its defense spending because of its domestic economic problems, shouldn't the United States—which must cut military costs because of its major budget deficit—consider reducing its aid to Israel? First, a review of what the American taxpayer provides to Israel...Pincus then raps off an impressive list of the ways in which US dollars, considered so precious these days by politicians on both sides of the aisle, are peeled off to keep the Israeli economy and military machine afloat. Among those revelations is an account of Congress' "qualitative military edge" requirement, which mandates that any US sale of arms in the Middle East must not adversely affect Israel's advantage over its enemies in the region. "The formula has an obvious problem," Pincus writes: "Because some neighboring countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt, are US allies but also considered threats by Israel, arms provided to them automatically mean that better weapons must go to Israel. The result is a US-generated arms race." And, of course, Israel gets favorable terms on its US arms purchases. I'd criticize this scheme, but conservatives and US-based weapons manufacturers would probably just reframe the debate: "The Israel Defense Forces: America's Real Job Creators!" http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/10/...ilitary-budget http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...ksL_print.html Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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10-24-2011, 07:59 AM	#2
AgJ5mNXM Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 339 Senior Member	Even with that name he will be unemployed forever very soon, or found in a landfill shot in the back 10 times in an "apparent suicide" Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

10-24-2011, 11:35 AM	#3
Poreponko Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 486 Senior Member	By Adam Weinstein It's probably closer to 81%. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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10-24-2011, 02:49 PM	#4
Affolfembonge Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 455 Senior Member	It's probably closer to 81%. Yes, I think it is only the cash given counted, not included is the free samples, discounts, new perfectly working military 'surplus' materials sold at scrapvalue, free drawings and knowhow, and overpriced Israeli defense systems bought by US military, subsidizing their own manufacturing... US May 'only' give Israel $3 Billion per year in cash to buy military supplies, but I wouldn't be surprised if they get $15 Billion worth of weapons... Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

10-24-2011, 03:53 PM	#5
gWhya5ct Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 482 Senior Member	I got about halfway through the book "The Israel Lobby" before the mind-numbing numbers got boring and repetitive and I had to put it down. The US give Israel a LOT more than that. While there may by 18% that you posted about in the OP, there are countless other way and avenues that the US gives money to Israel. So many in fact, that you couldn't keep track. I couldn't even finish the book. All it is is page after page of stories about the USA giving money to Israel. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

10-24-2011, 07:05 PM	#6
Affolfembonge Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 455 Senior Member	I couldn't even finish the book. All it is is page after page of stories about the USA giving money to Israel. Doesn't all yours generosity make you feel warm and fuzzy inside? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

10-24-2011, 07:29 PM	#7
orbidewa Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 681 Senior Member	Hahaha.... Yeah. Well I'm Canadian, so only a fraction of our $$ goes to Israel, in comparison to the states. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

10-24-2011, 07:58 PM	#8
Affolfembonge Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 455 Senior Member	Hahaha.... Yeah. Well I'm Canadian, so only a fraction of our $$ goes to Israel, in comparison to the states. Even small contributions count, but not as much! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

10-25-2011, 12:08 AM	#9
Old-old-Ivy Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 513 Senior Member	18% ?? is THAT all?? oh, wait, they just STEAL the other 82% Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

10-25-2011, 01:12 AM	#10
himecthekWiff Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 374 Senior Member	18% ?? is THAT all?? oh, wait, they just STEAL the other 82% Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sad but sooooo true !!! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

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