Israel, Big Money and Obama

[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

Freedom Rider: Israel, Big Money and Obama
Wed, 08/18/2010 - 15:52 — Margaret Kimberley

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Those who think a war with Iran is off the table under the Obama regime are in for a rude awakening. No matter who is in the White House, the same Zionist lobby will be dictating U.S. foreign policy just as it has for decades. Obama is eager to please them.

[Torie]

I just love that blue star design. It's awesome! 

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

Dave Dees is a HP.

[cannonia]

US foreign policy: The new blood libel!

[Free Palestine]

US foreign policy: The new blood libel!

Because only an antisemitic person would oppose U.S. nannying of Israel!

[??????????]

Morgan, I'm no big Israel fan but to be fair they are angels compared to their neighbors.

[opebo]

Morgan, I'm no big Israel fan but to be fair they are angels compared to their neighbors.

No, they're far worse.  I mean, you dislike carpetbaggers, right?

[tpfkaw]

I'm no big South Africa fan, but, to be fair, they're angels compared to their neighbors.

[opebo]

I'm no big South Africa fan, but, to be fair, they're angels compared to their neighbors.

Except they really weren't either.. but good point.

[??????????]

Very true worm.

[opebo]

Very true worm.

Surely worm meant that as a sarcastic critique of your rationale, States?  I mean, no one could possibly defend racist south africa, and your defense of Isreal is the same..

[Free Palestine]

Morgan, I'm no big Israel fan but to be fair they are angels compared to their neighbors.

I don't care to get into the Israel-Palestine debate - I just wish they would be treated as a country like any other, rather than the 51st State.  The aid we send to the country damages their economy, and the fact that we legislate for them on many situations is detrimental to their sovereignty, so for me it's not just anti-Israeli sentiment.  I don't really even know if I dislike Israel or not.  Both sides of the issue are just so biased, it's hard for me to really decide.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

If Obama strikes against a maniacal oppressive terror-sponsoring regime that wants to wipe an American ally off the map, I think he'll have the support of the vast majority of Americans. The Israel lobby is not that influential with Obama -  do you think a Zionist puppet administration would have condemned the building of setlements in the West Bank?

[Earth]

The Israel lobby is not that influential with Obama -  do you think a Zionist puppet administration would have condemned the building of setlements in the West Bank?

Do you think that condemnation was worth anything considering the aide goes on undisturbed? If I were in a zionist supporter's shoes, I'd want at least some criticism to come from them, to give the appearance that it's not one dimensional.

[opebo]

...The aid we send to the country damages their economy...

Isn't their economy just a dependency on American aid and remittances from Jews in the USA?

[cannonia]

...The aid we send to the country damages their economy...

Isn't their economy just a dependency on American aid and remittances from Jews in the USA?

No, they have a large high-tech sector.  They develop pharmaceuticals and microchips, among other things.  The Intel Core series processors were developed there, I believe.

[Brittain33]

...The aid we send to the country damages their economy...

Isn't their economy just a dependency on American aid and remittances from Jews in the USA?

No, they have a large high-tech sector.  They develop pharmaceuticals and microchips, among other things.  The Intel Core series processors were developed there, I believe.

Yes, U.S. aid certainly backstops their having an enormous and well-equipped military, but the Israeli economy does just fine on its own. The days of U.S. Jews supporting poor Zionist pioneers on kibbutzim went out almost two generations ago, although I remember raising money to plant trees in Hebrew School.

There are many Thai guest workers in Israel.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

...The aid we send to the country damages their economy...

Isn't their economy just a dependency on American aid and remittances from Jews in the USA?

No, they have a large high-tech sector.  They develop pharmaceuticals and microchips, among other things.  The Intel Core series processors were developed there, I believe.

Yes, U.S. aid certainly backstops their having an enormous and well-equipped military, but the Israeli economy does just fine on its own. The days of U.S. Jews supporting poor Zionist pioneers on kibbutzim went out almost two generations ago, although I remember raising money to plant trees in Hebrew School.

There are many Thai guest workers in Israel.

Backstops, or nearly fully funds their enormous and well-equipped military?  Sure their economy is good with us picking up the military tab.

(Oh and I think there are still plenty of Jews here sending money back home, but I can't prove it)

[Brittain33]

Backstops, or nearly fully funds their enormous and well-equipped military?  Sure their economy is good with us picking up the military tab.

Israeli GDP is $200 billion, U.S. military aid is $3 billion, or 1.5%.  Most of that is spent here, so it's mainly a subsidy for U.S. military contractors at taxpayer expense with Israel as a benefactor. Economic aid ended some years ago. If all U.S. military aid was turned off tomorrow, the nature of the Israeli military would change, but it would still involve huge numbers of the country's young people bearing guns and the standard of living wouldn't decline much (unless it led directly to an invasion or something which is unlikely.) U.S. military aid didn't start until the Six-Day War, I believe--before then it was mostly from France.

You may be reading an intent to minimize into the word "backstop" that isn't there. Perhaps I'm using the word wrong.

Lots of American Jews send money to Israel, but I suspect it mostly goes to their pet projects, such as buildings in East Jerusalem and settlements. It's not going to the government so much or to individuals like Alaska's oil dividend.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Backstops, or nearly fully funds their enormous and well-equipped military?  Sure their economy is good with us picking up the military tab.

Israeli GDP is $200 billion, U.S. military aid is $3 billion, or 1.5%.  Most of that is spent here, so it's mainly a subsidy for U.S. military contractors at taxpayer expense with Israel as a benefactor. Economic aid ended some years ago. If all U.S. military aid was turned off tomorrow, the nature of the Israeli military would change, but it would still involve huge numbers of the country's young people bearing guns and the standard of living wouldn't decline much (unless it led directly to an invasion or something which is unlikely.) U.S. military aid didn't start until the Six-Day War, I believe--before then it was mostly from France.

You may be reading an intent to minimize into the word "backstop" that isn't there. Perhaps I'm using the word wrong.

Lots of American Jews send money to Israel, but I suspect it mostly goes to their pet projects, such as buildings in East Jerusalem and settlements. It's not going to the government so much or to individuals like Alaska's oil dividend.

Yeah, and I wasn't trying to nitpick.  I agree with your last 2 sentences as well.