People losing jobs and homes and then this.

[DaCol.]

I just hope these countries will be willing to return the favor when we need it.

Yeah, kinda like Iraq is going to pay for ALL our cost in their country by shipping us OIL . So, when does the spicket get turned on

[99'busa]

there should be public votes for this crap

That is only one fraction of the worthless, senceless, foolish, and irresposible spending being done right now.

[AJAY]

I'm sure we'd all like to have Hamas for neighbors right across our border. These people will now be our best friends for helping them out, right? They'll love us, as soon as they slice our little infidel heads off.

Not sure when we decided our best strategy was to help our enemies.:drinka: I'm with Captain on this one.

[Dino]

I'm sure we'd all like to have Hamas for neighbors right across our border. These people will now be our best friends for helping them out, right? They'll love us, as soon as they slice our little infidel heads off.

Not sure when we decided our best strategy was to help our enemies.:drinka: I'm with Captain on this one.

Prior to about 2004 Hamas made no threats against America or Americans only Israel.

[VANNWRAY]

no worries , isreal will one way or another deal the fatal blow that will wake us all up . Just hold on a little while . It's coming and the rest will be destiny ! Get ready for the big party .

why are we spending money on the other countries... How about we rebuild our own...... This has nothing to do with who is in office but everything about our government! Lets bail out and rebuild our citizens before we start giving money away.

Official: Us aid to gaza to top $900 million

a hamas militant walks through the destroyed hamas headquarters compound in gaza january 24, 2009....
A hamas militant walks through the destroyed hamas headquarters compound in gaza january 24, 2009. Critics said israel had responded disproportionately, in its air and ground offensive in heavily populated areas, to cross-border rocket attacks over the previous eight years that killed 18 people. Israeli prime minister ehud olmert threatened on sunday a "disproportionate response" to the continued firing of rockets into israel from the hamas-ruled gaza strip.
(yannis behrakis/reuters)the united states will likely donate more than $900 million for the reconstruction of gaza, a u.s. Official said monday, as u.s. Secretary of state hillary clinton prepared to attend a donors conference for the war-ravaged territory next week.

Israeli and palestinian officials said earlier monday that clinton will visit israel and the west bank during the first week of march for her first trip to the region as america's top diplomat.

Clinton said during her asia trip this month that she would attend an international donors conference in egypt on march 2 to discuss reconstruction in gaza.

She provided no other details, but a u.s. Official in the united states said monday that the obama administration's donation will likely top $900 million in humanitarian and rebuilding aid to the palestinian authority to help gaza recover from israel's offensive against hamas last month.

The official added that the aid would not go to hamas. The u.s. Recognizes the west bank-based government of palestinian president mahmoud abbas and has no formal contacts with the islamic militant group hamas, which runs a separate palestinian administration in the gaza strip.


The israeli officials, meanwhile, said clinton will arrive in israel on march 2 for meetings with the country's top leaders. Israel is currently ruled by a caretaker government as likud party leader benjamin netanyahu cobbles together a new coalition.

The israeli officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the visit had not been announced by the state department, which has not released clinton's schedule for next week.

Yasser abed rabbo, a senior aide to palestinian president mahmoud abbas, said clinton also would visit the west bank during her stay.

[Devil Dog]

I just hope these countries will be willing to return the favor when we need it. But somehow I very much doubt it.

last time I checked........WE DO NEED IT. I'm the first guy to reach in my pocket when its empty and pull a dime out and help someone else. I've done it a few times here when other members have needed it.....but this is crazy.

We are in a recession and our gov't in sending money to other countries....to help them in their tough times.

I don't get it!

[F=MA]

The article seems to indicate that the funds are going to prop up the non-Hamas segment of what little governance is there...the one we support...not the one that was democratically elected. This is nothing unusual. It's one of the ways America works to advance our agenda throughout the world. $900 billion over the next ten years may be far more cost effective than finding our troops in the middle of that mess. None of us, including myself, have to like that potential reality.

Anyone got any statistics on how much aid America gives to Israel? I haven't researched that one in depth, but I suspect it's substantial.

I still don't have enough knowledge or details about this particular aid package to the Palestinian Authority to intelligently decide whether this amount is excessive or not. This article seems to have been written more to incite the wrath of the average person in America, rather than provide enough information to make a rational decision regarding the true need for the aid. Such is what passes for journalism these days.

This has been an interesting topic to discuss. Thanks for sharing it Captain. It is philosophical questions that have been uncovered here that keep me coming back to see what's going on at "the .org".

[afterhours]

we tried staying out of the worlds politics.....it did not work. google WWI and WWII for the results.

[99'busa]

The article seems to indicate that the funds are going to prop up the non-Hamas segment of what little governance is there...the one we support...not the one that was democratically elected. This is nothing unusual. It's one of the ways America works to advance our agenda throughout the world. $900 billion over the next ten years may be far more cost effective than finding our troops in the middle of that mess. None of us, including myself, have to like that potential reality.

Anyone got any statistics on how much aid America gives to Israel? I haven't researched that one in depth, but I suspect it's substantial.

I still don't have enough knowledge or details about this particular aid package to the Palestinian Authority to intelligently decide whether this amount is excessive or not. This article seems to have been written more to incite the wrath of the average person in America, rather than provide enough information to make a rational decision regarding the true need for the aid. Such is what passes for journalism these days.

This has been an interesting topic to discuss. Thanks for sharing it Captain. It is philosophical questions that have been uncovered here that keep me coming back to see what's going on at "the .org".

Now you may have a point that I can start to accept. That's IF this donation is actually going to prevent us from sending troops down the road or offers some bilateral effect on our safety...THEN it's not a bad investment. BUT HERE'S THE PROBLEM we are not making many other wise financial moves right now so it's not likely this is going to be one either.

[tegbusa]

Aug2007-Israel to Get $30 Billion in Military Aid From U.S.

[FastCurrey]

Respectfully, no matter how much any of us like or dislike war and conflict, how much control do we as individuals have over what our leadership, or lack thereof, does? How many of us here today like that we're on track to spend over a trillion dollars in Iraq? That doesn't mean we can stop spending that money and fighting that battle, nor is it justification for ending the effort altogether.

The simple fact that the Palestinian people cannot control their destiny is why they fight. We did it ourselves a little over 200 years ago, against a tyranny that was far less onerous than what the Palestinian people find themselves facing today.

Don't misinterpret my post as a blanket approval for all the events and tactics a minority in Gaza have chosen to employ in an effort to improve their lives. I'm just attempting to provide a little more depth to the problem than what the writers of the story wanted us to consider.

The Palestinian/Israeli conflict actually is not that old...really just forty years or so. It's a drop in the bucket, historically speaking.

The conflict is much older. A man named Abraham gave birth to two boys, Ishmael and Issac. Ismael fathered the Arabs and Issac fathered the Israelis. The current incarnation of Israel was establishes in 1948 when the land was purchased from Great Britian after World War 2. The Arabs had been inhabiting the land now known as Israel and Palestine for 2000 years and believe it to belong to them, still. That belief coupled with sibling rivalry equals war.

When I joined the military I took an oath to protect the Constitution from enemies, foreign and domestic. If I have to I will remove the government and we can start over - where is that reset button?

Granted, I have over-simplified things but you get the point.

[BusaWhipped]

Last time I looked, Israel was our ally. Wouldn't that make their enemies our enemies? Maybe I just need to get back under my rock.

[99'busa]

Last time I looked, Israel was our ally. Wouldn't that make their enemies our enemies? Maybe I just need to get back under my rock.

skoot over brother i'm coming in

[Postal]

Why are we spending money on the other countries... how about we rebuild our own...... This has nothing to do with who is in office but everything about our government! Lets bail out and rebuild OUR citizens before we start giving money away.

Official: US Aid to Gaza to Top $900 Million

A Hamas militant walks through the destroyed Hamas headquarters compound in Gaza January 24, 2009....
A Hamas militant walks through the destroyed Hamas headquarters compound in Gaza January 24, 2009. Critics said Israel had responded disproportionately, in its air and ground offensive in heavily populated areas, to cross-border rocket attacks over the previous eight years that killed 18 people. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert threatened on Sunday a "disproportionate response" to the continued firing of rockets into Israel from the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
(Yannis Behrakis/Reuters)The United States will likely donate more than $900 million for the reconstruction of Gaza, a U.S. official said Monday, as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton prepared to attend a donors conference for the war-ravaged territory next week.

Israeli and Palestinian officials said earlier Monday that Clinton will visit Israel and the West Bank during the first week of March for her first trip to the region as America's top diplomat.

Clinton said during her Asia trip this month that she would attend an international donors conference in Egypt on March 2 to discuss reconstruction in Gaza.

She provided no other details, but a U.S. official in the United States said Monday that the Obama administration's donation will likely top $900 million in humanitarian and rebuilding aid to the Palestinian Authority to help Gaza recover from Israel's offensive against Hamas last month.

The official added that the aid would not go to Hamas. The U.S. recognizes the West Bank-based government of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and has no formal contacts with the Islamic militant group Hamas, which runs a separate Palestinian administration in the Gaza Strip.


The Israeli officials, meanwhile, said Clinton will arrive in Israel on March 2 for meetings with the country's top leaders. Israel is currently ruled by a caretaker government as Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu cobbles together a new coalition.

The Israeli officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the visit had not been announced by the State Department, which has not released Clinton's schedule for next week.

Yasser Abed Rabbo, a senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said Clinton also would visit the West Bank during her stay.

It has everything to do with who is in office and the socialist party in power.

P.

[F=MA]

The conflict is much older. A man named Abraham gave birth to two boys, Ishmael and Issac. Ismael fathered the Arabs and Issac fathered the Israelis. The current incarnation of Israel was establishes in 1948 when the land was purchased from Great Britian after World War 2. The Arabs had been inhabiting the land now known as Israel and Palestine for 2000 years and believe it to belong to them, still. That belief coupled with sibling rivalry equals war.

When I joined the military I took an oath to protect the Constitution from enemies, foreign and domestic. If I have to I will remove the government and we can start over - where is that reset button?

Granted, I have over-simplified things but you get the point.

I'm aware of the history of religion, but thanks for writing that for some who are not.

Thanks for your service.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last time I looked, Israel was our ally. Wouldn't that make their enemies our enemies? Maybe I just need to get back under my rock.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------



As I wrote before, the Palestinian Authority, while not probably Israel's closest ally, is a much more rational bedfellow in the peace process than the alternative. Therefore the aid goes to the team we want to see in power...not the one that was democratically elected. It's hypocracy at it's finest, but what's new about our foreign policy?

Who's left whom I haven't replied to? Oh yeah...99'busa:

I agree with your skepticism and reluctance regarding spending money we don't have. That mentality would have served us well had it been present over the last decade or two.

[semperfi]

This all just makes my head hurt. I hate seeing things go down the crapper, but it seems like it can not be stopped. ???

[Turbo-Torch]

1. most people on welfare are not illegal aliens, they did not cross a border, and they cannot be deported. they are good old american citizens. please get some facts before spouting your racism. 40% of those on welfare are white....

Ah yes, "racism"...an excellent current buzzword along with Going Green and Chipotle.
Please post ALL the facts, such as:
"Tested welfare expenditures by federal and state governments amounted to roughly $384 billion in 1998. Of that sum, $212 billion--55 percent--went to white recipients. Some $105 billion--28 percent--went to black recipients, and $69 billion--17 percent--went to Hispanic recipients.
Aid to black and Hispanic welfare recipients is greater in proportion to the size of their populations than is aid to white recipients. This can be seen by determining the average welfare expenditure per person for each ethnic group.
As a group, the 207 million white residents in the U.S. population receive $212 billion in benefits. As a group, then, they receive some $1,022 per person in welfare aid.
There are some 30 million Hispanic residents in the U.S., and Hispanics as a group receive $69 billion in welfare, or roughly $2,210 per person. As a group, the 33 million black residents in the U.S. receive $105 billion in welfare aid, or roughly $3,230 per person".

2. the fianancial problems we have now started because the liberals decided that all people should own homes, even those that could not afford one. they forced wall street write bad loans....and now are surprised when these loans are now "toxic".

Did the liberals also force conservatives to buy houses and rack up credit card debt they couldn't afford? For all the botards getting kicked to the curb, it seems to be equal opportunity for both sides.
IMO it's like the Ant and Grasshopper fable. The morons that had to have the upscale executive style house, Plasma TVs, all current game consoles, SUVs, latest cell phones ect. deserve to sink into the cold winter abyss. I guarantee they weren't all liberals either. It's always spend the pay check before you get it, wait in anticipation for the tax refund to buy toys and apply for more credit cards all while not having one damn dime in the bank. Hell, I've seen people in here jumping for joy because after trying and trying they finally managed to "GET APPROVED" for some high interest loan on a Hayabusa. A high dollar item that serves no useful purpose other than joyriding. No F'n priorities.

I feel bad for those who busted ass for 50+ years only to lose their pension and end up on a sh!tty fixed income with health problems. Now they get to choose between food, heating the house or medication. That's were that $900 million should be going!

3. people really need to get out of this country, and see the world. see what real poverty looks like. there are parts of the world that do not have food to eat. there are parts of the world were 12 year old boys are drafted by local warlords and handed rifles. were whole villages are wiped out and teen girls are sold into slavery...

Sorry but I care more about all the bad things going on in my country.

12 year old american kids are spoiled, walking around the mall with cell phones and IPODS while thier parents are running up bills they cannot pay.

we did this to ourselves, we allowed ourselves and our children to believ they were entitled to things they could not afford and now we have to pay the piper. this will end, the recession will be over one day, and people will have hopefully changed thier ways...

Very true but that applies to BOTH sides of the politcal coin. I also think things will need to get a lot worse before reality sinks in....then again seeing reality may not even be possible for current generations considering all the mind altering drugs they get shoved down their throats (Ritalin!).

[Zerks]

As relevant todays as it was in 2009... see... its the same stuff... just a different day.

If you read one post its is similar to reading the others... Post #57, the last one had the facts down cold.

[Rojo]

Can You Really Blame Israel? | Politics

this is going to turn into an ugly conflict. "Every time that Hamas fires there will be a more and more severe response," he told Channel 2 TV on Friday. "I really recommend all the Hamas leadership in Gaza not to try us again. ... Nobody is immune there, not Haniyeh and not anybody else."...

www.hayabusa.org

That is all we need before an election month ~ $end $ome of our kids over to help defend Isreal from Iran *

[Red05]

That is all we need before an election month ~ $end $ome of our kids over to help defend Isreal from Iran *

Some would call that statement pro Palestine. Defend Isreal at all cost is what we’ve always done so we have to keep doing it, right?