Aid for Israel
POSTED BY: AnthonyT
UPDATED: Monday, August 17, 2026 14:58
VIEWED: 9651
PAGE 2 of 11
Quote:Oh, Israel is our ally? Really? so- What have they done for us lately? Or even in the past 60 years?
It’s always easier to support allies that don‘t need our help, but does that mean we abandon our allies that do? I’m not sure I like that approach to foreign policy.
---------------------------------
Always look upstream.
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I tend to think that Israel is our ally, though I also think they will always do what's best for them, which, you know, they'd be stupid if they didn't.
Israel does a lot of dirty work, as well. Politically they aren't nearly so squeamish as we often seem to be, and, wonder of wonders, they tend to be able to keep a secret.
as to the money we give them? I'm of two minds about that. On the one hand, they are the tiny country surrounded by people who want them destroyed. Obliterated. As such, I tend to think we should help them. It's always been American policy, at least in modern times, to support democratic governments. Israel is one.
But the amount of money? There I have to scratch my head. I don't think they need so much of our money, for sure. Of course, I don't think the UN needs it either. So what do I know? lol
As far as what they've done? We'll likely never know, since, as I said, they seem to be able to keep a secret. But when Iran's nuclear program get's destroyed, I'd be willing to bet there will be an Israeli to thank for it.
Whether that's a good or bad thing? I honestly don't know.
Bad_karma
Grand High President for Life, International Brotherhood of Moonshiners, Rednecks, and Good Old Boys.
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I would add that I don't see where cutting funding, or at least reducing it, in support of Israel somehow makes us anti-semitic, ( I think that's the term ) I know several people who are active practicing the jewish faith, and that's their business.
To say that someone who doesn't like funneling BILLIONS of US taxpayer dollars into Israel is, for that reason, an anti-semite, is rather childish.
But again, that's just me.
Bad_karma
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Quote:I think it should be noted that prior to and during the Six Day War Israel recieved aid and Weapons from both the United States and Britain. Theres also accusations of direct military support from Britain and the United States, but I have no idea how accurate they are, they could be Egyptian propeganda.
Originally posted by AnthonyT:
There are others who argue that without our military support, Israel would be overrun by her enemies. In fact, I don't think this is the case.
During the Six Day War, Israel defeated her enemies Egypt, Syria, and Jordan. That was during a time when the sophistication of her forces was in parity with her opponents. Israel now has a military sophistication far exceeding her likely opponents.
More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.
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Quote:
Originally posted by citizen:Quote:I think it should be noted that prior to and during the Six Day War Israel recieved aid and Weapons from both the United States and Britain. Theres also accusations of direct military support from Britain and the United States, but I have no idea how accurate they are, they could be Egyptian propeganda.
Originally posted by AnthonyT:
There are others who argue that without our military support, Israel would be overrun by her enemies. In fact, I don't think this is the case.
During the Six Day War, Israel defeated her enemies Egypt, Syria, and Jordan. That was during a time when the sophistication of her forces was in parity with her opponents. Israel now has a military sophistication far exceeding her likely opponents.
More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.
Hello,
I don't give much credence to the idea that Israel was receiving direct military assistance from the US during the Six day war.
As far as I know, we only had one asset in the immediate vicinity during the conflict. It was an intelligence ship called the USS Liberty.
History tells us that the USS Liberty and the Israeli military were not exactly swimming in mutual admiration or assistance.
--Anthony
"Liberty must not be purchased at the cost of Humanity." --Captain Robert Henner
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U.S. aid to Israel is more like a subsidy for American defense contractors than foreign aid. Most of the money goes to Israel in the form of high tech weapons like F16 fighters and Tomahawk missiles.
The US has very few true friends in the world and we should do all we reasonably can to support them.
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Quote:I really agree, I mentioned it because it's something I heard, but sounds rather more likely to be Egyptian propaganda that the other Arab allies also parroted. Either way the US and Britain did supply Israel with aid during and before the conflict. In the case of the US this was a cold war decision, Israel being a counterpoint to Russian backed Syria, so I don't think we can really use the Six Day War as an example of Israel's ability to operate entirely alone in it's present environment.
Originally posted by AnthonyT:
I don't give much credence to the idea that Israel was receiving direct military assistance from the US during the Six day war.
As far as I know, we only had one asset in the immediate vicinity during the conflict. It was an intelligence ship called the USS Liberty.
History tells us that the USS Liberty and the Israeli military were not exactly swimming in mutual admiration or assistance.
More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.
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Quote:
It seems that whenever the idea of stopping aid to Israel comes up, someone suggests that stopping aid to Israel = Hating Jews. For the record, this is an emotional lever used to avoid discussing the issue. If you don't want to argue the topic, then don't. But please discontinue the use of dishonest tactics.
Excellent point Anthony. Those kinds of arguments always infuriate me. What I've meant to say to you before and never have until this point is that I really admire the way you make your arguments in a completely non argumentative way... all the way down to the small but not unnoticed fact that you make a point to politely begin every one of your posts with a "Hello,"
I tip my hat to ya for that. I myself have read Dale Caranige's work, but I just don't live it like you do. You exude his message repeatedly and consistantly in every one of your posts. That's no small feat that I can only hope that I could accomplish some day. Perhaps I will be able to when I've grown a little older and wiser. If you've never read his work, it's all the more impressive that this is your routine.
All of that being said, I do agree that we should not be supporting Israel. Although undecided about religion and God myself, I do believe that I probably stand up for it (Christianity, anyhow) more than most people on this board, but believing in the necessity of separation of Church and State as the only means of having a true Democratic Republic, I can't say that there really is any reason to funnel billions of dollars a year to them. I speak with several very religious people who agree with many of my points of view but we would bash heads about this point. So far, truthfully, everything that is Israel has been since the beginning has been predicted in the Bible and I know some people who KNOW in their hearts and minds that America will never abandon Israel.
Personally, if it were up to me, I would offer our friends there asylum in our country and cut those that rejected it off completely. Maybe they would survive, maybe they wouldn't. Who's to say?
On a personal and (I feel) related note, my Grandmother who I think the world of allowed me to stay at her house for five or so years after I got laid off in 2001. Living was cheap and easy those five years and I leeched off of her generosity and enablement. Fortunately, a situation presented itself to me that I couldn't pass up and although I had to move 100 or so miles from all of my friends and family, I was able to re-start my life 3 years ago.
She currently has two of her own children (full-fledged adults who had made some bad choices in life) living with her now as well. I love them, but I don't see any hope for what's left of their futures. She's not going to live forever and I don't see how they could ever possibly survive on their own after having been enabled to almost do nothing in order to survive for so long. Her other child, my uncle who was a Veteran and who I loved as a brother, shot himself in the head 2 years ago.
Rest in peace my man. I hope you found in the afterlife whatever it was that you weren't able to find here.
Sometimes you have to kick the bird out of the nest in order to teach it how to fly.
"A government is a body of people, usually notably ungoverned." http://www.myspace.com/6ixstringjack
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The US did not supply Israel with arms during 1967 war. I'm doubt Britain did either. That war last a whole six days, and Israel won that war in the first day with airstrikes that destroyed Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Iraq's airfields, given Israel air superiority. Even if the US wanted to support Israel with military aid, I'm not sure they could have done so in any significant way before that war ended. This is Arab propaganda. The Arabs have always hated the fact that they had their collective assess handed to them so many times by a bunch Jews, and the 1967 war was the most humiliating of all. Obviously, they are going to graps for any reason to say it didn’t happen.
Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum.
Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than public opinion, nothing more deceptive than the whole political system.
-- Cicero
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The six day war lasted six days? Really? No? Is that why they call it the six day war then?
The crises leading up to the six day war lasted a lot longer though, and Israel had been recieving US weapons since the early sixties. Specifically where I've heard about US and British material aid during the crisis period, which includes the six days of conflict, wasn't arab sources.
More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.
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