US Senate mulls unprecedented aid to Israel

this will cost us? There's another bill pending that would permit Israelis to enter the US without visas for 90 days. I wonder why?

So why shouldn't they be able to enter the U.S. with out a visa?

I just asked. What do you know about the first question?

I do favor reasonable aid to Israel.

the essential word is "reasonable."

Of course, with all the aid -- military and financical -- we give to Israel we're implicated in everything they do, including when they continue to build in the West Bank or East Jerusalem against our stated policies.

I'd like to see all this aid tied to behavior on Israel's part that conforms to US policies and efforts at peace with the Palestinians and in the Middle East in general ... but I think we all know what would happen to any US president who tries to withold aid to Israel under any circumstances.

I think Congress is the prime mover here.

However, my main point is not to pin this on the president, but to point out the influence of the Israel lobby on our national policy and our politics.

A politician who advocates tying military or financial aid to Israel's policies -- regardless of how much they act against our own stated policies and even against our own national interests -- will be targeted for defeat and smeared as an anti-semite and/or a terrorist sympathizer. Anything but 100% unconditional support for Israel is pretty close to political suicide, especially for presidential candidates.

Don't get me wrong -- I support Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state and US aid up to a point -- but they will never be party to any peace plan that empowers Palestinians and we will never be an honest broker for peace in that conflict as long as our aid to Israel is not tied to actions by them on the ground that are necessary for an equitable peace.

does turn into a tail wagging the dog dynamic.

Another war is right around the corner.

abortions and socialized medicine. Fundies don't wish to discus that. US tax payers support that?

"There should not be one scintilla of light between the positions of Republicans and Democrats on the issue of the security of Israel," said Sen. Johnny Isakson.

And there probably won't be.

I guess this will be paid for by social security and medicare cuts?

I don't see where this involves any extra spending.

"AID" costs the taxpayer money. ("aerial refueling tankers, specialized munitions and surplus drawdown gear from Iraq.")

It does not involve any additional spending.

I mean seriously. Iran again? "Let's just give someone all our stuff and buy new stuff for the next war we start."

We should be cutting off aid until Israel behaves, not sucking up to dirtbags like Netanyahu.

equipment, we should be selling it to them at a good fair price.

....but there is a growing number of scintillas between aid to Israel and the American people....Israel needs to practice some homegrown austerity and get their hands out of our pocket....

"...US-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012 which passed the House of Representatives earlier this month."

....now senator johnny, I don't want to hear you bitchin' about the national debt or budget deficits after the election....keep your slimy hands off of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid....

regardless of their continued occupation and oppression of the Palestinians.

I know that the Palestinians must share responsibility for the current situation. I am not a student of Shakespeare but I always think that his famous "A pox on both your houses" fits this situation.. (I think he actually said plague but I always remember it as Pox.

Israel will never feel the need to engage in meaningful negotiations while we keep supporting them financially and the Palestinians will also continue to suffer while they refuse to recognize Israel's right to exist. We need to stop taking sides and stop rewarding bad behavior.