Israel may ask U.S. for $20 billion more in security aid, Barak says......

[kayecy]

While Israel did not face an immediate threat to its security, Barak told the WSJ, "The issue of qualitative military aid for Israel becomes more essential for us, and I believe also more essential for you .

"It might be wise to invest another $20 billion to upgrade the security of Israel for the next generation or so," he said, adding: "A strong, responsible Israel can become a stabilizer in such a turbulent region."


http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/israel-may-ask-u-s-for-20-billion-more-in-security-aid-barak-says-1.347866

[kayecy]

1. Why only $20 billion?........It's the least the US can do.........n/t

[opihimoimoi]

2. Borrow from the Chinese.....they got big bucks...we got debt...big DEBT

[Lasher]

3. Israel is gaming our political system.

It's an old funding game: Ask for more than you need, then agree to funding cuts you knew would come. In the end you have all you really wanted in the first place, while appearing to have shared the pain of fiscal restraint.

In 2009, total US economic and military foreign aid to Israel was $2.4 billion, second only to Afghanistan. Funding to them will be sustained at least at the same level but probably higher. This will be sold as a reduction from the $20 billion they first asked for.

[shira]

13. That's just Barak, not Israel. n/t

[Donald Ian Rankin]

16. Ah, just the minister of defence/deputy prime minister, then? N.T.

[shira]

21. Yeah, I highly doubt Netanyahu will push for more US aid. n/t

[DrDan]

4. I am sure there are some educational $$$ that could be tapped

or some of those free-loading senior's programs

[madrchsod]

5. that would buy a lot of food here in the usa.....

[whosinpower]

6. Isarael has always been strong

And the region has always been turbulant. It has the potential to be a stabilizer - but it must get the peace deal done first.

[shira]

7. Peace deal first, sounds nice...

But how will that stabilize the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, Hezbollah, Al Qaeda, and other Islamist Jihadi organizations?

[whosinpower]

8. It will help give Israel credibility in the region

Not according to those jerks, but the entire region is not made up of only their voices. And as much as the obove mentioned groups would love to take credit for the entire middle east protest movement - it is not theirs to own.

[kayecy]

9. Look how much stability (& settlements) Israel has achieved with the last 80 billion.....n/t

[shira]

10. Credibility with whom? Which specific people or political orgs? Can you name a few? n/t

[whosinpower]

11. Credibility with those who seek to normalize relations in the region

Ah - but the opportunity now appears lost.

[shira]

12. So who are these people specifically? n/t

[whosinpower]

14. The very same ones who wrote and endorsed the Arab Peace Initiative

It gathers dust now...and its leaders fight legitimacy from its own people - so that is why I wonder if that opportunity is ten years too late.

Let me be clear - the current protest movement that is crossing the middle east has very little to do with Israel/palistinian affairs. The Arab peace initiative, or any peace/final solution settlement will not address the legitimate complaints that the citizens have of their own respective leaders. BUT, it will help soften the anti-israeli rhetoric if the occupation stopped. It may even elevate the stature of those leaders who would negotiate a seemingly impossible task - which might even give the protest movement pause. Not because they(the leaders)finally addressed their grievances, but because those leaders did the impossible.

In this, Israel would gain credibility for the simple reason that it would grant the Arab initiative writers honour, and Iran would lose some of its power in the region. The house of Saud would gain. I take no particular pleasure in writing that, in terms of its own repressive regime towards its people, especially its women.

[shira]

15. Accepting the API would destroy Israel. n/t

[whosinpower]

17. Not even close.

The only thing that can destroy Israel - is Israel.

[shira]

18. The API calls for RoR. That finishes Israel. n/t

[whosinpower]

19. From Lieberman's lips to yours.

Waffling over a "just solution" to the refugee problem......

I say it again - the only thing that will destroy Israel is Israel.

[shira]

20. A "just solution" is full RoR to the Saudi, PLO, Hamas leaders. n/t