U.S. Senate Sets $225 Million for Israel's Iron Dome in Emergency Bill
Source: NYT/Reuters
U.S. Senate Democrats included $225 million for Israel's Iron Dome rocket interception system in an emergency funding bill on Tuesday that also cut $1 billion from President Barack Obama's request for $3.7 billion to deal with thousands of undocumented child immigrants.
"Israel is an essential American ally and needs these assets to defend itself," said Maryland Democratic Senator Barbara Mikulski, chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, in a statement.
More than 600 people - most of them Palestinians - have been killed in the current conflict between Israel and militants in Gaza. On Tuesday, Israel pounded targets across the Gaza Strip, saying no ceasefire was near.
Israel said the Iron Dome has intercepted about a fifth of more than 2,000 rockets militants have fired at Israel during the current conflict.
Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2014/07/22/us/politics/22reuters-palestinians-israel-irondome-congress.html?_r=0
djean111
(14,255 posts)postulater
(5,075 posts)I'd prefer the money stays closer to home.
gussmith
(280 posts)un.freaking.believable. don't just luv how our tax dollars go to fund monstrosities like the IDF?
Iamthetruth
(487 posts)those rockets that hamas cowardly fires indiscriminately into civilian population land on them and kill them?
starroute
(12,977 posts)... it doesn't seem as though we'd be getting much for the money. $225 million to possibly save one more life? I could think of a lot better ways to spend it.
former9thward
(31,913 posts)which are going to land in some uninhabited area. They only shoot down ones heading towards an inhabited area. So, yes, 80% "are getting through" but that is because the Iron Dome lets them.
candelista
(1,986 posts)Do you have a reference for this?
former9thward
(31,913 posts)Something I DID NOT say. Most of them do. It is not 100% when aiming at rockets which are determined that they are going to land in an inhabited area.
It has been activated to intercept about 27 percent of the approximately 180 rockets fired between Monday night and midday Wednesday. Of the times when Iron Dome was activated, it successfully intercepted the rockets nearly 90 percent of the time, and there have been few rocket hits or serious injuries.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.604039
candelista
(1,986 posts)You said if an area is not inhabited, the rockets aren't shot down. By contraposition, that means that if a rocket is shot down, then the area is inhabited.
former9thward
(31,913 posts)Nothing wrong with that logic. Not all rockets headed for an inhabited area are shot down. The Iron Dome is not perfect.
morningfog
(18,115 posts)I'd rather the US not be in the arms business. Id rather the US devote its resources to humanitarian aid and non-violent conflict resolution.
2banon
(7,321 posts)Iamthetruth
(487 posts)Do you really believe Israel would be invading if there not being fired upon?
ChairmanAgnostic
(28,017 posts)In fact, that argument is a lie.
Israel manufactured the local outrage, stoked it, and used that anger as a shield while it killed in cold blood hundreds, including children.
2banon
(7,321 posts)their arms of death and destruction when they've already armed to the teeth and more than capable of paying for it themselves.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)to fix our decaying infrastructure! They are more than capable of paying for it themselves, we have things here at home that need to be addressed.
2banon
(7,321 posts)in addition to the Billions of dollars from the United States. As I stated in that thread, we are led to believe that the United States is their only Friend against the World who hates them.
Fucking amazing. Check this out: http://www.humaniteinenglish.com/spip.php?article2505
Here's the thread where it was posted: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10245650#post1
Aerows
(39,961 posts)that we fund slaughter abroad, while ignoring our own suffering population. If that statement makes someone mad, so be it. It's madness to ignore our own country.
mikeysnot
(4,756 posts)of our freedoms?
Warpy
(111,106 posts)and it's time to start to focus on the very real problems here.
This is not the way to do it.
Way too much money, imo.
Xipe Totec
(43,887 posts)GoneFishin
(5,217 posts)materials are blockaded and not allowed into Gaza prison. They will have to make their dome out of hope and change.
Iamthetruth
(487 posts)Those materials are used to build their tunnels and bunkers. Now if only they used them for the innocent civilian population in Gaza but we all know that hamas only uses them as pawns.
GoneFishin
(5,217 posts)on them. That tired bullshit line about this being self-defense is a crock of shit, and anybody who pays attention to how many civilians are being murdered and how many innocents' homes are being bulldozed to make way for settlements with plushly landscaped lawns, knows this is about land theft, and a slow, systematic draining of the Palestinians will, until one day they are so weak that they can be squeegeed off the land entirely like bugs on a windshield.
Fozzledick
(3,860 posts)Xipe Totec
(43,887 posts)dembotoz
(16,783 posts)DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)...Israel is not ''my ally.''
- Nor are any of the other baby murderers who are currently posing as leaders today - my ally.
Damn 'em all to hell.
L0oniX
(31,493 posts)Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)I had some erroneously low info on how much each Iron Dome missile cost, but according to the Economist, each 'interception' runs to $60k, so with 1/5th of 2k missiles requiring interception, that's 24 million spent so far on Iron Dome in the latest go round. At that rate, the $225 million will pay for 3750 interceptions, which if they keep on track at only 1 in 5 rockets requiring interceptions, would allow Hamas to fire close to 19000 rockets without Israel spending a penny on Iron Dome, all of the tab being picked up by US taxpayers.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)That money is going to businesses whose existence relies on Hamas rockets, or at least the fear of them. Money from our own pockets.
candelista
(1,986 posts)geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)L0oniX
(31,493 posts)Swede Atlanta
(3,596 posts)Eliminate all foreign aid to both sides. That includes any form of military or economic aid, no more intelligence sharing, no more joint military exercises, nothing.
Recall our ambassador and have our allies do the same.
Israel will collapse within months because it depends on U.S. foreign aid. Once they see they are vulnerable they will humbly come to the bargaining table and negotiate for what they can get without having Uncle Sugar (aka their "bitch" at their side.
It is the only way forward. The Israelis have to realize they are not invincible without U.S. aid and once that shield is gone they will come to their senses. It may take some time but they will come to their senses.
I am firmly opposed to any votes for any more money for Israel. Many of those in Congress voting do so out of their personal religious belief that only when Israel has re-built the temple will Jesus return. Even as a Christian I think that is bull roar. Jesus doesn't need a building that he quite honestly didn't have much time for in his own time to be motivated to return. He will do so on his own terms.
Iamthetruth
(487 posts)You think the loss of $3 billion collapses an economy with a GDP of $250 billion? What happens without the iron dome is a lot of Israeli civilians would die and would give Israel a legitimate excuse to run through Gaza without regard for anything.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)Last edited Wed Jul 23, 2014, 09:20 AM - Edit history (1)
BronxBoy
(2,286 posts)Pensioners in Detroit are having their water shut off and they ain't getting a dime of federal money
hack89
(39,171 posts)same reason we give Egypt a lot of military aid. Israel and Egypt making peace was a huge game changer in the ME.
morningfog
(18,115 posts)legitimate.
gussmith
(280 posts)Yes, the only way to train these children.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)Nothing better for business than war and fear.
starroute
(12,977 posts)May 28, 2014
The Israeli government has agreed to spend more than half the funds the Pentagon provides for its Iron Dome system in the U.S., bolstering the political appeal of the missile-defense system in America.
Funds going to U.S. contractors for components of the Israeli-built, Pentagon-funded system will jump to 30 percent this year and 55 percent next year from 3 percent previously, according to a U.S. Missile Defense Agency report to Congress obtained by Bloomberg News. That amounts to at least $97 million of $176 million requested by the Defense Department for the coming fiscal year. ...
Raytheon Co. (RTN), based in Waltham, Massachusetts, is under contract with Iron Domes Israeli maker, Haifa-based Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., to find suitable U.S. suppliers, the Missile Defense Agency said in the report. Raytheon is the fourth-largest federal contractor and the worlds biggest missile maker. ...
Given the significant U.S. taxpayer investment in this system, the committee believes that co-production of parts and components should be done in a manner that will maximize U.S. industry participation, the House Armed Services Committee said in its report on the defense authorization measure for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)I'm becoming increasingly convinced that in the 21st century nothing happens, bad or good, without greed behind it :/
arcane1
(38,613 posts)L0oniX
(31,493 posts)Adrahil
(13,340 posts)I don't get it. Why is it our responsibility to cover their bills?
L0oniX
(31,493 posts)hack89
(39,171 posts)same reason we give a lot of military aid to Egypt. The principle was that the US would ensure a military balance of power so neither side would feel threatened by the other.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)At the least, Iron Dome doesn't have anything to do with Egypt.
hack89
(39,171 posts)Adrahil
(13,340 posts)But I don't see Egypt and Israel going to war anytime soon. It's time Israel stands on its own.
hack89
(39,171 posts)postulater
(5,075 posts)AngryDem001
(684 posts)How does this help fix our bridges and roads? How does this help keep jobs in the US? How does this help people who are still without healthcare?
How about an "emergency bill" for those things?
How does this help US? How does this help people in OUR OWN COUNTRY?????
Baclava
(12,047 posts)woo-wee...... a perpetual motion war machine
sinkingfeeling
(51,431 posts)country that has done horrible things and cuts to help innocent children.
L0oniX
(31,493 posts)lovuian
(19,362 posts)where's ours?
The Congress has to come to grips with the US can't be the World Policeman for the Corporations unless the
Corporations pay more taxes
EX500rider
(10,782 posts)Yes. it's called the Missile Defense Agency.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missile_Defense_Agency
ladjf
(17,320 posts)harun
(11,348 posts)E-Z-B
(567 posts)With over 2,000 rockets being fired at Israel since July 8th, the posters here sound pissed that the body count isn't high enough. Unbelievable.
The Stranger
(11,297 posts)is going thousands of miles away to Netanyahu's war crimes and Netanyahu's atrocities?
Come on.
Ash_F
(5,861 posts)tabasco
(22,974 posts)when we desperately need that money here.
amandabeech
(9,893 posts)That is once he gets off Wolf Blitzer's show on CNN.