Mockingbird Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 Quote JERUSALEM — The United States has finalized a $38 billion package of military aid for Israel over the next 10 years, the largest of its kind ever, and the two allies plan to sign the agreement on Wednesday, American and Israeli officials said. The State Department scheduled a ceremony to formally announce the pact, which will be signed by Jacob Nagel, the acting national security adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, and Thomas A. Shannon Jr., the under secretary of state for political affairs. Susan E. Rice, President Obama’s national security adviser who handled negotiations, plans to be on hand. The package represents a major commitment to Israel’s security in the waning months of Mr. Obama’s presidency after years of fractious relations with Mr. Netanyahu over issues like the Iran nuclear agreement. Mr. Netanyahu agreed to several concessions to cement the deal rather than gamble on winning better terms from the next president. The package will provide an average of $3.8 billion a year over the next decade to Israel, already the largest recipient of American aid, including financing for missile defense systems that defend against rockets fired by groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. Under a previous 10-year agreement that expires in 2018, the United States provides about $3 billion a year, but lately Congress has added up to $500 million a year for missile defense. “The United States has invested significantly in many of Israel’s most effective defenses against terrorist threats,” Daniel B. Shapiro, the American ambassador to Israel, said in a speech this week. He cited the Iron Dome antimissile system and the delivery by the end of this year of the first F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Looking ahead to the next decade, Mr. Netanyahu initially sought as much as $45 billion, but Mr. Obama refused to go that high. Money for missile defense is included in the package, and the two sides agreed not to seek additional funds from Congress over the next decade unless both agree, such as in case of a war. [...] http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/14/world/middleeast/israel-benjamin-netanyahu-military-aid.html?_r=0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctebah Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 I wonder if they can use any of the funding towards that wall they're currently building... What Israel also has to do now is spend all the money only on US made weapons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hum Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 How about giving me a billion ? I'm a little short this week ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PGHammer Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 7 minutes ago, ctebah said: I wonder if they can use any of the funding towards that wall they're currently building... What Israel also has to do now is spend all the money only on US made weapons. Still, will the US be able to leverage the tech from Iron Dome (the Israeli antimissile system with US-sourced components)? That was actually COVERED in the previous deal - and "Bibi" had no objections to that in THIS deal, either; the objections came from Democrats in Congress (and certainly sound - at least to me - pretty darn silly; it's the equivalent of free military R&D - what the US does with it is up to the US). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctebah Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 44 minutes ago, PGHammer said: Still, will the US be able to leverage the tech from Iron Dome (the Israeli antimissile system with US-sourced components)? That was actually COVERED in the previous deal - and "Bibi" had no objections to that in THIS deal, either; the objections came from Democrats in Congress (and certainly sound - at least to me - pretty darn silly; it's the equivalent of free military R&D - what the US does with it is up to the US). I'm not sure about that one, and while I disagree with this military aid, I believe it's correct for it to be spent only on US made products. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 (edited) 3 hours ago, ctebah said: I wonder if they can use any of the funding towards that wall they're currently building... What Israel also has to do now is spend all the money only on US made weapons. Because the US has the beef; SM-3 based Aegis Ashore batteries for IRBM/ICBM's and systems for drones/mortars/theater missies - likely eventually including the high power tactical lasers (75-300 kW) going into US aircraft and ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctebah Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 12 hours ago, DocM said: Because the US has the beef; SM-3 based Aegis Ashore batteries for IRBM/ICBM's and systems for drones/mortars/theater missies - likely eventually including the high power tactical lasers (75-300 kW) going into US aircraft and ships. Israel always had better tech when it comes to military. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 1 minute ago, ctebah said: Israel always had better tech when it comes to military. Look at the neighborhood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctebah Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 2 minutes ago, DocM said: Look at the neighborhood Exactly. Which is why they add their own tech to a lot of American made products. And they used to spend a portion of the aid on their homemade equipment, whereas now, they have to spend it all, including missile shield procurement, on US made equipment. Makes perfect sense. US is basically giving aid that's being spent on it's own industries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Gary7 Subscriber² Posted September 16, 2016 Subscriber² Share Posted September 16, 2016 The Marine Corps cannot find parts for their F-18's so they are going through the boneyard in Arizona salvaging used parts but we can send all of this money to Israel. A hell of a way to run a railroad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buttus Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 47 minutes ago, Gary7 said: The Marine Corps cannot find parts for their F-18's so they are going through the boneyard in Arizona salvaging used parts but we can send all of this money to Israel. A hell of a way to run a railroad. or they could have spent the money here, on something less important, like schools or something..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 (edited) 12 minutes ago, Buttus said: or they could have spent the money here, on something less important, like schools or something..... That part which Israel buys from the US (most of it) IS spent here, paid to companies like Boeing, Lockheed, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman etc. who, along with their workers, pay taxes (see multiplier effect) and support local economies. Military sales & "boomerang" aid are a business, everywhere - not just the US. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Gary7 Subscriber² Posted September 16, 2016 Subscriber² Share Posted September 16, 2016 19 minutes ago, Buttus said: or they could have spent the money here, on something less important, like schools or something..... We spend the most in the world on education and it is mostly wasted money with the return on the investment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 (edited) 3 hours ago, Gary7 said: We spend the most in the world on education and it is mostly wasted money with the return on the investment. Because they spend as much time on social engineering, entertainment and feely good stuff than in the classroom learning skills. Drives my 30+ year teacher wife crazy. +Gary7 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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