Obama to give $400 Million to Palestine.

[Pete McCluskey.]

President Barack Obama said Wednesday the United States was to unveil a 400-million-dollar civilian aid package for the Palestinians, as he called the situation in the Gaza Strip "unsustainable."

Obama said the money would go to projects such as housing and schools, as he also predicted there would be "significant progress" in the stalemated Middle East peace process this year.

The president also said he expected Israel to comply with the demands of the U.N. Security Council in its probe into the deadly Israeli assault on a Gaza-bound aid flottila

He was speaking as he met with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, who said there was a need to lift the "siege" of the Palestinian people, referring to the Israeli blockade on the impoverished Gaza Strip.

Abbas hailed the new U.S. aid package saying it was a "positive" sign that the United States cared about the plight of his people.

 

[Al Wohlstrom]

Better than a date or a party I guess, whats $.4 billion, could have given it to California or any other in debt up to their ass state! But what the hell, were here to help!

 

[Ian Anderson]

Or helped clear up some oil in the Gulf of Mexico

Sure BP will eventually pay but surely this input now would make a huge difference

Ian

 

[Al Wohlstrom]

Or helped clear up some oil in the Gulf of Mexico

Sure BP will eventually pay but surely this input now would make a huge difference

Ian

We're on the same page Ian, exactly! Plus China must frown on this. Pay off some debt, what a concept.

 

[domtoni]

Take a look at what BP contributes to the UK economy, and I trust BHO wakes up after his cinversation eith David Cameron.

 

[Jeff Young]

Peanuts.

How about:

Obama gives $2.75 billion to Israel.

 

[Ron Earp]

Peanuts.

How about:

Obama gives $2.75 billion to Israel.

Yep. Without passing judgment, Israel has been the largest recipient of foreign aid from the US since WWII. This document has some background facts on the subject.

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33222.pdf

 

[Al Wohlstrom]

Yep. Without passing judgment, Israel has been the largest recipient of foreign aid from the US since WWII. This document has some background facts on the subject.

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33222.pdf

And we do get a return from this, while aid to Gaza will pay for no goodwill towards us at all. They will continue to hate us. Remember, we are the evil satan, they think of 72 virgins when they think of the US. They will take our (or China's) money though.

 

[Nick]

Al,

There was a TV programme here in the UK about the children in Palestine. One of the programmes featured the son of a fisherman. They would go out every day to fish, for food and to make a modest living.

Regularly their fishing boat was attached and shot at by Israeli’s gunboats, and their engines destroyed.

I ask myself, if I was that lad or any member of his family, going peacefully about my business, to have it constantly destroyed by the Israli's would I grow up hating them and their supporters.

Regards

Nick

 

[Graham]

Al,

There was a TV programme here in the UK about the children in Palestine. One of the programmes featured the son of a fisherman. They would go out every day to fish, for food and to make a modest living.

Regularly their fishing boat was attached and shot at by Israeli’s gunboats, and their engines destroyed.

I ask myself, if I was that lad or any member of his family, going peacefully about my business, to have it constantly destroyed by the Israli's would I grow up hating them and their supporters.

Regards

Nick

+1 Nick.

I remember a good friends telling of how (when he was in Israel), the Palestinian fruit farmers were forced to queue for days before being allowed into Israel, for no reason at all, destroying the majority of their crops before they could sell them. This happenned year after year. This is not the only story I have either.

We need to take a balanced view here.

Al, exactly what return do you get from Israel for the billions that you pump in?

 

[Damian]

Well lets see --- Israel is the the new Silicon valley (most of the electronics on our current fighters were developed there), The new windows was developed there, They have the #1 air force in the world (more real world combat experience). So much so that once our "Top Gun" graduates leave most times they go to Israel for further training, They have the #1 secret service in the world and again share their training / intelligence with us. They have created one of the best modern day guns (Tevor) by any standard, Their Modern day rendition of the British tank has not only surpassed it's predecessor but was just ranked one of the top 10 (passing the Brit's) in the world. Oh the list goes on and on and on and on but hey lets just keep giving $ to people that hate us and have sworn to destroy us cause that makes sense. Oh and if you want horror stories about those PUS#@'2 having children on the front line while these honorable (sarcasm) people stand BEHIND THEM and fire rpg's and guns at the military (all the while dressed in civilian cloths). It has become such a problem the while you hear of the Israeli military often firing on supposed innocent people what you don't here is about the fact that they use rubber bullets in the first clip in an attempt to NOT KILL THE KIDS and just knock them out of the game so that they could "TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS). Lets also not forget that without Israel we will have absolutely no real presence in a corner of the world that historicaly wants not only them but the U.S. destroyed (as our current predient seems to). I will get off my soap box now KTXGB.

 

[Keith]

Well lets see --- They have the #1 air force in the world (more real world combat experience).

They do? :stunned:

Well yes I suppose the Palestinian Airforce does pose a real threat...:squint:

 

[Damian]

Keith so Egypt, or the rest of the surrounding area developed all of their own planes I guess right? Truth be told they have been backed and TRAINED by China & Russia and have been fighting much much much longer than any country on earth (as a people). Israel originally was fighting in French planes and when they made the switch to American hardware is when they started to get a bad rap internationally. Almost every modern day power wants Israel for not only religious reasons but because of it's strategic geographical position and that is why there will never be true peace. Israel has the tech to DESTROY ALL OF THEIR ENEMIES (lets remember the 7 day war); (heck even the Chinese are buying all of their antiquated equipment since it was Superior to their own or have you forgotten about all that)but they practice restraint (unlike their enemies). Listen it isn't that hard to believe that a country that has the best secret service, some of the most advanced tech currently, and the military as a whole has more REAL WORLD COMBAT EXPERIENCE would be top ranked. Don't let patriotism blind you from the facts.

 

[Damian]

You are also forgetting that they made many of the electronics in the past & current U.S. air fleet so how hard is it to come to the conclusions that those that had a hand is designing a thing would be masters of the thing!!

 

[Keith]

Patriotic? Blind? Moi?

 

[Graham]

Lets also not forget that without Israel we will have absolutely no real presence in a corner of the world that historicaly wants not only them but the U.S. destroyed (as our current predient seems to). I will get off my soap box now KTXGB.

Why SHOULD we have a presence in that part of the world anyway? It's a bit presumptious don't you think?

I agree with a lot of what you say Damian, but to cite Israel as the centre of all things great is pushing the boat out a little far...

It's all a bit chicken and egg really. Are we hated because of the actions we have taken...or is it vice versa?

If I were born in poverty, and looked a mile to the east and saw prosperity all around, built on American dollars (if I were tall enough to look over the wall built by Israel), then I too could quite easily be indoctrinated into a particular mindset.

FWIW, I'm not a big fan of Obama, but giving some aid to Palestine (as long as it is meted out correctly) could actually begin to break the cycle of hatred.

We are not just hated simply because of indoctrination. We are also hated because of the imbalance in how we give foreign aid. If we do something about that, then we can slowly create change. Simplistic I know, but we can't bomb a people into loving us, but we can set a benchmark of fairness that will slowly change minds...

Now, the BIG problem we have is that it is awfully hard to give money to people who hate us on religious grounds.... IF I could square that circle, I would win the Nobel peace prize...

Now I'll get off my high horse

 

[Keith]

So how come the USA "gives" money to Palestine and Israel and yet we (UK) spent 50 years sweating our bollocks off to pay US back after all the "aid" we received in WWII?

What's that all about then eh?

Now, that IS special.. :laugh:

PS not blind patriotism at all (ever) mate. These questions have never been answered. I ask now merely for historical reasons.

As for Israel, if it wasn't for fairly recent history, a) they wouldn't even be in this position and b) they would now be considered a "rogue" state, and no, I'm not anti-semitic either.

Of course, it is the British who are really to blame for all of this (by trying to do the right thing) and also please remember many of us from the UK lost friends and relatives in that area killed maimed and murdered as a direct consequence of "terrorist" actions by those who later became leading politicians of that state. If Israel has anything to give history, it is that it IS possible to bomb & kill your way into power.

Great legacy.

 

[Nick]

Oh and if you want horror stories about those PUS#@'2 having children on the front line while these honorable (sarcasm) people stand BEHIND THEM and fire rpg's and guns at the military (all the while dressed in civilian cloths). It has become such a problem the while you hear of the Israeli military often firing on supposed innocent people what you don't here is about the fact that they use rubber bullets in the first clip in an attempt to NOT KILL THE KIDSQUOTE]

Does not give them the right to launch unprovoked attacks on civilian fishing boats,and Palestinian fruit farmers, no one behind them firing guns, just civilians., and not just a one off, it happens time and time and time again.

Or the right to force a pregnant woman in labor on a 60 mile detour rather than let her through their checkpoint , etc etc etc.

Or the right to kill, 400 children and 900 adults in Gaza, when up until 27th Dec. 2008, the home-made rockets that Hamas fired into Israel killed no-one.

Again, if it had been 400 American or British children that had been killed I wonder what the repose would have been, and we wonder where the terroisists come from.

Regards

Nick

 

[Damian]

I can give you the same countless examples of those same people using a woman in that state to get by the guards and than BOOM !!! Now there are always exceptions but remember that they only only test a rule never prove them. Now to say that Israel is making unprovoked attacks on HARMLESS FISHING BOATS all I can do is LAUGH. The horn of Africa come to mind. During a time of war only someone that has something to hide would when asked to board by ANY military ship. If you give them crap than that's on you. Now has the Israeli secret service (which i would assume is the same for EVERY country in existence) done some things that you might frown on in an attempt to bring a bigger injustice to light I can't say but I would not be foolish enough to think otherwise. These people have been at war since time immortal and there is plenty of blame to go around. They are at war and civilians will regrettably get hurt but I have to ask; Once you are told to leave an area as an attack is eminent via loud speaker, dropped pamphlets and the opposing force (Israel in this case) is widely known to use rubber bullets as not to kill your children who by the way ARE SHOOTING AT THEM who would stay unless you are looking to make a marter out of yourself or you are part of the problem. The innocent just move along until the commotion has passed and than go back and rebuild. Listen Israel doesn't have it in for the Arabs it's the other way around.

 

[Damian]

Oh and did you forget about 9-11!!!!!!! What about all of those innocent people. Were those people given the same amount of respect given to them .... NO!!!!! Seriously I hope that last post was a joke.