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They represent the interests of Americans and what they want.
Certain people want Israel to be supported (Aipac).
Certain people want to be able to have guns (NRA).
Certain people want to make sure Saudi Arabia can defeat its enemies and internal disputes (Halliburton, Shell, BP, ExxonMobil). This is working on behalf of foreign government's also.
Did you ever watch Sesame street when you were little and they played "one of these things is not like the other game"?
AIPAC represents the interests of Israel, which can and, in my opinion, often are contrary to the interests of the U.S.
Israel is in a bad predicament. However, they are responsible for much of their own entrapment because of the way that they've been treating the Arabic people over there.
To tear down peoples' homes, deny them utilities, and water is abominable.
They've done nothing but disrepect those people since the United League of Nations allowed them access to that land. First they came in dribbles, then they came in droves, and the next thing you know they've got guns, organization, businesses, and authoritarian powers.
I disagree with the way that the Israelis have been treated throughout history, but ten wrongs don't make a right!
Unfortunately, I don't see anything getting better over there!
I think you should take into account how the Arab nations treat their own people before you accuse Israel of bad treatment of the Arabs under their control.
Saudi Arabia treats women & children with disrespect/lack of human rights: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worl...ne-school.html
Saudi women sue male guardians who stop marriage - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101127/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_saudi_women_s_rights - broken link)
These kind of things would never happen in Israel. So perhaps the USA should stop its foreign aid to Saudi Arabia.
I think you should take into account how the Arab nations treat their own people before you accuse Israel of bad treatment of the Arabs under their control.
Saudi Arabia treats women & children with disrespect/lack of human rights: Saudi girl, 13, sentenced to 90 lashes after she took a mobile phone to school | Mail Online
Saudi women sue male guardians who stop marriage - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101127/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_saudi_women_s_rights - broken link)
These kind of things would never happen in Israel. So perhaps the USA should stop its foreign aid to Saudi Arabia.
So with your logic, if an entire neighborhood of people, have the reputation for beating their children and wives with whips about the legs, then it's perfectly fine for your gang, to beat them all with baseball bats, about the head!
Some here still seem to treat Israel like a little kid that gets bullied by them 'evil' Arabs, whereas the truth is Israel is the biggest bully on the block, and only because of the US unconditional muscle behind it.
We should cut Israel loose. Israel's problems are Israel's problems. Idependence also means responsibility for oneself.
Some here still seem to treat Israel like a little kid that gets bullied by them 'evil' Arabs, whereas the truth is Israel is the biggest bully on the block, and only because of the US unconditional muscle behind it.
We should cut Israel loose. Israel's problems are Israel's problems. Idependence also means responsibility for oneself.
Israel is the only democratic country in the region. That is why it has the American Government's support.
Saudi Arabia practices sharia Islamic law and cuts off the hands of thieves. Their women can't even drive a car and can't go anywhere without the consent of their male guardian. So basic women's rights don't exist there. So Saudi Arabia is a bully of women's rights. In Israel women have full rights just like in the USA.
Your perception of Israel is completely distorted.
So with your logic, if an entire neighborhood of people, have the reputation for beating their children and wives with whips about the legs, then it's perfectly fine for your gang, to beat them all with baseball bats, about the head!
Shhishh! I hope you don't have kids!
Your personal attack is completely uncalled for.
You have a distorted perception of reality. Israel is the only democratic country in the region and therefore it has the unconditional American support. Israeli citizens have full rights whereas all the Saudi Arabian women are 2nd class citizens. But I don't hear any outcry to stop foreign aid or relations between the USA & Saudi Arabia.
Did you ever watch Sesame street when you were little and they played "one of these things is not like the other game"?
AIPAC represents the interests of Israel, which can and, in my opinion, often are contrary to the interests of the U.S.
That's your opinion. And the beauty of America is, if you have an opinion that disagrees with the majority or the people in power, you can still express it. You can also donate money or form your own interest group that is more in line with your opinion.
That's your opinion. And the beauty of America is, if you have an opinion that disagrees with the majority or the people in power, you can still express it. You can also donate money or form your own interest group that is more in line with your opinion.
Try that in Saudi Arabia.
AIPAC "America's leading pro-Israel lobby" This is not my opinion it is fact.
AIPAC - Learn About AIPAC (http://www.aipac.org/about_AIPAC/default.asp - broken link)
Some here still seem to treat Israel like a little kid that gets bullied by them 'evil' Arabs, whereas the truth is Israel is the biggest bully on the block, and only because of the US unconditional muscle behind it.
We should cut Israel loose. Israel's problems are Israel's problems. Idependence also means responsibility for oneself.
True independence is something that will never be achieved with vast amounts of foreign aid as it encourages and perpetuates dependency. This is something many groups, even a growing number of Zionist in Israel point out. By accepting US aid monies, they are beholden as some kind of 'go fetch' boy for the United States instead of being free to pursue their own interest and self determination.
People will carry on until they are out of breath about how America's poor are sucking the life out of the country with welfare, food stamps, etc... and how it makes the lazy and creates a cycle of dependence. Yet when it comes to foreign aid to Israel, they would break their backs to ensure that this country is well fed on American tax dollars before their own people. I don't get it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chava61
Israel is the only democratic country in the region. That is why it has the American Government's support.
Saudi Arabia practices sharia Islamic law and cuts off the hands of thieves. Their women can't even drive a car and can't go anywhere without the consent of their male guardian. So basic women's rights don't exist there. So Saudi Arabia is a bully of women's rights. In Israel women have full rights just like in the USA.
Your perception of Israel is completely distorted.
Actually whether a country is a democracy or not is of no real concern to the United States and Israel isn't the only democratic country in the region. Noticed Iraq? Hamas was elected democratically. How about Turkey, which has been a democracy for 77 years?
Despite the strict and oppressive natures of some Middle Eastern governments, the United States not only accepts this but embraces this. Saudi Arabia provides a resource that our entire society wholly depends upon for its very existence, so America could care less if they stone a few 9 year old girls to death or hang a few homosexuals. As long as the black gold keeps flowing then they can pretty much do whatever they wish.
Egypt is facing elections in which the Muslim Brotherhood running as independent candidates are expected to make large gains. If so, then expect tensions to rise in Egypt and tensions with Israel to increase. If Egypt were a purely democratic state, there is a good chance it would be at war with Israel by sundown. It is the US reliance on its oppressive government to maintain order among its people that allows the US to turn a blind eye to the Egyptian governments brutality. As long as the natives are on a leash, then all is well as far as we are concerned.
Even the very case of whether Israel is a true democracy is argued within Israel itself. For starters it has never even ratified its own Constitution to begin with. Then there is a debate over the rights of the Arab minority, since 95% of the land Israel claims as its own is not available to anyone but Israeli Jews. Some have argued that this constitutes an apartheid state, but this too is debated fiercely within Israel itself.
Gershom Gorenberg has written several pieces discussing this subject and can point to how Israel is both a democratic state as well as an ethnocratic state, as after all, in Israel's charter, it is to be a "Jewish only state".
Will the Tea Party claims to cut back on government spending hold true, or will the Tea Party stop short just before it reaches foreign aid to Israel? Will Rand Paul be able to make the case among those most adamant about cutting spending or will he end up a pariah?
As far as I concerned the USA should first take care of its own citizens by providing universal health coverage and suitable jobs for the unemployed. Only after that should the American Government consider foreign aid to any country except for in emergency situations (like the Haitian earthquake where American foreign aid should be/was immediate).
Yes, I agree Chava.
America needs to take care of itself first and foremost at the moment before sending more money to any country, including Israel. We're strapped enough here as it is and we need some serious healing.
I understand why people would complain about the amount of money sent to Israel, but solely picking on Israel to get the axe and not other nations in terms of funding is unfair.
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