Hacker News Reader

Comment by mnadkvlb | Hacker News Reader

> Last September, Obama and Netanyahu signed a new Memorandum of Understanding, according to which Israel is promised $38 billion of military aid over the next decade.

Is this true ?

View on HN

Of course it is. Are you surprised given that the US sold Saudi Arabia ~120 billion in weapons under Obama?

I wonder how much first-class milotary R&D did US get out of that relationship.

Access to places with no regard for human rights has proven handy recently, and they can pay their bills.

Wow, that is crazy. Sometimes weapons industry gives me chills. I am glad that i don't live in one of the war zones and feel pity for those who have to suffer.

Yes https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/0...

Thanks for sharing the link.

Yes. In addition to the fact that it's an astonishing waste of _American_ taxpayers money, it rather makes me wonder whether he's planning to return his Nobel Peace Prize.

as the article points out, the Israelis have to buy American with that loan commitment so it's more like store credit than real money

Sure - it's taxpayer funded crony capitalism. Money for the arms manufacturers, laundered by way of aid to another country.

In a discussion of "the most expensive weapon ever," why does this $4 billion a year draw your criticism?

It's more taxpayer money used to kill more people. The Israelis are our frenemies. Plenty of examples of them not acting in our interests. Funds the suppression of the Palestinians. There's a lot not to like about how that is used. Yes we get a partner in the Middle East that helps us fight more wars. Is that really a good thing?

Because it _doesn't even_ serve in the defense of the people paying the taxes for it. Billions of dollars wasted on 'defense' is bad enough; billions of dollars wasted on the 'defense' of other countries is even worse.

But no, Israeli aid wouldn't be top of the list of things to cancel if I had the power. I'd start with actual enemies, like Saudi Arabia and Palestine.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com