How can we afford this?

[wildbilln864]

"Who Gets U.S. Foreign Aid
The U.S. will give an estimated $26 billion in foreign aid in 2008—70% more than when President George W. Bush took office (the figure doesn’t include funds related to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan). More than 150 countries get financial assistance from the U.S. Here are the six that received the most this year. "
link

[Idealism]

1. Yeah AIPAC is pretty powerful for such a small part of the population

Edit: That doesn't include special grants given to Israel that doesn't qualify as "Foreign Aid" but is basically the same thing. That figure (as of 2003) is $3 billion per year and there is no reason to think it has gone down in the two years since.

http://www.projectcensored.org/top-stories/articles/24-us-aid-to-israel-fuels-repressive-occupation-in-palestine/

[babylonsister]

2. Parade mag, from Dec. 14th?

It's happening, but your source is suspect. :D

Yes, welcome to the real world.

[napi21]

3. I used to be against most foreign aid too, but I've recognized that

most times, in order to maintain support of the people in foreign lands, you have to help them with their greatest needs.

I admit, I still don't quite understand the Israel thing, but all of those countries mentioned are much poorer than anyone in the US.
We NEED allies all over the world! I think the past 8 years have taught us THAT lesson!

[Idealism]

4. Even with paying off our allies

Most weren't behind our Iraq War, so what did our billions pay for exactly? Free trade policies that take American jobs away?

[napi21]

7. I'm ot talking about the wars. Shrub has piossed off the whole world

against HIM and the US in the process. I believe Obama is going to change that.

The citizens of those countries are supportive of us because of our help for them, and if you pay attention to how many of the "terrorists" gain their support it's from helping improve the lives of the locals. Whoever gets the electricity back on full time and clean water running in Iraq will be the hero's there, and the same thing applies anywhere!

[sandnsea]

5. $26 billion is nothing

I object when it goes to weapons, but otherwise it's one of the best things we do as a country. Foreign aid is an investment in the reduction of poverty that leads to despair that leads to war.

[StreetKnowledge]

6. Why the hell are Egypt, Sudan and Israel getting aid....

....To buy stuff to kill people with? Give it places which deserve it. Pakistan shouldn't get anything, either.

[Idealism]

8. Most of these agreements go back to Cold War days

We were so interested in getting as many people "on board verse teh evil USSR" as we could, usually we had to pay them.

[rug]

9. The $700,000,000,000 bailout puts everything else in perspective.

[thunder rising]

10. Agreed! We all got educated on the numbers in the last couple of months.

[defendandprotect]

11. We can't----start by cutting Israel out -- both weapons and money--!!!