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.
COUNTRY AID PURPOSE
1. Israel $2.4 billion Virtually all of this money is used to buy weapons (up to 75% made in the U.S.). Beginning in 2009, the U.S. plans to give $30 billion over 10 years.
2. Egypt $1.7 billion $1.3 billion to buy weapons; $103 million for education; $74 million for health care; $45 million to promote civic participation and human rights.
3. Pakistan $798 million $330 million for security efforts, including military-equipment upgrades and border security; $20 million for infrastructure.
4. Jordan $688 million $326 million to fight terrorism and promote regional stability through equipment upgrades and training; $163 million cash payment to the Jordanian government.
5. Kenya $586 million $501 million to fight HIV/AIDS through drug treatment and abstinence education and to combat malaria; $15 million for agricultural development; $5.4 million for programs that promote government accountability.
6. South Africa $574 million $557 million to fight TB and HIV/AIDS; $3 million for education.
7. Mexico $551 million
8. Colombia $541 million .
9. Nigeria $491 million
10. Sudan $479 million
http://www.parade.com/news/intelligence-report/archive/who-gets-us-foreign-aid.html
Much less money combined? Man, you're just a flat out liar, bro. Start doing some research. Most of the money we give Israel ends up coming back to us anyway. You're really showing just how clueless you really are.
I'd personally be concerned about the $480 million going to Sudan. That situation is the most gigantic clusterfuck I've ever seen. I can't even fathom where half of that money has gone considering the situation there.
"...And you fell right into my lap".
You take the data from 1 single year and extrapolate it to all foreign aid given to all these countries. First and foremost, all economic aid given to Israel is given
in cash, which means it is very difficult to track (if not impossible,) as opposed to the majority of other countries (including Arab countries) which get our money in the form of interest-bearing grants and loans, which are easy to track.
Notice there is a subtle but important difference when paying in cash and paying via loans/grants. The majority of Arab countries have to pay interest on all the loans, which is economically beneficial to all Americans (makes sense). On the other hand Israel does not pay interest, but since the money has to come from the treasury it has to be financed via loans vs someone, and that someone is nonother than The American People, which means the interest burden on all the cash paid to Israel is put on all Americans. How much money have we paid to the Israelis via forgone interest payments you may ask? Since 1949 we, The American People, have borne the whopping amount of 49.937 billion (
source). In real economic terms this means that
the US government has given more federal aid to Israeli citizens that to the American People themselves.
Now, let's go to the figures. I've searched the internet looking for
total US foreign aid figures, not just 2008 (which is what you intelligently base your "flat out liar" accusation on mind you,) and came up with some interesting figures. In the case of Israel I must warn you, I took the lowest estimate, as there are research groups accounting for 125-150 billion dollars in total aid to Israel since 1949 (including interest). I came up with the following. Feel free to click on the links:
Remember, the above are not 1-year estimates, it's the TOTAL foreign aid given to the country, not one year, not one decade, ALL OF IT. By doing a little calculation we will find out that Israel has received a total of 108 billion dollars in US foreign aid, while the remaining Arab states combined have received a lifetime total of roughly 89.703 billion.
Have a nice week end (what's left of it).
