House approves $1 billion for Israel's Iron Dome defense system

[EndlessWire]

48. I dunno.

I don't pretend to know. But, I do object to this:

"House Appropriations Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro expressed her support of the funding, saying in a statement, "the United States' commitment to the security of our friend and ally Israel is ironclad. Replenishing interceptors used to protect Israel from attacks is our legal and moral responsibility (CNN)."

Funny, but I feel no legal or moral responsibility to spend a BILLION bucks for ME protection. And, ironclad?? Okay, talk me through it. We have a contract to provide protection to Israel? What are we getting out of it? Because, a contract is a two-way street.

Like I said, I dunno. I don't see this as benefitting any country other than Israel. And, I am not antiIsraeli; I studied Hebrew at one time and had Israeli friends. I am not Jewish. I fall on the happily sort of Christian spirituality side of things. But, I don't believe in territory expansion by settlements. And, spending a Billion bucks is something that probably would benefit SK more, if they would have accepted it. Not that I think we should have done that, just saying.

How is this different from boots on the ground in Afghanistan? Sure, we had to honor some deal that TFG made with the Taliban, but isn't this the same kind of meddling that we just disdained? It doesn't look like they are paying a dime for it (I don't think we should be selling arms, btw.)

After the business with the Australian subs, it sure seems like we are setting up for something, doesn't it? Not enough of a sample, but let's see who else pops up and receives some kind of defensive help. And, I am in favor of NATO, believe in the concept, but geez, a billion bucks...

I'm open to education on the strategic and beneficial angles of this venture, but I don't think we should spend a billion bucks on some "moral" and "legal" supposition by people busy spending OUR effing money just to prop up governments that know how to sweet talk us. Because, this is not about the people; it never is. No one cares about Palestinian Israelis. You know it, I know it, don't try to BS the American people that spending a billion bucks on someone else when our own infrastructure is falling apart is somehow going to benefit us. So, what's the deal here?

Let's get off American dependence on ME oil...