Senator Leahy (D.-VT) proposes some budget cuts
“U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy is promoting a bill to suspend U.S. assistance to three elite Israel Defense Forces units, alleging they are involved in human rights violations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.”
Though these are U.S. rules that apply to all foreign military assistance, it seems that Leahy is being lobbied to withdraw the legislation, well because, you know the Israeli military aren’t like other military. Read all about it at Ha’aretz
UPDATE: On the other hand, Representative Steny Hoyer (D.-Md), currently leading a Congressional delegation to Israel, has this to say:
“The current economic crisis in the US will have no impact on US financial assistance to Israel, US Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) said Wednesday.
“Hoyer said he wanted to “make it clear” that the financial challenges confronting the US will not “have any adverse effect on America’s determination to meet its promise to Israel in the form of aid for its qualitative [military] superiority, or for its economic security….
“Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, in a meeting he had with the delegation Wednesday, thanked Hoyer and the congressmen for US security assistance and for supporting earlier this year – in a tough economic climate in Washington – the allocation of $200 million for the Iron Dome anti missile system [BF added].“ Jerusalem Post
Well, who knows? Is there an element among the Republicans who favor withdrawing aid from Israel?
Does Ron Paul count as a Republican?
Hmm. Thanks.
http://www.ronpaul.com/2009-01-12/ron-paul-on-israel/
There are necessary spending reductions and there are NOT necessary spending reductions.
It depends on (1) whose ox is gored and (2) who takes heat from well-placed PACs and other pressure groups.
The poor and overtaxed middle class should found their own country and claim to be the One and Only Bastion of Democracy in XXX. Then they TOO can be buried in US tax dollars.