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The Biden administration once again bypasses Congress on an emergency weapons sale to Israel (www.pbs.org)

submitted 10 months ago by Silverseren@kbin.social to c/politics@lemmy.world

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For the second time this month the Biden administration is bypassing Congress to approve an emergency weapons sale to Israel as Israel continues to prosecute its war against Hamas in Gaza under increasing international criticism.

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[-] Silverseren@kbin.social 62 points 10 months ago

I feel like I once again have to ask why? Why does Israel need these weapons so badly that you have to bypass even Congressional approval? Republicans wouldn't exactly oppose such an approval, they haven't shown any lack of support for supporting Israel, just Ukraine. And Israel certainly doesn't need the weapons for defense, as claimed by the State Department in the article.

Israel is very handedly and with minimal resistance killing thousands of Palestinians. They don't really need any additional arsenals.

Unless this is in preparation for Netanyahu's claimed invasion of Lebanon and beyond? Is Biden openly supporting the expansion of the conflict?

[-] Human@lemmy.dbzer0.com 31 points 10 months ago

I think there are two main reasons

One, support for Israel is a huge part of wasp-end-of-the-world-prophecy and has been a life-time project for many boomers that are now very elderly. They will go all in on this last push before they die

Two, Israel is an American military base located in the middle of three continents. Congress will print infinite money to maintain it and Israel knows it

The whole thing is fucked

[-] Zaktor@sopuli.xyz 12 points 10 months ago

Two, Israel is an American military base located in the middle of three continents.

Is it actually though? It seems like all our invasions in that region have been supported by bases in allied Arab countries. I can’t remember a time when the Israeli military or Israeli territory has been used for an American military effort. I’m really at a loss for what they actually provide to the United States.

[-] driving_crooner@lemmy.eco.br 3 points 10 months ago

Israel routinely attacks US enemies like Syria and Iran, a thing that the US could not do. Israel is the attack dog of the United States.

[-] Human@lemmy.dbzer0.com -4 points 10 months ago

Israel and the US have a long history fighting "communism". If America ever goes to war with Russia, Israel will almost definitely remain an ally and allow the US to conduct military action from inside their territory. The same goes for America vs China. Other allies in the region are less likely to. Especially if its US vs China.

Personally I think its dumb, but its going to take a long time to shake almost a century of red-scare propaganda. The west still views Russia (and China) as the Soviets - godless commie atheists. ie Israel is ostensibly on the side of capitalism and the christian god. Russia and China are not.

[-] Maggoty@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago

There are plenty of countries far more useful. Such as Turkey, who for all of Erdogan's posturing, hate Russia with a burning passion

[-] Human@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 10 months ago

You're not wrong. Turkey would support the US vs Russia. idk about US vs China though. Still, I'd say its a "dont put all your eggs in one basket" mentality from the defense dept. Then again, Im just some dumb guy on the internet so take it with a grain of salt lol

[-] Maggoty@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

We have multiple other countries in the region that would support us against either as well though. Keeping a bunch of war criminals around "just in case" only makes us guilty too in the eyes of the rest of the world.

[-] LinkOpensChest_wav@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 10 months ago

This right here. Also, many people don't even consider the end times, but still want us to support Israel simply because we've been heavily propagandized in their favor. It wasn't until adulthood that I learned how atrocious the state of Israel is.

[-] Maggoty@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago

We have like 400 people there. Iraq is a far more strategic country for us now.

[-] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 26 points 10 months ago

I feel like I once again have to ask why?

Biden has spent literal decades telling Israel he'll support them no matter what and he'll never stop supporting them.

It's right up there with "nothing will fundementally change" on the short list of campaign promises he's never broken

[-] AshMan85@lemmy.world 21 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Ukraine needs it more then fascist genocidal isreal

[-] FlowVoid@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Republicans wouldn't exactly oppose such an approval

But they did oppose it.

Republicans oppose Israel military aid unless Democrats support new anti-immigration laws. For now it's an impasse, so Israel isn't getting military aid. Thus Biden has to sell Israel military equipment instead of donating it.

And it's a relatively small spend, about $100 million. That's roughly one day's worth of funding for the IDF (the Israeli military budget is $24 billion a year). The US says Israelis are mostly buying spare parts.

[-] Nobody@lemmy.world 55 points 10 months ago

Ukraine needs immediate aide. This focus on sending aide to Israel is frankly infuriating. Ukraine is fighting for its existence. Israel is committing genocide (not the Jewish people, but the Israeli government under the leadership of Netanyahu). Can we please at least see the difference in terms of where resources should be allocated? This should not be political, but practical.

[-] Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world 11 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

This focus on sending aide to Israel is frankly infuriating.

It's important to distinguish aid from sale.

Biden didn't approve aid to Israel, he only allowed them to purchase weapons with cash.

If Ukraine showed up tomorrow with a billion dollar check, they too could buy whatever they wanted immediately.

That said, it is treasonous that Republicans blocked aid to Ukraine. Ukrainians are dying protecting America from Russian aggression.

[-] Syringe@lemmy.world 8 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

You're really not getting it, are you? With the assault in Ukraine, the US MIL got the opportunity to clear out some old stock and potentially divert world war 3 into a stalemate. It was great for a bit. The gaza conflict gives the US a greater opportunity to really play to its strengths and pursue a thread of great historic national interest... Bombing brown people.

There's potentially oil there that needs freedom, and nobody exports more freedom for oil than the US

/S ...I think? I'm having a bit of an Idiocracy moment right now.

[-] xerazal@lemmy.zip 4 points 10 months ago

You're not wrong. There's nothing more American than killing brown people. Nothing. Just ask the Native Americans.

[-] Syringe@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

... And Tulsa, OK, Iraq, Afghanistan, standing Rock SD, Vietnam, Korea.... Palestine...

It kind of just goes on, doesn't it?

[-] K1nsey6@lemmy.world -4 points 10 months ago

Any of Israeli Jews are cheering on the genocide

[-] Neato@kbin.social 42 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Wait, you can do that? Why not bypass Congress to sell arms to Ukraine then?

[-] Silverseren@kbin.social 20 points 10 months ago

That's been my question this whole time.

[-] FlowVoid@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Two days ago:

Biden administration announces $250 million Ukraine military assistance package

[-] Maggoty@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago

Because then he doesn't have a cover to institute immigration policies that would make Bush blush.

[-] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 39 points 10 months ago

It’s a fucking embarrassment that he’s doing this for Israel.

It’s also a fucking embarrassment that he’s not doing this for Ukraine.

[-] lagomorphlecture@lemm.ee 2 points 10 months ago

Ans he just can't understand why his approval ratings are low. I wouldn't give one solitary fuck if he bypassed Congress to help Ukrainian but get outta here with this Israeli genocide.

[-] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 31 points 10 months ago

It's neat how congress goes from an insurmountable obstacle to an insubstantial suggestion.

[-] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 29 points 10 months ago

Helping Americans:

I'm just a president, I can't do anything! Unless something good happens, then it was all me!

Helping a foreign religious ethnostate to commit a genocide:

Oh wait, I can just do it....

[-] GentlemanLoser@ttrpg.network 1 points 10 months ago

You didn't read this article did ya

[-] I_Fart_Glitter@lemmy.world 16 points 10 months ago

God damn it Biden.

[-] ImFresh3x@sh.itjust.works 6 points 10 months ago

Can’t imagine Congress would stop this. Congress overwhelmingly approved aide for Israel just weeks ago. It was more popular to give money to Israel than Ukraine in the GOP.

this post was submitted on 29 Dec 2023

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