12mo ago

The Biden administration once again bypasses Congress on an emergency weapons sale to Israel

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

Such determinations are rare, but not unprecedented, when administrations see an urgent need for weapons to be delivered without waiting for lawmakers' approval.

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.

News @lemmy.world

The Biden administration once again bypasses Congress on an emergency weapons sale to Israel

www.pbs.org /newshour/politics/the-biden-administration-once-again-bypasses-congress-on-an-emergency-weapons-sale-to-israel

336 141

You're viewing a single thread.

45 comments

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?
- 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
  
  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.
  
  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.
  
  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.
  
  There are plenty of countries far more useful. Such as Turkey, who for all of Erdogan's posturing, hate Russia with a burning passion
  
  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
  
  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.
  
  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.
  
  We have like 400 people there. Iraq is a far more strategic country for us now.
- 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
- Ukraine needs it more then fascist genocidal isreal
- 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.

45 comments