Posted By Josh Rogin
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 - 4:23 PM
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Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) and his son, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), have not been shy about their desire to end all U.S. foreign aid. This week, the elder member of the Paul family is seeking a full House vote on an amendment that would cut $6 billion of U.S. aid to a host of Middle East countries.
Rep. Paul is trying to build support for an amendment to the fiscal 2011 funding bill that would end all foreign assistance to Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Pakistan. The funding bill currently being debated by the House, called the continuing resolution (CR), is needed to keep the government running after March 4.
"Stop buying friends overseas, save $6 billion!" reads the headline of a Dear Colleague letter Paul sent to all House offices on Tuesday. In past years, amendments like Paul's, which is not supported by leadership, would not have received a vote because congressional leaders had limited or even prohibited amendments during spending debates. But this year, House Republican leadership decided to use an "open rule" for the CR, giving every member of Congress the right to bring an amendment and have it debated.
There are currently over 400 amendments pending to the bill, and yet somehow the House leadership wants to finish debate this week. Whether they can really do that remains unclear, but even if they succeed, the bill would go to the Senate and then perhaps back to the House once more with new changes from the Senate. House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) has said that another short-term temporary funding measure might be necessary to keep the government running while the legislative process continues.
Regardless, if Paul's amendment gets a vote, it would be the first time the entire House would vote on whether or not to give $6 billion to these foreign governments. The vote would come in the midst of the largest American fiscal crisis in a generation, which could increase the chance that it would attract significant support.
"Borrowing money from China -- or printing it out of thin air -- to hand out overseas in [an] attempt to purchase friends has been a failing foreign policy, as we see most recently in Egypt where there is not even a government in place!" Paul wrote in his Dear Colleague letter. "We should seek friendly relations and trade overseas, but we cannot justify lavish gifts to foreign leaders when American taxpayers are increasingly feeling the pain of our economic crisis."
Paul, along with his son, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), represent the libertarian wing of the Tea Party movement, which has been throwing its weight around Congress since the new session started in January. Like-minded members have also been pushing the House GOP leadership to make deeper cuts to the foreign assistance budget. For example, on Jan. 20, the 165-member Republican Study Committee put out a plan that would drastically defund the U.S. Agency for International Development.
While there is probably enough bipartisan support for aid to Israel to defeat Paul's amendment, the debate over continued funding for other Arab countries is more complex. Some GOP heavyweights, like House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), have suggested scuttling all foreign aid that is not designated for staunch U.S. allies such as Israel. House Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) has argued for restricting aid to the Egyptian government unless it excludes the Muslim Brotherhood from any representation in the new parliament.
Other leading Republicans, especially in the Senate, have voiced support for continuing U.S. assistance to Egypt and Jordan. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) is working behind the scenes to craft an aid package to the CR that would fully fund the president's request for foreign aid to Egypt, Jordan, and Israel. Aid to Pakistan, which totals over $1.5 billion each year, has strong support from Senate Foreign Relations Committee heads John Kerry (D-MA) and Richard Lugar (R-IN).
Regardless, Paul's amendment represents the rising tide of opposition to foreign aid and the increased difficulty of defending such aid in Congress.
"We cannot afford to have ‘business as usual' when we are bankrupt," he wrote.
EXPLORE:DEMOCRACY, DEVELOPMENT, DIPLOMACY, EGYPT, FOREIGN AID, ISRAEL/PALESTINE, JORDAN, OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, STATE DEPARTMENT, U.S. CONGRESS, U.S. FOREIGN POLICY 
I used to really like Ron Paul, read both Revolution and End the Fed. I think the budget is a serious issue that needs serious attention, but stuff like this seems moronic to me.
So fixated with discretionary spending when that is 12-15% of the budget. It just seems like the easy way out for these budget hawks. It's not the six billion we spend abroad on extreme cases of poverty, it's the inefficiencies in systems domestically which balloon programs like social security up to half a trillion dollars or more.
I fully endorse Ron Paul auditing the Fed. And if there is anyone I would like to see more debating Obama with a conservative edge, that would be Ron Paul, but this ending USAID is budget hawk grandstanding at least, and at most incredibly damaging to poorest regions on earth.
I really would like you GRANDEROHO to utilize your intelect in deciphering where the 6 billion currently slated in Foreign Aid and the previous trillions of dollars from the past foreign aid packages has been really utilized.
Do you really believe that the Foriegn Aid money given to those governements are utilized for humanitarian efforts???? and is so... why is it our (the US) money that is supporting it,,, instead of the vast ammounts of income most of these Countries make while trading or commercing with the US and other foriegn countries in the OIL trade?
This Idea is not Moronic...... it is strategic and very imperitive... Not to make enemies,,, but to get other countries of the US TAX BASE "TIT"
If you Subsidize something (Foriegn Aid) you only create the greater hunger for more of it....
If we actually PURCHASE products from them in TRADE--- you give a people the respect for themselves that they diserve --- rather than allowing them the demoralizing depression of accepting a handout....
However...... No foreign Governement has that kind of conscience.... If you want to help poverty.. BUY FROM THE PUBLIC of a COUNTRY.... and not its governement.... you will help the people more that way...
Your inteligent---- because you understand RON PAUL to an extent..... keep reading into the LOGIC by understanding the Human Psycology behind it.....
No reason to loose faith....
You don't hear much blowback about the Pauls over this. Methinks Israel supporters like AIPAC are jittery that the entire Tea Party might leap to the defense of the Pauls which could put Israel's shakedown in peril. After the Lara Logan fiasco, I'm for pulling the plug on all aid immediately.
While I am certainly not reflexively against foreign aid per se, even detractors to the Pauls have to admit that they have a point.
1. We are essentially broke or at least severely underwater
2. We do essentially either borrow this money or debase the dollar to provide this aid
3. This aid is - predominantly - military in nature
4. The utility of this aid is questionable in the long run considering that it is used by governments that are subjugating some or even most of their population, fueling the blowback like 9-11.
Why not simply try something different for once? Our foreign policies (and ultimately our domestic policies as well) have clearly not delivered.
Eric Cantor wants to do this by reclassifying aid to Israel as something other than foreign aid so he can have his cake and eat it too. That is probably the WORST spend $3B per year that we spend in as much as it actually costs us much much more when the political implications are factored in (i.e. - the disdain of much of the arab or Muslim world and the costs to counter that as well)
Any country which can afford to keep a nuclear weapons arsenal should never get a penny of aid from any other country at any time for any reason.
No more aid to Apartheid Israel
It is a real pleasure watching the Hasbarra shills sqirm and pontificate over the sweeping move for democracy in Egypt and the middle east. There is scarcely a more repressive or repugnant regime in the world (if you are an israeli Arab or a Palestinian) than Israel, with its jews only roads, racist laws, and constant invasions of its neighbors backed up by our money and their stolen and illegal nuclear weopons programs. In a time when we are cutting fire fighters, educational grants, the states are insolvent, aid to this outlaw regime must end.
Once again, the Jew haters can't wait to wave their flags
Of course, its the flag of 'we hate the Jews' rather than a pro-American flag hoisted by the Pauls and their argument that Ron and Rand Paul's argument that foreign aid is a pure waste of money.
I can appreciate that fiscally conservative stand and the Paul's make a reasoned argument for it; and the dollars, while "small" relative to the overall Federal budget, still amounts to $6.00 billion. That's real money in anyone's pocketbook.
The idea that Israel and its supporters are 'squirming' is just another attempt for these individuals to voice their hatred. Spewing bile is better than either rational financial arguments or objective views.
Realize that while they whine about Israel, it was Egypt that stood under a dictator for 30 years, and Pakistan's 30 year military rule that had no problem sending terrorists to neighboring India to shoot up major cities killing hundreds of civilians.
With that in mind, I will point out to AWL, that Pakistan too, has a large number of nuclear weapons, and a political leadership that allowed its nuclear leaders to operate a black market sending technology and resources to America's enemies around the globe.
once again another card carrying member of AIPAC is trying to tell us jews = israel. save the "anti-semetic" nonsense for jpost. as far as i'm concerened, israel has shot itself in the foot by carrying out its apartheid over the palestinians. when we told israel to stop the settlements and work on the peace process, they said no. spies working on behalf of israel are constantly being caught here in the U.S. we have a huge target on our backs from the jihadis because of israel. if israel thinks its so big and bad, then let them take care of themselves. u want our money, start doing as we say or else have fun with the arabs. israel like to put on the "shinning beacon of democracy" and run around bragging yet they are the loudest ones whinning against democracy in the middle east. so let's save the "israel is my baby" nonsense for fox news or jpost, you are not going to sell that argument here.
Thanks for making my claim Sid,
Of course, the reality is, Jews = Israel and visa/versa. Otherwise, you wouldn’t see such grief about the country . Indeed, the fact that out of all of the political issues you see fit to rant about, only comments castigating Israel made it into your post.
Of course, the reality is, Israel isn’t practicing apartheid, either in the classical sense or any other sense as well. As for the peace process, well let’s see, it was Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu who tried for nearly a year to get the Palestinians to come to the peace table for direct talks while PA President Abu Mazen refused.
As for the spy issue, I can recall only one instance over 25 years ago, hardly a ‘constant stream’ of agents being caught.
As for the ‘huge target’ from jihadis, I would suggest you review the actions of the US throughout the Middle East, and realize that al-Queda decided to go after the US during the height of the Oslo negotiations and zenith of the peace process back in the 1990’s. This would also be the same time that we saved Kuwait from an Iraqi invasion, saved the Bosnian and Kosovo Muslims from real violence in the former Yugoslavia. Yeah, I can see how we would have this huge target on our backs, especially since we’ve tried to sponsor peace talks for several decades between the Arabs and Israelis, which led to two treaties between Israel and Jordan and Egypt.
Of course, as I pointed out, Rand and Ron Paul make valid financial arguments. In fact, you don’t see me questioning their argument, or the idea that keeping all foreign aid home is one way to save real dollars.
Of course the counter argument is that the aid dollars are primarily used to purchase American goods and services, so there is a discount on that, but of course the debt argument offsets that benefit. Additionally there’s the soft dollar argument, but that I think is a bit discounted over time.
But the anti-Semitic line does hold given that despite the fact that three of the four countries mentioned in the piece (Jordan, Egypt, and Pakistan) are also mentioned, you decline to demand they do what the US says, or else. I must have missed the day’s class when all three were declared beacon’s of western liberal thought and tolerance.
Oh, and for the record, I’m not a card-carrying member of AIPAC.
Jacob comments that "Of course, the reality is, Israel isn’t practicing apartheid, either in the classical sense or any other sense as well." Really? Are you really going to try to peddle that sh*t? Do you really think anyone is buying it?
I could never be an Israeli. Why? Well, for one I'm not Jewish. That automatically precludes me. Hmm, discrimination on the basis of belief - fundamental violation of basic human rights. What about controlling the movement of Palestinians? Denying them basic access to food, water, medical treatment?
And you wonder why they want to blow you up. The sheer arrogance of your completely indefensible position (a position which has no basis in reality I must say) is staggering. Too bad Egypt recently showed peaceful will of the people, huh? Kind of hard to paint the Arabs as dogs when a huge swath of them recently demonstrated peaceful will and restraint the likes of which you will never know, sadly.
And by the way, I fully support the Pauls - cut them all off. Incurring more debt which can never be repaid simply to appease the fanatical Israelis (and no I don't mean all Israelis - sadly the normal Israelis who want to live in peace with their neighbors never get a voice in mainstream media) need for more weapons will do nothing to help this country.
Gosh you know what kills me is that when anybody mentions ending aid to Israel they are labeled Jew Haters. I am for ending all aid to every country until we get our house in order here first. And when I say all aid I mean everything. To include all 300 overseas bases. Close them all. That in itself would save a trillion dollars a year. I have read several of Ron Pauls books and the guy is dead on target on the issue of freedom and liberty and backing countries which draw us into endless wars. If we stop backing Israel and giving them guns and close all our bases in the middle east. Then there would be no reason why the Arabs would hate us like they do. We need the end the American world empire. And just fix our problems here. Get back to the constitution and end the federal reserve.
Stop foreign government entitlements.
Better money spent on the old and the poor in America than than handouts to foreign governments.
If you support cutting aid for political reasons, fine, admit it, and start that debate. Hiding behind budget justifications is misleading at best--foreign aid (which is not the same as military aid--there is military aid included in the foreign aid budget, but it is hardly the main part of foreign aid, and is being cut down in the FY2012 core budget) makes up less than 1% of the federal budget. Cutting foreign aid "because we're broke" while not touching social security is like saying I'm going to save money by not buying Starbucks once a week, while charging $50,000 to your credit card. These proposed cuts are about politics, not about saving money.
I agree, from a % of the budget perspective, the dollars involved are not even a drop in the bucket. $6.0 Billion on a budget of $3.70 Trillion in miniscule.
The reality is, to get our federal government's spending back in line with our receipts, means taking a wide swing with the budget cutting axe to three key programs, namely social security, medicare, and the military. The combind dollars on these three account for over 60% of total spending, with interest payments on our current debt kicking in for another 12% to 20% if I remember correctly.
But, from a nominal dollar value, $6.0 billion is still $6.0 billion. There is a great deal that can be done with those funds, including attempting to reduce our current budget deficit.
Any Congressperson voting to cut off Israel would be committing political suicide, literally digging their own grave.
All that would be left to do would be to get in, lie down, and wait for the media to shovel in the dirt.
Foreign Aid, Lobbyists, Geography and Capital Return
We the U.S. should not look at any country different than the other, we should not supply and proliferate weapons to any country. All of this military and economic aid just supports more wars and corruption in Washington by financing lobbyist and foreign influence groups.
We have a country that is 3000 miles long by 1500 miles wide, geographically we are unconquerable by foreign invasion. We should have the smallest military not the largest. Besides what is the capital return on a bomb? Zero.
Thanks Ron and Rand. I hope your our next president Ron Paul.
Help those who help themselves!
RP2012!! All the way!!....@EAGLEMEDIC I totally 100% agreee! Cut funding all across the board! If a country is headed for a financial crisis...oh well! that's their country, their citizens, thier type of govt., etc. let THEM deal with THEIR problems. There are millions of US citizens whom are unemployed, homeless, starving, living w/o proper heal care assistance, and yet still are forced to pay higher taxes to aid in the "Helping Hand" of a 3rd-World Country's problems. We have men and women who have served in OUR military, and have lost limbs, organs, and in many cases their mental stability due to PTSD! Those very heroes are turned away by the very Govt./ Country they sworn to protect in hopes of receiving medical attention. We are told "there is no funding available" for our Vets. Well, if there is NO funding for our Vets, then there is NO funding for other countries. The American Govt. needs to take care of it's OWN citizens. We need to bring jobs back to the US and give our own people a fighting chance at the "American Dream"! When it comes to cutting funds for medicare/medicade...I COMPLETELY DISAGREE! There need to be stricter requirements e.g. no drug charges/offenses, random drug testing, yearly auditing of annual income and compared to earned assets such as cars, cell phones, stereo systems, and most annoyingly those tacky rims you see on "tricked-out rides"! DO NOT make the honest tax payers support people who play/bleed the system.
Finally, funding cuts must come to a complete STOP in educaton! How are our students supposed to pass local/state testing if necessary educational equipment does not exist in the school system? Plain and simple....THEY WONT! I want my future children to have the best of what the world has to offer them. I will gladly keep paying high taxes ONLY if it ensures the well-being, stability, and success of us as a NATION...not as a world-wide USA!!
I am a loyal tax-payer...I am a responsible citizen...I am a TRUE AMERICAN!
THAT'S MY STORY AND IM STICKING TO IT.....AMEN & GOD BLESS THE USA!!!!
John Hudson reports on national security and foreign policy from the Pentagon to Foggy Bottom, the White House to Embassy Row, for The Cable.
May/June 2013
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