Since our national pride and independence is obviously not above schnorring from Uncle Sam's generous handouts, then we cannot reasonably expect Uncle Sam to pay much respect to them. Whether we like it or not - until we finally detach ourselves from Uncle Sam's umbilical cord, we must accept the reality that he will be calling the shots for us. I long for the day we could finally bid farewell to American aid, it would only do us (and America) good.

I was on the border of Gaza last year and this expensive rocket defense is only good for a couple of missles fired at once but it cant defend against a massive barrage. For that much money cheaper and more effective defenses could be developed.

Any more whining about the US is hereby forbidden.

The United States is a Righteous Nation. Ok, jackels, have at it!

"I long for the day we could finally bid farewell to American aid" Believe me, so do we.

The money is divided across several "pots" - direct aid to the PA, the security training budget, the US contribution to the UNRWA, special projects, etc. Somewhere around a Billion per year, with little to show for it. (Almost two Billion goes to Egypt, hundreds of millions to Jordan, less to Lebanon.) At least with the Billion going to Israel's missile defense projects, the US gets access to much of the technology, cooperation in advancing America's own missile defense technologies, and more restraint from Israel in responding to missile attacks from Gaza. Some in the US think that's worth something - unlike the Billions sunk and lost in "green" energy projects (Solyndra and Fisker alone cost a Billion), never mind the Billions going to Muslim countries with little to show for it.

The US has also expressed interest in aquiring the technologies developed via the system for its own use, as a condition. It costs America a lot more than this sum to develop similar programs + technologies. This aid is very welcome, but anyone who says this is just a handout isn't telling you full story.

The money for Israel most likely makes sense because the US wants to develop the systems but where other than Israel could they really test their effectiveness?

One of the excuses the Left gave for the ethnic cleansing of Gush Katif was that it would save money that could be used to help the poor and sick. As usual, the Zionists were right and the Leftists were wrong. Thanks to the ethnic cleansing, more money is wasted on the military while people live in poverty.

I would like to thank the American Tax Payer for your support, however I dont think the Iron Dome is the solution, I think the Iron Hammer is the solution. Its time Israel stops playing defence and drops the hammer on Gaza once and for all. Level Gaza turn it into a parking lot and all the missiles will stop, It wont even cost more than a few million dollars.

Imposter.

As an American taxpayer, I say: enough is enough. We have been losing millions, billions of dollars with Israel. For what? What do we have in return for helping Israel? This is not a democracy, this is not a country that shares our values, this is not a country that meets our strategic interests. Our image has been tainted because of Israel, we lose Arab business partners because of Israel, we have been watching China and Russia penetrate a market of 500 million people... Time to change, folks. Let Israel try the Chinese now.

I live in Arad which is hardly an upscale place to live. I live in a Haredi area because rents are cheaper. My building has six apartments and Haredim live in three of them. I don't know ANYBODY that doesn't have a cellphone; TV: a washing machine; a microwave etc. Some of the Haredim have broadband internet and some don't but it's a religious issue and not a financial one. The supermarkets are packed and carts are full to the brim. So where is this poverty you're talking about. You've seen it or read about it?

The US and Israel are the foremost in developing defenses against missiles and rockets of all ranges. Israel provides an UNBELIEVABLE amount of weapons and IT technology to the US. Israel provides more high tech to US than it receives. Raytheon is already using Israeli Iron Dome technology to develop a similar system for the US and recently some in Congress publicly asked this US access to Iron Dome technology be formalized. No problem, but redundant. The next layer up, David’s sling, is a joint Rafael/ Raytheon project. And one can assume that the IRBM Israeli Arrow series and its associate target missiles have provided the US with useful data.

as an American sending my tax dollars to help Israel is the only thing I am glad my tax dollars are spent on This is great news

This investment is well worth because it has saved more lives from these islamicbarbarian hordes than other US investments

I am an American and I so agree with you. Enough of these handouts. We don't need Israel's technology, we're cutting back on our war machine and the military in general. I for one actually emailed my Senator and that ridiculous woman Ros-Lehtinen, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, to plead not to give the $$. We will be paying the principal and interest to China on that money, not Israel. We have lots to do with our $ here in America. What we pay to Egypt is to protect Israel. I for one am fed-up!

Israel not only provides the US with huge amounts of technology worth in the many billions; without the Jews, the US would't even be the super-power that it is today. Almost ALL of the US's early nuclear program was develped by Jewish schientist from around the world. Hell, Roosevelt didn't even know what an atom was until Einstein wrote him that famous letter. These Jewish scientist made the US a nuclear power. The US is spending 88 billion on a silly war in a stupid backwater like Afghanistahn, one single billion on a revolutionary anti-rocket system, that the US will get all the technology to is peanuts.

Your whole post shows that you know nothing about the symbiotic relationship between the US and Israel. Why do you think that every US President has worked hand in glove with Israel? Well OK, you hadn't thought about it. I'm not going to your legwork for you but the info is all over the web. ourchangingglobe dot com/joint-us-israel-missile-drill-will-be-the-biggest-ever/ might be a start, but you'll have to change the word dot to a . and then remove the two spaces.

I guess your knowledge at modern warfare against terror cells is less than nothing, Iron dome was designed to counter a missile barrage, it is also highly intelligent and the whole idea is to intercept only rockets who can potentially inflict damage in crowded or urban Israeli areas, not every rocket falling in open areas. there are no free meals when it comes to US foreign policies and aid, America benefit from this system as well, and of course ties Israel to specific agreements forbidding Israel to sell military tech and equipment to clients all over the world, Israel is the 5th weapons exporter to the world. you guys know nothing about these agreements , if you would you wouldn't say a thing about the US military aid to Israel. Ynet, do not censure please.

That our strategic military decisions are not made by loud angry talkbackers acting on emotions with few of the facts. Our country would be in quite a pickle otherwise. One that would leave a rather bad taste in the mouth of everyone involved (save our enemies)

What's the use in defending a Racist State that flouts international laws and norms?

Which international law allows the Palestinians to fire kassam rockets at Israeli civilian populations? Israel is the only US ally in the ME and the US needs to protect its power base. But we most definitely could save a bundle of money by terminating foreign aid to the Palestinians. We get nothing in return and just pour money down the drain.