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US, Israel to begin major air defense drill
Yoav Zitun, AP
Published: 17.10.12, 20:54
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1. 30 million more in the hole....
Sheik Rattle & Roll ,   USA   (10.17.12)
What a way to cut the deficit. The money should be deducted out of the annual grants the US gives Israel.
2. #1 Israel is paying their own expenses
Alex   (10.17.12)
So why wouldn't the US? It's a joint drill, no one pays for US drills in Europe or in the Persian gulf either...
3. We should send.....
Eaglebeak ,   Left Coast, USA   (10.17.12)
Obama and the first lady. They really like expensive vacations on the taxpayers dime.
4. foreign budget is 1% of the overall budget...
cyclonex ,   usa   (10.17.12)
this literally costs pennies. And research what and how much other countries contribute to joint military operations with the U.S., you'll be surprised.
5. Sheik @ 1 - Amen !!! ,...
split ,   US   (10.17.12)
With the cost of processing ,...
6. The world is sick
Gregg ,   Haifa IL   (10.17.12)
The world is starving. EU is in debt. People in America are jobless. People in Israel a left alone and what is Israel and the US are thinking about is to play lead soldiers?!?! Israel and US are disgusting
7. #2 Alex. Money from American Taxpayers
American Vet   (10.17.12)
8. where are all the US/Obama bashers?
arik ,   usa   (10.17.12)
Awfully quiet here...
9. #1 Sheik
Jason ,   San Francisco   (10.17.12)
Since when do other countries pay for US military drills?
10. #7 & Co.
NATAN ,   ISRAEL   (10.18.12)
Let's say you are right but if this dont be paid the war will be in USA territory and USA doesn't have a beter partner in this side of the world, so the taxes are for the american's can sleep.
11. To All Those Anti-Obama and anti-Israeli Freaks
Moshe of Rockville ,   Rockville,MD USA   (10.17.12)
My I inform those who are ignorant,those who express rancor, and bigotry against Obama and the Jewish State, as well as those who seethe at the thought that the results of these military exercises will enhance the security of both the US and Israel, have a happy and healthy 5773.
12. #7
Alex   (10.18.12)
US military aid only accounts for roughly 20% of total Israeli military budget. Money already spent in military defense projects, which technology Americans then copy and implement to their own defence...
13. #8 US bashers...?
Alex   (10.18.12)
M'kay... The Obama "bashers" as you so nicely put it doesn't complain about economic asistance, but on his stance on Iran and 1967 borders such as the status of Jerusalem.
14. #3
Moshe of Rockville ,   Rockville,MD USA   (10.18.12)
Well, for your information - and this is free information - a president is on the job 24 hours a day. Psss ,keep it quiet - this is only for those who need to know. As far as the dime,well the only presidential candidate who pays only a dime in taxes is good ole Mitt. As far as expensive vacations go,the president has not only himself and his family,but a group of Secret Service people,so vacations are expensive. I wonder if you ever complained about a Republican president's vacation. Mmmm
15. Do you think the CIA and other US intelligence agencies do
Bunnie Meyer ,   Los Angeles, CA USA   (10.18.12)
not get FULL VALUE for the information Israel gives them that would be much more costly and maybe impossible to get?
16. Obama is not as dumb as he looks....
Bluegrass Picker ,   Afula   (10.18.12)
....two years ago, he already was thinking ahead. He knew when the elections would be. I'm NOT saying these exercises WEREN'T politically timed; I'm saying it's not impossible. And PS: nothing specially wrong with it. It's not pretty, but it's normal. The world has worked this way since Jacob & Esau.
17. @4 you are off by approximately 30%
Miron ,   USA   (10.18.12)
As for our help to Israel... we refused to help Israelis during Carmel fire. Our position. as facts on the grounds go, was in line with Mr. Haneyah "Helping those G-d chose to punish is forbidden". Even Mr. Abbas helped!
18. USA readers: warning: do not believe your own eyes
Lanny   (10.18.12)
As the election draws nearer the MSM will print any lie, any falsehood whatever it takes to get their dearly beloved Barry Soetoro re-elected. Do not believe your eyes.
19. #6
sealift67 ,   '67 war vet   (10.18.12)
The world is not starving. Yes there are pockets of this yet food yield is at all time high. US and Israel have made immense contributions to improve drought intolerant food production. "Lead soldiers"? Iran's fixation to enrich uranium to bomb grade is the greatest threat to world stability. "Disgusting"? Threats of genocide are disgusting. The world is slowly recognizing this reality while you sit in the cave of a Neanderthal Gregg.
20. shhhh! be quiet.
(10.18.12)
none of your concern.
21. 6
(10.18.12)
have you looked at the mid east lately and at iran's atomic accelarions? dummy!
22. #1 - suggestion
Toby   (10.18.12)
Here's a better way: hold the govt. of Mexico financially responsible for providing social services and education for citizens of their nation in the US illegally. Here's an estimate - $80 billion per year that the govt. of Mexico is saving. What a scam huh? $30 million on the defense drill is meaningless!
23. Obama's Israel photo op won't help him this time
Sue ,   Los Angeles   (10.18.12)
The drill does not make up for Obama destroying the Egypt-Israel peace, for emboldening Hamas to rain rockets on Jewish homes, for calling for a return to 67 borders, for telling Jews they can't build in Jerusalem, for his helping jihadists in Syria, for befriending Erdogan while treating Bibi like dirt, for Libyan weapons now being used in attacks on Israel, for failing to stop Iran's nuclear program, for leaking info about Stuxnet, and for delegitimizing Jerusalem at the State Dept and at the Democratic National Convention.
24. #6 - Gregg
Ariel ,   Modi'in, Israel   (10.18.12)
So, if the US and Israel are disgusting, when does your flight leave for Bangladesh? Or can I book your flight to Afghanistan? There you can live out your dream fantasies...
25. I am SICK TO DEATH OF THIS!
fed up ,   in Israel   (10.18.12)
So America pays 30 mill and Israel 8 mill. Your size and budget is proportional, for one. The US loves to boast how much they "give" and then throw it in our faces! I am SICK of it!!!!! Tell me: what is your point? You are NOT giving! You are using your investment and getting field testing of your military equipment, AND a foothold in the Mideast on Israeli soil to protect your interests in the Middle east. Rather give noithing at all! We are SICK of American pride and arrogance!!!
26. #7
Annoyed in USA ,   USA   (10.18.12)
Why do you, or other people of your type, assume that every time Israel spends money it is American taxpayer money? We send Israel $3 billion per annum. Israel, otoh, has a GDP of roughly $230 billion per annum with something like $7-9 billion in military expenditures per annum alone. So what gives? The absolute most anti-Israel way you could work those stats would be to say that if Israel spends $7b and we send $3b, then we account for 30% or Israeli defense spending. However, this would still be wildly inaccurate and misleading... yet would still mean that the USA provides less than 1/3 or Israeli military funds, let alone non-military costs. So where do you get this idea that we fund everything Israel has or spends? American money is about 1.4% of Israeli GDP and we benefit about as much as they do, in some ways more.
27. What a waste of money
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (10.18.12)
I do not condone this exercise in any way. I resent the waste of my tax dollars to pay for an exercise that is, essentially, useless. My money should be put to much better use than .....This!!!
28. Number 1 - Sounds like its out of a bond movie!!
Brett Levitas ,   South Africa   (10.18.12)
No 1, you sleep well knowing that the front line is 10000KM's away from the safety of where the next war will be fought. YOur ignorance about how important these excersises is only overshadowed by your naivity about the dangers that face the world. As far as I am concerened, it money VERY well spent and shows the USofA still has a friend in ISR and always will!!! Night night and sleep tight!!
29. #1
(10.18.12)
Toppling Gaddaffi so that Jihad will get unlimited amounts of advanced weapons to attack American interests: $1.5 billion Air defense drill with Israel to ensure a safe haven to evacuate American dead and wounded when Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia go down in flames: priceless.
30. To: Fed Up at No. 25
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (10.18.12)
Well,on the other hand -- it's high time the United States learned that Israel can run circles around them .... and the $30 million is well worth the price of their learning that they are rank amateurs when it comes to dealing with Arab and Islamic states. We'll teach them a thing or two. With any luck, they'll have the sense to be extraordinarily grateful. We did, after all, pull their bacon out of the fire in Iraq. Would have been quite a different Gulf War, wouldn't it, had Israel not taken out the OSIRAC reactor. What I do know is that Israel cannot count on the United States. It is high time that the U.S. learned that Israel is the only -- repeat, ONLY -- country it can count upon in the Middle East. Not to mention Europe, but that's a story for another day.
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