• Dr. Moose@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Could someone explain what’s the argument in favor of US funding Israel with these amounts other than securing a geopolitical partner in middle east?

    • Not_mikey@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      Israel is not even a good geopolitical partner in the Middle East. Nearly everyone hates them so whenever we do operations over there we keep them out because we know even their presence will increase tensions and lose hearts and minds. They’re good for spying on Iran but you have to take everything with a grain of salt because they could be lying in order to try and get us to be more confrontational because they despise Iran.

      The reasons the U.S. government overwhelmingly supports Israel is:

      • evangelicals think the Jews taking over Israel will cause the rapture, which they want…
      • Sheer inertia
      • the idea that Israel is “an island of liberal democracy” in a sea of authoritarian Arab states
      • Heavy lobbying from organizations like AIPAC, and if you don’t follow their line they’ll spend millions on you opponent’s campaign.
      • Military industrial complex loves sales to Israel
      • military industrial complex relies on technology and equipment from Israel
      • Islamaphobia and the idea that they’re fighting the good fight against the evil terrorists
      • residual guilt for the Holocaust and the west’s antisemitic past
      • themeatbridge@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        Your list is spot on, and what’s interesting about it is the strange bedfellows it creates. You have a coalition of literal Nazis, Orthodox Jews, and Intelligence Agencies calling for more bombs to fight fascism and spread democracy.

        • Billiam@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          The thing about American Nazis is, yes they are virulently anti-Semitic but they also are usually fiercely steeped in their twisted version of Christianity, which says the Jews have to be in Israel for Armageddon to happen. Then they’ll get their heavenly rewards while the rest of us are punished forever, since they see us as the cause of all their problems.

          They’re perfectly willing to tolerate Jews’ existence, as long as it’s not here in America.

        • Not_mikey@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          Yeah your right, got it confused with a conference around here that they still have ads up for. Edited

    • Billiam@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      Modern day Christianity is a death cult begging for the end of the world to happen and according to their mythology, Israel has to occupy that particular piece of dirt, regardless of whoever is already there. And since a still-significant portion of the American electorate are superstitious and arms manufacturers are so wealthy, our politicians are more than happy to pander to the one to take donations from the other.

      • LocoOhNo@lemmus.org
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        9 months ago

        It’s even more sinister than that even; not only are they looking forward to the world ending, they think that they are the only ones getting into “heaven” and everyone else will be tormented in “hell” forever.

        They look forward to the few million of them getting a “reward” while the other 10 billion people burn. That’s the mentality of a lunatic that doesn’t deserve to be allowed in civilization, but instead, society had deemed their lunacy a protected class.

        Nevermind that their own Bible says specifically that only 144k people will get into heaven and even then it’s only male Jewish virgins.

    • frezik@midwest.social
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      9 months ago

      Besides the religious angle, the funding we give to Israel tends to come right back into the pockets of US military contractors. This is great if you like military contractors. I’m not one of those people, but they apparently exist.

    • zerog_bandit@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      Because they are the only reasonable geopolitical partner in the middle east. Every other country there is fucking with oil prices every 4 years for political gain. Also passively or actively supporting terrorism.

      US desires stability over all else. Israel is committed to stability as well because stability improves their ability to detect and subvert terrorism against them.

    • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      Too many politicians support genocide for its own sake. Some of them are even Republicans.

        • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          Joe Biden did not need to circumvent congress twice in order to support Netanyahu’s genocide. No one was clamoring for it. No one would have blamed him if he didn’t.

          37 Senate Democrats voted against placing conditions on aid for Israel.

          If Democrats don’t want people saying they support genocide, they should quit supporting genocide.

          • MotoAsh@lemmy.world
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            9 months ago

            Yes. Notice how the Republicans would just openly support genocide in Gaza AND pull out of Ukraine.

            The point IS NOT that Democrats are somehow “good”. I never said that. In fact, I say the opposite all the time. My point is they’re still better than the Republicans, and any attempt to imply otherwise is pure stupidity.

            Why do you want to engage in stupidity?

            • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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              9 months ago

              My point is they’re still better than the Republicans, and any attempt to imply otherwise is pure stupidity.

              Democrats’ genocide is more moral than Republicans’ genocide. Congratulations. Democrats should not be supporting genocide and until they stop, those that do should be treated with the contempt they have earned.

              But instead you’re calling me stupid for criticizing them.

              • MotoAsh@lemmy.world
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                9 months ago

                No one is supporting genocide here. I literally said the Democrats are not good… Why do you insist on strawmanning everyone? Are you a child or just an edgy moron?

                • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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                  9 months ago

                  So why are you calling me stupid for criticizing the party to which I belong because I don’t want them supporting genocide? I gave examples of Democrats doing just that. You ignored that and started slinging abuse. I doubt you’ll ever stop.

                  I can criticize Republicans on this, but them being fascist shit on their best day has never been in question.

                  • MotoAsh@lemmy.world
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                    9 months ago

                    You are constantly assuming the positions of those you are talking about and to.