Israel asks US for additional $300mn for missile defense (bypassed White House)

[Karmadillo]

All we have to do is transfer some of the savings from the food stamp program cuts over to defense.

http://rt.com/news/236545-israel-us-funds-defense/



Israel reportedly bypassed the White House and asked the US Congress for an extra $317 million to be added to President Barack Obama's budget for the next fiscal year in order to fund Israeli missile defense programs, Bloomberg reported.

The requested funds would be in addition to the $158 million already proposed by the Pentagon for Israel’s security needs for the fiscal year that will begin on October 1. The new allocation will allegedly finance the 'David's Sling' and 'Arrow-3' programs – designed to intercept medium- to long-range missiles – as well as provide an anti-ballistic missile system.

According to Bloomberg’s report on Friday, the director of Israel's missile defense organization Yair Ramati “visited lawmakers and aides to the congressional defense committees on February 2 and 3 to outline the case for more money and thank them for past assistance.”

Ramati completely bypassed the White House and the Pentagon. The report links the move to the tense relationship between the Obama administration and the Israeli government ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress on March 3, which is likely to stress that the White House is pursuing a “bad deal” by negotiating to curb Iran’s nuclear program.

more...

[former9thward]

1. Congress makes the budget not the president.

No one was bypassed. Check the Constitution if you don't agree. If Obama does not like the request he can veto it.

[jaysunb]

2. Foreign governments lobbying Congress ? Really ? n/t

[former9thward]

4. Oh, you mean when David Cameron lobbied Congress on Obama's behalf?

UK's David Cameron is phoning Senators about Iran sanctions bill

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/uks-david-cameron-helps-obama-urge-congress-against-iran-sanctions-bill/

[jaysunb]

7. OK...I just thought foreign policy was part of the executive branch. Sorry. n/t

[Spider Jerusalem]

8. Not remotely similar

there's a pretty large difference between "head of government of a permanent UN Security Council member and major NATO power calls for sanctions against Iran as part of international effort" and "PM of Israel lobbies for $300 million in US funding".

[Scootaloo]

3. if it's going to israel's missile defense system, i.e. Iron Dome, I have no huge problem

Other than the problem I have with us subsidizing any nation's military. But hey, better spent on an actual defensive measure than on, say... arming and training Syrian militias...

[PoliticAverse]

5. Why should the US borrow the money to pay for it instead of Israel doing so? n/t

[Journeyman]

6. Tell ya what: Let Israel take the bucks out of its socialized medical program first . . .

and when they're schlepping to fill insurance carriers' coffers, same as us, then we can discuss our giving them further charity to prop up their social network. Until then, we've still got millions here who lack the basic necessities.

[the_sly_pig]

9. Better give israel what it wants before it has a temper tantrum.

[Ichingcarpenter]

10. Ichingcarpenter asks US for additional $300mn for

feeding the poor and housing Americans.