Foreign Aid Set to Take a Hit in U.S. Budget Crisis

[alp227]

Source: The New York Times

WASHINGTON — America’s budget crisis at home is forcing the first significant cuts in overseas aid in nearly two decades, a retrenchment that officials and advocates say reflects the country’s diminishing ability to influence the world.

As lawmakers scramble to trim the swelling national debt, both the Republican-controlled House and the Democrat-controlled Senate have proposed slashing financing for the State Department and its related aid agencies at a time of desperate humanitarian crises and uncertain political developments. The proposals have raised the specter of deep cuts in food and medicine for Africa, in relief for disaster-affected places like Pakistan and Japan, in political and economic assistance for the new democracies of the Middle East, and even for the Peace Corps.

The financial crunch threatens to undermine a foreign policy described as “smart power” by President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, one that emphasizes diplomacy and development as a complement to American military power. It also would begin to reverse the increase in foreign aid that President George W. Bush supported after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, as part of an effort to combat the roots of extremism and anti-American sentiment, especially in the most troubled countries.

Given the relatively small foreign aid budget — it accounts for 1 percent of federal spending over all — the effect of the cuts could be disproportional.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/us/politics/foreign-aid-set-to-take-hit-in-united-states-budget-crisis.html?pagewanted=all

[Angry Dragon]

1. And here I thought war was our foreign policy

bomb the hell out of them then rebuild

[Demeter]

2. End the Wars, bring the troops home

Instant prosperity

[Poll_Blind]

3. Israel's foreign aid? Untouched. Palestinian aid? Entirely gone if granted statehood. Egypt?

Conditional. Pakistan? Conditional. Everybody else, AFAIK, is getting cutbacks. That includes aid to Africa, all the Arab Spring countries (inc. Libya whenever that happens), disaster relief for Japan, the Peace Corps.

At the tide of money ebbs considerably, I would ask that you ponder a moment the fact that the pretense under which Israel receives billions every year (that it's a result of the Camp David Accords, which it originally was) has fallen away so starkly, the curious nature of the US/Israeli financial relationship has been thrown into the highest contrast yet.

I am reminded of Steny Hoyer's comments a few weeks ago that http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1740388">"US Economic Woes Won’t Affect Israel". Can someone explain this:

US Congressman Steny Hoyer says financial challenges "will not have any adverse effect on America’s determination to meet its promise to Israel."

What is that promise? Can anyone explain what he means? Because it now officially has fuck-all to do with the Camp David Accords.

I'd now like to direct your attention to everyone other than Israel. That is to say, the countries who are getting shorted or threatened. Think of this from a foreign policy perspective. Think about the whole rest of the world. You think if the Chinese come along, the Russians come along, the (take your pick) come along, they aren't going to snake that money up in a heartbeat? Hamid Karzai is taking suitcases of cash from the Iranian government and he openly admits it.

So a foreign policy which seems intent on keeping Israel flush with billions of billions and who, one would hope to assume, is our staunchest ally while new governments seeking relationships get the hand. Who's going to fake surprise when our influence in the money game exponentially drops. Fuck having our backs, we know we'll be in deep shit when those other countries start switching arms dealers. Cause that's pretty much we are to most of them. Gun Daddy, Rocket Daddy, Chopper Daddy, Sugar Daddy.

PB

[MADem]

4. Well, I can imagine Pakistan is high on that "No gruel for YOU" list!

That's a huge savings right there.

[JCMach1]

5. They have always wanted to destroy the State Department

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Faux pas]

7. GOOD our country is the one we should be aiding.

[OhioChick]

8. Time to take care of our own, first n/t

[lovuian]

9. yes it doesn't make sense for our money to go to other

countries when we are in a Depression

[TomClash]

10. Everyone else is cut except . . .

"However, one of the largest portions of foreign aid — more than $3 billion for Israel — is left untouched in both the House and Senate versions, showing that, even in times of austerity, some spending is inviolable."

[OhioChick]

11. Israel should not get a free pass

When the US has kids going to bed hungry every night, it's time to cut all aid.