Pentagon seeking $400mil to buy more missile defense systems for Israel

This is what happens when you allow public officials to smother the bureaucracy.

[QUOTE="pie-junior"]

If the US has vested interests in preserving stability and calm in the Israeli-palestinian conflict, it can't stop funding Iron dome. From what I understand, Israel can't maintain the costs of the system (which are enormous, and comprised mostly with Israeli money IIRC) and its operation alone, no matter how comparatively rich it is considering the elected status of its officials and the size of its population, and would opt for a more traditional means of defence (like tanks and planes and stuff). 

I don't want to talk about the relative benefit of the Israeli-american relationship, but if the US continues to maintain aid- Iron dome, on the cutback list, should be absolutely last. I suspect the Pentagon knows that. 

Aljosa23

Opposed to what many believe, Israel does want peace, and it rightfully won't speak to an entity that doesn't recognize its right to exist

The Pentagons Missile Defense Agency for the first time in its regular annual budget contains funds to buy additional Iron Dome missile defense systems for Israel, according to documents and an agency spokesman.

The budget requests $220 million for missile batteries in fiscal 2014, which begins Oct. 1, and an additional $175.9 million in fiscal 2015, according to budget documents the Missile Defense Agency posted online last week.

The money, if approved during the annual defense budgetprocess, would be on top of $486 million the White House and Congress have requested or added for the system in recent years after formal budgets were submitted. This includes $211 million added in the defense appropriations bill for this year, which President Barack Obama signed into law last month.

The $220 million request for fiscal 2014 is new money, and it is the first time funding specifically for Iron Dome procurement has been requested in our budget submission, Missile Defense Agency spokesman Richard Lehner said in an e- mail.

House and Senate defense committees last year signaled they wanted to approve spending as much as $680 million on Iron Dome through 2015.

The fiscal 2014 request is a smaller piece of the larger amount and supports the various production lines and schedules to meet the desired goals, Lehner said.

link and more here

Apparently the Iron Dome defense systems are made in Israel by an Israeli company...lol. What terrible spending, smh.

It's times like this when I really lament the loss of shadowmoses dave123321

We have to cut funds from education, social programs etc, but we can buy missles for Israel. 

Does not compute.

iirc they actually use iron dome, so it's not like a waste

they prob should buy their own, tho

I've never understood how Uncle Sam has found an ally in Israel...

We have to cut funds from education, social programs etc, but we can buy missles for Israel. 

Does not compute.

jimkabrhel

So disappointing. Defense systems > health care funding

We have to cut funds from education, social programs etc, but we can buy missles for Israel. 

Does not compute.

jimkabrhel

Buy missiles for Israel, from Israel.

[QUOTE="jimkabrhel"]

We have to cut funds from education, social programs etc, but we can buy missles for Israel.

Does not compute.

Aljosa23

So disappointing. Defense systems > health care funding

Well defence is more important than health care...by alot.

So glad the awareness is rising...

[QUOTE="jimkabrhel"]

We have to cut funds from education, social programs etc, but we can buy missles for Israel. 

Does not compute.

Aljosa23

So disappointing. Defense systems > health care funding

The Iron dome missile system is the number one mitigating factor regarding hostilities between Israel and the Hamas. It's probably the leading reason why there wasn't a ground invasion a-la 2008 5 months ago accompanying thousands of palestinian deaths. I don't know how much these facts should factor into the priorities of the white house, but calling it 'terrible spending' is absolutely ridiculous. It's probably the only clearly constructive thing the Obama administration has managed to do in the middle-east.pie-junior

Ok so who's gonna put sanctions on the US for weaponizing the entire world? Oh yeah I forgot only the US is allowed to put up sanctions... move along

I've never understood how Uncle Sam has found an ally in Israel...

sexyweapons

[QUOTE="pie-junior"]The Iron dome missile system is the number one mitigating factor regarding hostilities between Israel and the Hamas. It's probably the leading reason why there wasn't a ground invasion a-la 2008 5 months ago accompanying thousands of palestinian deaths. I don't know how much these facts should factor into the priorities of the white house, but calling it 'terrible spending' is absolutely ridiculous. It's probably the only clearly constructive thing the Obama administration has managed to do in the middle-east.Aljosa23

If the US has vested interests in preserving stability and calm in the Israeli-palestinian conflict, it can't stop funding Iron dome. From what I understand, Israel can't maintain the costs of the system (which are enormous, and comprised mostly with Israeli money IIRC) and its operation alone, no matter how comparatively rich it is considering the elected status of its officials and the size of its population, and would opt for a more traditional means of defence (like tanks and planes and stuff). 

I don't want to talk about the relative benefit of the Israeli-american relationship, but if the US continues to maintain aid- Iron dome, on the cutback list, should be absolutely last. I suspect the Pentagon knows that. 

[QUOTE="sexyweapons"]

I've never understood how Uncle Sam has found an ally in Israel...

NoAssKicker47

If the US has vested interests in preserving stability and calm in the Israeli-palestinian conflict, it can't stop funding Iron dome. From what I understand, Israel can't maintain the costs of the system (which are enormous, and comprised mostly with Israeli money IIRC) and its operation alone, no matter how comparatively rich it is considering the elected status of its officials and the size of its population, and would opt for a more traditional means of defence (like tanks and planes and stuff). 

I don't want to talk about the relative benefit of the Israeli-american relationship, but if the US continues to maintain aid- Iron dome, on the cutback list, should be absolutely last. I suspect the Pentagon knows that. 

pie-junior

How about they spend that money on schools instead?

[QUOTE="pie-junior"]

If the US has vested interests in preserving stability and calm in the Israeli-palestinian conflict, it can't stop funding Iron dome. From what I understand, Israel can't maintain the costs of the system (which are enormous, and comprised mostly with Israeli money IIRC) and its operation alone, no matter how comparatively rich it is considering the elected status of its officials and the size of its population, and would opt for a more traditional means of defence (like tanks and planes and stuff). 

I don't want to talk about the relative benefit of the Israeli-american relationship, but if the US continues to maintain aid- Iron dome, on the cutback list, should be absolutely last. I suspect the Pentagon knows that. 

Aljosa23

How about they spend that money on schools instead?

sonicare

[QUOTE="Aljosa23"]

[QUOTE="pie-junior"]

If the US has vested interests in preserving stability and calm in the Israeli-palestinian conflict, it can't stop funding Iron dome. From what I understand, Israel can't maintain the costs of the system (which are enormous, and comprised mostly with Israeli money IIRC) and its operation alone, no matter how comparatively rich it is considering the elected status of its officials and the size of its population, and would opt for a more traditional means of defence (like tanks and planes and stuff). 

I don't want to talk about the relative benefit of the Israeli-american relationship, but if the US continues to maintain aid- Iron dome, on the cutback list, should be absolutely last. I suspect the Pentagon knows that. 

NoAssKicker47

Opposed to what many believe, Israel does want peace, and it rightfully won't speak to an entity that doesn't recognize its right to exist

[QUOTE="pie-junior"]

If the US has vested interests in preserving stability and calm in the Israeli-palestinian conflict, it can't stop funding Iron dome. From what I understand, Israel can't maintain the costs of the system (which are enormous, and comprised mostly with Israeli money IIRC) and its operation alone, no matter how comparatively rich it is considering the elected status of its officials and the size of its population, and would opt for a more traditional means of defence (like tanks and planes and stuff). 

I don't want to talk about the relative benefit of the Israeli-american relationship, but if the US continues to maintain aid- Iron dome, on the cutback list, should be absolutely last. I suspect the Pentagon knows that. 

Aljosa23

Imagine if we spend money on American infrastructure :O We would actually have nice smooth roads, and probably turn pikes in every city! Fightingfan

Giving weapons to Israel>>>>improving infastructure

Not all defence spending is equal, people.

Am fine with this

[QUOTE="Fightingfan"]Imagine if we spend money on American infrastructure :O We would actually have nice smooth roads, and probably turn pikes in every city! Jebus213

Giving weapons to Israel>>>>improving infastructure

.

.

I'm okay with spending that might actually save lives.

[QUOTE="Jebus213"]

[QUOTE="Fightingfan"]Imagine if we spend money on American infrastructure :O We would actually have nice smooth roads, and probably turn pikes in every city! Fightingfan

Giving weapons to Israel>>>>improving infastructure

No it doesn't, not anymore. Iraq and Afghanistan have done nothing to our unemployment.Toxic-Seahorse

Not exactly true. They've kept service members employed,

[QUOTE="Toxic-Seahorse"]No it doesn't, not anymore. Iraq and Afghanistan have done nothing to our unemployment.airshocker

Not exactly true. They've kept service members employed,

there's better examples you could use, such as arms manufacturersBossPerson

My point was made all the same.

I'm okay with spending that might actually save lives.

airshocker

it's not like the Zionists controll the banks right.....

Why can't Israel pay for this themselves?chessmaster1989

They wanted a better price.

I'll show myself out.