Posted on May 20, 2015
SPC David S.
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Ft heads state
As budgets are tightening and national debt is increasing is the concept of foreign aid to other nations especially one's with a state sponsored religion a good use of your tax payer dollars? As the US does not permit religious sponsorship domestically why are we sending aid to other nations that have national religions where 30 have laws stating that their heads of state must be of a defined religious faith? The congressional research service stated that the foreign aid to Israel has been "based on common democratic values, religious affinities, and security interests." Are we not sponsoring religious states with this financial and military assistance with tax dollars?

Some details of the countries receiving aid and how they voted in the UN:

Kuwait votes against the United States 67% of the time
Qatar votes against the United States 67% of the time
Morocco votes against the United States 70% of the time
United Arab Emirates votes against the United States 70% of the time.
Jordan votes against the United States 71% of the time.
Tunisia votes against the United States 71% of the time.
Saudi Arabia votes against the United States 73% of the time.
Yemen votes against the United States 74% of the time.
Algeria votes against the United States 74% of the time.
Oman votes against the United States 74%of the time.
Sudan votes against the United States 75% of the time.
Pakistan votes against the United States 75% of the time.
Libya votes against the United States 76% of the time.
Egypt votes against the United States 79% of the time.
Lebanon votes against the United States 80% of the time.
India votes against the United States 81% of the time.
Syria votes against the United States 84% of the time.
Mauritania votes against the United States 87% of the time.

Also on a side note we give foreign aid to China, not much but we borrow this money from China in order to give it back to them.

http://www.foreignassistance.gov/web/rgaintro.aspx
Edited >1 y ago
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
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Edited >1 y ago
** Warning: Commencing Rant **

Frankly, I think the whole idea of foreign aid to ANY country needs to be seriously reevaluated. We are rolling in debt and, no doubt, borrowing money to give to other countries as foreign aid. Meanwhile, back at home, our political leadership is looking for ways to cut domestic spending and telling us that "we're broke" and that cuts to "entitlements" that we've paid into all our lives are inevitable. Hey, I'm all for charity but I see no reason why we shouldn't be taking care of the home front first.

** Rant Concluded (with apologies if I've offended anyone) **
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad That's a MUCH deeper conversation, which I have "some" answers for (both philosophical & technical), but we would we would get way sidetracked on that topic.

Keep in mind, money is a "philosophical construct." It's not real. It's a representation of Power (specifically Production Power... but there is minutia involved there). If we can produce, we have Money. If we have People, we can Produce, therefore, we we don't have money shortfalls. What we have is a shortsightedness in how to get from A to Z.
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
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Okay Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS, guess we better leave it at that because I suspect we could go around and around about this all day. :-)
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad Definitely. Months even!
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SSG Donald Mceuen
SSG Donald Mceuen
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Ya i think we need to take care of our own. and when we close some of our debt then we can talk about helping other countrys.
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SPC Safety Technician
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There is value in building a friendship with the populace and helping them to develop an thrive, even when the nation themselves are corrupt or oppressive. But I agree that the status quo isn't making anyone happy; certainly not on this side of the fence.

I'm not sure I can really add anything to the comments below. Our little back-and-forth kicked of a great discussion. Well done, sir.

SPC David S.
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SPC David S.
SPC David S.
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Yes our discussion got me thinking - yes our foreign aid does do a lot of good - Just not so sure the accountability is there or is producing the desired results. Hats off to you as well in engaging a touchy topic with decorum SPC (Join to see)
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SPC Safety Technician
SPC (Join to see)
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Windtalkers nicolas cage
"Hats off to you as well in a engaging a touchy topic with decorum" Decorum? First time I've been accused of that. (Great; now I have to re-watch "Windtalkers" just for that scene. ugh.)
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SPC Charles Brown
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Edited >1 y ago
Um, no! State sponsored religions are oppressive to their citizens. That is not what America is about.
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SPC David S.
SPC David S.
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Just checking to see if I'm not the only one that has a problem with this. In a review some 47 countries did not qualify due to violations in the terms of the Foreign Assistance Act - yet received aid.
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