Could Rand Paul and Ron Paul be Zionists?

The View From Masada Blog ^ | February 17, 2011 | Matityahu Ben-Yosef

[Christian_Capitalist]

Could Rand Paul and Ron Paul be Zionists?
http://viewfrommasada.com/2011/02/17/ron-paul-rand-paul-zionists-of-the-year/
Posted on February 17, 2011 by Matityahu Ben-Yosef

While the Middle East has always been a volatile region, the last month has seen events unfold in the region whose global impact we still may not appreciate. From the fall of governments in Lebanon, Tunisia, and Egypt, and with other Middle East regimes to soon share their fate, the balance of power in the Middle East is changing before our eyes.

However, the most significant revolution taking place in the Middle East right now may not have anything to do with what’s unfolded in those countries mentioned above. In fact, the greatest potential revolution about to unfold in the Middle East has its home in Washington D.C., courtesy of Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).

Seriously.

Earlier this month, Rand Paul called for an end to US “welfare” to Israel, saying:

I’m not singling out Israel. I support Israel. I want to be known as a friend of Israel, but not with money you don’t have. We can’t just borrow from our kids’ future and give it to countries, even if they are our friends.

I think they’re an important ally, but I also think that their per capita income is greater than probably three-fourths of the rest of the world. Should we be giving free money or welfare to a wealthy nation? I don’t think so.

There are many problems with Israel accepting foreign aid from the United States, most notably among that them being that a country can not be both independent and dependent at the same time. By accepting foreign aid from United States, or any country for that matter, Israel is giving up her freedom to implement policies without foreign interference. Additionally, as we have mentioned before, not only does accepting foreign aid limit Israel’s independence, but it also is simply not economically smart, as a recent study by the Jerusalem Institute for Market Studies has shown that every dollar of US Aid costs Israel up to 1.4 dollars.

Rand Paul highlights two other problems with continued US foreign aid. to Israel. First, it is legitimate to ask whether or not the US can still afford the luxury of bestowing foreign aid – not just to Israel – but in general. While there are certainly benefits to the United States ‘giving of foreign aid, today it may be a luxury that the American people simply can no longer afford.

Second, historically one of the problems with welfare,is that often times those receiving it have no real incentive to ever get off of it.

Zionism, being the national liberation movement of the Jewish people, believes in a strong and free sovereign Jewish state; a state that lives within her means and earns whatever she has, through the industriousness and ingenuity of her citizens.

An article in Middle East Quarterly, entitled “End American Aid to Israel?: Yes, It Does Harm,” stated the following:

Arnon Gafny, who served as governor of the Bank of Israel in 1976-1981, points out that foreign aid has caused Israel to suffer from what economists call the “Dutch Disease,” a generous but temporary gift (such as oil or external aid) that brings short-term benefits but impairs a country’s long-term competitiveness.

It is very difficult to prove that a rich country’s bestowing bilateral aid on a poorer one actually helps the poorer economy.

In an paper published by the Hoover Institute of Standford University, entitled “Why Aid to Israel Hurts . . . Israelis,” Alvin Rubashka stated the following:

Free money is the scourge of Israel’s economy. It is the difference between a free, prosperous Israel and a statist, dependent Israel. Before U.S. aid began flowing, Israel’s economic performance rivaled that of the high-growth Asian Tigers. Since then, Israel’s growth rate has fallen by more than half.

Forcing Israel to provide for herself will not hurt Israel’s economy, but actually strengthen it, serving as an impetus for Israel to challenge herself to develop her economy and industry in new ways, because there would no longer be free handouts from Uncle Sam.

Rep. Ron Paul went one step further than his son, calling on the United States to end all foreign aid to the Middle East. This past week, Paul sent a “Dear Colleague” letter to all members of the House of Representatives entitled, “Stop buying friends overseas, save $6 billion!”

Borrowing money from China — or printing it out of thin air — to hand out overseas in [an] attempt to purchase friends has been a failing foreign policy, as we see most recently in Egypt where there is not even a government in place! We should seek friendly relations and trade overseas, but we cannot justify lavish gifts to foreign leaders when American taxpayers are increasingly feeling the pain of our economic crisis.

Again, the motivation for this amendment has little to do with Israel, and much to do with the current state of the United States economy, but should such an amendment be accepted, it would greatly benefit Israel.

While the United States spares no opportunity to speak of its desire to see peace in the Middle East, particularly between Israel and her neighbors, it has consistently – for her own interests – armed both sides of the conflict. While Israel may be the US’s single largest recipient of military aid in the region, the amount of US military aid going to Israel’s neighbors makes the amount Israel receives pale in comparison. (This is in addition to the US training a Palestinian army under the leadership of US General Keith Dayton).

Lastly, and perhaps cynically, one must ask the question of what exactly does Israel receive in return for being a US ally? Being a US ally didn’t help those in power in Tunisia, Lebanon and Egypt, who were all quickly abandoned by the US when the going got tough. And, the US is strongly considering voting in favor of a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israel for allowing Jewish growth within her historic homeland.

With friends like these...

It’s time for Israel to act according to the wisdom of former French Premier, Charles DeGaulle, who said that, “Countries do not have friends, they have interests.”

Every country in the world understands this, and acts according to this principle. It’s time Israel does the same.

Israel’s leading business publication, Globes, has called for Israel to do the same:

The time has come to bid goodbye to the military aid that the US extends to Israel, that generous package (currently worth $3 billion) that enables the Israeli taxpayer to share the cost of procuring equipment for the IDF with the US taxpayer. Israel should itself initiate the process of detachment from the Washington breast. It should be done gradually, on terms that will enable Israel to wean itself off this intoxicating milk, before the Americans take action, on their terms. Israel won’t collapse.

None of this is to say that the United States and Israel shouldn’t be allies. To the contrary, Israel should seek to have positive relationships with every country in the world – relationships based upon mutual respect, benefit and interest. in instances where Israel and another country may not see eye to eye, each will be free to act according to their own interests.

Ron Paul and Rand Paul, through looking out for the best interests of the United States, may be providing one of the greatest contributions to Zionism in quite some time.

~~ Matityahu Ben Yosef is the Education Director of the Zionist Freedom Alliance

[truthfreedom]

Ok, “spent” means, for my argument, already taken away from the constituents.

I will give you credit for a at least decent familiarity with these terms.

Let’s go at this one again.

This sentence I think says it right.

The fact that the budget lines for distinct Budgets (Defense, Interior, Transportation, etc.) are set DOES NOT MEAN, the money is spent. It is not spend...and the EARMARKED MONEY (IN BILLIONS)...

...will come out of the finite pot of money that is obligated to be spent.

You are using the words more precisely, and I’m trying to describe the process more simply (if less accurately).

Ok. I said “spent”. You, more accurately, say “obligated to be spent”

The money is gone, it is “obligated to be spent” (yes, more accurate than “spent”).

That “obligated to be spent” is the vote on spending I was talking about.

Step 1.
Money is obligated to be spend. Ron Paul doesn’t vote for that obligating to be spent. He votes no. But then he loses. If everyone voted just like him there wouldn’t be that spending, but that’s a side issue, not on point.
Ok. Now, we’re done with step 1. The vote has been made, the money is approved to be spend. Ron Paul voted not to do that, but the RINOs and the Dems voted for the spending.
At this stage, there’s no controversy from you about what Ron Paul has done. He voted for no spending and he lost.
And Ron Paul is not going to be personally able to change, at all, the amount of the finite pot of money that is obligated to be spent. So what does he do?

Step 2 - Earmarks. He didn’t want to give Obama $1. But he lost, what can he do now. Well, he doesn’t want to give Obama a blank check. He does not believe that the Obama Administration has a better idea than his constituents do about what to do with the “finite pot of mone that is obligated to be spent” The question becomes, should Congressmen be able to take from that finite pot and spend it the way their consitituents want, or is it best that Obama gets to spend the money however he wants.

You admitted that it was a “finite pot of money that is obligated to be spent”. All Ron is doing is moving the money out of the control of Obama, and making sure that his constituents are getting what they were asking for. I guess Ron Paul doesn’t trust Obama.

[truthfreedom]

I was just saying that Post 84 contains a near dictionary definition of falling foul of Godwin’s Law. People who are familiar with Godwin’s Law could spot that right way.

I wasn’t trying to imply that was the first time I’d ever seen falling foul of Godwin’s Law or the last.

Here’s a section from the Wikipedia:

“It is generally perceived that falling foul of Godwin’s law tends to end up causing the individual making the comparison to lose their argument and/or credibility, as noted by a number of publications including in one article in The Daily Telegraph.”

[Las Vegas Ron]

BS....nice try.

Your argument is a FAIL, admit it.

[darkwing104]

Looks like you got Fizzled in the Shizzle...

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Viking Kitty/ZOT ping list!. . . don't be shy.

[metmom]

At last!!!!!!!!!!

[Semper Mark]

At last!!!!!!!!!!

C_C had an 8 month absence, if not for that I'm sure this would've happened sooner.

shibumi and I had a run in with him about a year or so ago.
The guy was definitely toys in the attic.

(Watch for him to show up again.)

[shibumi]

I recall him being a PaulTard/RandBot who had a megalomaniacal manner of repeating himself and supposing that shouting (in an electronic sort of way) constituted truth.

He kept bragging that he would never go away, but I see he’s run into sort of a “short circuit” from the Admin.

Amusing sort - if you find psychotics funny.

(He’s probably signing up under a new name as we speak.)

[shibumi]

Are those deleted posts above us what’s left of the Paulinista Weirdo?

[Semper Mark]

I think those are from one of the good folks who just got a little worked up.

The Paulinista Weirdo was the OP, if I'm not mistaken.

[Old Sarge]

Dangit ah dun missed anuther ‘un!

[Allegra]

C_C hadn't posted anything for 8 months and he suddenly shows up again pimping Paul and pinging OldNewYork.

The stench is strong, isn't it?

I only regret that I missed C_C getting what he'd had coming for a long time. :)

[Allegra]

Thanks for the “heads up.”

This zot’s been a long time comin’. :)

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

The guy had....issues.

[Arrowhead1952]

[TheOldLady]

Annoyingly obvious troll and paultard screams and shouts his way off the site with a burny bit at his end


Gif by Mdel747


You don't make sense. Loudly declaring victory doesn't mean you won.

[Rocky]

zot

[Las Vegas Ron]

I only regret that I missed C_C getting what he'd had coming for a long time. :)

Yes he did....my apologies, I should have pinged you to the zot!

[John D]

Cut and run a Zionist? Yeah sure. He hates Israel almost as much as he hates America.

[SunkenCiv]

I wondered how long that was going to take. Thanks TOL.