Per year.
“Consider what we would have in Egypt if we quit giving them anything at all and the Murbarak regime fell.”
We used to feel that it was better to spend millions for defense than a single damn penny for tribute.
““If that is all we are giving to Egypt now, then we are getting a very good deal. “
Per year.
“
well of course per year, don’t you see i said ‘are giving’ rather than ‘gave?’ We have been supporting egypt financially for decades IIRC, every year.
“We used to feel that it was better to spend millions for defense than a single damn penny for tribute.
“
We also used to understand that it is better to prop up a regime generally helpful to your interests against the sentiments of its own population rather than have a fit of righteousness and let that regime handle its own affairs with no support and possibly be replaced by something that hates us and actively works against us.
Presumably we also used to understand that realpolitik is more than just a big defense budget.