Posted on 03/24/2008 8:21:11 PM PDT by Oorang
Cairo, Egypt - The United States has announced that it is planning to help Egypt build a border fence along the Gaza-Egypt border. Washington transferred $23 million worth of special aid to the North African nation as part of its assistance in locating smuggling tunnels.
Over the past few months, smuggling between Gaza and Egypt has garnered more attention in light of the Israeli economic blockade on the small Mediterranean strip of land. Israel is calling on Egypt to improve its crackdown on Palestinian smuggling, which the Jewish state says allows weapons to enter Gaza that are then used against southern Israel.
The planned fence between Egypt and Gaza will employ technology directed at preventing the fence from being damaged. This is in response to Palestinian militants who blew a hole in the current wall between the two nations that allowed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flock into Egypt late January and early February.
The American Army Corps of Engineers plans to send teams to Egypt to help push forward the border fence plans. No timetable has been given yet as to when the wall will be constructed
While building the wall, the Americans also hope to help Egyptian security forces locate and destroy smuggling tunnels into Gaza Israel has welcomed the move, saying that American participation will help end the movement of weapons into Gaza.
25-30km long? (like 12 american miles)
So? That means we are GIVING Egypt approximately $1,000,000 per kilometer to build a fence.
Let them build their OWN damn fence.
We could use the $23,000,000 here to build OUR own fence.
While I certainly agree with the desire to build a proper US fence, the Eqypt-Gaza fence (really more like two fences and a non-go zone for tunneling) is critical because it will help thrwart missle smuggling into Gaza, which are then used to attack civilians in Israel.
As serious as the illegal immigration problem is in the US (and it is serious), Mexico has not been lobbing explosive shells over the border into the US since the days of Pancho Villa.
Neither have the 'palestinians' been lobbing explosives at us OR Egypt.
If I want the USA to give ANYONE money to build a fence, or to protect themselves from 'palestinians', give it to Israel.
There is NO need for the USA to give Egypt $1M per kilometer to build a fence between Egypt and Gaza.
1. “There is NO need for the USA to give Egypt $1M per kilometer to build a fence between Egypt and Gaza.”
Calling this a “fence” is like calling the USS Ronald Reagan a “boat.” Much more to it (guard towers, power lines, cameras, sensors, roads).
2. “Neither have the ‘palestinians’ been lobbing explosives at us OR Egypt.”
Again, the reason Egypt is getting the money is to prevent weapons smuggling into Gaza. The Gaza arabs lob explosives into Israel.
Israel, if you recall, is a stable, Western, democracy smack in the middle of the Middle East, and on the front line of the batle with Islamist terrorists, our mutual enemy. Ergo (and for many other reasons), the USA supports Israel.
If Egypt wants to build a fence to keep the 'palestinians' out or smugglers out of Gaza, more power to them. Let them use their own money.
You know, it's like a doctor in a MASH unit; triage — you make some hard calls on who get what first.
If the doctor (USA) dies, who cures the others?
I wish the best for the Egyptians, I don't need to wish the best for the Israelis, it's already promised them.
We need to take care of things here at home or we won't be able to take care of things elsewhere.
I don’t see why both cannot be taken care of.
Isn't that special? They can't "afford our fence" but they can afford Eqypts? THAT just chaps my backside!
U.S. Aid to Egypt Totals $28 Billion in Three Decades
...annual outlay of nearly $2 billion in military and economic aid to Egypt...
Ping!
This is nuts.
Yep...gotta wonder about them folks in DC...
What about us AMERICANS Mr. President? “
Drop your pants and bend over.
As other posters have noted, the wall is not for Egypt (although they certainly benefit), but for my country, Israel, to lessen missle attacks.
Israel cannot give the money to Eqypt for obvious political reasons, and the Egyptian government needed the political cover of US “pressure” and aid to quiet its minority parties, who would refuse to support building the wall with Eqyptian money.
Here, the more radical Islamist parties are quieted (saited?) because this brings Eqyptian contract jobs.
And believe me, I am VERY appreciative of the USA’s support.
I love your country second only to my own, and would gladly fight alongside US troops.
One need not be a conspiracy not to figure this sounds as if the enemy has infiltrated our government.
Israel cannot give the money to Eqypt for obvious political reasons, and the Egyptian government needed the political cover of US “pressure” and aid to quiet its minority parties, who would refuse to support building the wall with Eqyptian money.
Here, the more radical Islamist parties are quieted (saited?) because this brings Eqyptian contract jobs.
And believe me, I am VERY appreciative of the USA’s support.
I love your country second only to my own, and would gladly fight alongside US troops.
Thank you for explaining all of that for me. I never thought about it being for the good of Israel. THAT changes everything! :o) IF I had my way, I'd kill ALL of your neighbors, and let Allah Satan sort them out. LOL!
I want to go to Israel one of these days, but I'd like to enjoy my trip without having to worry about rockets raining down on my head. Hopefully, John McCain will be the next President because he's a friend to Israel. More so than Bush is, IMO!
You should move your family to America. We'd love to have you. :o)
My mother was born in California! I love the country.
But I am a pretty serious Zionist, and I pretty much feel that I am under orders from a higher authority to live where I live.
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