Citing national security, Bush sends $20M directly to PA

Haaretz ^ | 09/07/2003 22:35 | Nathan Guttman, Haaretz Correspondent, and Agencies

[yonif]

The U.S. administration, citing "national security needs and special circumstances" to bypass Congressional prohibitions, is sending $20 million in special aid to the Palestinian Authority to help strengthen the government of Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas.

Israel was notified of the aid and did not express any objections.

Congressional legislation prohibits direct aid to the PA, requiring aid to go through international agencies or non-governmental organizations. Therefore, President George W. Bush needed a special article in the legislation that allows the president to bypass the prohibition for reasons of national security and unexpected circumstances.

After consultation with Congress, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage signed a waiver from the congressional restrictions.

The money, said the administration in a letter to Congress, would be used to buttress PA control in areas where it assumes security responsibility from Israel.

This year, the Palestinians are due to receive $124.5 million from the U.S. Agency for International Development, while the State Department's refugees bureau provides Palestinians with $89 million through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

Annual U.S. aid to the Palestinians is usually about $200 million, with about $75 million going through UNRWA.

Washington has indicated that if it sees the Abbas government making progress, it is ready to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into PA coffers for rehabilitating the infrastructure demolished by the Israel Defense Forces during the intifada.

If the administration decides to substantially increase aid to the PA, it will have to persuade Congress that the PA government is taking active steps to dismantle the terror organizations.

The European Union and the Arab League have given more than $1 billion directly to Arafat and the Authority this year.

Except for the increasingly right-wing Zionist Organization of America under Morton Klein, major Jewish organizations have not tried to prevent aid to the Palestinians.

The ZOA is against any aid to the Palestinians and campaigns to that end in Congress.

[yonif]

Congressional legislation prohibits direct aid to the PA, requiring aid to go through international agencies or non-governmental organizations. Therefore, President George W. Bush needed a special article in the legislation that allows the president to bypass the prohibition for reasons of national security and unexpected circumstances.

[Capt.YankeeMike]

why dont we just take the money and burn it? same effect. No, less harmful to just burn it. Idiots.
The Capt.

[Support Free Republic]

The former President disembarks from his airplane after a trip back to Arkansas. Although the hoopla is less now that he is out of office, Clinton still occasionally finds himself greeted by military personnel. This is one such occasion.

He climbs down the stairs, carrying two huge pigs, one under each arm. He gets to the bottom, and nods his head in return to the soldier's salute. "Son, what do you think about these?" he says. "Nice pigs, SIR!" comes the reply. Clinton gets mildly miffed and lectures, "I'll have you know these aren't just pigs but the finest of Arkansas Razorbacks. Top notch. I got one for Hillary, and one for Chelsea. What do you think about that?"

"Nice trade, SIR!

Free Republic

Your donations keep us laughing at liberals

[Gary Boldwater]

Over 1 billion in aid to a terrorist organization. Is something wrong here?

[KarlInOhio]

How much is that for each Israeli murdered?

[ApesForEvolution]

Some War on Terror, Bush.

I've had about as much 'compassionate conservative' leadership as I can take.

All this crapola takes the cake.

[Hyacinth Bucket]

The president is so drunk with power, he now thinks and acts like a king. But this too will just fly by under the radar. Many so-called conservatives, even here on Free Republic, will just shrug this off because King George W. can do no wrong in their eyes. If Clinton pulled something like this, there would have been screams of bloody murder, etc.

In the meantime, government power will continue to expand and our freedoms will dwindle away because the president happens to be a likeable guy. What happens when we elect another Clinton (figuratively and literally speaking)? Will we be able to snatch back the powers we handed to the various government agencies such as the FBI, CIA, etc.? I think not.

-- Sorry for the above being not quite on topic.

Direct aid to the arabs is a big mistake and a waste of money especially in light of the fact that many of our states are on the verge of bankruptcy. Another big mistake will be to pressure Israel into releasing some terrorists as a gesture of "good will" towards the arabs.

[TexasRepublic]

Absolutely freaking nuts!! I'd like to twist a few ears off.

[webheart]

For a moment, I was wondering how 20 million dollars would help the state of Pennsylvania.

[truthandlife]

This borders on the unbelieveable!!!

Mr. President,did you ever read this :A compendium of Palestinian Authority hatred of America: 1997 and 2001

[ApesForEvolution]

bttt

[joesnuffy]

Christian conservatives who belive the bible on the promise given to Abraham and his descendants ...
Arent gonna like this one bit...
And its their money to....
Tax payer funded terrorists....
Is CAIR running the country now?

[yonif]

Shhhh don't tell him about that...