[koba]

A major reason for Israel's success is that the U.S. gives it $5 billion a year. Without this money, Israel would have problems. Inflation there can go as high as 50% a year. Israel is like a child with a rich father that keeps giving him money. Is the child actally "successful" or is he successful because daady made him so? Pakistan receives far less aid than Israel. Pakistan is an unsuccessful country by any standards, but how successful would Israel be if it had to militarily and econmically fend for itself?

[RaceBannon]

Well, when everyone tries to beat up your child, steals his stuff, burns down his buildings, kills his children and then blames him for it, lobs missiles into his houses, uses rifles to shoot into his childrens weddings, bombs his childrens school buses...yeah, 5 Billion aint enough, is it?

[Malcolm]

A major reason for Israel's success is that the U.S. gives it $5 billion a year. Without this money, Israel would have problems. Inflation there can go as high as 50% a year. Israel is like a child with a rich father that keeps giving him money. Is the child actally "successful" or is he successful because daady made him so? Pakistan receives far less aid than Israel. Pakistan is an unsuccessful country by any standards, but how successful would Israel be if it had to militarily and econmically fend for itself?

I wouldn't want any of that money to stop for anything, esp after the Muslim attacks on the US and Israel. It's money well spent, if for nothing else, for spite.....

[Aaron_A]

We have poured billions into Pakistan as well...most of it has ended up in Swiss bank accounts or in their madrassah network.

[arthurus]

how successful would Israel be if it had to militarily and econmically fend for itself?

Without our billions, chances are, Israel would be more successful as a country because Israel would not be depending on a Daddy. Israel is allowed the luxury to be a more or less socialist state because US bankrolls them. Without that support, Israel, having one of the world's greatest concentrations of brains and business, would not have dived into socialism and would be in better shape politically and economically than it is. Daddy should wean Israel of cash while, at least for a time guaranteeing her borderswith whatever military resources are necessary.