Callahan Calls Emergency Israel Aid Pork; Leads Effort to Block Funds

National Jewish Democratic Council ^ | 5/24/02 | staff

[LarryLied]

Washington, DC: Representative Sonny Callahan (R-AL), a past chairman of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, pledged yesterday to lead an effort today to strike $200 million in emergency assistance to Israel and $50 million in Palestinian humanitarian aid from the House supplemental appropriations bill. Rep. Callahan made the comments yesterday on the House floor.

Focusing on Israel, the Congressional Record reports that he said, “I am going to offer amendments as we go through the bill to strike all of the aid to Israel that was included here without any request from Israel, without any request from the administration, without any requests from anybody. But someone within this beltway decided since we were going to have a supplemental bill, they were going to get some pork in it for Israel.”

“Leading an effort to strike emergency aid for Israel at a time of crisis like this is problematic enough, but referring to bipartisan support of the Jewish state as ‘pork’ is singularly inappropriate,” said Ira N. Forman, Executive Director of the National Jewish Democratic Council. “Now is the time for all legislators, Democrats and Republicans alike, to come together and stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult time.

“Indeed, when it comes to assistance for Israel, there is a minority in each party that opposes certain foreign aid. But Mr. Callahan is hardly a back-bencher; as the former Chairman of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee, he is seen by many in the GOP as a deeply knowledgeable source of information. Because of Mr. Callahan’s leadership status on this issue, I would hope that Rep. Tom DeLay and other leaders within the Republican Party would have a heart-to-heart talk with Mr. Callahan about what he has to say about aid to a close American ally in her hour of need.”

[LarryLied]

Also on the www.jta.org/ wire.

[BlackVeil]

"hope that ... leaders within the Republican Party would have a heart-to-heart talk with Mr. Callahan about what he has to say about aid to a close American ally ... "

Trying to put pressure on him, in other words. It would do Israel a great deal of good to have to pay their own way. They would calm down instantly, and all those ambitious settlement blocks with the luxury facilities ... no more of them, unless they can be supported by a real market.

[LarryLied]

Callahan got some heat during the Clinton administration when he threatened to cut off $250 million in aid if Israel sold an airborne early warning (AEW) system to Communist China. Don't know if Israel ever delivered the AWACS or not.

[blam]

Callahan is retiring when his term is over.

[LarryLied]

I should have known. It is America's fault. It always is.

[LarryLied]

$50 million to Palestine. Why not flush the money down a toilet? At least Israel might buy something from us with the $250 million in unsolicited money somebody wants to give them.

[remaininlight]

Callahan got some heat during the Clinton administration when he threatened to cut off $250 million in aid if Israel sold an airborne early warning (AEW) system to Communist China. Don't know if Israel ever delivered the AWACS or not.

Oh yes you do.
For other freepers: AWACS was not sent to China and Israel got sued by China for breech of contract.

[LarryLied]

I don't know. I only learned of the AWACS deal when I searched on Callahan's name to see what he was all about and found this old article. I never heard of him before.

[america-rules]

"Prime Minister Barak replied that the contract with China had already been signed, although he promised to review the sale. Israel is installing its Phalcon radar system aboard a Russian Ilyushin Il-76 transport aircraft to fulfill the Chinese contract, which includes the option for three more systems. At $250 million each, Israel could gain $1 billion in total sales. After the U.S. declared China a "strategic partner" in the mid 1990s, Israel began publicly promoting arms sales to China. China is developing a new fighter, the J-10, that appears to be a copy of Israel's Lavi fighter – a warplane incorporating U.S. technology but which Israel never put into production. "

Real good friend !

[Aim small miss small]

You know what Yehuda, your paranoid attacks against fellow ( I assume ) Americans are disgusting.

[Aim small miss small]

Yehuda,

[LarryLied]

Clinton the commie ok'd Barak the commie selling the AWAC

And who voted overwhelmingly for Clinton in two elections? George Sr. got just over 10% of the Jewish vote in 1992. If he ran today, Clinton would get similar support. Scumbag was in South Florida a few months ago scooping up bags from cash from some ladies Zionist group and other sycophants.

[BenF]

Real good friend !

Well, they allowed their cities to be bombed without retaliating during the Gulf War just because we asked them to, and when our embassies were bombed in Africa, they were the only ones who sent help. Also, immediately after 9/11, they sent a planeload of technicians, medical personel and rescue experts to help search for survivors. Out of all the countries in the world, Israel appears to be the only one who has ever done anything for us. I can't think of a single thing our wonderful allies in Europe have ever done for us. And I doubt you could either.

I realize these facts are irrelevant to those who have an agenda, but I state them for the record.

[BenF]

You know what Yehuda, your paranoid attacks against fellow ( I assume ) Americans are disgusting.

I will not comment on your assumption that Larry is an American. However, unlike you, it is Larry's postings that I find disgusting. Yehuda's criticism is totally justified.

[BenF]

And who voted overwhelmingly for Clinton in two elections?

The Jews. Maybe we should gas em? Would that satisfy you?

So, they were stupid. I have a news flash for you, Larry. It wasn't just the Jews who voted for Clinton.

George Sr. got just over 10% of the Jewish vote in 1992.

Well, he didn't get my vote. I gave it to Perot. Why? Because of Jim Baker and his "f*ck the Jews" comment. Why should I have supported George Sr., anyway? He was a lousy president. He should have finished off Saddam when he got the chance.

If he ran today, Clinton would get similar support.

Looking into your crystal ball again, Larry? What do you base this on? The Jewish newspapers I read show that Bush is popular with Jews. Maybe not the loud-mouthed Democrats you love to listen to, but with real Jews who value their faith.