Congress Finds $8 Billion for Israel, But Military Paycheck is 'Under the Gun'
The Hill reports Congress faces pressure on military pay, citing an $8 billion fund (presumably for Israel's 'Iron Dome' replenishments and other 'aid') drying up, threatening a shutdown and service members' wages. Meanwhile, just months ago, bipartisan majorities approved a $95 billion foreign aid package, with over $14 billion directly for Israel, including offensive weapons. OpenSecrets.org
shows AIPAC spent $2 million lobbying in Q1 2024 alone, targeting this very aid. So, our troops' pay is 'under the gun' due to a potential shutdown, but somehow, funds for overseas military adventures—which coincidentally enrich defense contractors and align with powerful lobbying interests—always materialize. One might wonder if the 'threat' to military pay is less about a looming shutdown and
more about congressional priorities that consistently funnel billions away from domestic needs and into geopolitical conflicts.